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power supplies

OCZ PowerStream 420W

· by John Chen
Manufacturer: OCZ · Price at review: $85.50 (≈$152 in 2026)

Introduction

OCZ Technology is well known for their awesome overclocking memory and customer service. They focus primarily on making the best overclocking products for enthusiasts around. We had a look at their DDR Booster a while back and it was definitely a good recommendation for overclockers who don’t wish to do voltage modifications. That little piece of hardware made my life much easier. OCZ continues the trend of convenience with the introduction of their new power supply. It features external adjustable potentiometers, silent fans, and EMI shielded power cables. Knowing OCZ’s quality, this power supply should not fail to satisfy everyone’s needs.

OCZ PowerStream 420W

The PowerStream came in an orange cardboard box, following OCZ’s new wave of eye-catching packages. Note that the box states that the PowerStream supports PCI-Express video cards and future BTX forms. It’s good to know that hardware you purchase now can still be used in the future. The sample we received is the lowest rated power supply, a decent 420W, but is also available in 470W and 520W flavors. I have yet to see a system in need of 520W, but you’ll be safe in knowing that the power supply can handle anything you throw at it.

Inside the box was an instructions manual, AC adapter, screws, and a 24pin-to-20pin ATX adapter. The power supply was safely wrapped in bubble wrap to prevent any damages during shipment. The instructions manual should be read before you start adjusting your rails. It guides you through the meanings of each light reading as well as the safe zones for each rail. The power supply comes ready to be used for servers, and will need the 24pin-to-20pin ATX adapter for desktops. While this is annoying to the common enthusiast, it is better to know that the power supply has more capabilities than handicaps.

As I examined the PowerStream, I couldn’t help but notice that it is extremely similar to the Raidmax RX-520XP we reviewed earlier. One of the most notable features is that it shares the same metallic mirror finish. You must be wondering why I took a picture of my deformed Darth Vader Lego keychain. Well, that picture is actually the reflection off the power supply’s mirror finish.

OCZ PowerStream 420W Continued

I went ahead and opened up the PowerStream, voiding the warranty. There was a sticker over one of the screws, and it ripped fairly easily. The internals were pretty much just like the Raidmax. It was stuffed with capacitors, as well as large heatsinks. I looked around to see if there were any adjustable potentiometers but found none. I realized then that I had been fooling myself. The adjustable pots are externally placed, right next to the AC adapter. The PowerStream has been designed with the overclocker in mind. Each rail can be adjusted by using a small screwdriver. The instructions manual gives clear information on how to adjust each rail and what the corresponding light means.

DC Voltage (Power Rail) Adjustable Range:

LED Indicating:

Voltage modders will be happy to know that the 3.3v rail can be adjusted high to accommodate the extreme voltages pumped to the memory. There’s no more need to modify the power supply, simply turn the VR at the back of the power supply and you’re good to go. Of course in order to read the exact output voltage, you’ll still need a multimeter to read it off the ATX connector. Don’t just turn it and think everything will be ok, always double check and be on the safe side.

There are a total of 2 fans in the PowerStream, one being a green LED fan. I’m not sure if green is a good choice since most case modders prefer the typical blue, red, or white light. Green is not my favorite choice of color, but I guess it’s better than nothing. Perhaps OCZ can find orange to match their unique packaging. The rated noise level is at a low 23 dBA. That’s just about the sound of a whisper. I placed my ears next to the fans while the power supply was on and could barely hear a thing. The air that comes out is a bit warm, showing that the power supply does get hot and that the large heatsinks are doing a good job at dissipating heat.

There are plenty of power connectors to suit your needs. There are six 4pin cables, two 3pin cables, one 4pin 12v cable, one 8pin 12v cable, two SATA cables, one AUX cable, and two EMI shielded VGA/HDD cables. The EMI shielded VGA/HDD cables are really nice, just like the ones found in the Raidmax RX-520XP. It helps maintain clean power through the power hungry video cards and hard drives. One funny thing I noticed was the PowerStream stated that it is PCI-E ready. True that it may provide enough power to feed the future cards, but there was no 6pin 12v cable included. Granted that the video cards will probably ship with some sort of 6pin-to-4pin adapter, it would be good to know that the power supply came with one, especially when it did say that it is PCI-E ready.

Specifications

I was really happy to know that the PowerStream boasted really good amps per rail. The 420W version supported 30A for the 12v rail. This is by far the highest I’ve seen on a power supply within this price range. Enthusiasts can now overclock with ease and not have to worry about the lack of power.

Testing will include voltages at both idle and load stages. Running the system at load will include Folding, running Prime95’s Blend torture test, and looping 3DMark2001SE’s Nature benchmark all at once. Voltages will be read off the ATX connector with a multimeter.

Test Setup

Test Setup and Methods:

Running Stock:

Running Overclocked:

Results:

The results were simply superb. I’m sure that the numbers speak for themselves. The 12v rail remained virtually consistent, with just a mere 0.03v drop under load. Thanks to the ample amps per rail, the rails for each line were kept consistent and stable. Note that when I tested the power supply, each rail showed the green LED. If you find your PowerStream fluctuating a bit more than you like, simply adjust the according rail and fix that problem. I was pretty much amazed with the results.

Conclusion and Thoughts

OCZ has done it again. The PowerStream is definitely the power supply of choice for overclockers. It allows for easy access to potentiometers, has ample amps per rail, comes with a nice mirror finish, and has a low price tag. Most of the time, enthusiasts looking for steady power will be forced to buy expensive high wattage power supplies. OCZ has taken away the price tag and added a lot of extra features that definitely make the PowerStream stand out. From the results above, the power supply can really compete. It provides nice stable power even under high overclocks. The best part about the PowerStream is the adjustable pots. There are companies that provide this option but keep it within the power supply. You’d have to open up the unit and void the warranty to get to the feature. OCZ made it easy for us by placing it on the outside. There are no more voided warranties. Speaking of warranties, OCZ provides a 5 year warranty. I don’t see any other company providing that kind of warranty. The longest I’ve seen is 3 years. With all the goodies of this power supply, how can you not go out and get one yourself? The PowerStream provides the power and stability of a PC Power and Cooling without the extremely high price tag.

Pros:

  • Mirror finish
  • Heavy–indication of good heatsinks and capacitors
  • Large heatsinks
  • Adjustable pots are external
  • Excellent stable rails
  • Copper-mesh VGA/HDD Molex connectors for better power stability
  • Braided wires to help reduce cable mess
  • Two quiet fans to help dissipate heat
  • Serial ATA power
  • Server motherboards friendly
  • 5 year warranty
  • Low price tag
  • High amps per rail
  • Supports future BTX and PCI-E
  • Only $85.50 (at time of review)

Cons:

  • Questionable choice of green LED fan
  • Supports PCI-E but no 6pin 12v adapter

We would like to thank OCZ for providing us the sample. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit us up in the forums. You can also check out more of our latest reviews on the front page.

Looking back: Where Are They Now: OCZ