The Rocketeer IV 600W was installed in the following system:

A64 3800+ X2 Manchester
(overclocked to 2.7Ghz)
Chaintech VNF4
2x512 OCZ PC3700
MSI 6600 PCIe
(overclocked to 500/1000)
2x74Gb Raptor HDD
16X NEC DVD+RW
Floppy Drive
Vantec Nexus
4 USB Devices
6 Assorted Fans (5 LED)

To generate load conditions I ran the following simultaneously:

Nero BackItUp (to DVD+RW)
Windows Disk Defragmenter
Folding @ Home Client
Aquamark 3

This should load every component in the system for the duration of the test. At full load I measured the total system draw to be less than 450VA or just under 300W.

I use a Fluke digital multimeter to monitor the +5 and +12 output voltages at one of the 4 pin molex, and the +3.3 directly from the ATX connector. I recorded both idle and load readings.



There was very little fluctuation of the rails at all. Even under load the voltage output varied by only .01 at most. The difference between idle and load conditions was not significant. In fact the output control was as good if not tighter than some of the other higher-rated and costlier power supplies I've reviewed recently.

Conclusion

The Rocketeer IV 600W is one power supply that could be easily overlooked. It's not targeted as a high-end gaming or enthusiast solution, it doesn't have modular or shielded cables or colored wraps and connectors, and it doesn't have a splashy chrome finish. While it's not as plain as a typical grey OEM style power supply, the aesthetics are definitely understated. But it does have all the important bits that count, dual +12v rails, a healthy 600 watt rating and maximum amperage loads of 30, 54 and 20/20 on the +3.3, +5 and +12's respectively.

When it came to testing, the Rocketeer IV really shined. The rails were all observed to be extremely stable with very little fluctuation under load. Performance was better than expected, even when compared to other higher-rated and much costlier power supplies from other manufacturers. Certainly the fact that this unit is made by Topower has a lot to do with its quality.

Although the twisted wires do an adequate job of keeping cables neat, some mesh wrap would go a long way towards cleaning up the look. The only problem I ran into during installation was the SATA cable; there's only one of them and the connectors are spaced close together. It was a stretch to reach both of my hard drives as I have them mounted far apart in my case. It seems a little strange to me to provide two PCIe cables on this non-SLI Ready power supply, but only a single SATA cable with just two connectors.

According to Pricewatch, the Spire Rocketeer IV 600W should be available at online retailers for around $70. Compared to other power supplies of this rating and caliber that's a downright steal, even given the lack of sleeving and SATA connectors. If you can live without all the bells and whistles of a modern gaming power supply, the Rocketeer IV offers rock-steady performance at a cut-throat price.

Pros

Subtle good looks
Stable performance
Top-rated manufacturer


Cons

Unsleeved cables
Only 2 SATA connectors

OCIA.net has awarded the Spire Rocketeer IV 600W our seal of approval.



Thanks to Spire for providing the Rocketeer IV 600W Power Supply for review.