INTRODUCTION

   With many people already having purchased one of the latest GTX Titan graphics cards by NVIDIA (it was sold out after all) it really makes sense for us to focus on reviews about powerful and quite expensive 80Plus Platinum certified power supply units that can successfully feed that monster of a card with sufficient, clean and stable power (and we have). However since most people out there seem opt for either an GTX 660 or for one of the Radeon HD 7850 cards instead we also need to cater to their needs and so today we decided to bring you a review of one of the latest PSUs to hit the market, the reasonably priced 550W 80Plus Bronze Certified PowerX by Cougar.

          COUGAR products are designed by COUGAR GERMANY, a professional R&D engineering team and COUGAR is part of the “HEC/COMPUCASE” Group. The unique combination of the world-famous German skills of designing the best products worldwide and HEC/s power and long-time experience to produce the best high quality products created innovative masterpieces in PSU history. The PC upgrading and DIY market is changing rapidly and is growing more and more. Professional user are asking for more than only stable and silent PSU/s, they want efficient and energy saving products without compromises in quality. COUGAR GERMANY created such products! COUGAR GERMANY combines the features of innovation and evolution to create efficient, powerful and unique products like “COUGAR POWER”. The purpose of COUGAR GERMANY is the satisfaction of the customer, reaching it by creating most valuable, advanced products. COUGAR – YOUR POWER!

   The PowerX line of power supplies only has two members currently, the CGR B4-550 (550W) that we have here with us today and the CGR B4-700 (700W) which is also the one at the top. Obviously the PowerX line is aimed towards the mid-end segment of the market where massive power outputs are simply not needed, that's exactly why the highest wattage unit is just 700W and also why either of the two units is modular. Instead the PowerX comes packing several useful features such as Active PFC, dynamic dual 12v, OCP/SCP/OVP/UVP/OPP/OTP power protections, Energy Star 5.0 compliance, an 120mm silent fan and of course the 80Plus Bronze Efficiency Certification. As you will also see later on the features of the PowerX 550W are not the only thing that stands out, it’s also very good (for its price range always).