For gaming computer builds around 10 – 15 million VND, most of the budget is focused on essential components like CPU, VGA, and RAM. As a result, components like the case and power supply often get overlooked.
However, given the importance of the power supply in powering the entire system, you need to be very careful! Choosing a cost-effective unit that meets the system’s power requirements, both in terms of wattage and stability, is relatively difficult in the budget range. The introduction of the Forgamer RA400 / RA500 is certainly noteworthy!
The Forgamer RA400 / RA500 comes in identical packaging and design, differing only in power output. Simply put, the RA400 has a power rating of 400W while the RA500 is rated at 500W.
The cables of the Forgamer RA400 / RA500 are wrapped in nylon, with the two main cables being 24-pin and 8-pin, while the 4-pin cables for hard drives and 6-pin for VGA are left exposed. The cable length is decent, not too long or too short, sufficient for a full tower case.
Now, let’s take a deeper look into this power supply as we “dissect” it to see what’s inside. First up is the RA400:
The design of the RA400 is relatively classic with 2 filtering stages. However, what stands out first is the cooling fan produced by Forgamer itself: a 12mm fan with a red color and a speed of 1800 RPM to dissipate heat from the internal components.
The input of the Forgamer RA400 looks quite simple, lacking noise filtering capacitors and a rather important feature: the power switch. You will have to unplug the power cord if you want to cut power to the PC.
Key components in the “rectifying” process of the Forgamer RA400 include the GBU406 diode and the rather unusual ChengX 150uF 450V main capacitor.
The transformer used in this power supply is ERL30, featuring a basic circuit design that uses a diode bridge to rectify the current for each power line: one pair rated for 20A. Finally, the output filtering capacitors come from two manufacturers, ChengX and Asia’X.
Next, we have the Forgamer RA500, which has a similar design.
Regarding performance, according to testing by the reputable review site f14lab, both the Forgamer RA400 and RA500 achieve efficiency levels around 80%. The 400W version delivers slightly more stable current compared to the 500W version, and both “slip” during the power outage duration test.
Overall, the Forgamer RA400 / RA500 power supplies function well in mid-range gaming systems priced around 15 million VND or less, offering decent performance. Currently, the 400W version is priced at approximately 600,000 VND while the 500W version is around 700,000 VND in Vietnam.