Packaging

The package is small and follows the latest design CM uses on its V series packaging—a dark background and a centralized picture of the unit, with the series name and a brief features description at the bottom of the front. The 80 Plus Gold badge sits in the top-right corner, and CM's logo can be found in the opposite corner.


This side includes the technical and power specification tables, which are useful to both reviewers and interested users.


This side only has the model description and CM's logo.


At the rear of the box are a very brief multilingual features description, a description of all connectors, and two graphs showing the unit's efficiency and fan-speed curves. We would really appreciate it if CM mentioned the ambient of the specific fan-speed curve but can safely assume that it was recorded at normal room temperature (23°C).

Contents

The PSU is protected by a cardboard piece that covers its top side. It is also wrapped into a plastic bag. We would prefer packing foam instead, but cardboard material is environmentally friendly while foam is not.


The bundle includes a user's manual, a set of fixing bolts, the modular cables, and an AC power cord. Unfortunately, no Velcro straps or zip ties were included.

Exterior

The finish isn't the best we have seen but is still of acceptable quality, especially for a unit of the sub-$100 category, but it is glossy enough to easily attract fingerprints, which made our life during photo-shooting difficult. The silver frame around the fan looks nice and adds points to the unit's overall look, and the decals on both side are small, matching the overall design well. Finally, the large specifications label is installed at the bottom, and there is no grommet around the cable-exit hole at the rear.


The unit's dimensions are compact, which should make its installation relatively easy, but there are too many native cables to suit our taste. We think its PCIe connectors should be modular.


Cable selection is a bit strange since all native cables are of the usual round-sleeved variety while its modular cables are black and flat. We would definitely like all of the unit's cables to be black and flat.