Power supply eating up too much of your case? This could be your solution.

[williamcll]

 

A Chinese company by the name PicoBox recently released a motherboard power supply unit that is only as big as thumb drive while offering up to 250 Watts of power.

Quote

PC builders who like tiny chassis have a new power supply option that could save them a lot of space. PicoBox has a new line of extra small power supplies (PSUs) this called the PicoBox Z2—and they're seriously small. These little guys measure in at 56mm long, just big enough for its 24-Pin ATX to plug directly into your motherboard.

The company has released four models, each with more power output than the last. They're available from 120W up to an impressive 250W.

 

We're not suggesting you use a power supply like this for your next full ATX desktop build—but it would be perfect for a Mini-ITX build. These were designed with miniature desktops in mind, much like the Geeek A1 Mini-ITX Case we reviewed in August. There aren't many PSUs that can fit inside a Mini-ITX case, but PicoBox is certainly up to the challenge. PicoBox ensures performance efficiency up to at least 94%. You can grab a PicoBox Z2 of your own for less than $30 (€27) on the official website. If you're looking for a PSU with the smallest possible form factor, this could be your best bet. Not only does it promise serious performance for its size, but its low price makes it budget-friendly.

Source:http://www.pico-box.com/en/products/7826/Z2-ATX-200

            https://www.tomshardware.com/news/picobox-tiny-psu,40425.html

            https://www.techspot.com/news/81950-picobox-56mm-psu-plugs-directly-motherboard.html

 

 

Thoughts: This would be great for a lot of custom system builders and OEMS that sells media PCs but I doubt this will get popular anytime soon since you may need more than just this module (such as their Pico X power modules) to feed the rest of the system. It would be fantastic for a LTT build for though, or de8aurer's recent HTPC build.

[S w a t s o n]

They make a 300W with dual 6+2 pin outputs too. They have lots of shit actually, very cool

http://www.pico-box.com/en/products/2706/X300

[Streetguru]

7 minutes ago, williamcll said:

 

99% chance it still needs the normal external bricks they sell. That's just to hook up to the 24 pin and presumably the CPU 8 pin.

[PopsicleHustler]

Its still kinda meh since you still need 110/220V AC to 12V DC adaptor because this thing feeds from 12V DC.

[Master Disaster]

Pico PSUs have been around for years, this is nothing new.

 

5 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

99% chance it still needs the normal external bricks they sell. That's just to hook up to the 24 pin and presumably the CPU 8 pin.

They do require an external brick.

[circeseye]

these have been around for a long time. before smart car systems things like this were used to build a computer system for a car or truck because it was all 12 volt. i had seen some systems built and the computer was mounted under the driver seat....this looks good for that actually

[Noctus]

7 minutes ago, PopsicleHustler said:

Its still kinda meh 

Not really since this is to let you save space inside the case...

 

Perfect for those who want to pimp their case out and don't want a big black brick taking up space and a godsend for smaller form factors where you can have a long extension like cable and the brick sitting out of harms way.

[Streetguru]

4 minutes ago, Noctus said:

 

It is only useful in systems where a FlexATX power supply doesn't fit. Which is very few systems.

[Noctus]

12 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

It is only useful in systems where a FlexATX power supply doesn't fit. Which is very few systems.

And this is even smaller than that, giving more room for a custom build inside the case. It's quite useful....

[Streetguru]

5 minutes ago, Noctus said:

And this is even smaller than that, giving more room for a custom build inside the case. It's quite useful....

Even the smallest of ITX cases have room for a flexATX power supply.

You'd need an STX or NUC type of system to really make use of this.

Otherwise SXF power supplies go up to 450-600W

[Noctus]

16 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

Even the smallest of ITX cases have room for a flexATX power supply.

You'd need an STX or NUC type of system to really make use of this.

???? If i didn't want the bulk of the bigger PSU's, and to use the space they take up for a custom build, flexATX included. This picobox (and others of it's size) is perfect. Why are you trying so hard to convince me this isn't a positive?

[Streetguru]

1 hour ago, Noctus said:

???? If i didn't want the bulk of the bigger PSU's, and to use the space they take up for a custom build, flexATX included. This picobox (and others of it's size) is perfect. Why are you trying so hard to convince me this isn't a positive?

Because it still requires an external brick where as the FlexATX PSU is self contained and still very small.

If you totally design a case around it, then yes it's useful, but do you really need to shave off a 2.5x2.5 inch rectangle from the side of the ITX case?

https://www.amazon.com/Win-BQ656T-AD120TBL-Mini-ITX-Desktop-Black/dp/B008F01YA2

[Noctus]

46 minutes ago, Streetguru said:

 but do you really need to shave off a 2.5x2.5 inch rectangle from the side of the ITX case?
 

Yes, if, like i've stated repeatedly, that you'd want to use that space to maximize the internal space of the case for additional customization and have a long ass cable with a brick attached. Out of the way.

 

I feel like i'm Bill Murray in Groundhog Day...

[Streetguru]

6 minutes ago, Noctus said:

Yes, if, like i've stated repeatedly, that you'd want to use that space to maximize the internal space of the case for additional customization and have a long ass cable with a brick attached. Out of the way.

 

I feel like i'm Bill Murray in Groundhog Day...

What is there to customize in what would be the world's smallest PC case?

[Bananasplit_00]

These are anything but new. These have been around for ages

[Totallycasual]

5 hours ago, PopsicleHustler said:

Its still kinda meh since you still need 110/220V AC to 12V DC adaptor because this thing feeds from 12V DC.

Super interesting for me though as i am looking at a PC build for an RV (full 12 volt system). 

[Sauron]

5 hours ago, Streetguru said:

99% chance it still needs the normal external bricks they sell. That's just to hook up to the 24 pin and presumably the CPU 8 pin.

Yep, it's a DC-DC power supply

[Arika]

what a hyper niche product

[porina]

Looks similar to PicoPSUs as others have said. In a quick look at the one linked in OP, they have the same "problem" in that on modern higher performing systems, the bulk of the power is taken on 12V line. The 200W PSU only claims to deliver 144W on 12V rails.

 

I forgot the exact model PicoPSU I had, but it practice it had a sustained rating of under 100W on 12V rail, barely enough for the i3-4150T and 750Ti I was running. I never finished the custom mod either... At the time the only "small" PSUs were to reused 1U server PSUs, but moving the bulk to an external brick makes things a lot easier.

[mariushm]

You can make them smaller ... but it's an issue of price.

 

Basically these boards are 2-3 buck regulators ( 12v->3.3v, 12v->5v , 12v -> -12v) and a microcontroller for soft shut down, power good signal etc.

Linear sells 2+ rail modules you can slap on a tiny pcb and control them using a microcontroller, for example LTM4628 can do up to 5.5v and 8A (times 2) at 96% efficiency in a 15x15mm package... but it's 40$. Add a 8-10pin micro for the power good signals and shut down, a -12v inverter and a tiny ldo for the micro and you got your "picoPSU".  

 

They sell the Z2-200w at 23$ and it's exactly the same specs 8A for 5v (5v and 5v standby), 8a for 3.3v and 12A for 12v ... 12v is pass through, but it's basically a limitation of the awg18 (or awg16?) wires that come into the psu and possible limitation of the barrel jack connector.

 

You can bet that 23$ psu costs around 10$ in parts to manufacture... that's the problem... you can make even smaller but people won't pay that much.

 

[HarryNyquist]

Personally I'd be okay with a power brick on my PC if it meant the supply was tiny. If the xbox and such can do it then my PC can too.

[The King of the Undead]

so I turn my PSU's cord into a laptop charger?

[Sauron]

Now that I think about it, this could be used to power your pc off of a battery.

[BuckGup]

21 minutes ago, Sauron said:

Now that I think about it, this could be used to power your pc off of a battery.

Some kid tried to power his PC off of a bunch of 9V batteries and killed his GPU

[BuckGup]

Also this isn’t new at all. Have been around for many many years now