Final words and conclusion

What we did like:

The Giant Reactor meets and at times exceeds the manufacturer specifications. We found the efficiency of the unit remarkable, which in our opinion is also its best asset, allowing it to stay very cool and quiet. The voltage regulation of the unit works very well too, keeping the lines very stable and very close to the rated standards, with the exception of the 3.3V line. The 3.3V line is still very good but during our voltage regulation test it simply wasn’t as stable as the other 3 lines were.

What we would like to see improved:

We couldn’t find any significant faults with the Giant Reactor. There are a few omissions which we would like to see improved, such as the cables which are not fully sleeved, but nothing noteworthy to class as a fault. The price of the Giant Reactor is steep but common for units of its category, so considering the quality it could be seen as good value for money.

Who we would recommend it to:

The NorthQ Giant Reactor is aimed towards the hardcore overclockers and extreme enthusiasts; no other computer user would ever need half the power that this behemoth can output. Its amazing efficiency and quiet performance can also make it a great choice for high grade HTPC systems, where noise and heat are critical. Unfortunately the simple looks of the Giant Reactor might not appeal to hardcore modders, who will probably choose a unit with lower total output but a higher ‘bling factor’.

We believe that the NorthQ Giant Reactor 1kW unit is worthy of our DriverHeaven’s Editors Choice award.

The NorthQ Giant Reactor 1kW unit can be found in Komplett.co.uk for 145£.

What do these awards mean?