EXTREME Overclocking - Power Supply Testing Methodology Article - Page: 5
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Power Supply Testing Methodology
at EXTREME Overclocking

Date Published: June 2, 2005
Page Last Updated: February 20, 2006
Author: Jason Rabel

 

Compiled Test Results - Loading:

Loads are reported at 4 different levels (Low, Typical, Heavy, and Max), the numbers will vary slightly between power supplies because voltage levels have a direct effect on current going though the resistors. Ambient temperature (outside the case) would vary between 23.8-26.7°C (75-80°F), which was somewhat proportional to the load level being tested, however the main concern was keeping the internal temp below 50°C. All PC power supplies are "switching power supplies", so please keep in mind that voltage levels will always vary between PCs because loads are always different (and quite dynamic).

  • Things to consider:
    1. Voltage Regulation (% above/below nominal)
    2. Efficiency (particularly under a "typical" & "heavy" loads)
    3. Safety (Does it shutdown under unsafe conditions?)
    4. Maximum Real Power Output (does it meet rated output?)
    • Two potential reason a power supply did not meet its rated maximum power output:
      1. Voltage exceeded maximum tolerances (as specified on previous page)
      2. PSU shutdown (overheat or overload condition)

Note: Maximum tested load (red background) may not always be the maximum PSU output rating (mentioned as reason #4 above). We try to get as close as possible to the maximum rated output, but the design of the load testing device only works in incremental numbers.

Akasa PaxPower 460W - AK-P460FG
3.3V 5V 12V1 12V2 5Vsb -12V DC Load AC Input Effic PF Case
Volts Amps Volts Amps Volts Amps Volts Amps Volts Volts Watts Watts % - °C
3.42 3.36 5.20 1.06 12.06 3.11 12.07 3.06 5.05 11.60 96.3 134 71.9 .98 33.5
3.39 6.41 5.19 6.21 12.06 6.15 12.05 8.96 5.05 11.94 241.0 310 77.8 .99 35.6
3.39 14.51 5.17 10.58 12.05 12.10 12.05 11.77 5.06 12.21 396.5 520 76.3 .99 38.5
3.39 14.37 5.15 14.95 12.06 14.96 12.06 14.46 5.06 12.42 485.5 662 73.3 .99 47.5
Note: 5Vsb & -12V rails have fixed resistors at approximately .5A & .2A respectively.

  Load PF 3.3V 5V 12V1 12V2 Effic Case
Akasa
PowerPlus
Rated: 650W
PFC: Active
ATX: 2.01
EPS: 2.11		 102W .98 3.34
(2%)		 5.15
(3%)		 12.19
(2%)		 12.18
(2%)		 73.9% 23.1°C
257W .99 3.31
(1%)		 5.09
(2%)		 12.18
(2%)		 12.14
(2%)		 83.1% 31.3°C
423W .99 3.24
(-1%)		 5.03
(1%)		 12.15
(2%)		 12.13
(2%)		 82.1% 42.2°C
635W .99 3.20
(-3%)		 4.90
(-2%)		 12.19
(2%)		 12.17
(2%)		 78.8% 49.9°C

Comments:

 Even with the load tester maxed out, the PSU still ran strong. Voltages typically within 2% tolerance, adjustable pots can allow for exact precision if desired. Good efficiency, >80% under typical loads.
 
Antec
SP-500
Rated: 500W
PFC: None
ATX: 2.0		 96W .58 3.31
(1%)		 5.07
(2%)		 12.16
(2%)		 12.14
(2%)		 79% 26.7°C
242W .60 3.27
(-1%)		 5.03
(1%)		 12.08
(1%)		 12.00
(0%)		 82% 38.6°C
397W .62 3.21
(-3%)		 4.97
(-1%)		 11.95
(-1%)		 11.91
(-1%)		 78% 51.0°C
514W .64 3.21
(-3%)		 4.86
(-3%)		 11.97
(-1%)		 11.92
(-1%)		 75% 55.6°C

Comments:

 12V rails loaded to ~18A each (max we can test), stayed within 1% tolerance. Good voltage regulation overall, 3.3V dipped a little under very heavy loads.
 
Antec
TP-II 480 Blue
Rated: 480W
PFC: None
ATX: 2.01		 92W .57 3.36
(2%)		 5.12
(3%)		 12.08
(1%)		 12.07
(1%)		 73% 32.2°C
240W .59 3.33
(1%)		 5.08
(2%)		 12.04
(1%)		 11.96
(-1%)		 80% 37.1°C
403W .61 3.27
(-1%)		 5.04
(1%)		 11.96
(-1%)		 11.92
(-1%)		 79% 43.3°C
498W .61 3.27
(-1%)		 5.03
(1%)		 11.96
(-1%)		 11.90
(-1%)		 77% 46.1°C

Comments:

 Awesome voltage regulation, generally 1%! Properly shutdown from over-current and over-temp conditions. Tested to ~530W peak.
 
Cooler Master
RS-550-ACLY
Rated: 550W
PFC: Active
ATX: 2.01		 96W .97 3.34
(2%)		 5.10
(2%)		 12.11
(1%)		 12.10
(1%)		 82% 30.7°C
240W .99 3.29
(1%)		 5.02
(1%)		 12.04
(1%)		 11.96
(-1%)		 83% 34.5°C
397W .99 3.20
(-3%)		 4.93
(-2%)		 11.91
(-1%)		 11.88
(-1%)		 80% 40.4°C
461W .99 3.21
(-3%)		 4.96
(-1%)		 11.80
(-2%)		 11.76
(-2%)		 79% 42.2°C

Comments:

 Specs showed derating 85% of full loading operation at 40°C. Good tolerances and efficiency levels. Peak output ~650W under more nominal temperatures.
 

Enermax Liberty 620W - ELT620AWT
3.3V 5V 12V1 12V2 5Vsb -12V DC Load AC Input Effic PF Case
Volts Amps Volts Amps Volts Amps Volts Amps Volts Volts Watts Watts % - °C
3.36 3.37 5.21 1.06 12.20 3.15 12.20 3.08 5.18 12.02 97.9 121 80.9 .98 32.3
3.40 6.53 5.21 6.25 12.20 6.25 12.19 6.22 5.17 12.05 245.4 290 84.6 .99 34.3
3.42 14.68 5.22 10.67 12.21 12.25 12.21 11.88 5.16 12.05 405.5 486 83.4 .99 41.7
3.47 21.63 5.19 26.71 12.32 18.07 12.32 17.42 5.14 12.07 655.9 833 78.7 .99 47.4
Note: 5Vsb & -12V rails have fixed resistors at approximately .5A & .2A respectively.

Enermax
EG475P-VE
Rated: 470W
PFC: None
ATX: 2.0		 98W .59 3.35
(2%)		 5.20
(4%)		 12.18
(2%)		 12.17
(2%)		 82% 29.2°C
242W .61 3.30
(0%)		 5.14
(3%)		 12.09
(1%)		 11.97
(-1%)		 85% 37.4°C
397W .63 3.21
(-3%)		 5.07
(2%)		 11.94
(-1%)		 11.85
(-2%)		 82% 43.7°C
463W .62 3.20
(-3%)		 5.08
(2%)		 11.84
(-2%)		 11.72
(-3%)		 81% 47.3°C

Comments:

 Held up exceptionally well under various load conditions. Capable of 480-500W continuous output with heavy 12V usage under average ambient temps.
 
HEC
ACE Power
Rated: 480W
PFC: None
ATX: 2.01		 97W .59 3.38
(3%)		 5.17
(4%)		 12.07
(1%)		 12.04
(1%)		 78% 29.6°C
242W .61 3.34
(2%)		 5.10
(2%)		 12.08
(1%)		 11.97
(-1%)		 80% 36.7°C
407W .63 3.27
(-1%)		 5.02
(1%)		 12.06
(1%)		 11.96
(-1%)		 78% 46.7°C
470W .63 3.25
(-2%)		 5.03
(1%)		 11.99
(-1%)		 11.88
(-1%)		 76% 51°C

Comments:

 12V Rails loaded each to ~17.5A, voltages still stayed within 2% of tolerance. Dual 80mm fans were very quiet, even under heavy load. Good voltage regulation.
 
Hiper
Type-R 580W
Rated: 580W
PFC: None
ATX: 2.2		 100W .60 3.39
(3%)		 5.22
(5%)		 12.28
(3%)		 12.23
(2%)		 77.4% 21.2°C
247W .61 3.35
(2%)		 5.12
(3%)		 12.20
(2%)		 12.06
(1%)		 80.9% 31.2°C
408W .61 3.25
(-2%)		 5.08
(2%)		 12.09
(1%)		 11.95
(-1%)		 78.1% 38.3°C
562W .60 3.20
(-3%)		 4.97
(-1%)		 11.98
(-1%)		 11.87
(-1%)		 74.8% 42.2°C

Comments:

 Good Efficiency, ~78-80% under typical loads. All voltages stayed within acceptable tolerances. Very quiet fans.
 
Hiper
Type-R 480W
Rated: 480W
PFC: None
ATX: 2.2		 99W .62 3.38
(3%)		 5.11
(3%)		 11.97
(-1%)		 11.96
(-1%)		 79.9% 21.6°C
247W .60 3.32
(1%)		 5.03
(1%)		 11.88
(-1%)		 11.83
(-2%)		 84.2% 32.3°C
400W .58 3.23
(-2%)		 4.94
(-2%)		 11.73
(-3%)		 11.74
(-3%)		 79.9% 40.1°C
482W .58 3.17
(-4%)		 4.81
(-4%)		 11.68
(-3%)		 11.74
(-3%)		 76.3% 44.3°C

Comments:

 PSU would NOT shutdown from an over-current situation and resulted in damage. 12V rails loaded each to ~18A, voltages were within 4% of tolerance. Verified peak load rating of 530W.
 
Meridian
XClio-450BL
Rated: 450W
PFC: None
ATX: 2.0		 95W .59 3.28
(-1%)		 5.09
(2%)		 12.16
(2%)		 12.15
(2%)		 77% 31.9°C
238W .60 3.26
(-2%)		 5.05
(1%)		 12.09
(1%)		 12.00
(0%)		 81% 37.3°C
398W .61 3.20
(-3%)		 4.99
(-1%)		 12.01
(1%)		 11.96
(-1%)		 77% 41.7°C
460W .61 3.20
(-3%)		 5.02
(1%)		 11.86
(-2%)		 11.80
(-2%)		 76% 44.8°C

Comments:

 Good Efficiency and regulation. Shut down properly from over-temp & over-current conditions. Tested to ~550W peak. Includes fan adapter (SCFT) for cooling after shutdown.
 
Meridian
XCLIO-550BL
Rated: 550W
PFC: None
ATX: 2.01		 98W .58 3.34
(2%)		 5.09
(2%)		 12.15
(2%)		 12.13
(2%)		 76% 32.3°C
241W .59 3.28
(-1%)		 5.02
(1%)		 12.08
(1%)		 11.98
(-1%)		 80% 37.2°C
396W .62 3.17
(-4%)		 4.94
(-2%)		 11.97
(-1%)		 11.90
(-1%)		 77% 41.8°C
528W .63 3.20
(-3%)		 4.85
(-3%)		 11.92
(-1%)		 11.83
(-2%)		 75% 45.8°C

Comments:

 Rubberized coating. Made by Channel Well Technologies, same design as Antec True Power 2.0. Loaded both 12V rails to 18A each, stayed 1% tolerance.
 
OCZ
ModStream
52012U
Rated: 520W
PFC: None
ATX: 1.3		 93W .59 3.37
(2%)		 5.15
(3%)		 11.93
(-1%)		 79% 30.6°C
239W .61 3.32
(1%)		 5.11
(3%)		 11.77
(-2%)		 82% 37.0°C
389W .64 3.23
(-2%)		 5.04
(1%)		 11.67
(-3%)		 75% 43.9°C
502W .64 3.20
(-3%)		 4.95
(-1%)		 11.64
(-3%)		 71% 45.6°C

Comments:

 Shut down properly from over-temp & over-current conditions. Tested +12V up to 35A peak load (max test rig can do).
 
Seasonic
S12-500W
Rated: 500W
PFC: Active
ATX: 2.0		 95W .96 3.31
(1%)		 4.98
(-1%)		 12.04
(1%)		 12.03
(1%)		 80% 28.0°C
239W .99 3.28
(-1%)		 4.95
(-1%)		 12.01
(1%)		 11.94
(-1%)		 85% 37.7°C
393W .99 3.20
(-3%)		 4.90
(-2%)		 11.93
(-1%)		 11.88
(-1%)		 83% 44.8°C
507W .99 3.18
(-4%)		 4.84
(-4%)		 11.89
(-1%)		 11.83
(-2%)		 82% 49.6°C

Comments:

 Excellent efficiency, 85% under typical load! Also has active PFC! ould not get PSU to shutdown from current or temp overload. Voltage levels would just continue to drop and current would never go higher than about 720W (AC, so figure about 560W DC).
 
Sunbeamtech
NUUO-550W
Rated: 550W
PFC: None
ATX: 2.0		 97W .57 3.42
(4%)		 5.14
(3%)		 12.06
(1%)		 12.04
(1%)		 75% 25.3°C
247W .59 3.40
(3%)		 5.11
(3%)		 12.00
(0%)		 11.92
(-1%)		 82% 34.3°C
400W .60 3.35
(2%)		 5.06
(2%)		 11.92
(-1%)		 11.85
(-2%)		 78% 39.9°C
532W .61 3.32
(1%)		 4.96
(-2%)		 11.89
(-1%)		 11.81
(-2%)		 77% 43.7°C

Comments:

 NVIDIA SLI Certified. Good voltage regulation. Properly shutdown from overload conditions. Dual fan design reasonably quiet.
 
TTGI
TT-550K14
Rated: 550W
PFC: None
ATX: 1.3		 93W .61 3.43
(4%)		 5.15
(3%)		 11.75
(-3%)		 72% 30.5°C
224W .62 3.38
(3%)		 5.07
(2%)		 11.44
(-5%)		 77% 34.8°C
N/A Voltages exceeded specified tolerances
445W .65 3.22
(-3%)		 4.81
(-4%)		 11.91
(-1%)		 69% 41.1°C

Comments:

 Requires more load than average on 5V & 3.3V to keep voltages balances. Unable to load 12V beyond ~20A without voltage dropping below 5% or overloading PSU (by increasing load on other rails to compensate).
 

I would estimate about a ±2% margin of error for load ratings & efficiency calculations.

If you have any questions / comments / concerns or whatever about the results, please feel free to contact me (link up in the title area).

 

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