Computer stores are fond of advertising high-end PCs for power users. Although those systems can't hide behind weak processors or sub-standard graphics cards, unscrupulous builders do manage to save costs by using poorly-built or insufficiently-capable power supplies. Unfortunately, while they might work for a time, we've heard too many horror stories about performance-oriented configurations going up in smoke after a cheap PSU cried havoc and let slip the dogs of war.
In many expensive computers, cheap PSUs are a silent threat not only to general stability, but also long-term component health. The real high-end power supplies that you can appreciate years from now (but might not consider worth the extra premium today) often don't make the cut because of the fact that they cost more. All the devices included in this roundup are suitable for almost any enthusiast PC with a discrete graphics card or two.
We requested power supplies from a number of vendors able to provide a total output between 700 and 900 W, and achieve efficiency able to meet the 80 PLUS Gold standard. With Antec, FSP, Seasonic, and SilverStone in the mix, only brand name devices are represented.
The 80 PLUS standard emerged from the Generalized Internal Power Supply Efficiency Test Protocol, which was created by Ecos & EPRI almost 10 years ago. In 2004, 80 PLUS was specified as an initiative, and Seasonic was the first PSU maker to provide a compliant product by 2005. Only a year later, the Energy Star 4.0 specifications added 80 PLUS requirements. This spec went into effect in 2007 and it only took a few months for the industry to create hundreds of 80 PLUS-compliant products.
However, 80% efficiency clearly wasn’t enough. It quickly became obvious that higher efficiency is possible, and 80 PLUS revised the standard and added Bronze, Silver, and Gold certifications for even higher-efficiency power supplies. By October 2009, a Platinum standard was added for efficiency above 90%. Here is a quick overview on 80 PLUS efficiency level certifications:
| 80 PLUS Test Type | 115 V Internal Non-Redundant | 230 V Internal Redundant | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fraction of Rated Load | 20% | 50% | 100% | 20% | 50% | 100% |
| 80 PLUS | 80% | 80% | 80% | Not defined | ||
| 80 PLUS Bronze | 82% | 85% | 82% | 81% | 85% | 81% |
| 80 PLUS Silver | 85% | 88% | 85% | 85% | 89% | 85% |
| 80 PLUS Gold | 87% | 90% | 87% | 88% | 92% | 88% |
| 80 PLUS Platinum | 90% | 92% | 89% | 90% | 94% | 91% |
While the step from 80 PLUS to 80 PLUS Platinum is significant and may translate into significant differences in power consumption, the steps between the three mainstream certifications (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) are less spectacular. Typically it makes very little sense to spend a lot of extra money upfront for an 80 PLUS device in an effort to save money on the power bill over time.
Effectively, reasonable devices with 80 PLUS Bronze or Silver certifications should do the trick. However, prices for Gold-certified 80 PLUS PSUs have come down quite a bit, and considering such a device is smart not only for its improved efficiency, but also because you can be even more confident in typically-great build quality. If you’re already on your way to spending big money on enthusiast hardware, it might make sense to spend a few more dollars on a superior power supply.
Without spilling the results right out of the gate, we can say that all of the 80 PLUS Gold PSUs we tested performed their tasks very well. And, aside from a few small lapses, they are highly suitable for use in real high-end PCs.
The name of Antec's PSU leaves no doubt as to why it was developed: High Current Pro. The exclusive feature of the High Current Pro is its use of 16 AWG cables, which purportedly reduce resistance, increase efficiency, and improve power delivery. Antec's spec sheet heightens our expectations, which are already lofty given the company's claims. Each of four 12 V rails is designed for a current of up to 40 A. The combined power of the 12 V lines is 840 W, just slightly below the 850 W sustained output claimed by Antec.
The Antec HCP-850 comes in a compact paper box. The power supply itself and its cables are wrapped in a pouch. When it comes time to unpack the Antec HCP-850, the first things you notice are the workmanship of the dark blue housing and the partially-modular cable configuration. Only the lines for the motherboard, CPU, and two PCI Express connectors are hard-wired. The wire harnesses are designed as high-quality round designs, and they are comparatively long.
The number of connections also doesn’t give you anything to complain about; quite the opposite, in fact. With two eight-pin CPU power plugs, six 6+2-pin PCIe connectors, and nine SATA power leads, the manufacturer is very generous. Even the largest systems should have no problems connecting a large number of drives and graphics cards. The Antec HCP-850 is certified for both Nvidia SLI and AMD CrossFire X.
| Antec HCP-850 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC Input | 100-240 V, 50-60 Hz | |||||||
| DC Output | +3.3 V | +5 V | +12 V (#1) | +12 V (#2) | +12 V (#3) | +12 V (#4) | -12 V | +5 Vsb |
| 25 A | 25 A | 40 A | 40 A | 40 A | 40 A | 0.5 A | 3.0 A | |
| Individual Output | 6 W | 15 W | ||||||
| Rail Utilization | Sys | Sys | CPU & VGA | |||||
| Combined Output | 160 W | 840 W | ||||||
| Total Continuous Output | 850 W | |||||||
| Peak Output | n/a | |||||||
Efficiency according to the 80 PLUS specifications.
Efficiency based on performance profiles.
The Antec High Current Power met most of our expectations in the test lab, albeit with small lapses. In our review of the efficiency values for the 80 PLUS Gold certification, the device showed no weakness. It was, however, slightly outperformed by the FSP and Seasonic models. The PSU's efficiency numbers at low loads makes it pretty clear that Antec optimized this unit for high-performance environments. Efficiency at 85 W is still a very respectable 81%, but it falls to 60% at a load of 25 W. This is the lowest score in the entire test field.
On the other hand, its rectification of ripple is exemplary. Antec clearly meets those specifications on all of its rails. In all other disciplines, the HCP-850 behaves just as you would anticipate from a high-quality power supply. The pleasantly quiet fan is nice as well; it successfully keeps the unit running cool without generating much noise.
Antec's HCP-850 is well-built performance-oriented PSU, suitable for inclusion in demanding gaming PCs. It's comparatively low efficiency under low loads is notable, but probably not a problem, given the target market. It sells for around $250 online, which isn't inexpensive. At the same time, it's fairly apropos given the competition and this unit's value.
We've previously tested PSUs from FSP, but none of them featured the design or innovation to really impress us. But now, with its new Aurum series, the manufacturer aims to be a player in the high-end PSU segment. First impressions are pretty convincing. Modern design is coupled with a housing that has a nice texture, thanks to it rough-coated surface. The unique shape of the ventilation slots (FSP calls this a feature and dubs it Arrow Flow; we see what it did there), is also pretty sharp-looking. Whether the airflow is, in fact, optimized is another story.
Unlike the other test candidates, FSP deliberately chooses not to integrate a modular cable solution. The reasons, according to the manufacturer, include a very price-sensitive market segment and efficiency improvements attributable to hard-wired cables. While the length of the cables themselves seem generous, the number of available connections is downright miserly compared to the competition. Along with the ATX motherboard cable and a pair of +12 V processor leads, FSP includes four PCIe cables, seven SATA connectors, and four Molex ports, as well as one floppy lead. AMD certifies this PSU with its CrossFireX technology.
The AU-700 has four 12 V rails, each of which delivers up to 18 A and together can output a maximum load of 672 W.
| FSP AU-700 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC Input | 100-240 V, 50-60 Hz | |||||||
| DC Output | +3.3 V | +5 V | +12 V (#1) | +12 V (#2) | +12 V (#3) | +12 V (#4) | -12 V | +5 Vsb |
| 28 A | 28 A | 18 A | 18 A | 18 A | 18 A | 0.5 A | 3.5 A | |
| Individual Output | 6 W | 17.5 W | ||||||
| Rail Utilization | Sys | Sys | CPU & VGA | |||||
| Combined Output | 160 W | 672 W | ||||||
| Total Continuous Output | 700 W | |||||||
| Peak Output | 750 W | |||||||
Efficiency according to 80 PLUS specifications
Efficiency based on performance profiles.
The Aurum-700 performs well across the board. It easily reaches the levels defined by the 80 PLUS Gold specification, and even exceeds them at 50% and 100% load.
Even at low loads, the AU-700 is convincingly efficient, delivering 73% power efficiency at 25 W. In this discipline it benefits from having a lower maximum output level than the other devices in the test.
In standby mode, this FSP PSU sets the standard for comparison. The AU-700 consumes only 0.1 W by the strict EuP measurement, which tracks consumption without loads on any of the rails. The other devices tested consume about 0.2 W in standby. The FSP Aurum performs nicely in all tests, showing no weaknesses, even in ripple rectification.
If you can do without modular cable management, the FSP Aurum serves as a modern high-performance PSU at a very reasonable price of only $130. It comes out at the top of our comparison. It sets the bar especially high in terms of efficiency. Together with its quiet fan, the AU-700 is an excellent PSU.
The Seasonic X-760 (from the manufacturer's new X series) employs a high-quality, yet simple design. The 760 W PSU comes with fully-modular cabling.
Despite its respectable maximum output, the X-760 isn't the priciest option in our roundup given its street price under $200.
As with all the X-series models, the fan doesn't kick in until a load of around 20% is reached. On this particular model, this means that the PSU operates completely silently up until you hit about 150 W of load. And even when the fan is working, the noise level remains pleasantly low.
The modular cable harness is long enough for more enthusiasts, and the number of output connections is also sufficient. With four 6+2-pin PCIe plugs, eight SATA connectors, and eight four-pin Molex leads, the PSU should satisfy users with single- and dual-GPU graphics configs, plus a number of hard drives and fans. The Seasonic X-760's single 12 V rail can deliver up to 756 W and handle a maximum load of 63 A.
| Seasonic X-760 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC Input | 100-240 V, 50-60 Hz | |||||||
| DC Output | +3.3 V | +5 V | +12 V (#1) | +12 V (#2) | +12 V (#3) | +12 V (#4) | -12 V | +5 Vsb |
| 25 A | 25 A | 63 A | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0.5 A | 3.0 A | |
| Individual Output | 6 W | 15 W | ||||||
| Rail Utilization | Sys | Sys | CPU & VGA | |||||
| Combined Output | 125 W | 756 W | ||||||
| Total Continuous Output | 760 W | |||||||
| Peak Output | n/a | |||||||
Efficiency according to 80 PLUS Gold specifications
Efficiency based on performance profiles.
Together with the FSP Aurum AU-700, Seasonic's X-760 leads the pack in lab testing. Minor differences aside, the two PSUs are equal in terms of efficiency, and that's impressive given the high level at which they operate.
The Seasonic X-760 falls behind the other devices in terms of hold-up time, but even there it stays within the ATX specification. Otherwise, the results offer nothing to complain about. The ripple and noise measurements confirm the quality of this PSU.
Users looking for a powerful PSU with modular cable management have found their match in Seasonic's X-760. The device boasts both excellent workmanship and high performance in our tests.
The PSUs in SilverStone's Strider Gold series are relatively new additions. The manufacturer is hoping to satisfy increasingly demanding power users. In comparison to the other test candidates, SilverStone's product was not packaged with the same care. The device comes wrapped in a single layer of bubble wrap, and there is no case keeping the cables organized.
As with the Seasonic device, SilverStone's Strider Gold SST-ST75F-G offers a fully modular cable management system with round cables. The terminal blocks for each cable in the PSU's housing don't seem to be quite as carefully crafted as the connectors on the Seasonic device. Cable lengths and the number of ports are average. The single 12 V rail can handle a maximum of 744 W. That's over 99% of the power delivery claimed by the manufacturer.
| SilverStone Strider Gold SST-ST75F-G | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC Input | 100-240 V, 50-60 Hz | |||||||
| DC Output | +3.3 V | +5 V | +12 V (#1) | +12 V (#2) | +12 V (#3) | +12 V (#4) | -12 V | +5 Vsb |
| 22 A | 25 A | 62 A | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0.5 A | 3.5 A | |
| Individual Output | 3 | 17 | ||||||
| Rail Utilization | Sys | Sys | CPU & VGA | |||||
| Combined Output | 150 W | 744 W | ||||||
| Total Continuous Output | 750 W | |||||||
| Peak Output | 850 W | |||||||
Efficiency according to 80 PLUS specifications
Efficiency based on performance profiles
The SilverStone Strider Gold can't keep up with its competitors in terms of efficiency. At 100% load, it misses the 80 PLUS Gold limit by one percent; at 50% load it misses by two percent. To eliminate the possibility of error or a bad sample, we repeated the test with a second unit, which returned identical results. Granted, this isn't too important in the real world, but it's still off-spec. 
The SilverStone Strider Gold 750 is certainly a good PSU, and it delivers more than enough power, even for demanding systems. The fully modular cable solution is also an interesting feature for the folks who prefer particularly clean innards. But the efficiency lapses cannot simply be ignored, especially with a street price of roughly $190. SilverStone only offers a three-year warranty, while the other manufacturers offer five.
| Test Hardware | |
|---|---|
| AC Source | Chroma Programmable AC Source 6530 |
| Power Meter | Yokogawa WT210 Digital Power Meter |
| Loads | 4 x 600 W Chroma 63306 for 12 V testing |
| 4 x 300 W Chroma 63303 for 5 and 3.3 V testing | |
| using Chroma High-Speed DC Load Mainframes 6334 | |
| Oscilloscope | Tektronix DPO3034 Digital Phosphore Oscilloscope (300 MHz) |
| Test Procedure | |
| Voltages | 110 and 230 V |
| Standby Power | 0.25 A fixed current to simulate PC standby power on 5 Vsb |
| 80plus Efficiency Testing | 100/50/20% load, relative to specified total output Load distribution across 12/5/3.3V rails at the same proportion as specified for 100% testing at 110 V according to ATX 2.3 specification |
| Efficiency at Fixed Loads | 25, 50, 85, 300, 500 W loads Load distribution across 12/5/3.3 V rails at the same proportion as specified for 100% |
| Peak Load Test | 110% Overload Testing at maximum combined 12 V |
| Temperature Test | Air intake vs. Outtake temperature delta tracking highest delta during all tests |
Holdup-Time, Inrush Current, Peak and Short-Circuit Test
| Short Circuit Protection Test (12 V) | |
|---|---|
| Model | Test Passed |
| Silverstone Strider Gold 750 W (115 V) | yes |
| Silverstone Strider Gold 750 W (230 V) | yes |
| Seasonic X-760 (115 V) | yes |
| Seasonic X-760 (230 V) | yes |
| FSP AU-700 (115 V) | yes |
| FSP AU-700 (230 V) | yes |
| Antec HCP-850 (115 V) | yes |
| Antec HCP-850 (230 V) | yes |





The current crop of 80 PLUS Gold-rated power supplies in the 700-900 W range demonstrates what modern power supplies can really do. Each unit we tested easily accomplished the demanding tasks we threw at them.
However, there were a few small (but meaningful) differentiators among the four devices. Seasonic's X-760 and FSP's Aurum AU-700 performed especially well. The latter boasts both the best test results and lowest price. If you simply cannot do without modular cable management system, that leaves Seasonic's unit.
Antec's HCP-850 is likewise free from glaring imperfections, save the lowest efficiency numbers at minimal load levels.
Comparison Table:
| Antec | FSP | Seasonic | SilverStone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model Name and Number | HCP-850 | AU-700 | X-760 | Strider Gold SST-ST75F-G |
| Street Price | $250 | $130 | $200 | $ 190 |
| Power Certification | 80 PLUS Gold | 80 PLUS Gold | 80 PLUS Gold | 80 PLUS Gold |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 150 x 180 x 86 mm | 150x140x86 mm | 150 x 160 x 86 mm | 150 x 180 x 86 mm |
| Weight | 3.9 kg | 2.5 kg | 3,3 kg | 3.1 kg |
| Operating Temperature | 50 °C | 0 - 50 °C | 0°C – 50°C | 0 - 40 °C |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 3 years |
| Power Specifications | ||||
| Specification | ATX12V v2.3 | ATX12V v2.3 | ATX12V v2.3 | ATX12V v2.3 |
| Specified Output Power | 850 W | 700 W | 760 W | 750 W |
| Max. Peak Output | n/a | 750 W | n/a | 850 W |
| AC Input | 100 - 240 V | 100 - 240 V | 100 - 240 V | 100 - 240 V |
| AC Voltage Selection | Auto voltage | Auto voltage | Auto voltage | Auto voltage |
| DC Output +3.3V | 25 A | 28 A | 25 A | 22 A |
| DC Output +5V | 25 A | 28 A | 25 A | 25 A |
| DC Output +12V (#1) | 40 A | 18 A | 63 A | 62 A |
| DC Output +12V (#2) | 40 A | 18 A | n/a | n/a |
| DC Output +12V (#3) | 40 A | 18 A | n/a | n/a |
| DC Output +12V (#4) | 40 A | 18 A | n/a | n/a |
| DC Output -12V | 0.5 A | 0.5 A | 0.5 A | 0.3 A |
| DC Power +12V Combined | 840 W | 672 W | 756 W | 744 W |
| PFC | active | active | active | active |
| Specified Hold-Up Time | 28 ms | 17 ms | 17 ms | 17ms |
| MTBF | 100 000 hours | 100 000 hours | 100 000 hours | 100 000 hours |
| Cooling Specifications | ||||
| Main Fan | 135 mm | 120 mm | 120 mm | 135 mm |
| Main Fan Speed | 683 - 1810 RPM | 2400 RPM | 1850 RPM | 1800 RPM (Max.) |
| Secondary Fan | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Secondary Fan Speed | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Connectors & Environmental | ||||
| 20+4 pin Motherboard | 1 x (55 cm) | 1 x (55 cm) | 1 x (60 cm) | 1 x (55 cm) |
| CPU | 2 x (65 cm) | 2 x (55 - 70 cm) | 2 x 65 cm) | 2 x (55 - 75 cm) |
| PCI Express 6-pin/6+2-pin (Graphics) | 0/6 x (55 - 70 cm) | 0/4 x (55 - 65 cm) | 0/4 x (60 cm) | 2/2 x (55 - 70 cm) |
| Molex 4-pin (Peripherals) | 6 x (55 - 85 cm) | 4 x (85 - 100 cm) | 8 x (55 - 85 cm) | 6 x (60 - 90 cm) |
| SATA Power | 9 x (55 - 85 cm) | 7 x (55 - 100 cm) | 8 x (55 - 85 cm) | 8 x (60 - 105 cm) |
| 4-pin Floppy | 1 x (100 cm) | 1 x (115 cm) | 2 x (100 cm) | 2 x (105 cm) |
| Product Specifics | ||||
| Accessories | Screws | Screws, Velcro Strips | Screws, Velcro Strips, Lacing Cords | Screws, Velcro Strips, Lacing Cords |
| Cable Management | Yes | No | Yes, full modular | Yes, full modular |













































