Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time & Inrush Current
To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units.
Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation
Load Regulation testing is detailed here.
Hold-Up Time
Our hold-up time tests are described in detail here.
This PSU's hold-up time is really low. We know that it's an SFX unit with limited space for a large PFC bulk cap, but a mere 7.9ms measurement is a shame. Thankfully the power-good signal is accurate, but it is dead low as well.
Inrush Current
For details on our inrush current testing, please click here.
The inrush current is low with 115V input and at normal levels with 230V.
Load Regulation And Efficiency Measurements
The first set of tests reveals the stability of the voltage rails and the ERV650SWT's efficiency. The applied load equals (approximately) 10 to 110 percent of the PSU's maximum load in increments of 10 percentage points.
We conducted two additional tests. During the first, we stressed the two minor rails (5V and 3.3V) with a high load, while the load at +12V was only 0.1A. This test reveals whether a PSU is compatible with Intel's C6/C7 sleep states or not. In the second test, we determined the maximum load the +12V rail could handle with minimal load on the minor rails.
| Test # | 12V | 5V | 3.3V | 5VSB | DC/AC (Watts) | Efficiency | Fan Speed | Fan Noise | Temps (In/Out) | PF/AC Volts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3.555A | 1.985A | 1.988A | 0.996A | 64.791 | 84.840% | 1390 RPM | 22.7 dB(A) | 38.15°C | 0.963 |
| 12.148V | 5.040V | 3.317V | 5.025V | 76.367 | 44.28°C | 115.13V | ||||
| 2 | 8.155A | 2.981A | 2.991A | 1.196A | 129.809 | 88.881% | 1585 RPM | 25.1 dB(A) | 38.53°C | 0.970 |
| 12.131V | 5.030V | 3.307V | 5.012V | 146.048 | 45.45°C | 115.13V | ||||
| 3 | 13.109A | 3.488A | 3.514A | 1.397A | 194.905 | 90.080% | 1875 RPM | 29.3 dB(A) | 39.40°C | 0.981 |
| 12.115V | 5.021V | 3.298V | 5.001V | 216.368 | 46.54°C | 115.12V | ||||
| 4 | 18.066A | 3.990A | 4.011A | 1.601A | 259.783 | 90.386% | 2130 RPM | 32.8 dB(A) | 39.45°C | 0.986 |
| 12.100V | 5.013V | 3.289V | 4.991V | 287.414 | 46.77°C | 115.12V | ||||
| 5 | 22.698A | 4.990A | 5.029A | 1.806A | 324.727 | 90.144% | 2420 RPM | 36.5 dB(A) | 40.04°C | 0.989 |
| 12.084V | 5.003V | 3.278V | 4.980V | 360.230 | 47.43°C | 115.11V | ||||
| 6 | 27.299A | 6.012A | 6.055A | 2.011A | 389.724 | 89.239% | 3060 RPM | 40.7 dB(A) | 40.59°C | 0.989 |
| 12.086V | 4.991V | 3.268V | 4.970V | 436.718 | 48.27°C | 115.11V | ||||
| 7 | 31.948A | 7.020A | 7.091A | 2.216A | 454.622 | 88.598% | 3450 RPM | 43.8 dB(A) | 41.90°C | 0.991 |
| 12.069V | 4.981V | 3.256V | 4.958V | 513.129 | 50.12°C | 115.11V | ||||
| 8 | 36.610A | 8.050A | 8.133A | 2.425A | 519.658 | 87.876% | 3720 RPM | 46.5 dB(A) | 42.48°C | 0.992 |
| 12.053V | 4.970V | 3.245V | 4.947V | 591.354 | 51.74°C | 115.10V | ||||
| 9 | 41.710A | 8.567A | 8.681A | 2.426A | 584.691 | 87.165% | 3720 RPM | 46.5 dB(A) | 44.16°C | 0.992 |
| 12.038V | 4.962V | 3.236V | 4.940V | 670.785 | 54.01°C | 115.10V | ||||
| 10 | 46.568A | 9.086A | 9.208A | 3.049A | 649.537 | 86.255% | 3720 RPM | 46.5 dB(A) | 44.98°C | 0.993 |
| 12.022V | 4.953V | 3.225V | 4.919V | 753.044 | 56.03°C | 115.10V | ||||
| 11 | 52.018A | 9.100A | 9.231A | 3.051A | 714.476 | 85.316% | 3720 RPM | 46.5 dB(A) | 46.15°C | 0.994 |
| 12.011V | 4.946V | 3.217V | 4.911V | 837.445 | 60.17°C | 115.09V | ||||
| CL1 | 0.100A | 11.017A | 11.006A | 0.005A | 92.774 | 81.967% | 2780 RPM | 38.9 dB(A) | 43.03°C | 0.963 |
| 12.121V | 4.991V | 3.321V | 5.032V | 113.185 | 57.09°C | 115.14V | ||||
| CL2 | 54.117A | 1.003A | 1.002A | 0.005A | 659.022 | 87.391% | 2780 RPM | 38.9 dB(A) | 44.17°C | 0.993 |
| 12.025V | 4.970V | 3.249V | 4.975V | 754.108 | 57.76°C | 115.05V |
Load regulation at +12V is decent, but it comes nowhere near the performance of Corsair's SF600 or FSP's Dagger 600W. At 5V, the load regulation performance is better, and at 3.3V and 5VSB it stays within 3%.
The ERV650SWT's efficiency falls in line with 80 PLUS' Gold requirements in the 20% and 50% load tests, but comes up short in our full load test, which we conduct at high operating temperatures.
At loads higher than 60% of its maximum capacity, this PSU's fan is loud. That's expected, given the demands of our test procedure and the fan's 80mm diameter. It needs to spin at high RPM in order to push adequate airflow.
MORE: Best Power Supplies
MORE: How We Test Power Supplies
MORE: All Power Supply Content
