Super Flower Computer Inc. is a Taiwanese company founded in 1991, headquartered in the Xinzhuang area. Over more than three decades, Super Flower has built a reputation grounded in engineering rather than marketing. For much of its history, the company operated largely out of public view in Western markets, functioning as the OEM behind some of the most respected power supply lines ever sold under other brand names. The entire EVGA G2, G3, P2, and T2 series were Super Flower designs, and those units earned a loyal following built entirely on real-world performance. When the commercial relationship with EVGA ended, Super Flower gained the freedom to sell under its own name in North America and Europe, and the Leadex series has been the vehicle for that transition.

The Leadex 2800W is what happens when that engineering pedigree is applied without compromise or cost constraint. It is an ATX 3.1 compliant unit rated at 2800 watts continuous output, and it carries a Cybenetics Titanium certification at the time of this review. It is designed to operate on 200 to 240 VAC input, which is worth addressing directly: the unit will function at 115 VAC, but practical output is sharply limited under that condition, as a standard North American outlet cannot supply more than approximately 1800 watts, capping usable PSU output at around 1700 watts. Anyone intending to operate this unit at anything near its rated capacity must use a 200 to 240 VAC supply, which requires a special outlet installation in the US. This is not a product for a typical desktop. It targets workstation and extreme gaming builds where power demands exceed what any conventional unit can supply. It's one of the best power supplies we've tested.

Specifications and Design

In the Box

The packaging is large and appropriately serious in presentation. The cardboard box is sturdy, with a geometric pattern background and a clear image of the unit. Inside, the heavy unit is protected by a fabric pouch, foam slabs on both ends, and paper inserts.

The bundle is relatively sparse for a unit at this price point and includes mounting thumbscrews, a NEMA C20 AC power cable, a cable storage bag, and a jump-start testing adapter. A printed manual is included. The accessory package is far from elaborate.

The cables are all-black throughout, with black nylon sleeving on almost every cable in the bundle. This is not common practice. Most manufacturers reserve sleeving for a subset of cables and leave the rest bare. Here, sleeving is the norm and the 12V-2x6 cables are the exception. The 12V-2x6 connectors, of which there are four, have ribbon-like wires with no sleeving shielding them – which is a good thing, as these require all the cooling they can get. Beyond those four, the unit carries six additional 6+2 pin PCI Express connectors. The total connector count is ludicrous. Super Flower has clearly built this unit with extreme multi-GPU workstation configurations in mind.

External Appearance

At 200mm in length, the Leadex 2800W is substantially longer than a standard ATX unit. This is not a unit that fits in a typical consumer mid-tower. A case designed for workstation or extreme gaming builds is a prerequisite, and buyers should verify clearance before purchasing.

The chassis carries a satin black paint finish, applied evenly and without visible imperfections. Super Flower has not pursued visual extravagance here, but the unit does not read as plain. The fan guard is integrated into the chassis and forms a complex geometric cutout pattern that conceals the cooling fan entirely from view, which lends the unit a distinctive appearance without resorting to RGB, heavy branding, or excessive modifications. The top surface houses the electrical specification and certification sticker. The left and right sides feature decorative etchings of the Leadex series logo.

The front panel holds a large on/off rocker switch alongside the NEMA C19 AC receptacle. The rear panel hosts the full array of modular connectors, each accompanied by a subtle white printed legend. The overall impression is that of a product designed by engineers who are also paying attention to graceful aesthetics, even if aesthetics were not the primary concern.

Internal Design

Cooling is handled by a ZLC ZFB142512D 140mm fan using a fluid dynamic bearing engine. Fluid dynamic bearings remain the preferred solution for balancing acoustic output against service life, offering better longevity than sleeve bearings and quieter operation than dual ball bearings. The rated maximum speed is 3000 RPM, which is unusually high for a 140mm fan. It is, however, not unreasonable given the thermal load this unit must manage at full output, where waste heat alone approaches the total power draw of a typical desktop PC. There is no zero-RPM mode. The fan runs at all times, though it operates at very low speed under normal loads and is effectively inaudible below approximately 1000 watts of output.

There is no hidden OEM here. Super Flower designs, develops, and manufactures these units entirely in-house, and the Leadex 2800W demonstrates that capability fully. If one were to describe this design very plainly, “two 1400W units in parallel” would not be an entirely wrong assessment.

Input filtering is substantial: eight Y capacitors, four X capacitors, and two filtering inductors. A single bridge rectifier is present but serves only the 5VSB circuit. The main power path bypasses it entirely, as the APFC stage uses a bridgeless topology that operates directly on AC voltage.

This is a more complex and more efficient design approach than the conventional bridged APFC found in most units. Eight Infineon 60R070F7 MOSFETs handle the APFC function, paired with four D1065C5 diodes on vertical daughterboards. The heatsinks are notably small, which directly reflects on the efficiency of the Infineon products. Two large encased inductors and three Nippon Chemi-Con 790 μF bulk capacitors round out the APFC stage, providing the capacitance reserves that a 2800-watt design demands.

The primary inversion stage uses eight Infineon 60R070F7 MOSFETs in a dual full-bridge configuration with LLC resonant conversion. These run on vertical daughterboards with no heatsink beyond the PCB itself, which speaks to the efficiency margins these MOSFETs operate within. LLC resonant converters allow the switching transistors to operate at zero-voltage switching conditions, dramatically reducing switching losses compared to hard-switching topologies and contributing directly to the efficiency figures observed in testing.

The 12V secondary rail uses sixteen Infineon 014N04LS MOSFETs in a dual synchronous rectification topology across two vertical PCBs. The 3.3V and 5V rails are produced by DC-to-DC converters on a separate daughterboard, which is the correct approach for maintaining tight minor rail regulation independent of 12V loading. All secondary-side electrolytic capacitors come from Rubycon and Nippon Chemi-Con. Solid-state capacitors are sourced entirely from Nippon Chemi-Con. Both manufacturers are at the top of the industry for quality consistency and long-term reliability. There are no cost-cutting compromises in the component selection.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

Due to the output capacity of this unit, our standard electronic load equipment required supplementation with additional high-capacity resistive loads to draw more than 2400 watts from the 12V rail alone. As the Leadex 2800W is specified for 200 to 240 VAC input, all testing was conducted at 230 VAC. At that input voltage, average nominal load efficiency reaches 94.5% - a breath away from the Diamond certification. At the time of this review, the unit holds Cybenetics Titanium certification, with no current CLEAResult (80Plus) or PPLP certification on record.

Efficiency is outstanding across the entire nominal load range. It peaks at approximately 40% load and remains stable and well-behaved through most of the operating range before declining moderately at the highest load points. Low-load efficiency is also strong. The fan is inaudible at first startup and remains effectively silent below 1000 watts, which is already a substantial load, well beyond what a single high-end GPU system typically demands at idle or moderate gaming. Above 1000 watts, fan speed increases sharply and the unit becomes progressively louder. At full rated output, acoustic output is significant. This is expected and unavoidable for a unit of this capacity. Thermal performance under cold ambient conditions is excellent, with no signs of stress.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

Elevated ambient temperature produces only minor degradation. Average nominal load efficiency at 230 VAC drops to 93.8%, a reduction of 0.7% relative to cold testing. This is a small and entirely acceptable figure. There are no signs of thermal stress. Internal temperatures are elevated, as expected, but the unit does not approach its over-temperature protection threshold under sustained high-load testing.

Fan behavior is somewhat more aggressive than in cold testing. Maximum fan speed is reached at approximately 80% load rather than at the ceiling. Above 1500 watts under these conditions, acoustic output becomes very significant. To put this in context, 1500 watts already exceeds the maximum output of most consumer PSUs currently on the market, including most units equipped with connectors for dual high-end GPUs. The noise at this load level is a consequence of physics, not a design deficiency.

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

Voltage regulation is outstanding across all rails. The 12V rail holds within 0.8% across the full load range. The 5V rail regulates to within 0.5%, and the 3.3V rail to within 0.4%. These are reference-class figures by any standard. Ripple filtering is even more impressive. The 12V rail peaks at 28 mV, the 5V at 22 mV, and the 3.3V at 20 mV. All figures sit well inside the ATX specification limits and represent genuinely clean output from a unit operating at power levels that are unfathomable by typical products.

During our routine evaluation, we examine the fundamental protection features of all power supply units we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP). OCP and OPP figures deserve a practical note: the measured OCP and OPP limits during hot testing reflect the constraints of our lab's power outlet rather than the absolute limits of the unit itself. With the MCB theoretically rated at 3680 watts and even with its natural trip delay under sustained overload, drawing beyond 4000-4200 watts causes the outlet’s MCB to interrupt testing before the PSU's own protection circuits engage. The 3.3V OCP triggered at 152% of rating and the 5V at 148%. The 12V OCP engaged at 130%. Hot OPP was measured at 134%

Bottom Line

The Super Flower Leadex 2800W occupies a category by itself. There is no comparable retail product at this output level, and the performance figures justify that position entirely. Efficiency is exceptional, power quality is reference-class, the component selection is unimpeachable, and the build quality is among the best we have examined. Super Flower has used this unit to demonstrate what the company is capable of when the brief is maximum performance without cost constraint. It is, in every measurable sense, the best power supply unit we have tested.

What makes that statement meaningful is not the wattage rating alone. High wattage claims are easy to print on a box. What Super Flower has delivered here is a unit where every subsystem is engineered to match the stated output rather than merely survive it. The advanced topologies, the top-quality active components, and the exclusive use of Rubycon and Nippon Chemi-Con capacitors throughout are not marketing decisions. They are engineering decisions made by a company that has been building serious power electronics for over three decades and knows precisely what a 2800-watt platform demands internally to operate with the voltage regulation and ripple figures we recorded. Those figures, in turn, are not academic. Clean and stable power delivery at extreme current levels directly influences the stability and longevity of the hardware connected to it, which, in the systems this unit is designed for, represents a very significant financial investment.

Criticism exists but is narrow. The unit requires a 200 to 240 VAC power feed to operate usefully. At 115–120 VAC, it functions, but a standard North American outlet limits usable output to less than 1700 watts, which renders the remaining capacity inaccessible and makes the purchase largely pointless for that use case. For USA-based users, a dedicated 240 V AC circuit is required for this power supply to operate at maximum capacity. The unit should be connected using an appropriate high-current connector, such as a NEMA 6-15 or NEMA 6-20 outlet, depending on the circuit rating. Standard 120 V outlets are not sufficient. The case requirements are equally restrictive; at 200mm, the unit will not fit in many typical cases and demands a chassis designed specifically for workstation or extreme gaming hardware. These are not flaws in the product so much as hard physical constraints that any prospective buyer must resolve before purchasing.

The fan noise at loads above 1500 watts is considerable and increases steeply toward the unit's output ceiling, where it becomes genuinely loud. This is an honest consequence of the thermal energy involved rather than a fan selection or tuning failure. At full rated output, the waste heat alone rivals the total power draw of a conventional PC, and moving that heat out of a 200mm chassis on a unit with barely any heatsinks at all inevitably requires airflow. The absence of a zero-RPM mode is a minor inconvenience. The fan is effectively inaudible at low loads, and any system drawing enough power to justify this unit will generate enough of its own acoustic output to render the PSU fan irrelevant to the overall noise profile.

At an MSRP of $1000 and a street price of approximately $800, the Leadex 2800W is inaccessible to the overwhelming majority of buyers. It does not need to be accessible. It exists for extreme workstation and multi-GPU builds where total system power demand approaches or exceeds what any other retail PSU can supply, and for those builds it is the correct and, for now, practically the only serious answer. For everyone else, Super Flower's broader Leadex lineup offers the same engineering heritage at outputs and prices that fit a wider range of budgets and cases. But if the build truly demands 2800 watts and the operator demands that those watts be delivered cleanly, quietly at moderate load, and with genuine protection margins, this unit practically stands alone.

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Super Flower has hit Computex in full force this year, showing off a wide suite of new power supplies and other components for those present in Taiwan. As the OEM behind the success of EVGA's acclaimed PSU line, Super Flower has been making a name for itself in the years following EVGA's soft retirement. And while its new 3300W power supply is the clear star of the show, the rest of its offerings are nothing to sneeze at.

Super Flower's "Leadex" badge is where our coverage begins. (As is the case for many PC component makers, it's unclear what, if any, differences exist between Super Flower's Leadex, Combat, and Zillion badges.)

The Leadex PSUs are named for their Cybenetics PSU efficiency rating, with the Leadex Titanium leading the pack. Following in the footsteps of the Leadex Titanium 2800W, which launched for pre-order in March, the Titanium 1700W was seen at Computex this year. With a rare Cybenetics Titanium rating, the oversized PSU is ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 compliant.

Designed for high-end AI workflows, the PSU is currently aiming for a pilot run to arrive soon. And while the voltage of the 1700W model is a mystery, the 2800W unit requires 240V and ships with a "medical grade power cord", making it likely that the 1700W variant will be similarly overkill.

The slightly more down-to-earth options are the Leadex VIII Platinum, the next generation of the standard Leadex line. The VIII Platinums are all fully-modular units with wattages ranging from 850W-1500W and lengths ranging from 150mm down to 125mm, close to the shortest high-end modular units on the market. All come with the Cybenetics Platinum rating, and will ship compatible with the new ATX 3.1 standard.

The Leadex VIII Platinums also utilize an interesting Super Flower quirk with the company's 9-pin universal "super connectors." Beyond a motherboard ATX header and one 12V-2x6 header, the remaining ten power connectors are Super Flower's proprietary 9-pin universal connectors. The company has been using the unique design for years — even spreading it to some EVGA models in the Western market, but the connections still seem shockingly new. No release date was placed on the Leadex VIII Platinum PSUs.

Rounding out the Leadex neck of the woods are the Leadex III Gold PSUs, a range of 80 Plus and Cybenetics Gold-certified units. Running from 750W to 1300W, the Leadex III Golds have mostly already hit the shelves, with the ATX 3.1-compatible models ready to ship by June. The Leadex III Gold Pro-A models, which can be seen in the above images, feature ARGB lights coming from the 9-pin headers.

Super Flower's new Combat badge, debuted in 2024, reaches down to include some more budget-minded models, but still has some pep in its step. The Combat II FP series is the newest wave from the company, with a 3000W crown. Yes, in addition to Super Flower's 3300W monster that ranks as the largest PSU on the Computex floor, Super Flower announced the Combat II FP 3000W, a Cybenetics Platinum, ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 ready beast. The oversized and overkill model can support multiple 12V-2×6 GPUs for server or enterprise loads and is expected to ship in Q2 2026, likely near the $1,000 mark.

The Combat II FP line also includes ATX units from 850W-1200W, all Cybenetics Platinum rated. The FP line's fluid dynamic bearing fans claim an A+ noise rating from Cybenetics, the second-highest score from the Cybenetics labs. Coming with ATX 3.1 certification, the Combat II FP line will begin mass production in September.

Just below the FP power supplies is the Combat II FG, a Cybenetics Gold-rated line ranging from 750W to 1200W models. The same Lambda A+ noise rating applies to this line, as well as its ATX 3.1 readiness. The Gold series will begin mass production in November.

Finally, the Combat badge has some new SFX options to bring to market. The Combat SFP 850W and 1000W will bring the Platinum rating to SFX, with the Combat SFG 750W and 850W models in the Gold category. Both beginning mass production in August, the SFX models are otherwise stat-matched to the larger Combat II ATX models.

Finally, Super Flower's Zillion line is where the budget-minded PSUs come out. The Zillion line is still young, so offerings are light, but not to be ignored. The Zillion SFX Platinum is a Platinum-rated SFX power supply with ATX 3.1 readiness, arriving in 850W and 1000W flavors. With as much connectivity as can be crammed into the micro-sized form factor, the Zillion SFP models will be ready to ship in August, paving the way for the cheaper Combat SFX units.

Super Flower also showed off the currently-available Zillion DB and FB series. The non-modular DB series is Cybenetics Silver certified, arriving in up to 850W models, and still carries ATX 3.1 readiness as a new model. With its capacitors made in Taiwan rather than Japan like the rest of the Super Flower family, the DB comes in as the cheapest option shown — though it's not on shelves in the West.

As hardware gets more powerful and power hungry, makers of power supplies have to keep up to offer relevant PSUs to interested parties, and to that end, we see even more and more powerful PSUs at every Computex. If last year we thought that 2,800W was crazy, then this year we see that several manufacturers have managed to build 3,000W+ power supplies.

Seasonic introduced the Prime PX-2300, a 3,200W 80+ Platinum ATX 3.1 model, at the show, beating Asus’s 3,000W PSU that the company showcased earlier this week. The new unit features four 12V-2×6 connectors for high-performance gaming or AI/HPC GPUs, and to that end, it powered a server running four Nvidia datacenter-grade graphics cards and an AMD datacenter processor during the demonstration.

Such a setup is common for datacenter environments, though as this is an ATX-standard PSU, it can perfectly fit into a workstation, or even into a gaming desktop, though 3.2kW of power is an overkill for the vast majority of machines that are out there.

But as if 3200W is not enough, Super Flower stole Seasonic’s thunder with a 3,300W PSU. In fact, Super Flower again displayed the most powerful PSU at Computex — the Leadex SF-3300F14HP. This 3300W monster is also fully ATX 3.1 compliant, offers five power rails, and is capable of supplying power to high-end processors and four GPUs using four 12V-2×6 connectors. The company expects to start its mass production late this year, so expect its wide availability in late 2025 – early 2026. As for pricing, the company’s current-generation flagship 2800W PSU costs some $899. Since the new 3300W does not really replace the previous-gen, but rather enhances the product lineup, expect it to exceed the $1,000 mark.

Super Flower unveiled a new PSU at Computex 2024 that blows other consumer power supplies out of the water. Sporting a whopping 2800W rating, Super Flower's new Leadex SF-2800F14HP 3.1 has enough power and enough 12V-2x6 connectors to handle four RTX 4090 graphics cards all by itself. 1200W and 1600W power supplies have long been some of the highest rated units (in terms of power supplied) that you can buy for the consumer market. If you really need more than that, you've usually had to opt for a server PSU, but Super Flower feels there's room for this in the consumer market. Will it make our list of the best power supplies? Only if you're building something more than a typical PC.

The SF-2800F14HP has five voltage rails in total, including +3.3V, +5V, -12V, and +5VSB rails. The first two rails are good for a combined output of 120W, while the latter two are capable of supporting 6W and 15W respectively. The +12V holds the vast majority of the power, with a maximum output of 2799.6W all by itself.

The power supply supports a whopping 19 rear power connectors in total. Seven 8-pin connectors are dedicated to 8-pin EPS and PCIe power, and five 6-pins and a single 8-pin are dedicated to SATA and PERIF devices. For GPUs sporting the new 12VHPWR or 12V-2x6 connector (the latter is backward compatible with the former), Super Flower's new 2800W unit supports four 12V-2x6 connectors, enabling you to connect up to four 16-pin compatible graphics cards. (Or two if you happen to use one of the relatively few graphics cards that require two 16-pin connectors.)

Despite its high power rating, SuperFlower's new unit is only designed to support a single PC, featuring just one 24-pin connector. That could be a turn-off for some of Super Flower's customers who want a single high-wattage unit to drive multiple systems. But this new unit was never intended to fulfill that role obviously. Rather, this new unit is aimed at high-performance enthusiast and workstation systems that feature a plethora of PCIe devices, including multiple high-performance GPUs.

The power supply will be particularly useful for machine learning builds, which are normally comprised of two, three, or even four AI GPUs like the RTX 4090. Basically, AI likes high-end cards with as much VRAM as possible, preferably with AI processing like what you can get from Nvidia's tensor cores.

Beyond ports and power capacity, the Leadex SF-2800F14HP 3.1 is unsurprisingly 80 Plus Platinum certified, which is one of the highest certifications a PSU can have beyond the flagship Titanium spec. That means the PSU will have very good power efficiency, especially when running at 40% to 80% of its maximum power rating. The unit also supports the ATX 3.1 specification, which means it includes at least one 12V2x6 power connector (not the older 12VHPWR connector).

Something else to note is that most typical 120V circuits in U.S. houses are only rated for 15A. The maximum amount of power you can draw from a 15A circuit is only 1,800W, and that's not including PSU efficiency. Meaning, an 1600W PSU running at 92% efficiency could actually draw 1740W from the outlet. And this 2800W PSU at 92% efficiency could pull 3,043W. You'll definitely need a 25 Amp circuit to run this, and even then you wouldn't want it at 100% load — and you wouldn't want anything else on the circuit either. Think of it as something like a typical electrical dryer than needs its own 30A 240V circuit.

Super Flower advertises the use of full Japanese capacitors throughout the unit. Japanese capacitors are regarded as the highest-quality caps in the world and are a prime go-to for making high-performing yet reliable power supplies. We didn't get information on pricing or availability, but we expect Super Flower's new 2800W to be very pricey, well beyond what a normal extreme PSU goes for — and with the Leadex 1600W going for $289, we'd expect the 2800W model to easily more than double that price.

The main asset of the Super Flower Leadex V Platinum Pro 1000W is its limited depth of only 130mm, making this PSU ideal for small chassis accommodating powerful systems. Performance-wise, the product hangs with direct competitors, including the EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P6 and the Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 1050W. Its major downside is the increased average noise output, which doesn't allow for a place in our best PSUs article. If you need a silent PSU, better look at the Asus Rog Thor II 1000 and the SilverStone Strider Platinum models. 

With the Leadex V P130X, Super Flower wanted to show that it can downsize its PSU to the degree that nobody else has so far, in the ATX12V form factor at least. Besides the super-compact footprint, another notable feature of the Leadex V is the 50-degree Celsius temperature rating. Typically, such a rating means that the PSU can continuously deliver full power at this temperature without breaking. 

Compact PCBs and good airflow don't get along. In a 1000W PSU, thermal loads are increased at full power, so most manufacturers avoid claiming high-temperature ratings, which can easily backfire if the PSUs are used for mining operations. Seasonic also has a 50-degree rating for its Prime PSU products, but a sidenote states that its PSUs can only deliver 80-percent of their capacity at such high temperatures and provide a full load only up to 40 degrees Celsius. 

The Leadex V P130X comes in two colors, black and white. We got the latter, which looks nice! The unit is certified as Platinum by 80 Plus and Cybenetics and has a Standard+ noise rating. Its cables are modular, and the FDB fan doesn't spin at light loads for lower noise output. You can turn off the semi-passive operation if you want through a switch located at the unit's front side. 

Specifications

Power Specifications

Cables & Connectors

There are more than enough cables and connectors, including two EPS and eight PCIe, along with twelve SATA and four 4-pin Molex connectors. All cables are long enough, and the distance between the peripheral connectors is ideal. Finally, there are no in-cable caps. One major flaw here is that they used thin, 20AWG gauges for the second PCIe connectors, so you should avoid using them in power-hungry graphics cards. 

Component Analysis

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

The PCB is tiny, yet it is not overpopulated with parts since Super Flower uses several vertical boards for various circuits. The design is clean, without any wires running through the board, and there is room for a pair of bulk caps. Build quality is good. Super Flower used good parts everywhere and soldering quality is high. 

The transient/EMI filter has all required parts to do a good job. There is also an MOV for protection against voltage surges, and an NTC thermistor and relay combo suppress high inrush currents. 

A single bridge rectifier is used, and it is cooled down by two heat sinks. 

The APFC converter uses three Infineon FETs and a single CREE boost diode. There is also an SPN5003 FET used to cut-off the APFC converter when the PSU is in standby, to reduce energy consumption. 

The main FETs are by Infineon and are configured in a half-bridge topology. The resonant controller is a propriety Super Flower IC, with model number AA9013.

Six Infineon FETs regulate the 12V rail. The minor rails are generated through a pair of VRMs, using in total eight FETs and two PWM controllers. 

All electrolytic caps are by Chemi-Con and a large number of polymer ones, is also used. 

The standby PWM controller is another propriety Super Flower IC, with model number SF29604. 

Lots of polymer caps are installed on the modular board, along with seven electrolytic caps which belong to Chemi-Con's mainstream KRG line. In this stage the stress is not high, though, so there won't be any issues with the specific electrolytic caps. 

The resonant controller also plays the role of the supervisor IC. It is also supported by an LM324ADG operational amplifier. 

Soldering quality is good. 

The cooling fan uses a fluid dynamic bearing and it is provided by Globe Fan, a respected fan manufacturer. 

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To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

Load regulation is tight on all rails, especially at 12V where it matters the most. 

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is long, reaching 22.4ms, and the power ok signal is accurate. 

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

Inrush currents are low. 

Leakage Current

In layman's terms, leakage current is the unwanted transfer of energy from one circuit to another. In power supplies, it is the current flowing from the primary side to the ground or the chassis, which in the majority of cases is connected to the ground. For measuring leakage current, we use a GW Instek GPT-9904 electrical safety tester instrument.

The leakage current test is conducted at 110% of the DUT's rated voltage input (so for a 230-240V device, we should conduct the test with 253-264V input). The maximum acceptable limit of a leakage current is 3.5 mA and it is defined by the IEC-60950-1 regulation, ensuring that the current is low and will not harm any person coming in contact with the power supply's chassis.

Leakage current is high, but still below the limit. 

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

The PSU doesn't have a problem delivering full power under high operating temperatures, but it couldn't provide 110% of its max-power output, because OPP kicked in. Noise output was increased once we reached the 50% load test. 

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10% of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with power-saving features turned on.

We would like to see over 70% efficiency with 20W load and over 80% with 40W load. 

2% or 10W Load Test

From July 2020, the ATX spec requires 70% and higher efficiency with 115V input. The applied load is only 10W for PSUs with 500W and lower capacities, while for stronger units, we dial 2% of their max-rated capacity.

The PSU should exceed 70% efficiency in this test, but this was not the case. Super Flower should increase efficiency at super-light loads in order to meet Intel's specific requirement. 

Efficiency & Power Factor

Next, we plotted a chart showing the PSU's efficiency at low loads and loads from 10 to 110% of its maximum rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency, the less energy goes wasted, leading to a reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills. The same goes for Power Factor.

Average efficiency is at the bottom of the chart with normal loads. The PSU scores way better with light and super-light loads. 

5VSB Efficiency

The 5VSB rail is around the middle of the pack. We would like to see close to 80% efficiency on this rail. 

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Vampire power is low with 115V input, but exceeds 0.1W with 230V. 

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37 to 47 degrees Celsius (98.6 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fan's speed increases linearly but due to the increased speed that the 120mm fan can achieve, noise output is high. 

The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.       

The passive operation doesn't last long at normal operating temperatures, close to 30 degrees Celsius, and the fan's speed profile remains aggressive. The super-compact dimensions don't help keep noise output low. 

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Protection Features

Check out our PSUs 101 article to learn more about PSU protection features.

The OCP triggering point at 12V is set low and the same goes for OPP. Super Flower didn't feel the need to even provide a 110% margin here and this is not ok with us. Moreover, the minor rails have high OCP points, without any reason, especially at 3.3V. Lastly, the over temperature protection is configured correctly. 

DC Power Sequencing

According to Intel’s most recent Power Supply Design Guide (revision 1.4), the +12V and 5V outputs must be equal to or greater than the 3.3V rail at all times. Unfortunately, Intel doesn't mention why it is so important to always keep the 3.3V rail's voltage lower than the levels of the other two outputs.

No problems here since the 3.3V rail is always lower than the other two. 

Cross Load Tests

To generate the following charts, we set our loaders to auto mode through custom-made software before trying more than 25,000 possible load combinations with the +12V, 5V, and 3.3V rails. The deviations in each of the charts below are calculated by taking the nominal values of the rails (12V, 5V, and 3.3V) as point zero. The ambient temperature during testing was between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Load Regulation Charts

Efficiency Graph

Ripple Graphs

The lower the power supply's ripple, the more stable the system will be and less stress will also be applied to its components.

Infrared Images

We apply a half-load for 10 minutes with the PSU's top cover and cooling fan removed before taking photos with a modified Fluke Ti480 PRO camera able to deliver an IR resolution of 640x480 (307,200 pixels).

Without any active cooling and 500W load for five minutes, the hottest part is the board holding the 12V FETs, followed by the primary heat sink. Given the lack of large heat sinks, especially on the secondary side, this platform requires good airflow to cope with high loads. 

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Advanced Transient Response Tests

For details about our transient response testing, please click here.

In the real world, power supplies are always working with loads that change. It's of immense importance, then, for the PSU to keep its rails within the ATX specification's defined ranges. The smaller the deviations, the more stable your PC will be with less stress applied to its components. 

We should note that the ATX spec requires capacitive loading during the transient rests, but in our methodology, we also choose to apply a worst case scenario with no additional capacitance on the rails. 

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 1ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 1ms

Transient response is satisfactory at 12V and mediocre on the other rails. 

Turn-On Transient Tests

In the next set of tests, we measure the PSU's response in simpler transient load scenarios—during its power-on phase. Ideally, we don't want to see any voltage overshoots or spikes since those put a lot of stress on the DC-DC converters of installed components.

We noticed slight voltage overshoot at 5VSB, and a small step at 12V, before the rail's settle down to the nominal voltage, during the last test. 

Power Supply Timing Tests

There are several signals generated by the power supply, which need to be within specified, by the ATX spec, ranges. If they are not, there can be compatibility issues with other system parts, especially mainboards. From year 2020, the PSU's Power-on time (T1) has to be lower than 150ms and the PWR_OK delay (T3) from 100 to 150ms, to be compatible with the Alternative Sleep Mode.

The Power-On time exceeds 100ms. Ideally, it should be below 50-60ms. Moreover, the PWR_OK delay is longer than 150ms, so the PSU doesn't support any alternative sleep mode.

Ripple Measurements

Ripple represents the AC fluctuations (periodic) and noise (random) found in the PSU's DC rails. This phenomenon significantly decreases the capacitors' lifespan because it causes them to run hotter. A 10-degree Celsius increase can cut into a cap's useful life by 50%. Ripple also plays an important role in overall system stability, especially when overclocking is involved.

The ripple limits, according to the ATX specification, are 120mV (+12V) and 50mV (5V, 3.3V, and 5VSB).

Ripple suppression is great. We noticed increased ripple at 5VSB, though, with unbalanced, among the rails, loads, but this is not a significant problem. 

Ripple At Full Load

Ripple At Cross-Load 1

Ripple At Cross-Load 4

EMC Pre-Compliance Testing – Average & Quasi-Peak EMI Detector Results

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the ability of a device to operate properly in its environment without disrupting the proper operation of other nearby devices.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) stands for the electromagnetic energy a device emits, and it can cause problems in other nearby devices if too high. For example, it can be the cause of increased static noise in your headphones or/and speakers.

We measured two spurs going over the limit with the average EMI detector, but everything was fine with the peak detector. 

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Performance Rating

The average performance is high, meeting the performance of the EVGA 1000 P6, which is based on a modified Seasonic Focus Platinum platform. The Leadex unit has even smaller dimensions, though. 

Noise Rating

The graph below depicts the cooling fan's average noise over the PSU's operating range, with an ambient temperature between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Because the PSU has only 130mm depth and 1000W maximum power, we didn't expect great things in noise output and indeed the Leadex V Pro is noisy. 

Efficiency Rating

The following graph shows the PSU's average efficiency throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius.

The average efficiency is at the lower end of the Platinum category. 

Power Factor Rating

The following graphs show the PSU's average power factor reading throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius and 115V/230V voltage input. 

The APFC converter operates fine with 115V, but needs a little tuning to deliver higher PF readings with 230V input. 

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Super Flower managed to raise some eyebrows with its new Leadex V Pro line by delivering a 1000W ATX12V compatible PSU that's only 130mm in length. If it weren't for the SilverStone SX1000 SFX-L unit that we reviewed a while ago, we would be hugely impressed by the super-compact dimensions of the Leadex V Platinum Pro 1000. 

Nonetheless, such small dimensions require compromises in noise output since a small diameter fan has to be used, and the small PCB needs increased airflow, so the fan has to spin at high speeds under high loads. We prefer a normal-sized PSU with lower noise output. 

The overall performance that the Leadex V Platinum Pro 1000 achieves is on par with competing offerings, and with a better transient response on the minor rails, it would score even higher. We would also like to see over 70% efficiency with a 2% load and lower Power-On and PWR_OK delay timings. 

Moreover, the use of 20AWG gauges for the second PCIe connectors on cables with a pair of them is against the safety standards that the ATX spec sets, and Super Flower should replace them with 18AWG gauges as soon as possible. It would be best not to use these connectors for power-hungry graphics cards. Some notable competitors of this Super Flower model, with lower noise output, are the EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P6, the new Asus Rog Thor II 1000 model, and the Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 1050.

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Disclaimer: Aris Mpitziopoulos is Tom's Hardware's PSU reviewer. He is also the Chief Testing Engineer of Cybenetics and developed the Cybenetics certification methodologies apart from his role on Tom's Hardware. Neither Tom's Hardware nor its parent company, Future PLC, are financially involved with Cybenetics. Aris does not perform the actual certifications for Cybenetics.

Right now, you can pick up the Intel Core i7-12700KF CPU for its lowest ever price at Newegg, get $300 off the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and save on some impressive components.

Other real deals today include getting $100 off the MSI Optix G272 gaming monitor — a nice FHD 144Hz panel for affordable high-speed gameplay.

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• Super Flower Leadex Gold SE 1000W Modular Power Supply: was $239, now $129 at Newegg with code 93XSH89
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The Cooler Master V850 V2 Gold can support a power-hungry RTX 3090 if you can find and afford one. It achieves high overall performance, and its platform is efficient enough to save you money on electricity bills. With a bit higher performance, it could be included in our best PSUs article. 

However, overall, it is a good product worthy of your attention. Its major competitors are the Seasonic Focus Plus Gold 850, Corsair RM850x and RM850, XPG Core Reactor 850, and the Super Flower Leadex III and V models with similar capacity.

The 850W category is of high interest lately since the new high-end graphics cards, including some of the best graphics cards, from Nvidia and AMD demand strong power supplies. If you don't want to pay the RTX 3080/3090 graphics cards' premium prices, you can settle down with a lower capacity unit of the Gold V2 line, which ranges from 550W to 850W. There are also white edition Gold V2 models available if you have a white chassis. 

Cooler Master teamed with Gospower for the V2 Gold line, an OEM that no other major brand uses so far. It seems that CM has an exclusive agreement with this OEM, using its designs in several of its products, including its powerful SFX units. The V850 V2 achieves Gold in the 80 PLUS scale, while in Cybenetics, it gets a Platinum rating. It also features silent operation, with lower than 30 dBA overall noise output at normal operating conditions (Cybenetics A-).  

Specifications

Power Specifications

Cables & Connectors

There are two EPS and six PCIe connectors. It is nice that this PSU has three PCIe cables, which you can use in super high-end VGAs with three PCIe sockets. Please note that it is best to avoid using both PCIe connectors of the same cable in high-wattage graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 3080 and RTX 3090. 

The number of peripheral connectors is more than enough, but it is a shame to see such a small distance between them. Lastly, there are no in-cable caps, which is a major asset. 

Component Analysis

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

Gospower provides this platform, and the design is modern. What caught my eye is the insane amount of glue used in the transient filter to keep coil whine in control. It looks like they really wanted to suppress coil whine, so they didn't go cheap on the glue! 

Gospower used an unknown manufacturer for the FETs on the primary side instead of the usual and expensive ones, but it has faith in them given the long warranty. The parts on the secondary side are of high quality, and an impressively high amount of polymer caps is used. 

The transient filter includes all necessary parts, and on top of that, it has a discharge IC to save energy on the bleeding resistors of the X caps. 

There is an MOV to deal with voltage surges and an NTC thermistor and relay combo, suppress inrush currents. Thanks to the high resistance of the aforementioned thermistor, inrush currents are bottom low. 

The bridge rectifiers are powerful but are provided by an unknown, to us at least, manufacturer. It would be nice to use a dedicated heat sink instead of sharing the same with the main FETs. 

The APFC converter uses two Sanrise Tech SRC60R140BTFE FETs and a single CREE boost diode, which is powerful! The controller is a Champion CM6500, which is supported by a CM03AX IC. Lastly, the bulk cap is by Toshin Kogyo, and its specs look good. 

A pair of Sanrise Tech FETs are used as primary switchers. They are installed in a half-bridge topology, and an LLC resonant converter is also used to boost efficiency. The resonant controller is a Champion CM6901 IC. 

Six NCE Power FETs handle the 12V rail, while the minor rails are generated through a pair of DC-DC converters. 

There aren't many electrolytic caps, but the ones that Gospower used are of high quality. Most ripple filtering is done through polymer caps, which are of high quality as well. 

There are lots of polymer caps at the face of the modular board. 

Not much to see on this side. Soldering quality is decent except for some parts where they had to enhance the PCB traces. 

The cooling fan is of good quality since it uses a fluid dynamic bearing and a good manufacturer, Hong Hua, provides it. 

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To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels, despite varying loads. Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

Load regulation is not so tight, especially at 12V, and this is a shame. The 5V rail also needs tighter regulation, while 3.3V and 5VSB achieve good enough, but not impressive, results. 

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is long, and the power ok signal is accurate. There is nothing more to ask here. 

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

The inrush currents stay low, especially with 115V input. 

Leakage Current

In layman's terms, leakage current is the unwanted transfer of energy from one circuit to another. In power supplies, it is the current flowing from the primary side to the ground or the chassis, which in the majority of cases is connected to the ground. For measuring leakage current, we use a GW Instek GPT-9904 electrical safety tester instrument.

The leakage current test is conducted at 110% of the DUT's rated voltage input (so for a 230-240V device, we should conduct the test with 253-264V input). The maximum acceptable limit of a leakage current is 3.5 mA and it is defined by the IEC-60950-1 regulation, ensuring that the current is low and will not harm any person coming in contact with the power supply's chassis.

Very low leakage current, which is good, of course. 

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

The PSU doesn't have any problem delivering full load under high operating temperatures, but don't expect it to be quiet. 

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10% of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with power-saving features turned on.

The fan doesn't spin at light loads, and the efficiency levels are quite high. 

2% or 10W Load Test

Intel plans on raising the ante at efficiency levels under ultra-light loads. So from July 2020, the ATX spec will require 70% and higher efficiency with 115V input. The applied load is only 10W for PSUs with 500W and lower capacities, while for stronger units we dial 2% of their max-rated-capacity.

Very high efficiency with 2% of the max-rated-capacity load. 

Efficiency & Power Factor

Next, we plotted a chart showing the PSU’s efficiency at low loads, and loads from 10 to 110% of its maximum rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency, the less energy goes wasted, leading to a reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills. The same goes for Power Factor.

There's very high-efficiency levels in all load ranges. Gospower, the OEM of this PSU, did an excellent job in this section. 

5VSB Efficiency

The good news regarding efficiency continue with the 5VSB rail. 

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Vampire power is kept low, with both 115V and 230V. 

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37 to 47 degrees Celsius (98.6 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fan speed profile is not aggressive, even under high operating temperatures. 

The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.       

The PSU's passive operation lasts for quite a long time, especially if you don't push hard the minor rails under lower temperatures. 

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Protection Features

Check out our PSUs 101 article to learn more about PSU protection features.

The OCP triggering points are correctly set on all major rails, and the same goes for OPP. Moreover, there is over temperature protection, and the rest protection features are present, as well. 

DC Power Sequencing

According to Intel’s most recent Power Supply Design Guide (revision 1.4), the +12V and 5V outputs must be equal to or greater than the 3.3V rail at all times. Unfortunately, Intel doesn't mention why it is so important to always keep the 3.3V rail's voltage lower than the levels of the other two outputs.

The 3.3V rail is always lower than the other two, so everything is fine here. 

Cross Load Tests

To generate the following charts, we set our loaders to auto mode through custom-made software before trying more than 25,000 possible load combinations with the +12V, 5V, and 3.3V rails. The deviations in each of the charts below are calculated by taking the nominal values of the rails (12V, 5V, and 3.3V) as point zero. The ambient temperature during testing was between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Load Regulation Charts

Efficiency Graph

Ripple Graphs

The lower the power supply's ripple, the more stable the system will be and less stress will also be applied to its components.

Infrared Images

We apply a half-load for 10 minutes with the PSU's top cover and cooling fan removed before taking photos with a modified FLIR E4 camera able to deliver an IR resolution of 320x240 (76,800 pixels).

The temperatures are kept low, with the highest recorded on the main transformer that transfers power to the 12V board. 

It makes an impression of the fan control transistor's high temperature, but with the fan cooling it down, its temperature will be notably lower. 

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Advanced Transient Response Tests

For details about our transient response testing, please click here.

In the real world, power supplies are always working with loads that change. It's of immense importance, then, for the PSU to keep its rails within the ATX specification's defined ranges. The smaller the deviations, the more stable your PC will be with less stress applied to its components. 

We should note that the ATX spec requires capacitive loading during the transient rests, but in our methodology, we also choose to apply a worst case scenario with no additional capacitance on the rails. 

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 1ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 1ms

The transient response at 12V is satisfactory, and the same goes for 5V and 5VSB. The PSU passes all tests at 3.3V, but we don't want to see voltages drop below 3.2V on this rail. 

Turn-On Transient Tests

In the next set of tests, we measure the PSU's response in simpler transient load scenarios—during its power-on phase. Ideally, we don't want to see any voltage overshoots or spikes since those put a lot of stress on the DC-DC converters of installed components.

These are very good results. 

Power Supply Timing Tests

There are several signals generated by the power supply, which need to be within specified, by the ATX spec, ranges. If they are not, there can be compatibility issues with other system parts, especially mainboards. From year 2020, the PSU's Power-on time (T1) has to be lower than 150ms and the PWR_OK delay (T3) from 100 to 150ms, to be compatible with the Alternative Sleep Mode.

The PWR_OK delay is within the 100-150ms region, so the PSU supports the alternative sleep mode recommended by the ATX spec.

Ripple Measurements

Ripple represents the AC fluctuations (periodic) and noise (random) found in the PSU's DC rails. This phenomenon significantly decreases the capacitors' lifespan because it causes them to run hotter. A 10-degree Celsius increase can cut into a cap's useful life by 50%. Ripple also plays an important role in overall system stability, especially when overclocking is involved.

The ripple limits, according to the ATX specification, are 120mV (+12V) and 50mV (5V, 3.3V, and 5VSB).

Ripple suppression is excellent! 

Ripple At Full Load

Ripple At 110% Load

Ripple At Cross-Load 1

Ripple At Cross-Load 2

EMC Pre-Compliance Testing – Average & Quasi-Peak EMI Detector Results

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the ability of a device to operate properly in its environment without disrupting the proper operation of other nearby devices.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) stands for the electromagnetic energy a device emits, and it can cause problems in other nearby devices if too high. For example, it can be the cause of increased static noise in your headphones or/and speakers.

The conducted EMI emissions are bottom low. The PSU's EMI filter does a great job. 

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Performance Rating

The overall performance is pretty high, reaching close to the XPG Core Reactor and Super Flower Leadex III models with similar capacity. 

Noise Rating

The graph below depicts the cooling fan's average noise over the PSU's operating range, with an ambient temperature between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

With close to 27 dBA average output, this is a silent operating PSU. 

Efficiency Rating

The following graph shows the PSU's average efficiency throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius.

The platform is highly efficient, achieving Platinum in the Cybenetic's scale. 

Power Factor Rating

The following graph shows the PSU's average power factor reading throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius.

The APFC converter needs tuning to deliver higher PF readings. 

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The Cooler Master V850 V2 Gold is a good power supply, able to support up to RTX 3090 graphics cards, if you can find one and have enough money to spend, of course. Gospower, the OEM behind this platform, did a good job under Cooler Master's supervision, offering good performance and high-efficiency levels on all load ranges (super-low, low, mid, and high). Moreover, the 5VSB rail is highly efficient.

We don't have any major complaints regarding performance. The only areas that Gospower could improve are the transient response at 3.3V and the APFC converter's performance. A little tighter load regulation at 12V would be highly welcome, too. Finally, a MOV in the transient filter would enhance this unit's protection features. 

If you need a strong enough power supply to deal with one of the new and powerful graphics cards, either from Nvidia or AMD, the Cooler Master V850 V2 Gold fits the bill. It is a high-performance PSU with silent operation and good enough build quality, supported by a hefty ten-year warranty. It is in the same performance category as the XPG Core Reactor 850 and the Super Flower Leadex III 850. An older Seasonic Focus Plus Gold sample performs better, but we need to also check on the newest Focus Plus units and include them in our comparison charts. 

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Disclaimer: Aris Mpitziopoulos is Tom's Hardware's PSU reviewer. He is also the Chief Testing Engineer of Cybenetics and developed the Cybenetics certification methodologies apart from his role on Tom's Hardware. Neither Tom's Hardware nor its parent company, Future PLC, are financially involved with Cybenetics. Aris does not perform the actual certifications for Cybenetics.

Super Flower is one of the best PSU OEMs nowadays, and thanks to its designs, EVGA managed to become highly popular in the PSU market, especially in the US. Nonetheless, nothing good lasts forever, so for reasons unknown to us, EVGA decided to break its close cooperation with Super Flower, and this gave the option to the latter to start selling in the US market. So far, it seems that there was an agreement between EVGA and Super Flower prohibiting the presence of the OEM's brand in the US.

For those of you not being familiar with Super Flower and its products since it hasn't had a presence in the US market so far, all members of the EVGA G2, G3, P2, and T2 lines were manufactured by Super Flower and were among the best PSUs in their respective categories.

According to Super Flower's PR manager, the Leadex Titanium, Leadex III, and Leadex Platinum SE lines will be available in March, followed by Leadex III ARGB and ARGB Pro in April. Unfortunately, we don't have any pricing information to share.

Besides the news on the US market entry, Super Flower also informed us that it will exhibit and display four new series with a total of 16 models during Computex. Those new models will be available within 2020.

You can find detailed information, including efficiency and noise output data, on all popular Super Flower models, in the Cybenetics database. 

Specifications and Part Analysis

The SuperNOVA 750 G5 achieves a decent overall performance score, which however is lower than its main competitors, the Corsair RM750x and the Seasonic Focus Plus Gold 750W. Unfortunately, FSP, the manufacturer of EVGA's new G5 line, didn't pay much attention to the fan speed profile, so the 750 G5 is noisy. Moreover, its vampire power exceeds 0.25W with 230V input, so it fails to meet even the lowest Cybenetics efficiency standard (ETA-S). The SuperNova 750 G5 definitely fails to make our list of the best power supplies. 

EVGA's high numbered G, P, and T lines (G2, G3, P2, and T2) exclusively used Super Flower's Leadex platforms, which are among the best in today's market. Nonetheless, recent U.S. tariffs affected manufacturers with production lines in China, so EVGA had to turn to another OEM for the new G5 line, which will replace the G3 models. Probably this is the best time to grab a G3 PSU, even a G2 if you manage to find any before they vanish from the stores. At publication time, Newegg was still selling the G3 in the U.S. for $109 while the G5 was priced $30 lower.

The G5 line is based on an FSP platform, that uses an Active Clamp Reset Forward topology. Briefly this is a budget platform able to deliver long hold-up times even with small bulk caps and high efficiency levels. Still its performance cannot see eye-to-eye half-bridge and full-bridge topologies equipped with LLC resonant converters.

Specifications

* Not certified yet by Cybenetics. According to our measurements the PSU falls into this noise category. There is no efficiency (ETA) classification, because of the high vampire power which puts it off Cybenetics' charts.

Power Specifications

Cables & Connectors

Plenty of cables and connectors are provided with the 750 G3. It would be nice if the EPS and PCIe connectors used thicker, 16AWG gauges, but this is not a super strong PSU, so we will let this slide. What we cannot let go, though, is the small distance between the peripheral connectors. With only 100mm you will probably fall into compatibility problems with larger chassis. This is why we recommend at least 150mm gap between the SATA and the 4-pin Molex connectors. Finally, the absence of in-cable caps is good news, since it creates a trouble-free cable routing and management processes.

Component Analysis

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

On the primary side, an ACRF (Active Clamp Reset Forward) topology is used with a single FET being the main switcher, while another FET plays the role of the reset switch. On the secondary side, a synchronous rectification scheme is used by the +12V rail, and the minor rails are generated through a pair of DC-DC converters. All heatsinks are small, and there is a strange bridge connecting the APFC and the primary heat sinks, which is mostly for aesthetics rather than doing something of importance (e.g., balancing the operating temperatures of those heat sinks). Finally, the overall design is clear, so the airflow is increased, and on the secondary side, there aren't many electrolytic caps; on the contrary, FSP used many polymer caps to filter ripple.

The transient filter has all the necessary parts. There is also inrush current protection through an NTC thermistor, which is supported by a bypass relay.

Only 390uF are enough for the bulk cap of a PSU that utilizes an ACRF topology, to offer a much longer than the required (17ms) by the ATX spec, hold-up time.

The photos above show the main switching and reset FETs of the ACRF topology.

The +12V FETs are installed onto a small heat sink. Moreover, both VRMs are located on a small vertical board.

The main PCB hosts a small number of electrolytic caps, along with several polymer ones. Many polymer caps are on the modular PCB.

This is the board that hosts the supervisor IC along with a number of operational amplifiers (op-amps), is depicted in the photos above. 

The soldering quality is good and the same goes for the build quality.

The fan is of good quality, but its speed profile is aggressive.

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Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time, Inrush Current, Efficiency and Noise

To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

The load regulation is tight on all rails. Unfortunately, we don't have data for the 750 G3 to make comparisons.

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is long and the power ok signal is accurate.

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

The inrush current is low with both voltage inputs.

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the G5’s load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

What makes an impression here is that during the CL1 test, the fan stops to spin, because of the low load, although the operating temperature is close to 42 degrees Celsius. Normally, the fan should spin at low RPM, to cool down the PSU's internals.

The 750 G5 easily meets the corresponding 80 PLUS Gold requirements, even at high ambient temperatures.

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the G5's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10% of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with power-saving features turned on.

The efficiency with light loads is low.

2% or 10W Load Test

Intel plans on raising the ante at efficiency levels under ultra-light loads. So from July 2020, the ATX spec will require 70% and higher efficiency with 115V input. The applied load is only 10W for PSUs with 500W and lower capacities, while for stronger units we dial 2% of their max-rated-capacity.

EVGA states that this unit is compatible with the ATX v2.52 specification, however from July 2020 the same spec will ask for at least 70% efficiency under such light load levels. 

Efficiency

Next, we plotted a chart showing the G5’s efficiency at low loads, and loads from 10 to 110% of its maximum-rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency, the less energy goes wasted, leading to a reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills.

With normal loads the unit's efficiency is satisfactory, but this is not the case with light and super-light loads.

5VSB Efficiency

The 5VSB is has low efficiency, especially with 230V input.

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

The vampire power exceeds 0.25W and this is why the 750 G5 cannot meet the requirements even of the lowest Cybenetics efficiency rating. It is a shame to see such high energy consumption at standby, in a modern PSU.

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37 to 47 degrees Celsius (98.6 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fan profile is super aggressive when the power supply is pushed hard, under high temperatures.

The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.       

The passive operation lasts for quite long, but afterward, the fan quickly increases its speed, and with higher than 525W loads, the noise output exceeds 40 dB(A).

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Protection Features

Check out our PSUs 101 article to learn more about PSU protection features.

The OCP triggering points at +12V, 5V and 3.3V are reasonable set. The 5VSB rail's OCP is configured high, but there are no issues even at 6.2A. Finally, the over power protection is a bit higher than we would like to see; still, the platform looks to handle this fine.

DC Power Sequencing

According to Intel’s most recent Power Supply Design Guide (revision 1.4), the +12V and 5V outputs must be equal to or greater than the 3.3V rail at all times. Unfortunately, Intel doesn't mention why it is so important to always keep the 3.3V rail's voltage lower than the levels of the other two outputs.

No problems here.

Cross Load Tests

To generate the following charts, we set our loaders to auto mode through custom-made software before trying more than 25,000 possible load combinations with the +12V, 5V, and 3.3V rails. The deviations in each of the charts below are calculated by taking the nominal values of the rails (12V, 5V, and 3.3V) as point zero. The ambient temperature during testing was between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Load Regulation Charts

Efficiency Chart

Ripple Charts

The lower the power supply's ripple, the more stable the system will be and less stress will also be applied to its components.

Infrared Images

We apply a half-load for 10 minutes with the PSU's top cover and cooling fan removed before taking photos with a modified FLIR E4 camera able to deliver an IR resolution of 320x240 (76,800 pixels).

The temperatures at the internals are at normal levels, given the applied conditions, so we see no reason to use such an aggressive fan profile. Most likely FSP's engineers wanted to make sure that the PSU will outlive its extended warranty.

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Advanced Transient Response Tests

For details about our transient response testing, please click here.

In the real world, power supplies are always working with loads that change. It's of immense importance, then, for the PSU to keep its rails within the ATX specification's defined ranges. The smaller the deviations, the more stable your PC will be with less stress applied to its components. 

We should note that the ATX spec requires capacitive loading during the transient rests, but in our methodology, we also choose to apply a worst case scenario with no additional capacitance on the rails. 

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 200ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 1ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 200ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 1ms

The 3.3V rail's performance is disappointing. The +12V rail should also stay within 1% in all tests.

Turn-On Transient Tests

In the next set of tests, we measure the PSU's response in simpler transient load scenarios—during its power-on phase. Ideally, we don't want to see any voltage overshoots or spikes since those put a lot of stress on the DC-DC converters of installed components.

A small voltage overshoot at 5VSB, which is nothing to worry about.

Power Supply Timing Tests

There are several signals generated by the power supply, which need to be within specified, by the ATX spec, ranges. If they are not, there can be compatibility issues with other system parts, especially mainboards. From year 2020, the PSU's Power-on time (T1) has to be lower than 150ms and the PWR_OK delay (T3) from 100 to 150ms.

The PWR_OK delay is our of the 100-150ms region, so the PSU does not support the alternative sleep mode, which will be a requirement by the ATX v2.52 from 2020.

Ripple Measurements

Ripple represent the AC fluctuations (periodic) and noise (random) found in the PSU's DC rails. This phenomenon significantly decreases the capacitors' lifespan because it causes them to run hotter. A 10-degree Celsius increase can cut into a cap's useful life by 50%. Ripple also plays an important role in overall system stability, especially when overclocking is involved.

The ripple limits, according to the ATX specification, are 120mV (+12V) and 50mV (5V, 3.3V, and 5VSB).

The ripple suppression is good on all rails but the 3.3V, where there is a large increase in the 100% and 110% load tests.

Ripple At Full Load

Ripple At 110% Load

Ripple At Cross-Load 1

Ripple At Cross-Load 2

EMC Pre-Compliance Testing – Average & Peak EMI Detector Results

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the ability of a device to operate properly in its environment without disrupting the proper operation of other close-by devices.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) stands for the electromagnetic energy a device emits, and it can cause problems in other close-by devices if too high. For example, it can be the cause of increased static noise in your headphones or/and speakers.

No spurs exceed the limits.

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Performance Rating

The overall performance is high, but not high enough to meet the Corsair RM750x and the Super Flower Leadex III eye-to-eye.

Noise Rating

The graph below depicts the cooling fan's average noise over the PSU's operating range, with an ambient temperature between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

This is a noisy power supply, so if you cannot stand loud PC parts, better stay away from it.

Efficiency Rating

The following graph shows the PSU's average efficiency throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius.

The overall efficiency is satisfactory.

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Bottom Line

Unfortunately, we didn't have the chance to test the 750 G3 so that I couldn't make any comparison between this unit and the 750 G5. Nonetheless, I included in the comparison charts the Super Flower SF-750F14HG which uses the Leadex III platform (the 750 G3 is based on the Leadex II design), so you can have an idea on the performance difference between the 750 G3 and G5 models.

I don't approve the use of an ACRF topology (you will find more details on this topology by following this link) in this category, from the moment the competition uses superior designs featuring half-bridge (Corsair RM750x and RM750) and full-bridge topologies (Seasonic Focus Plus Gold). This topology is only suitable for budget PSUs, since it requires fewer components of lower cost and it lowers the capacity requirements of the bulk cap, which is among the most expensive parts in a power supply. The 750 G5 uses quality components, and its build quality is high, but its design doesn't allow it to effectively meet the competition in the 750W category. The transient response is one of the most important factors in a PSU's performance since it depicts its operation under real-life conditions where the loads are dynamic and not static. In such scenarios, the G5 cannot keep the +12V deviations within 1%, and the 3.3V rail's transient response is terrible. So although the 750 G5 has tight load regulation and good enough ripple suppression along with a long hold-up time, still it cannot meet the overall performance of any of the aforementioned models.

Super Flower's Leadex II platform, used in the all G3 models, is still a great performer but because of tariff considerations, that line is on the way out. If you want a high-performance PSU, you should try to get one of the G3 models that are still available in the stores. Till the G3 stock clears out, there is no point in preferring a G5 unit. Even when all G3s are gone, there are better options than the G5 (e.g., the Corsair RMx and Seasonic Focus Plus Gold models). Hopefully, EVGA will push FSP to use a different platform in an upcoming G line, or even better Super Flower will move some of its production out of China, and we will see again a Leadex-based G line.

Image Credits: Tom's Hardware

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Disclaimer: Aris Mpitziopoulos is Tom's Hardware's PSU reviewer. He is also the Chief Testing Engineer of Cybenetics, and developed the Cybenetics certification methodologies apart from his role on Tom's Hardware. Neither Tom's Hardware nor its parent company, Future PLC, are financially involved with Cybenetics. Aris does not perform the actual certifications for Cybenetics.

Specifications and Part Analysis

The SuperNOVA 1000 G5 costs about the same as the similar-capacity G3 model that it is destined to replace in EVGA's portfolio. Unfortunately, its performance is not up to the G3 unit's levels and to make matters worse, the overall noise output exceeds 43 dB(A), so this is not the ideal power supply for silent operating systems. U.S. tariffs put an end to EVGA's close cooperation with Super Flower, so EVGA turned to FSP which is a good OEM with reliable products, but it cannot meet the performance levels of the Leadex platforms, used in the G3 models.

Traditionally all high-end G products were made by Super Flower, but this is not the first time that FSP provides platforms to EVGA, since the G1+ family is based on an FSP platform.

The main features of the G5 line, which consists of four members with capacities ranging from 650W to 1000W, are the following:

• Breathing Green LED through which you can monitor the operational status of the system. The breathing effect shows that the system is in operation, while a solid light means that the system is in standby.
• 135mm FDB fan which is larger than the 130mm one used in the G3 models, while the dimensions of the PSU remain the same with 150mm depth.
• Compatibility with the ATX v2.52 specification.
• Ten-year warranty
• According to EVGA the efficiency has been improved and the load regulation is tighter

We will start the evaluation of the G5 family with the strongest member, which has 1000W max power. With only 150mm depth, the power density of the 1000 G5 is impressive. The power supply utilizes a fully modular cable design, and its external design is appealing. What matters the most though in a PSU, is the internals, but still many people want even the power supply to look good. 

Specifications

* Not certified yet by Cybenetics. According to our measurements the PSU falls into this noise category. There is no efficiency (ETA) classification, because of the high vampire power which puts it off Cybenetics' charts.

Power Specifications

Cables & Connectors

A huge load of connectors is provided, including two EPS and eight PCIe along with twelve SATA connectors. All cables are long and it is nice to see them free from in-line caps. Not all are perfect though: the distance between the peripheral connectors is too small at 100mm and thicker, 16AWG, gauges should be used, on the cables that will have to handle increased loads (ATX, EPS and PCIe).

Component Analysis

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to understand better the components we're about to discuss.

This looks to be an upgraded version of the platform found in the EVGA G1+ models. The build quality is high, and all parts that FSP used are good and will easily outlive the provided warranty. Our only objection is the topology used on the primary side. Typically the Active Clamp Reset Forward (ACRF) topology cannot meet the performance of half-bridge and full-bridge topologies. Its primary assets are the long hold-up times with smaller bulk caps and the lower production cost because a smaller number of parts is required.

The transient filtering stage is complete and the NTC thermistor, which protects against large inrush currents, is supported by a bypass relay. Finally, the single bridge rectifier can handle up to 25 Amperes.

Usually, a 1000W PSU requires a bulk cap with at least 820uF capacity, to achieve a longer than 17ms hold-up time. Nevertheless, thanks to the ACRF topology the 1000 G5 manages this with a 560uF bulk cap, which of course costs less than a higher capacity one.

The ACRF topology uses two main switching FETs and another one as a reset switch.

On the secondary side, the +12V FETs are bolted on a small heat sink. A couple of VRMs is fed by the +12V rail and generates the minor rails.

All filtering caps are of high quality. Besides electrolytics, many polymer caps are also used.

The front side of the modular PCB hosts a number polymer caps.

The daughter-board that hosts the supervisor IC.

The soldering quality is very good.

The cooling fan measures 135mm across and uses a fluid dymanic bearing. It is a high-speed fan that is driven by an aggressive speed profile, so don't expect it to be quiet, especially under high loads and increased operating temperatures.

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Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time, Inrush Current, Efficiency and Noise

To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

The load regulation is tight on all rails. Nonetheless, the 1000 G3 achieves higher performance.

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is very long. The G5 performs better than the similar capacity G3 in this area.

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

The inrush currents are low, with both voltage inputs.

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the G5’s load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.