Corsair SF600 Platinum PSU Review: Setting The SFX Performance Bar Higher

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Efficiency, Temperature & Noise

Efficiency

Our efficiency testing procedure is detailed here.

Using results from the previous page, we plotted a chart showing the SF600 Platinum's efficiency at low loads, and loads from 10 to 110 percent of its maximum-rated capacity.

This PSU's efficiency under normal loads is impressive. It's also efficient with light loads. But EVGA's SuperNOVA 650 GM turns more heads with an 80 PLUS Gold rating and notably lower price. There's a catch though, revealed in Cybenetics' efficiency rating: the 650 GM drops an efficiency level, causing it to be classified as ETA-A-. That's because of low PF readings, a sign that the PSU's APFC converter isn't particularly effective.

Efficiency At Low Loads

In the following tests, we measure the SF600's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10 percent of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). The loads we dial are 20, 40, 60, and 80W. This is important for representing when a PC is idle, with power-saving features turned on.

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Test #12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed PSU NoisePF/AC Volts
11.180A0.493A0.473A0.198A19.48271.802%0 RPM<6.0 dB(A)0.894
12.189V5.076V3.380V5.045V27.133115.34V
22.430A0.986A0.976A0.397A39.92682.625%0 RPM<6.0 dB(A)0.952
12.189V5.077V3.379V5.042V48.322115.32V
33.613A1.478A1.449A5.039A59.44186.295%0 RPM<6.0 dB(A)0.975
12.189V5.076V3.379V5.039V68.881115.29V
44.862A1.970A1.952A0.794A79.85688.207%0 RPM<6.0 dB(A)0.974
12.189V5.076V3.379V5.036V90.533115.27V

We observed very high efficiency in all four tests, while noise was non-existent thanks to the fan's semi-passive mode.

5VSB Efficiency

The ATX specification (revision 1.4), along with CEC, ErP Lot 3 2014 and ErP Lot 6 2010/2013, states that 5VSB standby supply efficiency should be as high as possible, recommending 75 percent or more with 550mA, 1A, and 1.5A of load. The PSU should also achieve greater than 75% efficiency at 5VSB under full load, or with 3A if the maximum current output on that rail is higher than 3A.

We take six measurements: one each at 100, 250, 550, 1000, and 1500mA, and one with the full load the 5VSB rail can handle.   

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Test #5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyPF/AC Volts
10.100A0.50572.767%0.087
5.047V0.694115.37V
20.250A1.26277.471%0.182
5.045V1.629115.38V
30.550A2.77484.599%0.289
5.042V3.279115.37V
41.000A5.03884.389%0.375
5.037V5.970115.38V
51.500A7.54983.618%0.423
5.032V9.028115.37V
62.500A12.55583.328%0.468
5.021V15.067115.36V

The 5VSB circuit is highly efficient, matching the PSU's overall performance.

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

In the table below, you'll find the power consumption and voltage values of all rails (except -12V) when the PSU is idle (powered on, but without any load on its rails), and the power consumption when the PSU is in standby mode (without any load, at 5VSB).

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Mode12V5V3.3V5VSBWattsPF/AC Volts
Idle12.186V5.075V3.379V5.047V7.0180.518
115.4V
Standby0.0480.006
115.4V

Vampire power remains low, helping the 5VSB rail achieve high efficiency under very light loads.

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

Our mixed noise testing is described in detail here.

The first chart below illustrates the cooling fan's speed (in RPM), and the delta between input and output temperature. Our results were obtained at a 36°C (96.8°F) to 46°C (114.8°F) ambient temperature.   

The next chart shows the cooling fan's speed (again, in RPM) and output noise. We measure acoustics from one meter away, inside a hemi-anechoic chamber. Background noise inside the chamber is below 6 dB(A) during testing (it's actually much lower, but our sound meter’s microphone hits its floor), and the results are obtained with the PSU operating at 36°C (96.8°F) to 46°C (114.8°F) ambient temperature. 

The following graph illustrates the fan's output noise over the PSU's operating range. The same conditions of the above graph apply to our measurements, though the ambient temperature is between 30°C (86°F) to 32°C (89.6°F).  

An increased load on the minor rails causes the semi-passive mode to end. At least the fan profile doesn't get crazy like what we saw from Corsair's SF600 Gold.

Up to 300W load on the +12V rail, noise remains below 15 dB(A). It takes more than 480W on that rail to hit the 30-35 dB(A) range.

MORE: Best Power Supplies

MORE: How We Test Power Supplies

MORE: All Power Supply Content

Aris Mpitziopoulos
Contributing Editor

Aris Mpitziopoulos is a contributing editor at Tom's Hardware, covering PSUs.

  • Dark Lord of Tech
    Great review ARIS , I run the SF600 GOLD in my inwin case setup.
    Reply
  • Co BIY
    Less than 1% efficiency difference between Gold and Platinum ? Hard to make that pay under any normal use scenario.

    Glad to see that they made several other improvements for the Platinum model.
    Reply
  • Co BIY
    I don't see the load chart.
    Reply
  • iankphone
    I just completed my ncase-m1 build with this. It's really good.

    8700K, 2080Ti. Like a boss. I'm not overclocking however (insufficient cooling for that).
    Reply
  • Aris_Mp
    Just wait now for the SF750 to get reviewed :)
    Reply
  • Dark Lord of Tech
    21685936 said:
    Just wait now for the SF750 to get reviewed :)

    Looking forward to it. I will most likely get one for my next setup.
    Reply
  • smitty2k1
    Did you test the SF600 platinum with Vega graphics cards? I'm getting the OCP to trip on my just running the Vega 56 in turbo mode. The same thing was happening with my older Silverstone SX-650G power supply, and Silverstone confirmed that they had made an engineering change to fix the OCP tripping.

    It only happens in Destiny 2, no other games. I'm curious if this is a widespread issue, or something else with my system. It seems the Vega cards are tough on PSUs.
    Reply