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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.

FSP SDA600

SilverStone SX600-G

Corsair SF600

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

Load Regulation testing is detailed here.

Image 1 of 8

Hold-Up Time

Our hold-up time tests are described in detail here.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Aris Mpitziopoulos is a Contributing Editor at Tom's Hardware US, covering PSUs.

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11 Comments Comment from the forums

shrapnel_indie

How many motherboards require more than one EPS connector in the entry to enthusiast level motherboards (excluding server boards)? How many server boards? How many enthusiasts actually use server boards?

IMHO, if a PSU has 1 or 2 EPS connectors shouldn't be a pro or con as the vast majority of boards used from entry level to enthusiast only really requires one connector. Server boards are a different matter. IMHO, just making a clear note how many EPS connectors should be good enough.
Reply
TMTOWTSAC

I can see wanting more than 2 PCIe of course, but how many SFX models come with 2 EPS? How many dual CPU micro atx mobos are there anyway?
Reply
Ne0Wolf7

Why would you ever want there not to be a power switch? I use mine all the time... It seems like such a simple thing to add too.
Reply
10tacle

^^That's the first thing I noticed in the pictures. I use mine on occasion too, especially when getting lockups during overclock testing. Flicking a switch is a lot more convenient than reaching around and unplugging and making sure the cable doesn't fall down behind the desk causing colorful four letter language. Unwise omission that is inexcusable in this category of PSU. I would rule out this PSU just for that omission alone.

Reply
Aris_Mp

about the two EPS connectors, most mid to high-end mainboards use one EPS and one ATX12V (so they need two CPU connectors) especially the new ones. Why not have this option and be restricted to mainstream mainboards. Not only server or dual CPU mainboards require two EPS connectors.
Reply
Marcus52

Enermax still hasn't recovered their quality since they shut down their own production facilities, which is a real shame, they used to be one of the best.
Reply
superflykicks03

You guys literally have ads that play over the top of your intrusive popup videos. You literally have to watch a 30 second ad before you get to watch the unwanted video :/ Not exactly user friendly. I know I know revenue blah blah, and just get a popup blocker yadda yadda.
Reply
maxwellmelon

Why would you turn off the power on the power supply on computer lockup. Just hit the reset switch. I would venture to say 9 out of 10 people could care less as there pc is always on.
Reply
10tacle

Because hitting reset from the case button does not guarantee a solid reboot. On my system anyway.
Reply
warmon6

For an SFX psu, not having a power switch on the PSU doesn't bother me to much.

Depending on the case design (like my rvz01), you couldn't access the psu without taking the computer apart to access that switch. So unplugging the computer or holding the power button for 5 seconds would be a lot faster.

Now if this was an ATX PSU i would give a bit more care for as it's extremely rare for an ATX psu to be placed somewhere else inside the case that cant be access from the outside.

@10TACLE

I do have to ask though, does your computer lock up so much that even holding the case power button for the 3 to 5 seconds does nothing?

Most computers I've messed with seems to be able to power off fully even when there is a hard lockup doing that method.

But i do agree with you about that hitting a reset doesn't guarantee a solid reboot. Certainly when trying to dial in overclock settings.
Reply

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Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time & Inrush Current

Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time & Inrush Current

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

Hold-Up Time

Inrush Current

Load Regulation And Efficiency Measurements

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