Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time, And Inrush Current
To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units.
Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation
Load Regulation testing is detailed here.
Hold-Up Time
Our hold-up time tests are described in detail here.
The hold-up time we measured is notably higher than what is required. Further, the power-good signal is accurate.
Inrush Current
For details on our inrush current testing, please click here.
The inrush current at 115V is quite low for a 1kW PSU, though it goes through the roof with 230V.
Load Regulation And Efficiency Measurements
The first set of tests reveals the stability of the voltage rails and the SuperNOVA 1000 G3'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 supports Intel's C6/C7 power states or not. In the second test, we determined the maximum load the +12V rail could handle with minimal load on the minor rails.
| Test # | 12V | 5V | 3.3V | 5VSB | DC/AC (Watts) | Efficiency | Fan Speed | Fan Noise | Temps (In/Out) | PF/AC Volts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6.414A | 1.993A | 1.988A | 0.987A | 99.802 | 87.168% | 1682 RPM | 45.2 dB(A) | 38.17°C | 0.974 |
| 12.195V | 5.017V | 3.312V | 5.065V | 114.494 | 40.60°C | 115.04V | ||||
| 2 | 13.855A | 2.983A | 2.985A | 1.188A | 199.711 | 90.239% | 1697 RPM | 45.4 dB(A) | 38.99°C | 0.977 |
| 12.187V | 5.017V | 3.312V | 5.057V | 221.313 | 42.14°C | 115.04V | ||||
| 3 | 21.660A | 3.487A | 3.500A | 1.385A | 299.876 | 91.228% | 1728 RPM | 45.7 dB(A) | 39.45°C | 0.985 |
| 12.179V | 5.017V | 3.312V | 5.049V | 328.712 | 43.34°C | 115.04V | ||||
| 4 | 29.459A | 3.983A | 3.985A | 1.583A | 399.728 | 91.457% | 1761 RPM | 46.1 dB(A) | 40.01°C | 0.990 |
| 12.172V | 5.015V | 3.311V | 5.043V | 437.065 | 44.69°C | 115.04V | ||||
| 5 | 36.916A | 4.977A | 4.981A | 1.786A | 499.678 | 91.244% | 1794 RPM | 46.6 dB(A) | 41.02°C | 0.993 |
| 12.169V | 5.014V | 3.312V | 5.036V | 547.631 | 46.53°C | 115.04V | ||||
| 6 | 44.382A | 5.982A | 5.974A | 1.985A | 599.640 | 90.802% | 1829 RPM | 47.0 dB(A) | 42.11°C | 0.994 |
| 12.164V | 5.015V | 3.313V | 5.030V | 660.385 | 47.81°C | 115.04V | ||||
| 7 | 51.846A | 6.983A | 6.972A | 2.191A | 699.559 | 90.080% | 1934 RPM | 47.9 dB(A) | 43.37°C | 0.995 |
| 12.160V | 5.014V | 3.313V | 5.021V | 776.595 | 49.84°C | 115.04V | ||||
| 8 | 59.326A | 7.976A | 7.965A | 2.392A | 799.489 | 89.407% | 2027 RPM | 49.0 dB(A) | 45.69°C | 0.996 |
| 12.155V | 5.015V | 3.314V | 5.011V | 894.214 | 53.26°C | 115.32V | ||||
| 9 | 67.228A | 8.479A | 8.480A | 2.396A | 899.485 | 88.520% | 2072 RPM | 50.5 dB(A) | 45.89°C | 0.996 |
| 12.151V | 5.013V | 3.313V | 5.007V | 1016.140 | 55.05°C | 115.06V | ||||
| 10 | 74.901A | 8.983A | 8.965A | 3.004A | 999.378 | 87.520% | 2072 RPM | 50.5 dB(A) | 46.74°C | 0.996 |
| 12.145V | 5.012V | 3.312V | 4.990V | 1141.880 | 57.33°C | 115.08V | ||||
| 11 | 83.171A | 8.990A | 8.970A | 3.003A | 1099.142 | 86.307% | 2072 RPM | 50.5 dB(A) | 49.22°C | 0.996 |
| 12.137V | 5.009V | 3.310V | 4.986V | 1273.530 | 61.45°C | 115.07V | ||||
| CL1 | 0.099A | 14.025A | 14.005A | 0.004A | 118.843 | 82.943% | 1995 RPM | 48.7 dB(A) | 44.12°C | 0.969 |
| 12.181V | 5.046V | 3.345V | 5.078V | 143.283 | 48.47°C | 115.09V | ||||
| CL2 | 83.253A | 1.003A | 1.003A | 1.002A | 1024.299 | 87.837% | 2084 RPM | 50.5 dB(A) | 47.72°C | 0.996 |
| 12.143V | 4.992V | 3.292V | 5.039V | 1166.140 | 58.51°C | 115.08V |
Load regulation is superb, with nearly no voltage drop at 3.3V and minimal drop at +12V and 5V. Efficiency is high as well, easily meeting the 80 PLUS Gold requirements. It would be nice to see efficiency higher than 88% under a full load, though.
The major downside of this unit, which we kind of expected given our experience with the 850 G3, is its noise output even under light loads. Although we pushed the SuperNOVA 1000 G3 hard by applying high temperatures inside of our hotbox, and it proved it can deliver more than its rated capacity above 49°C ambient, we were hoping for a less aggressive fan profile. Unfortunately, the small PCB restricts airflow, and the small fan has to rotate at high speeds in order to move enough air.
