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.

Page 4 of 12:

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.

EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2

Corsair AX1600i

EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 P2

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.

Image 1 of 7

The hold-up time we measure isn't as long as Corsair's AX1600i, but it's still satisfactory. Moreover, the power-good signal is accurate.

Inrush Current

For details on our inrush current testing, please click here.

Image 1 of 2

Due to the high-capacity bulk caps, inrush current is higher than we're used to with both voltage inputs.

Load Regulation And Efficiency Measurements

The first set of tests reveals the stability of the voltage rails and the 1600 T2'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.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Test #	12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	DC/AC (Watts)	Efficiency	Fan Speed	PSU Noise	Temps (In/Out)	PF/AC Volts
1	11.341A	1.987A	1.987A	0.987A	160.130	90.895%	0 RPM	<6.0 dB(A)	41.81°C	0.976
12.215V	5.033V	3.321V	5.065V	176.170	38.19°C	115.75V
2	23.658A	2.982A	2.982A	1.186A	319.806	93.366%	0 RPM	<6.0 dB(A)	42.89°C	0.992
12.212V	5.030V	3.318V	5.059V	342.528	38.56°C	115.64V
3	36.309A	3.479A	3.469A	1.386A	479.327	93.808%	0 RPM	<6.0 dB(A)	43.49°C	0.995
12.210V	5.028V	3.315V	5.052V	510.965	38.80°C	115.52V
4	49.035A	3.981A	3.986A	1.586A	639.782	93.731%	0 RPM	<6.0 dB(A)	46.14°C	0.997
12.207V	5.026V	3.312V	5.046V	682.575	39.33°C	115.29V
5	61.414A	4.978A	4.985A	1.786A	799.936	93.365%	947 RPM	26.7 dB(A)	40.21°C	0.998
12.203V	5.023V	3.309V	5.040V	856.781	48.24°C	115.16V
6	73.801A	5.976A	5.989A	1.987A	960.033	92.693%	947 RPM	26.7 dB(A)	41.62°C	0.998
12.198V	5.021V	3.306V	5.035V	1035.717	50.27°C	115.02V
7	86.154A	6.976A	6.996A	2.188A	1119.772	92.112%	947 RPM	26.7 dB(A)	42.73°C	0.998
12.195V	5.019V	3.303V	5.029V	1215.659	51.99°C	114.77V
8	98.573A	7.976A	8.003A	2.390A	1280.323	91.164%	1500 RPM	43.1 dB(A)	44.78°C	0.998
12.193V	5.016V	3.300V	5.023V	1404.422	54.18°C	114.68V
9	111.331A	8.479A	8.494A	2.391A	1439.646	90.446%	1977 RPM	50.2 dB(A)	45.70°C	0.998
12.190V	5.014V	3.297V	5.020V	1591.720	55.36°C	114.62V
10	123.919A	8.983A	9.017A	2.997A	1600.044	89.432%	1977 RPM	50.2 dB(A)	46.34°C	0.997
12.188V	5.011V	3.294V	5.006V	1789.120	56.14°C	114.40V
11	137.068A	8.985A	9.024A	2.998A	1759.755	89.186%	1977 RPM	50.2 dB(A)	47.36°C	0.998
12.184V	5.010V	3.291V	5.005V	1973.121	57.55°C	114.25V
CL1	0.739A	14.002A	14.001A	0.000A	125.828	85.135%	947 RPM	26.7 dB(A)	45.40°C	0.972
12.215V	5.025V	3.317V	5.081V	147.799	54.19°C	116.20V
CL2	133.354A	1.001A	1.001A	1.000A	1638.552	89.588%	1977 RPM	50.2 dB(A)	47.94°C	0.997
12.187V	5.016V	3.297V	5.045V	1828.996	57.55°C	114.55V

EVGA's fan profile is relaxed. You have to push this PSU hard to get its fan spinning fast, at which point it's pretty noisy (exceeding 50 dB[A] at close to 2000 RPM). The semi-passive mode lasts quite a while, even under high operating temperatures.

The 1600 T2's efficiency is amazing. Even at >40°C operating temperatures, it satisfies most of the 80 PLUS Titanium standard's requirements. Truly, this is one of the most efficient high-capacity PSUs available. Until the release of Corsair's AX1600i, it was best-in-class.

As far as load regulation goes, the 1600 T2 performs well across the board, achieving deviations within 1% on the minor rails, an impressive 0.22% at +12V, and under 2% on the 5VSB rail.

MORE: Best Power Supplies

MORE: How We Test Power Supplies

MORE: All Power Supply Content