Gigabyte P550B Power Supply Review

An affordable PSU with mediocre performance.

Gigabyte P550B
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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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 tight on any of the PSU's rails. 

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 not far away from 17ms, something that you don't easily see in this price range. On the other hand, the Power Ok signal's hold-up time is much lower than 16ms which is what the ATX spec requires. 

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 with both voltage inputs are not so high, but not low either. 

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.

Gigabyte P550B

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Low enough leakage current. 

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.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test #12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])Temps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
12.748A1.960A1.988A0.982A54.96677.695%130334.136.17°C0.830
12.140V5.102V3.321V5.094V70.74638.39°C115.31V
26.528A2.951A2.988A1.182A110.03483.675%134032.836.58°C0.950
12.122V5.084V3.312V5.078V131.50239.24°C115.27V
310.674A3.444A3.496A1.383A165.03385.389%155338.036.73°C0.984
12.083V5.082V3.305V5.063V193.27240.35°C115.19V
414.844A3.939A4.005A1.585A220.04385.669%171139.437.15°C0.996
12.048V5.078V3.296V5.048V256.85341.27°C115.10V
518.659A4.941A5.021A1.789A275.04485.413%183342.337.88°C0.993
12.034V5.059V3.287V5.031V322.01842.68°C115.06V
622.494A5.957A6.044A1.995A330.04184.927%200844.837.92°C0.991
12.013V5.038V3.277V5.014V388.61643.58°C115.06V
726.346A6.979A7.071A2.202A385.11984.221%212945.238.41°C0.990
11.994V5.017V3.268V4.997V457.27344.78°C114.93V
830.208A8.003A8.105A2.410A440.19283.382%223946.638.73°C0.991
11.977V4.996V3.258V4.980V527.91945.73°C115.09V
934.515A8.519A8.617A2.414A494.75682.495%235048.539.51°C0.992
11.944V4.990V3.249V4.972V599.73747.36°C115.07V
1038.637A9.032A9.168A3.038A549.97281.434%242848.840.29°C0.992
11.912V4.984V3.240V4.940V675.35948.65°C115.10V
1143.489A9.013A9.191A3.042A605.19480.304%243448.940.91°C0.992
11.853V4.994V3.232V4.932V753.62549.79°C115.09V
CL14.000A13.003A13.001A0.001A155.05978.886%188542.237.30°C0.986
12.434V4.816V3.284V5.094V196.56242.34°C115.20V
CL243.524A1.000A1.002A0.001A512.01082.401%238848.240.24°C0.993
11.568V5.247V3.266V5.076V621.36448.78°C115.10V

The PSU managed to handle the overload test without any issues, at an ambient temperature close to 41 degrees Celsius. It won't survive for prolonged use, though, under such tough conditions because of the low-quality caps that it uses, especially on its secondary side. The Chinese FETs on the APFC converter and the primary side do not look so promising, either. 

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.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test #12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])PF/AC Volts
11.227A0.484A0.496A0.195A19.99264.561%110529.00.571
12.103V5.144V3.328V5.128V30.966115.32V
22.452A0.974A0.993A0.391A39.98375.064%116929.80.748
12.104V5.134V3.325V5.119V53.265115.32V
33.681A1.464A1.491A0.587A60.01379.413%140136.10.846
12.106V5.122V3.322V5.109V75.571115.31V
44.902A1.958A1.987A0.785A79.96281.855%139936.10.902
12.110V5.109V3.318V5.098V97.687115.29V

The efficiency levels at light loads are disappointing, and the fan speed profile way too aggressive to keep the internals as cool as it gets to ensure a longer lifetime. 

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.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test #12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])PF/AC Volts
10.744A0.206A0.247A0.051A11.14854.903%109828.50.455
12.098V5.153V3.330V5.135V20.305115.31V

Efficiency with 2% load is bottom low. 

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.

This is a low-efficiency platform, especially at light and super-light loads. To make matters worse, PF with 230V input is bottom low, showing that the APFC converter doesn't operate properly with this voltage input. 

5VSB Efficiency

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test #5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyPF/AC Volts
10.100A0.51474.277%0.132
5.135V0.692115.16V
20.250A1.28379.051%0.241
5.129V1.623115.16V
30.550A2.81680.365%0.327
5.118V3.504115.16V
41.000A5.10480.429%0.375
5.102V6.346115.16V
51.500A7.62980.229%0.402
5.085V9.509115.16V
63.000A15.10078.344%0.463
5.033V19.274115.14V

The 5VSB rail is efficient. 

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mode12V5V3.3V5VSBWattsPF/AC Volts
Idle12.308V5.045V3.330V5.135V5.5240.245
115.2V
Standby0.0600.013
115.2V

Vampire power is low with 115V, but quite high with 230V input. 

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).

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Because of the small heat sinks, the fan has to spin at high speeds to keep the internal temperatures in control. 

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

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The fan starts at a high speed from light loads and exceeds 40 dBA noise with higher than 250W load. This is a very noisy power supply and you should keep this in mind, if you want to build a silent PC. 

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.

  • refillable
    Nice one Aris! I have a request for you. Can you test the Seasonic S12III? It has been circulating around a year now and no one seems to be bothered testing it.
    Reply
  • Aris_Mp
    If I manage to find one, suree!
    Reply
  • NightHawkRMX
    I second this request for the S12iii. Given the popularity of the S12ii (at least back in the day), I am interested to see a review of the successor. I think the fact its RSY made kind of adds to my interest.
    Reply
  • NightHawkRMX
    Gigabyte GP-P750GM 750 W Review - With an Explosive Attitude | TechPowerUp
    Well, at least it did not explode.

    Gigabyte should just be banned from making PSUs at this point.
    Reply
  • Aris_Mp
    NightHawkRMX said:
    Gigabyte GP-P750GM 750 W Review - With an Explosive Attitude | TechPowerUpWell, at least it did not explode.

    Gigabyte should just be banned from making PSUs at this point.
    Yes this one didn't treat me with fireworks :)
    Reply