Why you can trust Tom's Hardware
To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units.
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.
Results 1-8: Load Regulation
The load regulation is tight on all 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.
Results 9-12: Hold-Up Time
The hold-up time exceeds 17ms, and the power ok signal is accurate, but lower than 16ms as 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.
Results 13-14: Inrush Current
The inrush currents are at normal levels.
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.
Test # | 12V | 5V | 3.3V | 5VSB | DC/AC (Watts) | Efficiency | Fan Speed (RPM) | PSU Noise (dB[A]) | Temps (In/Out) | PF/AC Volts |
1 | 2.722A | 2.003A | 1.989A | 0.982A | 54.538 | 83.328% | 0 | <6.0 | 45.81°C | 0.917 |
12.097V | 4.997V | 3.319V | 5.092V | 65.450 | 40.54°C | 115.12V | ||||
2 | 6.492A | 3.004A | 2.986A | 1.181A | 109.449 | 88.172% | 0 | <6.0 | 46.94°C | 0.954 |
12.098V | 4.994V | 3.317V | 5.083V | 124.131 | 40.85°C | 115.12V | ||||
3 | 10.656A | 3.506A | 3.469A | 1.380A | 164.941 | 89.534% | 0 | <6.0 | 47.62°C | 0.969 |
12.100V | 4.992V | 3.315V | 5.074V | 184.221 | 41.15°C | 115.12V | ||||
4 | 14.753A | 4.009A | 3.984A | 1.580A | 219.755 | 89.694% | 0 | <6.0 | 48.64°C | 0.978 |
12.102V | 4.991V | 3.314V | 5.065V | 245.004 | 41.89°C | 115.12V | ||||
5 | 18.519A | 5.011A | 4.982A | 1.781A | 274.649 | 89.573% | 560 | 8.5 | 42.67°C | 0.983 |
12.103V | 4.991V | 3.312V | 5.055V | 306.619 | 49.88°C | 115.12V | ||||
6 | 22.286A | 6.016A | 5.982A | 1.983A | 329.566 | 89.190% | 571 | 8.5 | 43.11°C | 0.984 |
12.104V | 4.989V | 3.310V | 5.044V | 369.509 | 50.90°C | 115.11V | ||||
7 | 26.087A | 7.019A | 6.982A | 2.185A | 384.866 | 88.719% | 685 | 11.0 | 43.38°C | 0.986 |
12.104V | 4.987V | 3.309V | 5.035V | 433.804 | 51.57°C | 115.11V | ||||
8 | 29.886A | 8.027A | 7.984A | 2.389A | 440.169 | 88.067% | 1003 | 20.8 | 43.90°C | 0.988 |
12.104V | 4.986V | 3.307V | 5.024V | 499.812 | 52.76°C | 115.11V | ||||
9 | 34.057A | 8.529A | 8.473A | 2.392A | 494.683 | 87.488% | 1340 | 30.2 | 45.17°C | 0.989 |
12.102V | 4.985V | 3.305V | 5.019V | 565.431 | 54.61°C | 115.11V | ||||
10 | 38.033A | 9.033A | 8.990A | 3.000A | 549.884 | 86.702% | 1753 | 33.2 | 45.31°C | 0.989 |
12.099V | 4.984V | 3.304V | 5.000V | 634.222 | 56.05°C | 115.11V | ||||
11 | 42.601A | 9.033A | 8.991A | 3.003A | 605.107 | 85.968% | 2098 | 41.1 | 46.57°C | 0.990 |
12.098V | 4.984V | 3.303V | 4.996V | 703.877 | 58.17°C | 115.11V | ||||
CL1 | 0.142A | 12.002A | 12.001A | 0.000A | 101.248 | 85.136% | 0 | <6.0 | 49.34°C | 0.952 |
12.107V | 4.984V | 3.309V | 5.100V | 118.925 | 42.48°C | 115.12V | ||||
CL2 | 45.005A | 1.002A | 0.999A | 1.000A | 557.839 | 87.464% | 1609 | 33.1 | 45.54°C | 0.989 |
12.098V | 4.994V | 3.311V | 5.057V | 637.796 | 55.97°C | 115.11V |
Up to the 40% load test, the PSU operates in passive mode, despite the high ambient temperatures. Afterward, the fan kicks in at low speeds. It needs more than full load at almost 47 degrees Celsius, to force the fan spin at full speed, where the noise output exceeds 40 dB(A).
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.
Test # | 12V | 5V | 3.3V | 5VSB | DC/AC (Watts) | Efficiency | Fan Speed (RPM) | PSU Noise (dB[A]) | PF/AC Volts |
1 | 1.202A | 0.502A | 0.483A | 0.196A | 19.657 | 71.621% | 0 | <6.0 | 0.787 |
12.094V | 5.005V | 3.324V | 5.114V | 27.446 | 115.12V | ||||
2 | 2.461A | 1.002A | 0.995A | 0.392A | 40.077 | 81.248% | 0 | <6.0 | 0.887 |
12.094V | 4.999V | 3.320V | 5.108V | 49.327 | 115.13V | ||||
3 | 3.651A | 1.500A | 1.476A | 0.588A | 59.555 | 84.771% | 0 | <6.0 | 0.921 |
12.095V | 4.998V | 3.319V | 5.102V | 70.254 | 115.12V | ||||
4 | 4.906A | 2.004A | 1.989A | 0.785A | 79.951 | 86.833% | 0 | <6.0 | 0.940 |
12.095V | 4.997V | 3.318V | 5.095V | 92.074 | 115.12V |
The fan doesn't need to spin at such light loads, even at higher than 35 degrees Celsius ambient temperatures.
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.
Test # | 12V | 5V | 3.3V | 5VSB | DC/AC (Watts) | Efficiency | Fan Speed (RPM) | PSU Noise (dB[A]) | PF/AC Volts |
1 | 0.774A | 0.203A | 0.201A | 0.050A | 11.290 | 59.362% | 0 | <6.0 | 0.681 |
12.078V | 5.011V | 3.326V | 5.119V | 19.019 | 115.13V |
The efficiency with 2% load is low.
Efficiency
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.
Results 15-18: Efficiency
The efficiency levels could be higher in all segments (super light, light, and normal loads).
5VSB Efficiency
Test # | 5VSB | DC/AC (Watts) | Efficiency | PF/AC Volts |
1 | 0.100A | 0.513 | 74.026% | 0.109 |
5.120V | 0.693 | 115.13V | ||
2 | 0.250A | 1.280 | 76.555% | 0.220 |
5.116V | 1.672 | 115.13V | ||
3 | 0.550A | 2.811 | 77.588% | 0.330 |
5.110V | 3.623 | 115.13V | ||
4 | 1.000A | 5.100 | 77.461% | 0.397 |
5.099V | 6.584 | 115.13V | ||
5 | 1.500A | 7.634 | 77.906% | 0.432 |
5.088V | 9.799 | 115.13V | ||
6 | 3.000A | 15.140 | 76.023% | 0.482 |
5.046V | 19.915 | 115.13V |
Results 19-20: 5VSB Efficiency
The 5VSB rail's efficiency levels cannot meet the competition.
Power Consumption In Idle And Standby
Mode | 12V | 5V | 3.3V | 5VSB | Watts | PF/AC Volts |
Idle | 12.070V | 5.017V | 3.327V | 5.122V | 7.525 | 0.515 |
115.1V | ||||||
Standby | 0.044 | 0.007 | ||||
115.1V |
Results 21-22: Vampire Power
The energy that the PSU consumes in standby mode is low, with both voltage inputs.
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).
The fan profile at high operating temperatures is not aggressive since it takes more than full load at close to 47 degrees Celsius to make the fan spin at its full speed.
The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.
The passive operation lasts long, and up to around 360W loads, the PSU is dead silent. With higher than 440W loads, at +12V, the fan's noise enters the 35-40 dB(A) range.
MORE: Best Power Supplies
MORE: How We Test Power Supplies
MORE: All Power Supply Content
Current page: Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time, Inrush Current, Efficiency and Noise
Prev Page Specifications and Part Analysis Next Page Protection Features, DC Power Sequencing, Cross-Load Tests and Infrared ImagesAris Mpitziopoulos is a contributing editor at Tom's Hardware, covering PSUs.
Intel Arc B580 GPU exposed by reviewer as Intel and AIBs subtly tease Battlemage's Dec 3 launch
34-inch OLED Ultrawide gaming monitor has never been cheaper for Cyber Monday — Phillips Evnia 34M2C8600 goes on sale for just $569
Amazon's bestselling 8TB hard drive is available for $110 - Seagate BarraCuda is the most affordable 8TB hard drive right now