Power supply manufacturers condition us to think that efficiency is the one variable you need to pay the most attention to. But we have a suite of tests that more thoroughly taxes PSUs. Can these four inexpensive units under $70 make it through unscathed?
Test Configuration, Hold-Up Time, And Inrush Current
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Test Hardware
AC Source
Chroma Programmable AC Source 6530
Power Meter
Yokogawa WT210 Digital Power Meter
Loads
4 x 600 W Chroma 63306 for 12 V testing
Row 3 - Cell 0
4 x 300 W Chroma 63303 for 5 and 3.3 V testing
Row 4 - Cell 0
using Chroma HighSpeed- DC Load Mainframes 6334
Oscilloscope
Tektronix DPO3034 Digital Phosphore Oscilloscope (300 MHz)
Test Procedure
Voltages
110 and 230 V
Standby Power
0.25 A fixed current to simulate PC standby power on 5 Vsb
80 PLUS Efficiency Testing
100/50/20% load, relative to specified total output Load distribution across 12/5/3.3 V rails at the same proportion as specified for 100% testing at 110 V according to ATX 2.3 specification
Efficiency at Fixed Loads
25, 50, 85, 300, 500 W loads Load distribution across 12/5/3.3 V rails at the same proportion as specified for 100%
Peak Load Test
110% Overload Testing at maximum combined 12 V
Temperature Test
Air intake vs. Outtake temperature delta tracking highest delta during all tests
More test results for this PSU and others can be found in our Power Supply Charts.
Hold-Up Time And Inrush Current
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