Live Stress Test - Power Supplies Under Full Load

Sidney · 26th August 2005, 13:54

What an epic project - 19 different power supplies were analyzed in our 6-week Live Stress Test conducted at the THG Lab in Munich, six of which did not pass the test. Maximum output ranged from 300 watts with the Fortron all the way up to 850 watts with the Turbo-Cool from PC Power & Cooling.

Looking at the comparison tests conducted over the last few years we see a substantial improvement in power supply quality and features. Users have to dig a good bit deeper in their wallets too however, as it takes an investment of about $150 for a good device in the 500 watt class, with nearly no ceiling in terms of product pricing. The top-of-the-line model in our field of test candidates, the Turbo-Cool 850 from PC Power & Cooling, is built for a maximum 850 watts and costs right around $500. Somewhat less shocking is the fact that for a short while now the market has offered an unprecedented variety of devices. This includes a host of no-name products in the lower price range promising extremely high performance for very little money. These types of offers were excluded from participation in our Stress Test.

http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/200507111/index.html

26th August 2005, 14:01

holy crap

OCZ, Be quiet and Hyper failed

no Tagan tested =(

Sidney · 26th August 2005, 14:08

@Rutar, pay attention to the sound level; unless you go fanless your quest for silence may not be want you are "thinking".

Get yourself a good digital sound meter and don't trust what you could or could not hear alone as your sole judgement on how products perform.

26th August 2005, 14:10

but an awesome test

26th August 2005, 14:23

the Seasonic 600 was one of the few below 60 dba so I would call that the absolute top dog of the SLI PSUs as there are no drawbacks

Sidney · 27th August 2005, 01:07

Yes, the Seasonic is very quiet because it has a high efficiency factor, hence less heat loss allowing slower air ventilatiom/movement to get the job done.

26th August 2005, 13:54	#1
Sidney Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15,738	Live Stress Test - Power Supplies Under Full Load What an epic project - 19 different power supplies were analyzed in our 6-week Live Stress Test conducted at the THG Lab in Munich, six of which did not pass the test. Maximum output ranged from 300 watts with the Fortron all the way up to 850 watts with the Turbo-Cool from PC Power & Cooling. Looking at the comparison tests conducted over the last few years we see a substantial improvement in power supply quality and features. Users have to dig a good bit deeper in their wallets too however, as it takes an investment of about $150 for a good device in the 500 watt class, with nearly no ceiling in terms of product pricing. The top-of-the-line model in our field of test candidates, the Turbo-Cool 850 from PC Power & Cooling, is built for a maximum 850 watts and costs right around $500. Somewhat less shocking is the fact that for a short while now the market has offered an unprecedented variety of devices. This includes a host of no-name products in the lower price range promising extremely high performance for very little money. These types of offers were excluded from participation in our Stress Test. http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/200507111/index.html __________________ lazyman Opteron 165 (2) @2.85 1.42 vcore AMD Stock HSF + Chill Vent II

26th August 2005, 14:08	#3
Sidney Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15,738	@Rutar, pay attention to the sound level; unless you go fanless your quest for silence may not be want you are "thinking". Get yourself a good digital sound meter and don't trust what you could or could not hear alone as your sole judgement on how products perform. __________________ lazyman Opteron 165 (2) @2.85 1.42 vcore AMD Stock HSF + Chill Vent II

27th August 2005, 01:07	#6
Sidney Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15,738	Yes, the Seasonic is very quiet because it has a high efficiency factor, hence less heat loss allowing slower air ventilatiom/movement to get the job done. __________________ lazyman Opteron 165 (2) @2.85 1.42 vcore AMD Stock HSF + Chill Vent II

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26th August 2005, 14:01	#2
Rutar Posts: n/a	holy crap OCZ, Be quiet and Hyper failed no Tagan tested =(

26th August 2005, 14:10	#4
Rutar Posts: n/a	but an awesome test

26th August 2005, 14:23	#5
Rutar Posts: n/a	the Seasonic 600 was one of the few below 60 dba so I would call that the absolute top dog of the SLI PSUs as there are no drawbacks