Running the numbers
Our testing procedures can be found at this link.
Efficiency
| Load | 10pc | 25pc | 50pc | 75pc | 100pc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | 80.9pc | 86.4pc | 88.3pc | 87pc | 84.2pc |
We'd want to see a supply, irrespective of 80 PLUS certification, managing at least 80 per cent efficiency across wide loads. The Power Zone isn't the best at very low loads but jumps up close to 90 per cent through the crucial 25-75 per cent range.
Regulation
In terms of regulation, we're looking at just how well the supply is able to hold to the various lines. The ATX spec. has a +/- 5 per cent leeway on all but the -12V line.
| Line/Load | 3.3V | 5V | 12V |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 per cent | +1.4pc | +1.8pc | +2.5pc |
| 50 per cent | +0.7pc | +1.1pc | +1.4pc |
| 100 per cent | -1.8pc | -0.9pc | +0.3pc |
Most supplies overvolt with little load and undervolt when stressed - be quiet!'s standard regulation is good.
Regulation - cross-load
How about providing uneven loads that stress particular voltage rails? In the first attempt, we've put 50A on the 12V rails, and 1A on the 3.3V and 5V rails. This can actually be somewhat typical for a system heavy on graphics and CPU power. In the second, we've turned the tables and gone for 12A on both the 3.3V and 5V rails - highly unlikely in a real-world environment - and just 2A on the 12V - even more unlikely!
| Line/Load | 3.3V | 5V | 12V |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-load 12V focus | -2.2pc | +1.9pc | +3.1pc |
| Cross-load 3.3V/5V focus | -1.8pc | +1.2pc | +1pc |
Hammering one part of the PSU power delivery while using just a small portion of the other can throw cheaper supplies of out kilter. The hallmark of a solid supply is little variation at the extremes of load. Just like the regular numbers, cross-load is reasonable for a mainstream supply.
Ripple
| Line/Load (mv - p-p max) | 3.3V | 5V | 12V |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 per cent | 10mV | 15mV | 15mV |
| 50 per cent | 25mV | 15mV | 20mV |
| 100 per cent | 30mV | 30mV | 35mV |
The ATX v2.2 spec states that the maximum permissible ripple is 120mV for the 12V line and 50mV for others.
PSUs convert AC power into DC, but doing so requires the AC waveform to be suppressed. What we're really testing here is the quality of the supply's rectifier and any smoothing capacitors in getting rid of this unwanted up-and-down ripple. Per-line ripple is more than acceptable in all cases.
Temps
| Temperatures | Intake | Exhaust |
|---|---|---|
| 10 per cent | 30°C | 33°C |
| 50 per cent | 34°C | 42°C |
| 100 per cent | 40°C | 48°C |
Tested at ambient conditions of 25°C and in an open environment next to the Chroma test harness, the supply becomes warm at full chat, though not overly so.
Fan performance
Temps are good but they mean little in isolation. Obtaining accurate noise readings is near-on impossible when the supply is connected to the Chroma test harness and dual-unit load-tester. We can test the manufacturer's quietness claims in a different way, by using an AMPROBE TMA10A anemometer placed directly over the centre of the PSU. The anemometer records the airflow being pushed/pulled from the PSU's fan. We can use a Voltcraft DT-10L RPM meter to measure the rotational speed of the fan, too.
| Load | Fan RPM | Airflow | Noise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 per cent | 500rpm | circa-20cfm | Very quiet |
| 50 per cent | 750rpm | circa-40cfm | Quiet |
| 100 per cent | 1,500rpm | circa-60cfm | Quiet |
Supplies with lower efficiency ratings produce more heat than, say, Platinum-rated models. Consequently, the Power Zone 650W is very quiet with low loads. The high-quality design of the Silent Wings fan is such that it's not noticeable even when the supply is running at full capacity.
