Efficiency, Differential Temperature and Noise
Efficiency

The overall efficiency of a power supply is very important.  The less waste heat generated the better!  Efficiency is defined by the power output divided by the power input and is usually expressed as a percentage.  If a PSU were a 100% efficient (which none are) 600 watts of AC power going in would result in 600 watts of DC power coming out (with no waste heat to dissipate).  In the real world there are always inefficiencies and power is lost in the form of heat during the conversion process.

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Newer revisions to the ATX12V Power Supply Design Guide V 2.2 have continued to increase the efficiency recommendations for PC switching mode power supplies and now lists both required and recommended minimum efficiencies.

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I measured the AC power input to the Seasonic X Series 750W PSU with the Extech power analyzer while the total DC load was found by adding all the individual +3.3V, +5V, +12V, -12V and +5VSB loads together. 

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As expected, the overall efficiency of the Seasonic X Series 750W power supply is excellent and meets the criteria for 80Plus Gold certification, even while operating on 115 VAC and at elevated temperatures. 

80Plus Program

There is a growing awareness among users, PC manufacturers and electric utilities regarding the money and natural resources that could be saved by adopting higher efficiency PC power supplies.  One group that is spearheading this movement is the 80Plus Program, which is supported by the electric utilities industry.  You can learn more about their efforts to promote power supplies with better than 80% efficiency by visiting the 80Plus Program website.

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    Note 1: Power Factor =0.90 (50% to 100% Load)
    Note 2: Tests conducted at room temperature (25°C)

Earlier last year 80Plus added three new certifications (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) to help differentiate and acknowledge PSUs that meet even higher efficiency specifications. The Seasonic X Series 750W is certified 80Plus Gold, which means it should produce at least 87% efficiency while delivering between 20% and 100% load with at least 90% efficiency at the 50% load mark, and it did. 

Spending a little more money up front to purchase a high efficiency power supply may very well pay for itself over the lifetime of the PC, especially when you are using this much power… 🙂

Differential Temperature and Noise Levels

To simulate real world operation the Seasonic X Series 750W power supply was mounted in a modified mid tower case (Lian Li PC60) during testing.  Some of the warm exhaust air from the PSU under test is recirculated back into the case, which allows the internal case air temperature to increase with load, just like it would in a real PC.

The differential temperature across the power supply was calculated by subtracting the internal case air temperature (T in) from the temperature of the warm exhaust air flowing out the back of the power supply (T out). 

Thermocouples were placed at the air inlet and exhaust outlet. The ambient room air temperature was 23ºC (74ºF) +/- 0.5ºC during testing.

T out = temperature of air exhausting from power supply
T in = temperature of air entering power supply
Delta T = T out – T in

Sound pressure level readings were taken 3’ away from the rear of the case in an otherwise quiet room.  The ambient noise level was ~28 dBA. 

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*Note: Operating in fanless mode (T in = ambient room air temperature)

During our tests, the PSU fan didn’t even turn on until well into the 375W load test. And from there up through the 563W test the fan was very quiet.  Only at full load and elevated temperatures did the fan speed up to the point where it would be noticeable but unfortunately at that point all the programmable DC load cooling fans were running so I could not take a SPL reading.  It should also be noted that the fan will turn off again once the load is reduced.

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(Courtesy of Seasonic)


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