Efficiency, Differential Temperature and Noise
EfficiencyThe overall efficiency of a power supply is very important, especially when the power supply is designed to deliver 750W~850W. 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.
The latest 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.
I measured the AC power input to the Corsair TX V2 PSUs 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.
The overall efficiency of the TX V2 power supplies is very good and the efficiency appears to peak around 400W. Note that efficiency will almost always be higher at the 240 VAC line voltage versus 115 VAC (as the voltage goes up the current goes down, and since line/component loses are proportional to current, less current means lower loses).
80 Plus 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 80 Plus 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 80 Plus Program website.
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 two TX V2 PSUs are certified 80Plus Bronze, which means they should produce up to 82% (or higher) efficiency while delivering between a 20% and 100% load and 85% (or higher) efficiency with a 50% load, and they did, even while operating at real-world temperatures.Note: The original CWT built TX models were 80Plus certified, not Bronze.
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 TX V2 power supplies were each 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 internal case air temperature is allowed to increase up to 40ºC and then held constant from then on at 40ºC.
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.
Below 500W output and with a relatively cool ambient inlet air temperature, the TX V2 PSUs are quiet but far from silent. Once the load increases and temperatures start to build the cooling fan speeds up to where it becomes very noticeable at full load. For reference, Corsair’s more expensive Professional Series Gold AX850 PSU is quieter at the lower power levels and incorporates a silent fanless mode, if you want lots of clean power and quiet operation.
*Silent Fanless Mode
Note: I was not able to take SPL readings at the 750W and 850W loads due to all the programmable DC load cooling fans running in the background.
