AC Ripple and Power Factor
AC Ripple and Noise on the DC Outputs
The amount of AC ripple and noise present on the DC outputs was checked using an oscilloscope. This AC component may be present in the KHz range where most switching power supplies operate or it may be more prevalent at the 60 Hz line frequency. I adjusted the O-scope time base to look for AC ripple at both low and high frequencies. The ATX12V V2.2 specification for DC output noise/ripple is defined in the ATX12V Power Supply Design Guide.
Ideally we would like to see no AC ripple (repetitive) or noise (random) on the DC outputs – the cleaner the better! But in reality there will always be some present. I measured the amplitude of the AC signal (in millivolts, peak-to-peak) to see how well the power supply complied with the ATX standard. The following table lists the ripple/noise results during all of the load tests for the main output voltages of interest.
The High Current Pro 1000W Platinum power supply exhibited excellent AC ripple suppression on all of the outputs, even while delivering 1,000W and once again stayed easily within Antec’s own claims (<30mV for +3.3V and +5V, and <50mV for +12V).
Power Factor (PF)
Power factor is defined as the ratio of true power (measured in watts) to apparent power (measured in Volt Amps). It measures how effectively AC power is being used by a device. The difference between true power and apparent power is expressed as the power factor and results from the way true power and apparent power are measured. Ideally we would like to have true power and apparent power equal to one another, which would result in a PF of 1.00 or 100% effective power utilization.
AC Volts x AC Amps = VA (Volt Amp)
Purely Resistive AC Load: VA = Watts (same as DC circuits)
Inductive/Reactive AC Load: VA x PF = Watts
AC Volts x AC Amps x PF = Watts
I measured the AC Power Factor with an Extech power analyzer at both 115 VAC and 240 VAC input voltages. The High Current Pro 1000W Platinum PSU uses Active PFC circuits so as expected; the majority of readings were close to 1.00 at the higher loads.
Note: PF and efficiency is not the same thing. A power supply with active PFC is more environmentally friendly (doesn’t pollute the AC transmission grid with harmonics) and will draw less current, but it will not save you money on your monthly electric bill unless you are a commercial user whose bill is based on PF and usage.
What about the HCP-1200? Have
What about the HCP-1200? Have you or can you review that one? thanks
Usually if we do a review of
Usually if we do a review of one in a family, that is all we’ll do. The 1200 watt should be pretty dang close here.
If you use site search, you
If you use site search, you can find that HCP-1200 was reviewed a while ago.
True, but it was the previous
True, but it was the previous generation from 2011:
https://pcper.com/reviews/Cases-and-Cooling/Antec-High-Current-Pro-1200W-Power-Supply-Review
HCP-1200 trumps the HCP-1000
HCP-1200 trumps the HCP-1000 in build quality, performance and in peak power capacity.
It’s the second best PSU out in the market coming after the AX1200i.
The build quality of the Hcp
The build quality of the Hcp 1000 is second to zip sonny, Ax1200i your kidding right, tosser.
Is there a HCP-1200 Platinum?
Is there a HCP-1200 Platinum?
No, however Delta has built
No, however Delta has built the HCP-1200 in a Platinum offering for servers, which (unfortunately) failed to clear Platinum and stayed at Gold efficiency. It’s not out yet for servers, let alone in a pretty, tidied up shape for builders.