Efficiency, Differential Temperature and Noise
Efficiency
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) 1200 watts of AC power going in would result in 1200 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. 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.
We measured the AC power input to the 1200 P2 PSU with an 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 EVGA SuperNOVA 1200 P2 power supply is very good and meets the criteria for 80Plus Platinum certification, even while operating on 115 VAC and at elevated temperatures.
80 Plus Program
Note 1: Power Factor =0.90 (50% to 100% Load)
Note 2: Tests conducted at room temperature (25°C)
Differential Temperature and Noise Levels
To simulate real world operation, some of the warm exhaust air from the PSU under test is recirculated back to the intake through a passive air duct, which allows the PSU air inlet 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.
Note: The EVGA SuperNOVA power supply was tested with the ECO Intelligent Thermal Control System switched ON (enabling fan-less operation at low to mid power levels).
*Fan not rotating (ECO On)
With the ECO Intelligent Thermal Control System engaged, the PSU operated in silent, fan-less mode at low to mid power levels. Once the cooling fan did start to spin the noise was noticeable but not loud. At full load the cooling fan kicked into high speed and although I was not able to take a SPL readings, the fan noise was very noticeable.
(Courtesy of EVGA)
I was not able to take SPL measurements at the higher loads due to the background noise created by all the programmable DC load cooling fans running. At the low to mid power test loads I am able to catch a moment when all the load fans have cycled off to take a SPL reading of just the PSU fan.
G2 were already really good
G2 were already really good PSU’s
They should at least include individually sleeved and not having to pay an extra $90
That name, I guess whoever
That name, I guess whoever owns Data General, and the Nova 1200(or supernova) branding has let it lapse, but we had a Nova 1200 Minicomputer at Jr. College, and you had to toggle the bootstrap program in(In Octal) on the front control panel’s toggle switches, and then it would load the OS, from paper tape, to then load the BASIC/other languages, into the limited core(little iron{mostly} donuts with wires treaded through them) memory. All hooked up to some teletype keyboard/printers, oh those sounds, and long round keys, with about a miles worth of key travel. You could not hear the fans blasting the hot air out of the cabinet over those teletypes, and other line printer, dot matrix printer noises, including the rapid fire thunks of the card readers, reading in the latest batch processing Fortran IV, COBOL, and other jobs. Paper and Card stock, was big in them days, and everybody knew what a Chad was, Now get off of may lawn! Little Billy Gates!
edit: treaded
to:
edit: treaded
to: threaded
Damn infernal auto spelling/correcting,!