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) 800 watts of AC power going in would result in 800 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 Straight Power 10 800W CM 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 Straight Power 10 800W CM power supply is very good and easily meets the criteria for 80 Plus Gold certification, even while operating on 115 VAC and at elevated, real world temperatures.
80 Plus Program
Note: 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.
The Straight Power 10 800W CM PSU cooling fan starts out spinning very slowly and is virtually silent up through mid-power. As the power supply approaches full output the fan really takes off and at the 800W mark the fan noise has become very noticeable. Quiet operation is one of the Straight Power 10 Series’ main features and it delivers at low to mid-power levels.
I was not able to take SPL measurements at the highest load 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.
Lee at least now people got a
Lee at least now people got a matching PSU for the Be Quiet “case, heat sink, and fans”.
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To simulate real world
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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.
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This is not true in many cases, such as when the PSU is at the bottom of the case and when the case uses a rotated design like the Silverstone FT02 and FT05.
Yes, you are correct in many
Yes, you are correct in many instances. Maybe a better wording would be "to simulate worst case, real world operation…
You disappeared again.
You disappeared again.