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) 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. 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 two SuperNOVA GS power supplies 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.
SuperNOVA 550 GS:
The overall efficiency of the EVGA SuperNOVA 550 GS power supply is very good and easily meets the criteria for 80Plus Gold certification, even while operating on 115 VAC and at elevated temperatures.
SuperNOVA 650 GS:
The overall efficiency of the EVGA SuperNOVA 650 GS power supply is also very good and meets the criteria for 80Plus Gold certification.
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 a demanding environment, 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, up to 40°C.
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: Both EVGA SuperNOVA power supplies were tested with the ECO Intelligent Thermal Control System switched Off (disabling fan-less operation) so we could take SPL measurements during load testing with the fan running.
SuperNOVA 550 GS:
SuperNOVA 650 GS:
With the ECO Intelligent Thermal Control System disengaged (silent mode and cooling mode only) both PSUs were virtually silent at low to mid power levels. Once the cooling fan started to speed up at the 75% load test, the noise was still barely noticeable. At full load with an elevated ambient temperature, the GS PSU cooling fan kicked into high speed and the noise became very noticeable.
Do you know which Seasonic
Do you know which Seasonic platform EVGA is using? XP2S? Do they compare to the Corsair AX series (I think that’s the same platform, maybe not)? Are there any other supplies on the same platform for a compare/contrast?
These aren’t XP series.
These aren’t XP series. These are a derivitive of the G Series.
Why not use the latest Power
Why not use the latest Power Supply Design Guide for Desktop Platform Form Factors, Revision 1.31, April 2013 (http://cache-www.intel.com/cd/00/00/52/37/523796_523796.pdf)? It calls for ENERGY STAR compliance, which are tighter than the 2.2 standard you use.
Note in Table 15, for 100%, 50% and 20% loads:
REQUIRED Minimum Efficiency 70% 72% 65%
RECOMMENDED Minimum Efficiency 82% 85% 82%