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) 650 watts of AC power going in would result in 650 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 SF Series 600W 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 SilverStone 600W Titanium Series power supply started out strong, easily exceeding the 90% (at 10% load) and 92% efficiency requirements (at 20% load). The overall efficiency of the ST60F-TI power supply is excellent and meets the tough 80 Plus Titanium guidelines, even when operating on 120VAC and at elevated temperatures.
80 Plus Program
Note: 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.
The ST60F-TI Titanium Series power supply starts out virtually silent and stays very quiet through mid-power range. At full load with an elevated ambient temperature, the cooling fan did speed up and the noise became noticeable but never became really loud.
I’ve always been incredibly
I’ve always been incredibly impressed by Silverstone. A lot of people out there still haven’t heard of them. I would take them over other big names any day of the week. My ST1200-G is still going strong after years and years.
Need to correct:
Page 3 (“DC
Need to correct:
Page 3 (“DC Load Regulation and AC Ripple”) appears twice in this article (as page 3 and 4).
Both the “Review Index” drop-down navigation and the next page link above repeat the page.
Heh, ok, correction to my
Heh, ok, correction to my correction.
Should be “Page 5 appears twice“. Not page 3.