DC Load Regulation and AC Ripple
PSU Testing Methodology
Establishing an accurate load is critical to testing and evaluating a PC power supply. PCPerspective’s power supply test bench can place a precise DC load on the PSU under test. Each power supply is tested under controlled, demanding conditions up to its maximum rated load (at 40ºC). Our current suite of tests includes:
• DC Load Regulation
• AC Ripple and Noise
• Efficiency
• Differential Temperature
• Noise
The XFX TS Series Gold 750W power supply was evaluated on both features and performance. A full range of equipment was used to test the power supply under controlled load conditions.
• (2) CSI3710A Programmable DC load (+3.3V and +5V outputs)
• (4) CSI3711A Programmable DC load (+12V)
• (3) 218W Precision resistor load bank (+12V)
• Switchable precision resistor load bank (-12V and +5VSB)
• Agilent 34401A digital multimeter (Accuracy ±0.0035% vDC)
• Extech 380803 Power Analyzer (Accuracy ±0.5% of full scale)
• DS1M12 "StingRay" digital oscilloscope (20M S/s with 12 Bit ADC)
• Powerstat Variable Autotransformer, 1.4 KVA, 0-140 VAC
• Extech Model 407738 digital sound level meter (Accuracy ±1.5 dB)
The following cables/connectors were used to connect the XFX TS750 power supply to the PCPerspective power supply test equipment.
• (1) 20+4 pin ATX
• (2) 8-pin EPS/ATX12V
• (4) 6-pin PCI-E
• (2) SATA
• (2) Molex
DC Output Load Regulation
To simulate demanding and maximum loading conditions, the power supply was connected to the load testers and supplied with a constant 120 VAC. In this test we are interested in seeing how well a PSU can maintain the various output voltages while operating under different loads.
The ATX12V V2.2 tolerance for voltages states how much each output (rail) is allowed to fluctuate and has tighter tolerances now for the +12V outputs. I have also included a second table of expanded tolerances (±1% to ±6%) for reference.
The following tables list the DC voltage results for the PSU while operating on 120 VAC, 60 Hz.
As you can see, the XFX TS750 power supply produced excellent load regulation on all of the DC outputs across a broad range of loads. The three primary outputs stayed within ±2% of the target values, which is very good.
AC Ripple and Noise on the DC Outputs
The amount of AC ripple and noise present on the DC outputs was checked using a digital 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. We adjust 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 XFX TS750 power supply exhibited very good AC ripple and noise suppression on all of the primary outputs and stayed well below the recommended values, even at full load.
Haswell ready?
I’d hope so.
Haswell ready?
I’d hope so.
It is “Haswell Ready”
It is “Haswell Ready” according to the XFX website.
…it was a joke. Sorry, I
…it was a joke. Sorry, I just think it’s a funny thing to advertise in late 2016.
you are also right
you are also right
I would have thought the lack
I would have thought the lack of a grommet or similar “protection” on the wiring exit hole from the PSU case would have been marked down as a “weakness” in the Conclusions. An item like that prevents wire chafing against the PSU case and eventual short circuit or even fire.
Given the lack of proper wire protection at the exit hole I would have downgraded this product much further than “Gold Award”. Seriously… think of the customer’s safety.
Your concern is valid but
Your concern is valid but consider this – the exit hole has rounded edges as mentioned in the article. Zoom in on the picture and you can see it.
It’s not the same level of hazard as a punch out hole on a electrical connector box. Extremely sharp edges that require a grommet. Chafing is not the problem, sharp edges cutting the wire insulation is.
Hi, is this (the version
Hi, is this (the version 650W) one better then a EVGA GQ 650? I need it for Ryzen and a 250 euro video card, to update then to vega nothing more than that.
thanks.