DC Load Regulation and AC Ripple
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 EVGA 550 Supernova G3 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 (+12V1, +12V2, +12V3, and +12V4)
• (2) 200W Precision resistor load bank (+12V5 and +12V6)
• 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)
• Extech Model 407738 digital sound level meter (Accuracy ±1.5 dB)
The following cables/connectors were used to connect the EVGA 550 G3 PSU to the PCPerspective power supply test equipment.
• (1) 20+4 pin ATX
• (1) 8-pin EPS/ATX12V
• (3) 6-pin PCI-E
• (2) SATA
• (2) Molex
DC Output Load Regulation
To simulate demanding and maximum loading conditions, the EVGA 550W G3 power supply was connected to the load testers and supplied with 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 550 Supernova G3 PSU while operating on 120 VAC, 60 Hz.
The 550W Supernova G3 PSU produced outstanding voltage regulation on all of the DC outputs. The three main outputs stayed within ±1% of the recommended guidelines; 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 550W G3 power supply also did an outstanding job of keeping the AC ripple and noise under control. Note that even the +12V output stayed under 10 mV p-p; very good.
Thank for the great power
Thank for the great power supply review Lee! I am using the G2 650w version in my rig right now, based on your review of it, and love it. So this new version just has different fan, and perhaps slightly better performance than the G2?
Mostly it’s just a smaller
Mostly it’s just a smaller chassis for the unit. No real gains otherwise.
Jonnyguru reviewed it 200
Jonnyguru reviewed it 200 years ago. And by review, I mean a proper one. Pcper late to the party with laughable tests, as usual. Stick with your nvidia sponsored Geforce “reviews”, thanks.
You obviously have no clue as
You obviously have no clue as to what testing methods that Lee uses, so I took the time to find the video where they go over his testing methods and setup:
https://youtu.be/2UnhzoRf4C4
go to about 50 min into the video where they go over Lee’s setup and methods.
Now as to the rest of your statement, I get it, we all know that the way PCPer presents content about AMD, Intel, and Nvidia tends to be biased one way or another, and I do agree with that part of it. But the claims you make about their PSU testing is false.
EVGA are well known for their
EVGA are well known for their PSU quality so i wasn’t expecting anything less from this G3 series . I personally own an 1000W P2 and it has been flawless since 2 years now.
The only thing that i would like to change are cables. In my opinion flat cables should be standard .
I have the 1500watt monster
I have the 1500watt monster they discontinued awhile ago bought when the 4960x dropped for my monster rig back in those days been absolutely flawless.
The plug is like a oven plug massive but can tell high Quality all around its got a nice 10 year warranty which is actually almost half way up.
Good to see they upgrading there PSU lines I’ll have to buy another 1500+ Beast when pcie 4 comes out and nvdimms gota make sure all my hardware has a plethora of room to breathe.
By all means post the specs
By all means post the specs of this hardware so we can see you love to buy way more PSU than required.
Asus Rive Be 4
intel 4960x
Asus Rive Be 4
intel 4960x oced 4.8 ghz
64 gb ddr 3 2400 mhz Corsair Dominator Platinum
EKG 360 AIO with 6 Noctua Industrial fans
4 8Tb Hdds Raid 5
2 Samsung 850 pro 250gb
1 Intel 910 800gb pcie ssd
2 Asus Titan X (Maxwell)
i also have it linked to my cyber power backup system software says its only drawing 410-440 watts which has to be a bug, but i got it so the rig gets clean power with pure sinewave 2.
suprisingly only thing i need to change out is the ssds as there not enough for my os drives, ill replace with pcie adapter and a 1Tb 960 pro for nvme.
Last 2 EVGA PSUs I got were
Last 2 EVGA PSUs I got were both DOA. Won’t buy them again. use Corsair for my builds now.
heard the horror storys of
heard the horror storys of the corsair psu’s causing shortages, must been there cheapo 650 watt mx line, heard there was a paticular series to avoid if your building HEDT systems, DOAS happen iv had 5 at one point, but Evga psu last like Tanks, this one hasnt skipped a beat in nearlt 4 years of harsh service, love this thing, cant wait till nvdimm/pcie 4 then ill upgrade, turn this beast to a server.
Is it properly wired for the
Is it properly wired for the 6 pin pcie (GPU)
That dam connector pcie configuration has one pin not connected or optional from maker . Most power supply maker use a 6+2 config and in this situation you got to make sure it’s doing the proper thing other wise it will rise the volt amp etc value too high and you GPU will have a tendency to be hot and be very often in protection mode . Often the optional used by maker are not properly maintained so it tend to go ride the pcie firmware instead of simplifying thing .If you can’t stay away from the GPU with 6 pin connector.most power supply vendor don’t bother and this is a huge issue causing trouble
Nice review. So, even 550W G3
Nice review. So, even 550W G3 can power crossfire/sli configuration. That is nice. But, I’ll rather hook up the second pcie to a nice sound card
We live in a world where
We live in a world where companies strike it rich on the gullibility of American market segment. They are all made in China, with just big words to lure you all fools in.
Unbranded PSU is the way to go! 🙂
I OC my 3.5ghz to 4.6ghz 🙂 the magic of some tender love, a mini-fridge where i keep my PC for cooling, and the unbranded PSU. Sometimes i plug my powercable directly into the wall and i get 5.5ghz OC 🙂