Test Setup DC Outputs

As usual we are testing with our Chroma programmable loads to fully load each rail to a specific amount. This is important to get truly accurate results and not merely approximate values. The tests are conducted in two different temperature environments. One is normal room temperature of 25-26°C, while the second environment goes from room temperature and increases steadily up to 50°C. Especially during the higher temperatures we will see how good the power supplies are and what they're really made of. Components inside will perform much worse at higher temperatures, but we expect any good quality PSU to deal with such test conditions without failing.

Note: If you would like to know more about our testing methodology, equipment, and environment, please read our PSU Testing Overview.

330W Rail Loading
PSU Load 3.3V 5V 12V1 12V2 Wattage
All Rails
10% 1.06 1.18 0.94 0.94 33
30% 3.19 3.54 2.83 2.83 99
50% 5.32 5.91 4.71 4.71 164
80% 8.51 9.45 7.53 7.53 260
100% 10.63 11.82 9.42 9.42 324

500W Rail Loading
PSU Load 3.3V 5V 12V1 12V2 Wattage
All Rails
10% 1.42 1.42 1.54 1.54 50
30% 4.27 4.27 4.63 4.63 150
50% 7.11 7.11 7.72 7.72 249
80% 11.38 11.38 12.35 12.35 392
100% 14.23 14.23 15.44 15.44 487

To provide a better overview about the different temperatures and input voltages we test, we have decided to combine the input voltages into one graph and not four separate charts. We show an area in which the voltages have been measured. In past reviews we have seen steady voltage drops with increasing loads, and this new style of graph should make the results clearer. Each graph will show a single line and the distributed measured voltage fell inside of the specified area during testing.


330W


500W


330W


500W

Seasonic lives up to their promise of very tight voltage regulation. The voltages don't drop much from the optimal amount and hold pretty much stable under any condition we could have come up with. The 500W version doesn't seem to perform quite as well, however.

The Inside, Cont'd DC Outputs, Cont'd
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  • Christoph Katzer - Monday, September 17, 2007 - link

    Doesnt mean they are bad. I know only from one manufacturer who is producing the exact same stuff for brands and that is FSP -> OCZ GameXstream.


    Seasonic put higher quality into their own units. The higher price is not just for the name only ;)

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