Ultra High-End PSU Roundup
by Christoph Katzer on October 22, 2007 6:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
CM 1250W Loads
DC Outputs
The two lower voltage rails perform okay, but at higher loads we came to the lower edge of the specified 5% deviance and even below with around 1000W of load. The 12V rail held stable in the range of 3% under the ideal amount of 12.00V. Since we show all six rails in only one graph it has a wide range of different distribution. While having the lower voltage rails drop out of spec is something of a problem, it's actually not as bad as some might think. Most of the load will be placed on the 12V rails, and as difficult as it will be to configure a system that can make use of 1250W of power, it is even more unlikely that most systems will come anywhere near requiring 100W on the 3.3V rail or 150W on the 5V rail - not to mention the 5Vsb rail. Still, it would be best to have all rails stay within spec.
Ripple & Noise Results
The Cooler Master power supply has more than just four 12V rails but to keep an acceptable overview we decited to just show four of them in each graphic.
| Cooler Master Real Power PRO 1250W Load Values | |||||||||
| PSU Load | 3.3V | 5V | 12V1 | 12V2 | 12V3 | 12V4 | 12V5 | 12V6 | Wattage All Rails |
| 10% | 2.68 | 2.68 | 1.16 | 1.16 | 1.62 | 1.62 | 1.62 | 1.16 | 127W |
| 20% | 5.36 | 5.36 | 2.32 | 2.32 | 3.24 | 3.24 | 3.24 | 2.32 | 252W |
| 50% | 13.4 | 13.4 | 5.79 | 5.79 | 8.11 | 8.11 | 8.11 | 5.79 | 621W |
| 80% | 21.44 | 21.44 | 9.27 | 9.27 | 12.97 | 12.97 | 12.97 | 9.27 | 979W |
| 100% | 26.8 | 26.8 | 11.58 | 11.58 | 16.22 | 16.22 | 16.22 | 11.58 | 1210W |
| 110% | 29.48 | 29.48 | 12.74 | 12.74 | 17.84 | 17.84 | 17.84 | 12.74 | 1322W |
DC Outputs
The two lower voltage rails perform okay, but at higher loads we came to the lower edge of the specified 5% deviance and even below with around 1000W of load. The 12V rail held stable in the range of 3% under the ideal amount of 12.00V. Since we show all six rails in only one graph it has a wide range of different distribution. While having the lower voltage rails drop out of spec is something of a problem, it's actually not as bad as some might think. Most of the load will be placed on the 12V rails, and as difficult as it will be to configure a system that can make use of 1250W of power, it is even more unlikely that most systems will come anywhere near requiring 100W on the 3.3V rail or 150W on the 5V rail - not to mention the 5Vsb rail. Still, it would be best to have all rails stay within spec.
Ripple & Noise Results
The Cooler Master power supply has more than just four 12V rails but to keep an acceptable overview we decited to just show four of them in each graphic.
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EatSpam - Monday, October 22, 2007 - link
PC Power and Cooling will do a custom wiring harness for you, so if you need a different connector configuration, they'll do it for a small fee.NicePants42 - Monday, October 22, 2007 - link
I understand that most machines don't need anywhere near this much power, but those acoustic graphs are important. There aren't many 500-600W PSUs that will remain quiet at 100% load.For my last build, I got the CM Real Power Pro 1000 Watt PSU for $179 after $50 MIR - a far cry from the usual ~$350 price range for 1000W+ PSUs. While I may not use all of the power capacity, I do get very high efficiency and zero noise at an (estimated) 500W load, and the PSU will last that much longer because it's not running at 100% capacity.
After 6 months with the PCP&C 'Silencer' 750 (which cost $200, btw), this 'overkill' PSU is a welcome change, and definitely worth $179.
For those interested, I think svc.com is now offering a $50 MIR, although I got mine from ZZF.
EatSpam - Monday, October 22, 2007 - link
I can't imagine needing this much power. My server is running a lowly Silencer 610 and has 2 Clovertowns, 12gb of FBDIMMs, and 16 HDs. No problems at all.flipmode - Monday, October 22, 2007 - link
1300w PSUs - for the folks that drive tandem dump trucks to get their groceries.AssBall - Monday, October 22, 2007 - link
NEXT UP!AT does a review of a mental facility and finds that in fact, 95% of the patients are actually retarded!
........
magreen - Monday, October 22, 2007 - link
That was so random I couldn't stop laughing...sprockkets - Monday, October 22, 2007 - link
Not quite sure if it was that high, perhaps 100c? If it was 1000c I would be worried :)
Christoph Katzer - Monday, October 22, 2007 - link
Actually is was way over 1k. I just attached new cables and it was running well again. Sorry by the way for not including these ripple tests. There is one prob after another. I actually don't have internet since 5 weeks now which is why there was no review last month. The e-scope function needs an IP address and this is provived by the router from the ISP. This company has just the lamest service I've seen in my life and doesn't seem to have the need to send a new box.jenli - Monday, October 22, 2007 - link
I am curious if two lower wattage PSU gangedtogether would be cheaper, quieter, and more
robust ?
eetnoyer - Monday, October 22, 2007 - link
So when do we see the budget power supply roundup that you suggested when you started this project? You know, the stuff that the other 96% of your readers care about.