Power Supply Roundup: 730W to 900W
by Christoph Katzer on November 22, 2007 3:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Product Comparison - Efficiency
We have color-coded the background graphic to represent four classes of PSU. Category one is in the green and represents small to medium systems with a single lower power graphics card. The yellow range is for systems with a single graphics card, though possibly one of the more demanding models, as well as systems with a more powerful CPU (quad-core) and potentially more than one hard drive. The orange background is for systems with two graphics cards, possibly with a quad-core processor as well. Finally, we have the red category which is frankly very difficult to reach with normal home computers at the moment; serious overclocking, quad-core, and multiple GPUs can require this sort of power supply. This background will be used in future comparisons as well, and with the wattage figures as the X axis users will be better able to choose a power supply that offers high efficiency in the desired range.
Obviously, if you are running a normal setup with a single graphics card you will not need any of the units we're testing today. If you are using a typical dual-core CPU with a moderate graphics card (without overclocking), you will not need a power supply with more than 400W max output. Your system will likely draw 75W-125W in idle mode (perhaps slightly less), and with higher-end power supplies like what we're testing today you would get a relatively low efficiency rating. Only systems that are regularly using more than 200W should even consider these 730W and higher power supplies.
The two units with the best efficiency results today are the Antec and Cooler Master models, which are both manufactured by the same ODM. Many of the other models show similar results, reaching near 85% efficiency. The OCZ ModXStream 850W and the Hiper 730W and 770W take the bottom three curves at 120VAC; the Silverstone unit is also near the bottom on the 230VAC chart.
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tynopik - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
the efficiency charts are fantastic as you can see exactly how all the units compare at a specified wattagebut then you go back and do the acoustics charts by % load? why?
if i want to see how all the units compare at a 500w load, there's no easy way to do that as that might be a 68% load on one unit and a 55% load on another unit
Christoph Katzer - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
Next time will doVidmar - Saturday, November 24, 2007 - link
Thanks for doing the charts in watts instead of load. I've been asking for that for some time. As has been said here it makes it much easier to find a good unit based upon a known wattage your system uses. Good article.tynopik - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
great!and then once all units are tested to the same baseline, that opens the door for dynamic comparisons
as you build up a database of reviews, you could have a dynamic system where you can choose a 400-500 watt unit you reviewed 9 months ago and a 600 watt unit you just reviewed and it will generate the comparison charts on the fly
something for the future perhaps ;)
Etern205 - Thursday, November 22, 2007 - link
Newegg is selling the Antec TruePower Quattro 850 at $249 whilethe 1KW version is selling for $299 with a -$80 instant rebate!
850w version
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
1KW version
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
Traciatim - Thursday, November 22, 2007 - link
Could you please design and test with a machine that actually uses 700+ Watts of DC output?Jjoshua2 - Thursday, November 22, 2007 - link
I like the old review better. I don't have time to read the whole reviews, so I just read the conclusion and then go over a few interesting paragraphs. I hope you have a longer conclusion next time!Thanks.
Christoph Katzer - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
Ehm there are 8 pages comparison/conclusion.... not enough?Of course people not appreciating the work and just read the last page find it boring... so next time I write a page about 10 PSUs and that'd be enough? ...
Googer - Thursday, November 22, 2007 - link
Check the hot deals section of Anandtech forums, a little while ago I posted a $50 price drop of the Silencer 750 down to a budgetable $150.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid...">http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...=40&...
Christoph Katzer - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
That would be a really good deal indeed.