Standby Efficiency

Standby Efficiency - 115VAC

Standby Efficiency - 230VAC

We do see minor flaws on the Zippy in terms of standby efficiency. With no load on any rail but 5Vsb we measured a power usage of 1.79W with 115VAC and a total of 3.5W at 230VAC. These amounts are quite high and this is an area that could definitely use more attention in the future. The standby efficiency itself could also use work; at just 14%-22% efficiency at low loads it is a very bad result indeed. If you leave your system on all the time, of course, this may not be much of a concern.

Efficiency


The overall efficiency is quite average and doesn't reach the level of any of our formerly tested units other than the Enermax Liberty, which it matches. This might come from the fact that for servers, high efficiency is often a secondary concern next to reliability. As we have seen already the standby efficiency is low (servers are almost never shut off) so we are not surprised to see these average results in overall efficiency.

PFC


The power factor correction with lower input voltages is very good. We have seen a big difference between the 100-115VAC and 230VAC with all of the power supplies so far, and PFC could certainly be improved with higher input voltages.

Test Setup Rail Outputs Fan Speed, Acoustics, and Temperatures
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  • Super Nade - Friday, August 3, 2007 - link

    I wonder if you guys have access to 2900XT's and a quad to actually test this unit?

    I would have to disagree with you on comparing Seasonic to Zippy. Most currently available data suggests that Seasonic won't match up in terms of voltage regulation (ex: 's data and JonnyGURU's data).

    Lack of connectors can be a shortfall, but I'm not sure if anything else really matters. I suppose we are looking at things from different perspectives. From an Engineering standpoint, I love the Zippy. That is how I look at things. EMI, good surge protection, resonant Q-Filter on the input, an MOV ... and everything else that leads to workhorse performance is how I look at it.


  • JarredWalton - Saturday, August 4, 2007 - link

    Just turning off the highlighting (white text).
  • Bjoern77 - Friday, August 3, 2007 - link

    It's nice to see some different power supplies tested, and not again a Infiniti 720W test ;)
    (though i'd appreciate a 650w infinity test, since i'm currently choosing between the 650W Infiniti and the Seasonic 650w Energy plus)

    And i wish Anandtech would put out reviews and guides at at least half the speed you do - ok, a bit unfair, since you review one by one.

    Keep going,

    B.
  • Bozo Galora - Friday, August 3, 2007 - link

    Well, no one can say this review has a sugar coated conclusion - lol

    Its nice to know you can tell it like it is, even tho you are reviewing a unit that Zippy themselves sent, not one that you purchased retail.
  • wolfman3k5 - Friday, August 3, 2007 - link

    Good review, really do appreciate it. This is the kind of product I like reviewed, not Enermax 500 Watt PSU that anyone can get their hands on. Heck, even the shop down the street from me had Enermax Liberty PSUs in stock. Zippy makes decent enthusiast/server PSUs, how ever I prefer to stick to my PC Power & Cooling Quad 750W. Keep up the good work guys, and thanks again for the review.
  • Talcite - Friday, August 3, 2007 - link

    I love how you guys have these new reviews on the PSUs but I sure miss the oscilloscope readings that other sites have posted. Is your chroma tester capable of also putting one of those out?

    None of your graphs realistically depict spikes and sags in the voltage, only the average obtained in the long run. I was under the impression that the ATX specs require PSUs to be within a specified range for both sustained voltage changes and instantaneous voltage changes.

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