Comparison: Efficiency


Note: The first column is 10% load, the second 20%, the third 50%, and the last column represents 100% load.

The efficiency charts make one thing very clear: Seasonic and Enhance deliver kickass efficiency with their products. Even though 85% efficiency isn't that great anymore, Seasonic still has good overall efficiency at different loads. Seasonic will be the first company to ship three 80 Plus Gold certified power supplies by the way, which we should see in the very near future. We have already seen test reports and this looks to be a good year for Seasonic since no other companies appear to be on track.

Getting back to this roundup, Arctic Cooling, Akasa, BFG, and Cooler Master are at the top of the charts -- Arctic Cooling and BFG reach a tremendous 88% efficiency at 50% load! Note that we received a 230VAC-only PSU from Arctic Cooling, since we had that unit for a while already and they weren't shipping the multiple input version yet. Looking at the 120VAC results, BFG provides the best efficiency in this roundup, followed by Akasa and Cooler Master.

Comparison: Cooling Performance Comparison: ATX Cable Lengths
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  • just4U - Monday, February 23, 2009 - link

    Excellent!! I am curious as to how those solutions compare to standalone "standouts". I think the days where we see some no name powersupply that isn't very good in systems (as a general rule) are gone. That's been replaced (in North America) now with seeing solutions by Antec, Fsp, ect as the standard. So the comparison's are of interest.
  • vailr - Saturday, February 21, 2009 - link

    Any idea when any "Gold certified" ~500W PSU's will be available (on Newegg, or another online vendor)?
    Such as:
    Thermaltake W0338 TP-500AH3NCG 500W
    Seasonic SS-550LT 550W
    Channel Well PUK500V-G 500W
    Discussed here:
    http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid...">http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid...
  • Christoph Katzer - Saturday, February 21, 2009 - link

    I think we will see first units in summer.
  • Mastakilla - Saturday, February 21, 2009 - link

    I'm looking for a cheap 450W - 550W Powersupply (cheap but still a bit decent, around 50 euro), so I was really interested in this article...

    Unfortunatly the only PSU in pricerange, the Artic Cooling, is unfindable in the Benelux (EU). Also the next in price (Tagan Superrock), which actually is too expensive already, is unfindable here...

    so I still don't know what to get
  • Kiijibari - Sunday, February 22, 2009 - link

    Buy an Enermax 525W, they were tested earlier here on anandtech and are very good PSU.

    They should be available easily in Europe :)

    cheers

    Kiiji
  • Mastakilla - Monday, February 23, 2009 - link

    Thanks for the tip, but those enermaxes are again waaaaaaaay above budget (89+ euro!!)

    The Corsair CX400 is 43 euro
    That Artic Cooling 550W is 68 euro (shipped from DE)

    I'm looking for something in between... (around 50-55 euro)
    like a decent 450-500W Powersupply...
  • MadMan007 - Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - link

    Corsair VX450 or HX450 (we unfortunately do not get the HX450 in the States :( Sad because it's 80+ Bronze)
  • Kiijibari - Monday, February 23, 2009 - link

    Sounds like you are looking for a (very) good *and* cheap PSU.

    That is imo impossible. You either get cheap China crackers or good, expensive ones.

    Do you *really* need ~500W ?

    If not then try the Enermax 425W. That is my last idea, otherwise I would suggest to raise your budget :)

    cheers

    Kiiji
  • Mastakilla - Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - link

    no, you're wrong...

    the Corsair CX400 apparently isn't that bad and is VERY cheap...

    I'm willing to pay a little more for a little better, but it seems like paying a little more will only get me worse :(

    Paying A LOT more does get better though, but then I'm over my budget for the pc i'm composing...
  • Christoph Katzer - Saturday, February 21, 2009 - link

    Try Caseking.de
    http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/Netzteile/Arct...">http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/Net...0R-80Plu...

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