Voltage Regulation and Quality

+3.3V regulation
Load Voltage
10% +1.72%
20% +1.64%
50% +1.09%
80% +0.81%
100% +0.15%
110% +0.04%

 

+5V regulation
Load Voltage
10% +2.43%
20% +2.22%
50% +1.82%
80% +1.65%
100% +1.16%
110% +0.90%

 

+12V regulation
Load Voltage best/worst
10% +1.73% / +1.91%
20% +1.66% / +1.82%
50% +1.46% /+1.61%
80% +1.24% / +1.48%
100% +1.09% / +1.30%
110% +0.84% / +1.03%

Results are measured under room temperature and 115 VAC. HuntKey has one of the best voltage regulation results out of all the high-end PSUs we've tested so far. The DC-to-DC VRMs are more than enough for the power levels listed on the label, so the voltage has low drops on +3.3V and +5V. Even +12V (V1/V2) is absolutely stable. Of course, the need to only handle 300W helps here. Some higher wattage PSUs with DC-to-DC have problems with ATX spec loads, since the VRM PCBs use almost the same dimensioning for their components.

Ripple and Noise

+3.3V ripple quality
Load Ripple and noise
10% 2mV
20% 3mV
50% 4mV
80% 6mV
100% 9mV
110% 10mV

 

+5V ripple quality
Load Ripple and noise
10% 8mV
20% 10mV
50% 13mV
80% 17mV
100% 21mV
110% 23mV

 

+12V ripple quality (worst rail)
Load Ripple and noise
10% 19mV
20% 26mV
50% 30mV
80% 22mV
100% 26mV
110% 28mV

+12V has the same problem as the first X-Series with relatively high ripple and noise results at low loads and lower results at high loads. Somewhere between these loads they change the switching type and frequency. Even so, the results are still very good and well within specification. Moreover, most manufacturers don't care about the "unimportant" 3.3V rail, but HuntKey has no more than 10 mV ripple there. Even if it's not the most important rail these days, we appreciate the attention to detail.

Internals and Components Noise, Efficiency, and Power Factor
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  • Beenthere - Saturday, March 5, 2011 - link

    ...then I would not touch their products for many reliability and ethical reasons.
  • Taft12 - Saturday, March 5, 2011 - link

    A near 0% failure rate among hundreds of PCs in my organization. These are Optiplexes with 80Plus certified PSUs stipulated in our contract. I wouldn't be surprised if some of these Huntkeys are in these machines.

    It's a different universe on the Inspiron side which you sound familiar with. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for.
  • JarredWalton - Saturday, March 5, 2011 - link

    Yeah, Dell isn't without their problem computers in the business world (I supported some old GX150 systems back in 2003-2006 that had a bit of problem in the memory subsystem that would make Photoshop crash the PC all the time), but by and large the Optiplex and Latitude line is very reliable compared to consumer systems.
  • clarkn0va - Monday, March 7, 2011 - link

    I don't know. We have a handful of Latitudes here and every single one of them have serious IO issues. The Windows logon sound is choppy, the mouse pointer freezes constantly then plays instant catch-up; typing is the same. We've turned off the page file (4GB RAM, W7x64), tuned the hdd settings, tried readyboost--nothing fixes this.

    But we could compare anecdotes all day. The OP also mention ethical reason, and the public record for Dell's underhanded dealings is long and detailed. I too will be steering clear of everything Dell for a long time to come.

    And now, back to your regularly scheduled discussion of Huntkey.
  • ckryan - Saturday, March 5, 2011 - link

    I suppose the main reason capacity is an issue is due to the efficiency curve of a PSU. With loads optimized for 20, 50, and 100 percent, a 35w idle system is more inefficient with a higher capacity PSU. But not all PSUs have problems at less than 10%; the Seasonic X-650 is 88% efficient at a 60w load. The flip side is 35w idle system won't waste much even at an abysmal 70%. So while I welcome more reasonable options in the >500w watt space, especially excellent units like the Huntkey, I'm not sure dramatically over powered units are as huge of an issue as it used to be. Still, I think it's ridiculous that there aren't more 350 to 500 watt units that are of a high level in terms of efficiency and quality. I would certainly pay a premium for a higher end unit, regardless of capacity.

    We need more units like the HuntKey.
  • Scour - Saturday, March 5, 2011 - link

    Peripheral 3x SATA + 1x PATA 45-90cm
    3x PATA + 1x SATA 45-90cm

    In addition there are two peripheral cables with four SATA and four Molex connectors.

    So what, did it have 6 SATA and 2 4-Pin or 4/4?

    Overall, nice review of a nice PSU :)
  • Concillian - Saturday, March 5, 2011 - link

    Even though I would have bought something like this instead of what I bought recently, traditionally low wattage high quality units have a really difficult time gaining traction. Sales are usually really slow on these kinds of units.

    Like it or not most people don't read reviews or know (or care) that PSUs are low efficiency at low load, and see that they can get a 550-650W 80+ gold unit for only a few bucks more and go for double the power for the headroom.

    Also doesn't help that video card MFRs put PSU requirements that are totally absurd (HD5770 "requires" a 450W PSU... yeah, don't tell that to mine hooked up to a 380W PSU and running fine.)

    Ultimately, making an 80+ gold PSU costs money and the unit will be expensive.
    This seems to have efficiency at low load that rivals the PicoPSUs and is a lot less hassle and more headroom if someone's using a case that can accommodate a full size PSU. Probably not too much different in price from a Pico either. From that standpoint it's an interesting PSU. Lets hope it sells enough to keep a couple units like this on the market for a while.
  • Operandi - Saturday, March 5, 2011 - link

    I think you are 100% right, Seasonic used to make a 330 watt S12, the lowest version available now is 380 watts.

    Even if they know their system will only draw 200 - 250 watts max the average buyer would rather have a 500 watt PSU of mediocre quality than a high quality 300 - 350 watt PSU. And most users don't have any real idea of how much power they need or are just going my what is recommended on the box which is always some crazy inflated number when you are talking about graphics cards.

    As to the unit itself I prefer the played down looks of the American version. And it dose look like an awesome PSU but $90 is a lot when I can get an 300 watt 80+ OEM Seasonic for $40.
  • Zoomer - Sunday, March 6, 2011 - link

    It will not be $90. Look out what other parts cost in Japan and you'll see. I guesstimate $50 or so.
  • 7Enigma - Monday, March 7, 2011 - link

    Hope this was a joke post, because there is no way this will be below $80.

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