Voltage Regulation

+3.3V regulation
Load Voltage
10% 3.33V (+0.91%)
20% 3.30V (+0%)
50% 3.27V (-0.91%)
80% 3.25V (-1.51%)
100% 3.21V (-2.73%)
110% 3.18V (-3.64%)

+3.3V is often the weakest rail with ATX-spec loads. A modern system doesn’t need many amps from this rail, but a power supply shouldn’t have problems reaching the advertised performance. In that sense, –3.64% is not the best result, but still it's still not a problem. This rail is very stable from 10-50%, after which the drop becomes larger. The load was 1.58A at 10% and 17.36A at 110%, but modern systems aren't likely to exceed ~50% load on this rail.

+5V regulation
Load Voltage
10% 5.00V (+0%)
20% 4.99V (-0.2%)
50% 4.97V (-0.6%)
80% 4.94V (-1.2%)
100% 4.92V (-1.6%)
110% 4.90V (-2%)

+5V starts at an optimal level with 5.00V. Usually we like this result to start higher, because there is often a large voltage drop under higher loads. There's not much room for a drop, but as you can see, it is still very stable. Even at 10% overload (-2%) all measurements are within the ATX specifications. The load was 1.89A on 10% and 20.83A on 110%.

+12V regulation
Load Voltage (best) Voltage (weakest)
10% 12.17V (+1.42%) 12.13V (+1.08%)
20% 12.21V (+1.75%) 12.15V (+1.25%)
50% 12.18V (+1.5%) 12.12V (+1%)
80% 12.12V (+1%) 12.07V (+0.58%)
100% 12.07V (+0.58%) 12.03V (+0.25%)
110% 12.04V (+0.33%) 12.00V (+0%)

+12V shows an untypical regulation and increases at 20% load with up to 12.21V. However, the voltage is always over 12.00V. +12V5 was always the weakest rail here but still better than most of the results we have measured in previous tests. The load was 8.65A on 10% and 94.95A on 110% (for all rails combined). By the way +12V has an OCP of 50A at all +12V rails, which is quite high.

With the OC version you can adjust the rail up to 12.6V, for those setups where one cable has to transfer very high currents with their accompanying high voltage drops. Most users will have no need of this feature, as the internal regulation is very good.

+5VSB regulation
Load Voltage
10% 5.10V (+2%)
20% 5.09V (+1.8%)
50% 5.05V (+1%)
80% 5.01V (+0.2%)
100% 4.97V (-0.6%)
110% 4.95V (-1%)

The well dimensioned +5V Standby rail starts higher than the other +5V rail. The load was 0.29A on 10% and 3.17A on 110%.

Interior and Topology Efficiency and PFC
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  • Alchemy69 - Wednesday, July 7, 2010 - link

    Very silent? Isn't that like a little bit pregnant?
  • computergeek485 - Wednesday, July 7, 2010 - link

    haha yea pretty much
  • shin0bi272 - Wednesday, July 7, 2010 - link

    My case has a dual power supply setup... Even running triple or quad SLI I wonder how long it would be before I would need 2 of these. he he he
  • JarredWalton - Thursday, July 8, 2010 - link

    Inexpensive Antec PSUs are the same as any other inexpensive PSU: they have to cut some corners. The high-end stuff is generally in a different league.
  • atmartens - Thursday, July 8, 2010 - link

    SPCR gives good power supply reviews. The CP-850 and CP-1000 in particular seem to be high quality. The catch is they only fit several Antec cases. In any case, don't just go by brand name.
  • michal1980 - Thursday, July 8, 2010 - link

    into a 20amp circuit. Or dont bother having anything else turned on in that room.

    1200watts, 110% load = 1320 Watts / 84.04% efficent = 1570.68Watts / 120V = 13 amps. Most outlets really only see ~115 volts. Which puts you at 13.65 amps.

    Most room circuits are wired at 15amps. Which means with this psu maxed out you have about 230 Watts left over for everything else.

    Why?
  • HOOfan 1 - Thursday, July 8, 2010 - link

    Why would you be loading it to 110%?
  • michal1980 - Thursday, July 8, 2010 - link

    ok, at 100% your at nealry 12amps.

    Still darn close to the limit of most circuits at home

    Simple put, a 15amp circuit can put out 1800watts.
  • HOOfan 1 - Thursday, July 8, 2010 - link

    But why are you assuming that people would be running the PSU at 110%.

    That would be the fault of the owner, not the fault of Antec for building a 1200W PSU.

    A triple SLi GTX 480 setup would need about a 1200W PSU, although it wouldn't be pulling that much power.

    Not a good idea to even run a PSU at 100% for extended time.

    Besides, just put the PSU on its own 15A circuit.
  • Moricon - Friday, July 9, 2010 - link

    Ha,here in UK we have 240v Yay us :) 3000w at our disposal.

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