DC Output Quality
For those of you that are curious as to some of the reasoning and equipment behind our PSU testing program here at TheFPSReview, we have put together an introduction for you that shares a lot of the behind the scenes of the program. This program is based on what the author developed at [H]ardOCP and utilizes the equipment bequeathed to the author by Kyle Bennett. The testing we are conducting today is exactly as described in that document and will continue with our examination of the DC Output Quality.
Control Test Graphing
This image is the blank background control test on an unused connector from our SM-8800 during the testing of the Solid Gear Neutron 550W. This lets us determine what the background noise looks like during testing.
120v Input
100v Input
Test #1 is equal to approximately 25% of the rated capacity of the Solid Gear Neutron 550W at 45c. This makes Test #1 equal to 145W by loading the 12v rail to 10a, the 5v rail to 2a, the 3.3v rail to 1a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. The Solid Gear Neutron 550W is starting off rather noisy. The 12v rail is peaking at ~40mV of ripple/noise, the 5v rail is peaking at ~15mV of ripple noise, and the 3.3v rail is peaking at ~10mV of ripple/noise.
120v Input
100v Input
Test #2 is equal to approximately 50% of the rated capacity of the Solid Gear Neutron 550W at 45c. This makes Test #2 equal to 265W by loading the 12v rail to 20a, the 5v rail to 3a, the 3.3v rail to 2a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. Test #2 sees minor changes as the 3.3v rail is coming in at ~15mV of ripple/noise still, the 5v rail is coming in at ~20mV of ripple/noise, and the 12v rail is peaking at ~50mV of ripple/noise.
DC Output Quality Summary
For the tests that it did complete, the overall DC Output Quality of the Solid Gear Neutron 550W did ok. However, that is not actually saying much since it did only “complete” Test #1 and Test #2 (sort of). The Neutron 550W ended up posting a peak trace amplitude on the 12v rail of ~50mV followed by ~20mV on the 5v rail and ~15mV on the 3.3v rail. That said, these values could have gotten worse if we were able to continue testing. Or they may not have. Given what we saw in other tests though, my money would be on they would have gotten worse if we could have gotten the unit to power up in any other test. Let’s move on now and see how all of this wraps up. Why? Because we are masochists (apparently).