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 Corsair CV450. 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 Corsair CV450 at 45c. This makes Test #1 equal to 123W by loading the 12v rail to 8a, the 5v rail to 2a, the 3.3v rail to 1a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. The CV450 is starting off in not great shape today. The 12v is peaking at ~25mV of ripple/noise while the 5v rail hits ~10mV and the 3.3v rail peaks at ~15mV.
120v Input
100v Input
Test #2 is equal to approximately 50% of the rated capacity of the Corsair CV450 at 45c. This makes Test #2 equal to 227W by loading the 12v rail to 16a, the 5v rail to 3a, the 3.3v rail to 2a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. Test #2 sees the 12v rail stay even at ~25mV of ripple/noise. The 5v rail is now coming in at ~15mV of ripple/noise, and the 3.3v rail is peaking at ~20mV of ripple/noise.
120v Input
100v Input
Test #3 is equal to approximately 75% of the rated capacity Corsair CV450 at 45c. This makes Test #3 equal to 335W by loading the 12v rail to 24a, the 5v rail to 5a, the 3.3v rail to 3a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. Test #3 sees the 12v rail peaking at ~35mV of ripple/noise while the minor rails are coming in at ~20mV of ripple/noise on the 5v rail and ~25mV of ripple/noise on the 3.3v rail.
120v Input
100v Input
Test #4 is equal to approximately 100% of the rated capacity of Corsair CV450 at 45c. This makes Test #4 equal to 442W/440W by loading the 12v rail to 34a, the 5v rail to 4a, the 3.3v rail to 2a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. In the final regular test, we see the 12v rail peaking at ~55mV of ripple/noise while the minor rails are peaking at ~20mV of ripple/noise on the 5v rail and ~35mV of ripple/noise on the 3.3v rail.
Torture Test
The Torture Test is equal to approximately 80% of the rated capacity of the Corsair CV450 at 45C full load. This makes the Torture Test equal to 366W by loading the 12v rail to 26a, the 5v rail to 6a, the 3.3v rail to 4a, the +5vsb to 6a, and the -12v to 0.3a. At the end of the Torture Test, we see the 12v rail peaking at ~40mV of ripple/noise while the 3.3v rail is peaking at ~25mV of ripple/noise and the 5v rail is peaking at ~15mV of ripple/noise.
DC Output Quality Summary
The overall DC Output Quality of the Corsair CV450 is passing. The CV450 ended up posting a peak trace amplitude on the 12v rail of ~55mV followed by ~20mV on the 5v rail and ~35mV on the 3.3v rail during our normal tests. The worst absolute value among these (the 12v rail) hit ~50% of the ATX12v specification limit.
In a relative sense, though, the 3.3v rail did even worse as it was peaking at more than 50% of the ATX12/EPS specification limit. Overall then, the unit is passing so we cannot fail the CV450 for posting these results, but we also can not praise it. The one consolation is that this very much an entry level unit so we weren’t expecting too much from it to begin with. Let’s move on now and see how all of this wraps up!