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 SilverStone DA850 Gold. 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 SilverStone DA850 Gold at 45c. This makes Test #1 equal to 221W by loading the 12v rail to 16a, the 5v rail to 2a, the 3.3v rail to 1a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. The SilverStone DS850 Gold is starting off in decent shape. The 12v rail is peaking at ~25mV of ripple/noise while the minor rails are peaking at less than ~10mV of ripple/noise.
120v Input
100v Input
Test #2 is equal to approximately 50% of the rated capacity of the SilverStone DA850 Gold at 45c. This makes Test #2 equal to 431W by loading the 12v rail to 32a, the 5v rail to 4a, the 3.3v rail to 3a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. Test #2 sees no real changes as the 3.3v and 5v rails are coming in at ~10mV of ripple/noise while the 12v rail is coming in at ~25mV of ripple/noise.
120v Input
100v Input
Test #3 is equal to approximately 75% of the rated capacity of SilverStone DA850 Gold at 45c. This makes Test #3 equal to 638W by loading the 12v rail to 48a, the 5v rail to 6a, the 3.3v rail to 4a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. Test #3 sees the 12v rail coming in at ~25mV of ripple/noise while the minor rails are coming in at ~15mV of ripple/noise (5v) or 10mV of ripple/noise (3.3v).
120v Input
100v Input
Test #4 is equal to approximately 100% of the rated capacity of the SilverStone DA850 Gold at 45c. This makes Test #4 equal to 855W by loading the 12v rail to 68a, the 5v rail to 2a, 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 ~20mV of ripple/noise while the 5v rail is peaking at ~10mV of ripple/noise and the 3.3v rail is peaking at ~15mV of ripple/noise.
Torture Test
The Torture Test is equal to approximately 80% of the rated capacity of the SilverStone DA850 Gold at 45C. This makes the Torture Test equal to 668W by loading the 12v rail to 50a, the 5v rail to 7a, the 3.3v rail to 5a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. At the end of the Torture Test, we see the 12v rail peaking at ~25mV of ripple/noise while the 5v and 3.3v rails are peaking at ~10mV of ripple/noise.
DC Output Quality Summary
The overall DC Output Quality of the SilverStone DA850 Gold is excellent. The ripple/noise values started the day off in good shape and only changed slightly during our testing. Overall, the DA850 Gold ended up posting a peak trace amplitude on the 12v rail of ~25mV followed by ~15mV on the minor rails. None of these values exit the ATX12v specification limits or even approach those limits. Indeed, the worst value only hit ~30% of the ATX12v specification limit. In a relative sense, this unit tied the Enermax REVOLUTION DF 850W and MSI MPG A850GF while slightly trailing the ASUS ROG THOR 850W.
Overall then, this unit did well. While it may not be the absolute best 850W unit on the market in this regard we have seen it is not that far off. Let’s move on now and see how all of this wraps up!