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 DeepCool PQ850M. 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 DeepCool PQ850M at 45c. This makes Test #1 equal to 220W 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 PQ850M is starting off in decent shape. The 12v rail is peaking at ~20mV 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 DeepCool PQ850M at 45c. This makes Test #2 equal to 432W 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 DeepCool PQ850M at 45c. This makes Test #3 equal to 641W 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.
120v Input
100v Input
Test #4 is equal to approximately 100% of the rated capacity of the DeepCool PQ850M at 45c. This makes Test #4 equal to 860W 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 ~30mV 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 DeepCool PQ850M at 45C. This makes the Torture Test equal to 671W 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 DeepCool PQ850M is excellent. The ripple/noise values started the day off in good shape and only changed slightly during our testing. Overall, the PQ850M ended up posting a peak trace amplitude on the 12v rail of ~30mV 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. Now in a relative sense, this unit trailed the SilverStone DA850 Gold and the ASUS ROG THOR 850W, tied the Enermax REVOLUTION DF 850W, and was mixed against the MSI MPG A850GF.
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!
Discussion (6 replies)
Join Discussion →Thanks for the review! Interesting to see them put out a PSU. I know they've been in the cooler business for a while now but didn't know they did PSUs as well.
That, my friends, is where this unit runs headlong into a house while speedballed out of their mind like Anne Heche in an Austin Mini.
Damn that’s cold. Hilarious, but the dirt hasn’t even settled on the grave yet.
Some times the inspiration just slams right into you.
I find this interesting and if I were in the market for a 850 watt power supply I would want platinum or titanium rated personally. Getting every ounce of efficiency will be critical with new modern parts at least in my mind.
Hmm, I don't know that the effiency matters much.
The wattage is based on DC side - so an 850 Titanium will deliver the same 850W that a 850 Bronze will -- they will be identical as far as the computer load you can throw on them goes.
Granted, the bronze would pull a bit more from the wall... but it's only a difference of 8% (82% vs 90%) - or 80W... at 85%.
And if you have no qualms about a 500W+ Graphics card or 250W+ CPU (Not saying you personally Grim, just the general "making a point") -- then that extra 8% is nothing. Maybe if you are rocking one of those 1500W+ PSUs, and then that extra 8% may be the difference between throwing a breaker or not - and that would be a legitimate reason for a gamer or home computer user to care.
Buy a power supply for the voltage quality, the warranty, the bells and whistles that you like -- but the Plus rating is mostly just a marketing badge. It might matter in a server situation where it's going to sit under load for long stretches of time (like 24x7), or maybe if you are mining full time, but it needs to be on at a healthy load for a long time if you ever want to recoup that price difference.
I'll grant you that higher tier PSUs tend to be better units, but it isn't because they are higher tier rated. The tier rating is a good reason for the manufacturer to put a higher markup on a product, but you shouldn't pay extra for just that. Pay extra for stuff that matters, like good voltage quality or cable management or 10 year warranty. It's a shame that stuff is hard to sleuth out if all you have is the box on the shelf to go by - which is why I love sites like this one.
I agree with everything you said. I consider warrranty and reputation as well. When I got my 1300 watt I wanted high efficiency. I didn't even realize titanium rated was a thing or I would have looked for it. (hard to find mind you.) And I know I over paid for my power supply but for me that piece out lives dang near every other component of my system. My old 850 watt that ran my 3900x is being given to a friend with the 3900x cpu and motherboard and the 1 tb nvme drive I had in it to boot. so it will see more life.