Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro BQT P9-550W Review (80 Plus Gold)

1. Introduction2. Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 550W (Bundle and Cabling)3. Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 550W (External)4. Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 550W (Internal)5. Testing Methodology and Results6. Closing Thoughts7. View All Pages

Additional technical assistance: Peter McFarland and Jeremy Price.

Correctly testing power supplies is a complex procedure and KitGuru have configured a test bench which can deliver up to a 2,000 watt DC load. Due to public requests we have changed our temperature settings recently – previously we rated with ambient temperatures at 25C, we have increased ambient temperatures by 10c (to 35c) in our environment to greater reflect warmer internal chassis conditions.

We use combinations of the following hardware:
• SunMoon SM-268
• CSI3710A Programmable DC load (+3.3V and +5V outputs)
• CSI3711A Programmable DC load (+12V1, +12V2, +12V3, and +12V4)
• Extech Power Analyzer
• Extech MultiMaster MM570 digital multimeter
• SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa)
• Digital oscilloscope (20M S/s with 12 Bit ADC)
• Variable Autotransformer, 1.4 KVA

The supply is tested in single rail mode.

DC Output Load Regulation
Combined DC Load	+3.3V		+5V		+12V		+5VSB
	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V
110W	1.18	3.32	1.16	5.03	8.02	12.28	0.50	5.06
220W	2.07	3.30	2.05	5.02	16.11	12.25	0.50	5.03
340W	3.02	3.29	3.05	5.00	25.12	12.17	1.00	5.01
445W	4.12	3.27	4.08	4.98	33.22	12.08	1.50	4.97
550W	5.09	3.23	5.03	4.92	41.01	11.86	2.50	4.94

There is some fluctuation in our testing especially across the +12V rail – from 12.28 to 11.86. Nothing critical, but a 0.42 variable is noticeable nonetheless.

Dark Power Pro P9 550W	Maximum Load
	597.3

Next we want to try Cross Loading. This basically means loads which are not balanced. If a PC for instance needs 500W on the +12V outputs but something like 30W via the combined 3.3V and +5V outputs then the voltage regulation can fluctuate badly.

Cross Load Testing	+3.3V		+5V		+12V		-12V		+5VSB
	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V
493W	1.0	3.33	1.0	5.02	40.0	11.85	0.2	-11.95	0.50	5.00
153W	15.0	3.25	15.0	4.90	2.0	12.13	0.2	-12.12	0.50	4.98

Cross loading shows minor fluctuation, noticeable again on the +12v rail. Still within safe parameters.

We then used an oscilloscope to measure AC ripple and noise present on the DC outputs. We set the oscilloscope time base to check for AC ripple at both high and low ends of the spectrum. ATX12V V2.2 specification for DC output ripple and noise is defined in the ATX 12V power supply design guide.

ATX12V Ver 2.2 Noise/Ripple Tolerance
Output	Ripple (mV p-p)
+3.3V	50
+5V	50
+12V1	120
+12V2	120
-12V	120
+5VSB	50

Obviously when measuring AC noise and ripple on the DC outputs the cleaner (less recorded) means we have a better end result. We measured this AC signal amplitude to see how closely the unit complied with the ATX standard.

AC Ripple (mV p-p)
DC Load	+3.3V	+5V	+12V	5VSB
110W	10	10	15	10
220W	20	10	30	10
340W	25	15	40	15
445W	30	20	55	25
550W	35	25	75	30

Noise suppression is within the rated tolerance parameters, although it is far from the best supply we have tested in recent months. +12v output measures 75mV at full load. The +3.3V rail also measures a maximum of 35mV at full load.

Efficiency (%)
110W	87.89
220W	89.34
340W	92.11
445W	91.23
550W	88.34

Efficiency from the supply is very good, although it fails slightly short of 80 Plus Gold Efficiency figures when under very low load (20%).

We take the issue of noise very seriously at KitGuru and this is why we have built a special home brew system as a reference point when we test noise levels of various components. Why do this? Well this means we can eliminate secondary noise pollution in the test room and concentrate on components we are testing. It also brings us slightly closer to industry standards, such as DIN 45635.

Today to test the Power Supply we have taken it into our acoustics room environment and have set our SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa) one meter away from the unit. We have no other fans running so we can effectively measure just the noise from the unit itself.

As this can be a little confusing for people, here are various dBa ratings in with real world situations to help describe the various levels.

KitGuru noise guide
10dBA – Normal Breathing/Rustling Leaves
20-25dBA – Whisper
30dBA – High Quality Computer fan
40dBA – A Bubbling Brook, or a Refridgerator
50dBA – Normal Conversation
60dBA – Laughter
70dBA – Vacuum Cleaner or Hairdryer
80dBA – City Traffic or a Garbage Disposal
90dBA – Motorcycle or Lawnmower
100dBA – MP3 Player at maximum output
110dBA – Orchestra
120dBA – Front row rock concert/Jet Engine
130dBA – Threshold of Pain
140dBA – Military Jet takeoff/Gunshot (close range)
160dBA – Instant Perforation of eardrum

Noise (dBA)
110W	28.7
220W	29.2
340W	29.6
445W	30.5
550W	31.4

The supply is almost silent, actually rated as one of the quietest we have tested, to date. 31.4 dBa at full load is an incredible result.

Temperature (c)
	Intake	Exhaust
110W	35	39
220W	37	41
340W	40	48
445W	42	51
550W	44	54

The 120mm fan holds temperatures within reasonable thresholds, achieving a 10c+ variable under full load.

Maximum load	Efficiency
597.3W	86.3

Pushing the PSU above its rated limits generates an efficiency level of around 86.3%. This is not a viable ‘real world’ situation, but its interesting nonetheless.

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