Powercolor Gaming 600W Power Supply Review

1. Introduction2. The Powercolor Gaming 600W Power Supply (External)3. The Powercolor Gaming 600W Power Supply (Internal)4. Testing Methodology and Results5. Closing Thoughts6. 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
• Extech digital sound level meter & SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa)
• Digital oscilloscope (20M S/s with 12 Bit ADC)
• Variable Autotransformer, 1.4 KVA

We are running the 12V rails into one final test result (12v)

DC Output Load Regulation
Combined DC Load	+3.3V		+5V		+12V		+5VSB		-12V
	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V
75W	1.09	3.34	1.46	5.03	4.92	12.12	0.50	5.05	0.20	-12.08
150W	2.07	3.34	2.97	5.02	10.06	12.11	0.50	5.02	0.30	-12.08
300W	4.30	3.32	6.02	5.01	20.63	12.08	1.00	5.01	0.30	-12.08
450W	6.59	3.32	8.50	4.98	31.84	12.06	1.50	4.98	0.30	-12.08
600W	9.94	3.31	12.22	4.97	41.82	12.03	2.50	4.94	0.30	-12.05

The Powercolor supply has strong regulation across the output range and handled our load testing very well. All of the primary rails remained within 3% of the nominal voltage.

Powercolor Extreme Series 1000W	Maximum Load
	664.2W

We managed to achieve 664.2W before the power supply would shut down, gracefully. The overprotection circuitry is working well.

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
580W	1.0	3.32	1.0	5.05	44.0	11.92	0.2	-11.96	0.50	5.03
145W	12.0	3.27	15.0	4.94	2.0	12.05	0.2	-12.04	0.50	4.91

The Powercolor unit performed admirably with only minor 5V fluctuation, but within tolerances.

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 Powercolor unit complied with the ATX standard.

AC Ripple (mV p-p)
DC Load	+3.3V	+5V	+12V	5VSB
75W	5	10	10	10
150W	10	10	15	10
300W	10	15	30	10
450W	15	20	50	10
600W	20	25	60	20

Ripple results were within tolerances, although we recorded around 25mv on the +5v line and 60 mv on the +12v line, a little more than we normally see with the units we are sent for review. It is worth pointing out that although these are higher than most of the units we test, they still fall well within the tolerance levels set out by the ATX12V Ver 2.2 standard.

Efficiency (%)
75W	82.21
150W	82.98
300W	83.78
450W	82.47
600W	81.53

Efficiency results are well within the 80%+ parameters set out for standard 80 Plus certification. While they aren't as high as the 80 Plus certified Cooler Master Silent Pro M 600W we recently reviewed they are still quite good. Minimum efficiency was 81.53% at full load.

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 record 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)
75W	24.3
150W	25.9
300W	26.7
450W	32.3
600W	34.8

The PowerColor Gaming 600W PSU is reasonably quiet until just after 50% load. Around 75% load the fan starts to speed up considerably peaking around 35 dBa at full load. A reasonable set of results.

Temperature (c)
	Intake	Exhaust
75W	35	37
150W	36	39
300W	38	43
450W	40	47
600W	43	51

Under 50% load the exhaust air is maintained close to intake and when the fan kicks in above 50% the temperatures remain around 8c above ambient, which is great. Powercolor have clearly set the fan balance more for performance, rather than low noise levels.

Maximum load	Efficiency
664.2W	78.2

Pushing the PSU above its rated limits generates an efficiency level of around 78%. This is not a viable ‘real world’ situation, but its interesting nonetheless.

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