Load Tests
Contents
We conducted several tests with this power supply, as described in the article, “Hardware Secrets Power Supply Test Methodology.”
First we tested this power supply with five different load patterns, trying to pull around 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of its labeled maximum capacity (actual percentage used listed under “% Max Load”), watching the behavior of the reviewed unit under each load. In the table below, we list the load patterns we used and the results for each load.
If you add all the powers listed for each test, you may find a different value than what is posted under “Total” below. Since each output can have a slight variation (e.g., the +5 V output working at +5.10 V), the actual total amount of power being delivered is slightly different than the calculated value. In the “Total” row, we are using the real amount of power being delivered, as measured by our load tester.
The +12VA and +12VB inputs listed below are the two +12 V independent inputs from our load tester. During this test, the +12VA input was connected to the power supply +12V1 and +12V3 rails, while the +12VB input was connected to the power supply +12V1 rail.
| Input | Test 1 | Test 2 | Test 3 | Test 4 | Test 5 |
| +12VA | 4 A (48 W) | 9 A (108 W) | 13 A (156 W) | 17.5 A (210 W) | 20.5 A (246 W) |
| +12VB | 4 A (48 W) | 9 A (108 W) | 13 A (156 W) | 17.5 A (210 W) | 21 A (252 W) |
| +5 V | 1 A (5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 4 A (20 W) | 6 A (30 W) | 10 A (50 W) |
| +3.3 V | 1 A (3.3 W) | 2 A (6.6 W) | 4 A (13.2 W) | 6 A (19.8 W) | 10 A (33 W) |
| +5VSB | 1 A (5 W) | 1 A (5 W) | 1.5 A (7.5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 3 A (15 W) |
| -12 V | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) |
| Total | 117.4 W | 247.3 W | 362.8 W | 489.4 W | 602.8 W |
| % Max Load | 19.6% | 41.2% | 60.5% | 81.6% | 100.5% |
| Room Temp. | 45.8° C | 45.3° C | 45.7° C | 46.9° C | 48.8° C |
| PSU Temp. | 48.0° C | 47.9° C | 48.0° C | 48.5° C | 49.8° C |
| Voltage Regulation | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Ripple and Noise | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| AC Power | 129.8 W | 268.1 W | 395.9 W | 543.8 W | 682.0 W |
| Efficiency | 90.4% | 92.2% | 91.6% | 90.0% | 88.4% |
| AC Voltage | 117.3 V | 114.0 V | 113.7 V | 112.3 V | 110.3 V |
| Power Factor |
0.962 |
0.972 |
0.981 |
0.988 |
0.990 |
| Final Result | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
The Enermax Platimax 600 W passed our tests with flying colors.
As expected, efficiency was very high, between 88.4% and 92.2% during our tests. The 80 Plus Platinum certification promises minimum efficiency of 90% at light load (i.e., 20% load), 92% at typical load (i.e., 50% load), and 89% at full load. This power supply was able to meet these numbers at high temperatures, except at full load, where we saw 88.4% efficiency. Having this occur during our tests is normal, since the 80 Plus certification tests are conducted at 23° C, and we tested this particular power supply at almost 49° C; efficiency drops with temperature.
Voltages were closer to their nominal values (3% regulation) during all tests, except during test five, when the +5 V output was below this tighter range, at +4.82 V, but still inside the allowed margin. The ATX12V specification states that positive voltages must be within 5% of their nominal values, and negative voltages must be within 10% of their nominal values.
Let’s discuss the ripple and noise levels on the next page.
