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 power listed for each test, you may find a different value than what is posted under “Total” below. Since each output can vary slightly (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 our tests, both were connected to the power supply’s single +12 V rail.
| Input | Test 1 | Test 2 | Test 3 | Test 4 | Test 5 |
| +12VA | 6 A (72 W) | 13 A (156 W) | 20 A (240 W) | 25 A (300 W) | 31 A (372 W) |
| +12VB | 6 A (72 W) | 13 A (156 W) | 17 A (204 W) | 25 A (300 W) | 31 A (372 W) |
| +5V | 2 A (10 W) | 4 A (20 W) | 6 A (30 W) | 8 A (40 W) | 10 A (50 W) |
| +3.3 V | 2 A (6.6 W) | 4 A (13.2 W) | 6 A (30 W) | 8 A (26.4 W) | 10 A (33 W) |
| +5VSB | 1 A (5 W) | 1.5 A (7.5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 2.5 A (12.5 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 | 175.8 W | 351.1 W | 517.2 W | 691.7 W | 851.2 W |
| % Max Load | 20.7% | 41.3% | 60.8% | 81.4% | 100.1% |
| Room Temp. | 45.9° C | 43.0° C | 45.4° C | 47.2° C | 45.4° C |
| PSU Temp. | 48.2° C | 47.2° C | 47.5° C | 50.2° C | 49.9° C |
| Voltage Regulation | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Ripple and Noise | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| AC Power | 201.9 W | 393.1 W | 583.1 W | 790.0 W | 992.0 W |
| Efficiency | 87.1% | 89.3% | 88.7% | 87.6% | 85.8% |
| AC Voltage | 112.6 V | 109.6 V | 107.2 V | 104.3 V | 103.5 V |
| Power Factor | 0.983 | 0.992 | 0.994 | 0.995 | 0.996 |
| Final Result | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
The NZXT HALE90-850-M can really deliver its labeled wattage at high temperatures.
Efficiency was very high, always above 85% and peaking 89.3% when we pulled around 350 W from the reviewed unit. The efficiency numbers are great, but at full load efficiency was a little bit below what is required by the 80 Plus Gold certification (85.8% vs. 87%). This happens because the tests for the 80 Plus certification are conducted at a room temperature of 23° C, while we test power supplies at 45° C, and efficiency drops with temperature.
All voltages were inside the expected range, and noise and ripple levels were always low. Below you can see the results for the power supply outputs during test number five. The maximum allowed is 120 mV for +12 V and -12 V outputs, and 50 mV for +5 V and +3.3 V outputs. All values are peak-to-peak figures.
Figure 18: +12VA input from load tester during test five at 851.2 W (41.6 mV)
Figure 19: +12VB input from load tester during test five at 851.2 W (42.4 mV)
Figure 20: +5V rail during test five at 851.2 W (26.6 mV)
Figure 21: +3.3 V rail during test five at 851.2 W (36.2 mV)
Let’s see if we can pull even more from the NZXT HALE90-850-M.
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