Thortech Thunderbolt 850 W Power Supply Review
Ripple and Noise Tests
Contents
Voltages at the power supply outputs must be as “clean” as possible, with no noise or oscillation (also known as “ripple”). The maximum ripple and noise levels allowed are 120 mV for +12 V and -12 V outputs, and 50 mV for +5 V, +3.3 V and +5VSB outputs. All values are peak-to-peak figures. We consider a power supply as being top-notch if it can produce half or less of the maximum allowed ripple and noise levels.
The Thortech Thunderbolt 850 W provided really low ripple and noise levels, as you can see in the table below.
| Input | Test 1 | Test 2 | Test 3 | Test 4 | Test 5 |
| +12VA | 30.0 mV | 35.6 mV | 40.6 mV | 47.4 mV | 54.4 mV |
| +12VB | 27.4 mV | 31.8 mV | 33.8 mV | 38.2 mV | 45.2 mV |
| +5 V | 10.2 mV | 10.8 mV | 11.4 mV | 12.8 mV | 15.2 mV |
| +3.3 V | 12.4 mV | 13.4 mV | 14.6 mV | 15.4 mV | 19.2 mV |
| +5VSB | 11.2 mV | 11.4 mV | 11.6 mV | 11.8 mV | 14.4 mV |
| -12 V | 41.2 mV | 47.4 mV | 52.2 mV | 57.6 mV | 63.4 mV |
Below you can see the waveforms of the outputs during test five.
Figure 19: +12VA input from load tester during test five at 850.2 W (54.4 mV)
Figure 20: +12VB input from load tester during test five at 850.2 W (45.2 mV)
Figure 21: +5V rail during test five at 850.2 W (15.2 mV)
Figure 22: +3.3 V rail during test five at 850.2 W (19.2 mV)
Let’s see if we can pull more than 850 W from this unit.