Tom's Explains: What Do 80 PLUS Bronze, Silver, Gold & Titanium Signify?

[Guest]

You've seen these stickers on power supplies...but what do the various 80 PLUS levels actually mean when you're buying?

Tom's Explains: What Do 80 PLUS Bronze, Silver, Gold & Titanium Signify? : Read more

 

[InvalidError]

I don't really see anything wrong with PSU measurements being done at ~23C, that's a typical office temperature. Standby power measurement isn't particularly relevant since that will depend on how many loads actually end up connected to the 5VSB rail and enabled, such as wake-on-lan/keyboard/mouse, charging-capable ports and other accessories. There isn't much point in the PSU being sub-100mW standby on its own when the assembled system may have in excess of 10W in standby loads. As for the 'fake efficiency badges', 80+ is a voluntary program, it doesn't have the authority to impose sanctions on companies, the only thing they can do is sue for trademark violations. Even UL marks which have a much stronger international standing due to being safety-related also get faked by Chinese manufacturers all the time on stuff drop-shipped from China due to low probabilities of getting caught by customs. If UL and equivalent marks which are required by law in many countries can't stop fake marks, a voluntary program like 80+ or any other would-be replacements stand no chance in hell.

 

[anbello262]

Suing or sanctions aren't the only thing that can be done against fake badges. As said in the other linked article, just having an online list of certified psu models could be enough.

 

[InvalidError]

As said in the other linked article, just having an online list of certified psu models could be enough.

Who bothers to check that list? Valid UL marks are a far greater deal, when's the last time you ever consulted the UL directory to make sure the UL mark on something you bought was legit? I'm probably the only person I know who does, mostly only when I buy stuff from questionable sources.

 

[Martell1977]

Many people mistake this badge as a certification of quality. While with the higher levels that can be assumed, there are just too many gold, bronze and white units that are total garbage.

 

[ddferrari]

Just go with Seasonic and call it a day. PSU's can be recycled for a few builds and their warranties are from 7-12 years. Done.

 

[MCE2k]

You inverted your efficiency, 375/300 gives 1.25, 125%.

 

[Olle P]

I don't really see anything wrong with PSU measurements being done at ~23C, that's a typical office temperature.

It's not always the PSU draw room temperature air.
In some cases the air is heated by the GPU and CPU before entering the PSU, so efficiency at higher temperatures should also be considered..

Standby power measurement isn't particularly relevant since that will depend on how many loads actually end up connected to the 5VSB rail and enabled, ... There isn't much point in the PSU being sub-100mW standby on its own when the assembled system may have in excess of 10W in standby loads.

As mentioned, the 5VSB rail is also ignored.
Both standby power and 5VSB are relevant for computers that spend a lot of time in off or hibernation modes.

As for the 'fake efficiency badges', 80+ is a voluntary program, it doesn't have the authority to impose sanctions on companies, the only thing they can do is sue for trademark violations.

I'd say it's not particularly "voluntary" to carry an 80Plus badge on the product.
Virtually nobody would nowadays buy a PSU without it!
Of course there should be sancions against those using false badges. Public presentation being one such "sanction".

 

[InvalidError]

Both standby power and 5VSB are relevant for computers that spend a lot of time in off or hibernation modes.

Requiring that PSUs have a 100mW standby power draw is pointless when the PSU will be connected to a motherboard under real-world circumstances and the green LED on most motherboards already draws 30-50mW on top of that. Even if you went out of your way to disable all of the "phantom loads" your motherboard's BIOS allows you to, you'll likely have several times more power going to other ancillary functions. I measured the 5VSB current in one of my spare PCs and got 300mA after plugging the PSU in, that's 1.5W in the hardware's default 5VSB-up state.

If you are genuinely worried about the PSU's power draw in the off/hibernate state, turn the PSU off altogether. Otherwise, phantom loads throughout the PC dictate most of what that power draw will be, not the PSU unless it is exceptionally bad.

 

[Olle P]

... I measured the 5VSB current in one of my spare PCs and got 300mA after plugging the PSU in, that's 1.5W in the hardware's default 5VSB-up state.

And if those 1.5 W are delivered at 50% efficiency that's 3.0 W drawn from the wall socket, per USB unit connected!
Over a year all of that waste energy from thousands of computers worldwide adds up to significant numbers.

 

[InvalidError]

And if those 1.5 W are delivered at 50% efficiency that's 3.0 W drawn from the wall socket, per USB unit connected!

That 1.5W is for the motherboard alone - it had absolutely nothing else connected to it. If you are worried about $3/year (1W ~= $1/year at $0.10/kWh) in PC standby/off power draw, unplug the PSU or turn off the power strip. There you go, zero power.