Test Setup
All measurements were performed using two Chroma 6314A mainframes equipped with the following electronic loads: six 63123A [350 W each], one 63102A [100 W x2], and one 63101A [200 W]. The aforementioned equipment is able to deliver 2500 W of load, and all loads are controlled by a custom-made software. We also used a
Picoscope 3424 oscilloscope, a Picotech
TC-08 thermocouple data logger, a Fluke 175 multimeter, and a Yokogawa WT210 power meter. We also included a wooden box, which, along with some heating elements, was used as a hot box. Finally, we had at our disposal four more oscilloscopes (Rigol 1052E and VS5042, Stingray DS1M12, a second Picoscope 3424), and a CEM DT-8852 sound level meter. In
this article, you will find more details about our equipment and the review methodology we follow. Finally, we conduct all of our tests at 40°C-45°C ambient in order to simulate with higher accuracy the environment seen inside a typical system, with 40°C-45°C being derived from a standard ambient assumption of 23°C and 17°C-22°C being added for the typical temperature rise within a system.
Primary Rails Voltage Regulation
The following charts show the voltage values of the main rails, recorded over a range from 60 W to the maximum specified load, and the deviation (in percent) for the same load range.
5VSB Regulation
The following chart shows how the 5VSB rail deals with the load we throw at it.
Hold-up Time
Hold-up time is a very important PSU characteristic and represents the amount of time, usually measured in milliseconds, a PSU can maintain output regulations as defined by the ATX spec without input power. In other words, it is the amount of time the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption. The ATX spec sets the minimum hold-up time to 16 ms with the maximum continuous output load. In the following screenshot, the blue line is the mains signal and the yellow line is the "Power Good" signal. The latter is de-asserted to a low state when any of the +12V, 5V, or 3.3V output voltages fall below the undervoltage threshold, or after the mains power has been removed for a sufficiently long time to guarantee that the PSU cannot operate anymore.
The PSU managed to pass the minimum allowed hold-up time the ATX spec sets on all tests we conducted. The worst time it achieved was 16.6 ms.
Inrush Current
Inrush current or switch-on surge refers to the maximum, instantaneous input-current drawn by an electrical device when first turned on. Because of the charging current of the APFC capacitor(s), PSUs produce large inrush-current right as they are turned on. Large inrush current can cause the tripping of circuit breakers and fuses and may also damage switches, relays and bridge rectifiers; as a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as they are turned on, the better.
The two parallel hold-up caps and their high combined capacity are responsible for the increased inrush current the unit registered. A bigger NTC Thermistor could lower inrush current, but Super Flower opted not to use one for reasons all their own. Still, the registered inrush current was well below 50 A, so it won't cause any problems to circuit breakers and fuses.
Voltage Regulation and Efficiency Measurements
The first set of tests revealed the stability of the voltage rails and the efficiency of the P2-1000. The applied load was equal to (approximately) 20%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, 100%, and 110% of the maximum load that the PSU can handle. We conducted two additional tests. In the first test, we stressed the two minor rails (5V and 3.3V) with a high load while the load at +12V was only 0.10 A. This test reveals whether the PSU is Haswell ready or not. In the second test, we dialed the maximum load the +12V rail could handle while the load on the minor rails was minimal.
Voltage Regulation & Efficiency Testing Data EVGA P2-1000 |
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Test | 12 V | 5 V | 3.3 V | 5VSB | Power (DC/AC) | Efficiency | Fan Speed | Fan Noise | Temp (In/Out) | PF/AC Volts |
20% Load | 14.669A | 1.983A | 1.996A | 0.987A | 199.72W | 91.51% | 0 RPM | 0 dBA | 43.15°C | 0.843 |
12.146V | 5.029V | 3.303V | 5.051V | 218.24W | 36.16°C | 230.1V |
40% Load | 29.733A | 3.980A | 4.002A | 1.189A | 399.64W | 93.35% | 0 RPM | 0 dBA | 44.93°C | 0.981 |
12.124V | 5.020V | 3.296V | 5.035V | 428.11W | 37.11°C | 230.1V |
50% Load | 37.167A | 4.976A | 5.008A | 1.590A | 499.55W | 93.32% | 0 RPM | 0 dBA | 47.98°C | 0.984 |
12.111V | 5.015V | 3.293V | 5.018V | 535.33W | 37.83°C | 230.1V |
60% Load | 44.603A | 5.981A | 6.017A | 1.998A | 599.50W | 93.13% | 864 RPM | 34.3 dBA | 40.92°C | 0.987 |
12.101V | 5.012V | 3.289V | 5.000V | 643.75W | 49.23°C | 230.0V |
80% Load | 59.681A | 7.989A | 8.039A | 2.407A | 799.43W | 92.56% | 864 RPM | 34.3 dBA | 42.56°C | 0.990 |
12.082V | 5.005V | 3.283V | 4.980V | 863.65W | 51.33°C | 230.0V |
100% Load | 75.615A | 9.005A | 9.062A | 2.514A | 999.24W | 91.90% | 1282 RPM | 43.6 dBA | 44.19°C | 0.990 |
12.062V | 4.997V | 3.276V | 4.968V | 1087.30W | 53.66°C | 229.9V |
110% Load | 83.996A | 9.014A | 9.068A | 2.515A | 1099.17W | 91.32% | 1660 RPM | 47.5 dBA | 45.49°C | 0.990 |
12.048V | 4.993V | 3.275V | 4.963V | 1203.60W | 55.90°C | 229.8V |
Crossload 1 | 0.096A | 12.003A | 12.004A | 0.000A | 100.96W | 82.87% | 864 RPM | 34.3 dBA | 42.91°C | 0.698 |
12.155V | 5.018V | 3.296V | 5.072V | 121.83W | 51.32°C | 230.6V |
Crossload 2 | 83.258A | 1.001A | 1.004A | 1.002A | 1017.01W | 92.20% | 1660 RPM | 47.5 dBA | 45.48°C | 0.990 |
12.055V | 5.003V | 3.286V | 5.017V | 1103.05W | 56.06°C | 229.9V |
The unit easily delivered more than its full power at increased ambient temperatures, and it ran a very relaxed fan profile that only engaged the fan when absolutely necessary. Also, the fan only spun at full speed with full load, which shows Super Flower's confidence in this platform.
Efficiency was very high and peaked at almost 93.5% with normal load, while voltage regulation was really tight on all rails, especially on the minor ones where the EVGA PSU even outperformed the digital AX1200i. This is then an incredible PSU gunning for first place in its corresponding category, and its price is competitive as well.