TechPowerUp is Hiring a Power Supply (PSU) Reviewer

[btarunr]

TechPowerUp is looking for a talented and motivated individual to work for us, as our reviewer of PC power supplies (PSUs). Our outgoing PSU reviewer, Aris Mpitziopoulos (crmaris) is among the world's very best in this trade, and is the brains behind the Cybenetics PSU Certification Program. We have grown together over our decade-long association. Aris has decided to focus on his full-time job with Cybenetics, and we wish him only the best. The PSU is a vital component in a desktop PC, as it provides power and electrical protection for everything else. It's essential to invest in a good PSU that can deliver clean power for years. Thanks to Aris, TechPowerUp established itself as a definitive source of highly technical PSU reviews, and we would like for a new reviewer to take over the reins. The new reviewer will need a solid command on the subject. This includes understanding and identifying the various under-the-hood components, switching topologies, electrical domains, and controllers.



Our testing covers load regulation and ripple measurements for the various rails, measuring switching efficiency for the voltages at variable loads, cross-load tests, advanced transient response and inrush/leakage current testing, protection mechanisms, cooling and fan-noise. You can read up on some of our recent PSU reviews for an idea of our testing format. We completely understand if you don't have all the infrastructure or know-how of our previous reviewer, and we're willing to work with you as we did with Aris in the past, on developing your own unique testing methodology.

The position of a PSU reviewer is a remote one—you work from your own testing environment. Although you may already have working relationships with various PSU manufacturers, we will work with you and the manufacturers to ensure there are review samples to work on at all times. While there are no specific expectations on how many reviews we expect you to publish, depending on your own pace and testing methods, we'd like to see several reviews from you per month. This is a paid, remote, part-time position.

As with every reviewer in this content format, certain essential skills are required, including a solid command over the English language, and creative-writing skills to make your reviews interesting to read besides the volume of testing data; and more importantly, we'll need you to possess technical photography and basic image processing skills, so your reviews have clear and detailed images of the various specific components that make up a PSU.

TechPowerUp is a diverse, multinational organization, with committed tech content professionals spread across six time-zones. Despite our geographic separation, we have built a closely-knit family that collaborates and contributes across departments. We are geeks above all else, and physically meet-up regularly in media-events and prominent trade-shows covering the PC hardware industry. We are always looking for committed and motivated individuals who share our love and passion for PC hardware and gaming.

Interested? Please e-mail your resume to w1zzard@techpowerup.com along with a brief cover letter on why you think you're the ideal candidate for this position, please include some basic details about yourself and where you're from. Optionally, you may provide examples of your work in any content medium. It's okay if you're not a PSU reviewer per-se, and think you have what it takes to become one. All the best!

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[mechtech]

"Aris has decided to focus on his full-time job with Cybenetics"

Bummer losing him though. I can only imagine the time, knowledge and specialized tools to do those reviews, let alone becoming famliar with the new ATX specifications............

Maybe he can roll in the testing into his job lol but I'd guess that would be a conflict of interest..................

Even with Cybenetics, it's getting hard to find good detailed reviews of PSUs...................especially considering the overwhleming amount of models out there!!

All the best cmaris!!

 

[wolar]

I doubt its conflict? He did reviews for many sites pretty sure and he also has a youtube channel, from last update i saw he was just trying to setup his new testing lab in Cyprus

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Well that is a huge blow to people wanting to get decent power supply reviews.

Here is hoping TPU finds someone super awesome at it, it doesn't seem like a very easy job.

 

[Wirko]

TechPowerUp is a diverse, multinational organization, with committed tech content professionals spread across six time-zones.

And two different mains voltages, along with two different frequencies, to say nothing about power grid quality and climate!

 

[R-T-B]

I doubt its conflict? He did reviews for many sites pretty sure and he also has a youtube channel, from last update i saw he was just trying to setup his new testing lab in Cyprus

I think the new testing lab is for his company.

 

[caroline!]

PM me anytime guys

 

[64K]

This really leaves PSU reviewing in a vacuum. First it was OklahomaWolf retiring from jonnyguru and now crmaris is leaving.

I hope TPU finds someone to fill the vacuum. Quality PSU reviews are vital because the PSU is the heart of a PC.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

@crmaris Thank you for your service and we wish you all the best.

 

[dj-electric]

This is... uhh... the most challenging and expensive hardware review type job. Hands down.

Proper PSU reviews mean the reviewer doesn't just have to have the knowledge of how PSU circuitry works. They will need expensive machines that:
- Properly load power supplies, while also adhering to specific requests in regards to rise times, shut off times, simulation of various load scenarios. If you need to trip / trigger OCP on a 1500-2000W, you need to do it.
- Decently fast scopes they can connect to the hardware in order to monitor frequencies
- A significant, privately hosted location to have all this equipment. This is someone's rent / ownership real-estate in significant value.

Unless there are clear compromises like building your own resistor based load circuitry, these things of any remotely decent quality are incredibly expensive. Working at a hardware lab for a living I get to see the bills, and I am often happy i am not on the paying end.

Accurate tools for monitoring temperature and noise of the components, though that part is the least expensive of the gear. That I can understand, that's one of the more approachable sides of PSU testing.

I really hope TPU finds someone who has access and knowledge to build a capable PSU testing methodology.

 

[docnorth]

That’s a loss for us, but hopefully the best for Aris.

To @crmaris : Ari don’t forget us and, if you still have a crm, take it out once a month and get your boots dirty.
[Kammeno dichronolado! ]

 

[Wirko]

This is... uhh... the most challenging and expensive hardware review type job. Hands down.

Proper PSU reviews mean the reviewer doesn't just have to have the knowledge of how PSU circuitry works. They will need expensive machines that:
- Properly load power supplies, while also adhering to specific requests in regards to rise times, shut off times, simulation of various load scenarios. If you need to trip / trigger OCP on a 1500-2000W, you need to do it.
- Decently fast scopes they can connect to the hardware in order to monitor frequencies
- A significant, privately hosted location to have all this equipment. This is someone's rent / ownership real-estate in significant value.

Unless there are clear compromises like building your own resistor based load circuitry, these things of any remotely decent quality are incredibly expensive. Working at a hardware lab for a living I get to see the bills, and I am often happy i am not on the paying end.

Accurate tools for monitoring temperature and noise of the components, though that part is the least expensive of the gear. That I can understand, that's one of the more approachable sides of PSU testing.

I really hope TPU finds someone who has access and knowledge to build a capable PSU testing methodology.

Don't forget that a reviewer also needs a PSU for the PSUs being tested, one that provides precision 230Vac and 115Vac power, with transients when necessary. It may easily be the costliest single piece of equipment in the lab.

 

[Shrek]

How many people know about the various topologies or have the testing equipment? which would include an oscillascope and infrared camera and would be willing to add this part time load. Seems to me it would need to be someone who is retired.

 

[Solaris17]

willing to add this part time load

you mean your day job is part time. Even reviewing in the early to mid 2000's would take huge amounts of my week, today I dont know how they do it. I took up a regular job. With time, pressure from the companies, pressure from the users and a closet full of stuff when you are as popular as we are the amount of stress and time constraints must be crazy.

Automation helps a lot, but dont forget writing and editing. Testing only gets you the data, now you have to have writing skills and cater to your audience, dumb some words down, fit complex thought processes and component function into a paragraph before going over a graph.

It's not exactly part time. 20-26 hours isnt, and shouldnt be enough.

 

[maxfly]

Ooof, that's certainly a blow. Aris is a one of a kind. He had a full plate of sites he did reviews for between hardwarebusters, toms and here. His absence will be felt. Finding a capable replacement will be challenging to put it mildly.

 

[Shrek]

I doubt its conflict?

Seems to me reviewing and issuing certification might be in conflict.

 

[ir_cow]

you mean your day job is part time. Even reviewing in the early to mid 2000's would take huge amounts of my week, today I dont know how they do it. I took up a regular job. With time, pressure from the companies, pressure from the users and a closet full of stuff when you are as popular as we are the amount of stress and time constraints must be crazy.

Automation helps a lot, but dont forget writing and editing. Testing only gets you the data, now you have to have writing skills and cater to your audience, dumb some words down, fit complex thought processes and component function into a paragraph before going over a graph.

It's not exactly part time. 20-26 hours isnt, and shouldnt be enough.

Yep. Reviews can take a lot of time. Just depends on the level of detail and what type of product it is.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Besides @jonnyGURU I don't recall anyone capable of doing this job properly on tech journalism scene. But it is not needed. Give the job to anyone.

A professional won't waste time with an attempt to educate and average consumer, simply because there is no need. And anyone knowledgeable in the field will be tied with many sorts of NDA's about you will keep your mouth shut including me. A retired guy is retired to do stuff for himself and what he likes, despite having the gear, all retirees I know will not obey anyone and will do things only for fun. And this job is not fun.

The topology analysis actually has degraded over time and with lacking parts in PCB design breakdown, that's where the key performance differences really reside, especially for modern designs, for best results you should even xray the device to choke the maker about design qualities and how lax they are about it. So for most part we can treat the given text as novel or poetry, whatever. You have to start designing PSU's yourself to fully understand the common hurdles of those devices depending on platform and design goals(like make that thing cheap).

Transient response tests done in a mixed random dynamic and not linear manner, not by the rather lacking ATX minimums, but approaching real usage and being bombarded with external EMI radiating sources(read shitty 500W GPU's with spikey nature) and a lot of heat, it is fairly new, now we have a 300W CPU also. You cannot really sum those results as each deviation has it's own severity and you cannot really make a generalized approve stamp often, it depends, so... you cannot distill that analysis to be understood for a mere mortal, the only way to do it is to be imprecise, lie, be unprofessional.

So it clashes with the main idea about PSU reviews as such. It is an unboxing review for most. The technical part is skipped for most due to lack of knowledge to interpret the graphs. So are they really needed? I say no. They all work and price is the thing you consider most as long it doesn't catch fire people don't really care. Reviews lack some basic info like real product dimensions and dimensions with cables attached and how they bend. That's important bits especially designing tight small format PC's. Put a damn ruler in the photo, it ain't an art photoshoot. I've had many cases that the sizes deviate and you have to fight even for 5mm.

 

[zlobby]

There are many people who are skilled enough to do proper PSU reviews. Good luck finding one willing to do it professionally, though.

 

[R-T-B]

PM me anytime guys

I don't think that's how this works.

If you really believe you can match up to that lofty outgoing standard, even remotely, I'd not hesitate to send them a resume though.

 

[P4-630]

PM me anytime guys

You may be able to earn some bananas...

 

[Beer4Myself]

Aris wont stop with PSU reviews, he left Tomshardware this year and this month Techpowerup, but he is also posting psu reviews on his own site HWBuster. I wish TPU good luck finding someone qualified enough for this job.

 

[S73fan]

That's bad, I always looked forward to aris reviews. Hope the new guy is good too.

 

[zlobby]

That's bad, I always looked forward to aris reviews. Hope the new guy is good too.

Yep, certainly big shoes to fill.

 

[Frick]

The selfish part of me wants oklahomawolf to start again, but he ain't going back to it (for good reasons).

Good luck. It's not even about filling Aris' shoes, but finding a competent reviewer with enough skills/knowledge, equipment, time and writing skills.