Efficiency

Using the efficiency results from the previous page, we plotted a chart showing the efficiency of the AG-850M at low loads and loads equal to 20% -100% of the PSU's maximum-rated load.



Under both light and normal loads, the PSU's efficiency is decent.

Efficiency at Low Loads

In the next tests, we measured the efficiency of the AG-850M at loads much lower than 20% of its maximum-rated load (the lowest load the 80 Plus Standard measures). The loads we dialed were 40 W, 60 W, 80 W, and 100 W (for PSUs with over 500 W of capacity). This is important for settings where the PC is in idle mode with Power Saving turned on.


Under light loads, the PSU is very noisy all things considered. Apexgaming and Solytech obviously didn't spend any time on this PSU's fan profile.

5VSB Efficiency

The ATX specification, along with CEC, ErP Lot 3 2014 and ErP Lot 6 2010/2013, states that 5VSB standby supply efficiency should be as high as possible, recommending, among other things, 75 percent or higher efficiency with 550mA, 1A, and 1.5A of load. The PSU should also achieve more than 75% efficiency at 5VSB with full load, or with 3A if its maximum current output on this rail is higher than 3A.

We will take six measurements: one each at 100, 250, 550, 1000, and 1500mA, and one with the full load the 5VSB rail can handle.


The 5VSB rail's efficiency is decent, but at least one reading close to 80% would be nice.

Power Consumption in Idle and Standby

In the table below, you will find the power consumption and the voltage values of all rails (except -12V) when the PSU is in idle mode (powered on but without any load on its rails) and the power consumption when the PSU is in standby mode (without any load at 5VSB).


Vampire power is low, much lower than the 0.5 W the ErP Lot 6 2013 requires.

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature and Output Noise

The cooling fan's speed (RPMs) and the delta difference between input and output temperature are illustrated in the following chart. The following results were obtained at 38–45 °C ambient.



A chart that shows the cooling fan's speed (RPMs) and the output noise follows. We measure the fan's noise from a meter away, inside a hemi-anechoic chamber. Background noise inside the hemi-anechoic chamber is below 6.0 dBA during testing, and the results were obtained with the PSU operating at 38–45 °C ambient.



The following graph illustrates the fan's output noise throughout the entire operating range of the PSU. The same conditions of the above graph apply to our measurements, but the ambient temperature was between 30 °C and 32 °C.



The graph above clearly shows how problematic a fan profile is used. The PSU's fan outputs over 30 dB(A) without a load on the PSU, which is simply unacceptable for today's standards.