Test Setup

All measurements were performed using ten electronic loads (seven Array 3711A [300 W each] and three Array 3710A [150 W each]) that are able to deliver over 2500 W of load and are controlled by a custom-made software. We also used a Picoscope 3424 oscilloscope, a CHY 502 thermometer, a Fluke 175 multimeter, and an Instek GPM-8212 power meter. We also included a wooden box, which, along with a heating element, was used as a hot box. Finally, we had at our disposal four more oscilloscopes (Rigol 1052E and VS5042, Stingray DS1M12, and 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, if the manufacturer states that the maximum operating temperature of the test unit is only 40°C, then we try to stay near this temperature; otherwise, we crank the heat inside the hotbox up to 45-50°C.

Voltage Regulation Charts

The following charts show the voltage values of the main rails recorded over a range of 60 W and up to the maximum specified load with the deviation (in percent) for the same load range.

5VSB Regulation Chart

The following chart shows how the 5VSB rail deals with the load we throw at it.

Efficiency Chart

In this chart you will find the efficiency of the P10-PRO-1000 at low loads and at loads equal to 20-100% of the PSU's maximum rated load.

Voltage Regulation and Efficiency Measurements

The first set of tests revealed the stability of the voltage rails and the efficiency of the P10-PRO-1000. The applied load was equal to (approximately) 20%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of the maximum load that the PSU can handle. In addition, we conducted two more 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 2 A. In the second test, we dialed the maximum load that the +12V rail could handle, while the load on the minor rails was minimal.


Regarding the high ambient in which we conducted all tests, efficiency is, in general, high and only the 20% load test is lower than we expected. Here we should note that Be Quiet states that 40°C is the max operating temperature for this unit, while we conducted all tests at higher ambient, increasing temperature to 50°C for the full load and CL2 tests. The PSU performed flawlessly in all cases with the only problem being the high noise that the fan put out because it was operating at full speed to cool the PSU down. Be Quiet apparently set the bar to only 40°C because on higher ambient, the fan is really loud and doesn't match the company's philosophy on silent products.

Regarding voltage regulation, all rails registered low deviations - something we expected since this unit uses the same platform as the Seasonic X-1050 with the only difference being a couple component changes.

Efficiency at Low Loads

The next tests measured the efficiency of the P10-PRO-1000 at loads much lower than 20% of its maximum rated load (the lowest load that the 80 Plus Standard measures). The loads that we dialed were 40, 60, 80, 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.


Efficiency at low loads isn't great. We would like to see an over 70% reading with 40 W load. The unit, as you can see, only manages to pass the 80% mark on the last test with 100 W load. This platform is, as it seems, inefficient at such low loads.

5VSB Efficiency

The ATX spec states that the 5VSB standby supply's efficiency should be as high as possible and recommends 50% or higher efficiency with 100 mA of load, 60% or higher with 250 mA of load, and 70% or higher with 1 A or more of load. We will take four measurements: three at 100, 250, and 1000 mA, and one with the full load that the 5VSB rail can handle.


The 5VSB rail is very efficient and registered one of the highest efficiency readings we have ever seen at this rail with full load. We even got some pretty high readings at lower loads, which clearly shows that the 5VSB circuit is highly optimized.

Power Consumption in Idle & 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 lower than 0.5 W, so the PSU easily meets the ErP Lot 6 2010 and the future 2013 requirements. It may sound insignificant to many of you but you can't imagine how much power is wasted by various devices in standby mode. This is why the ErP Lot 6 directive, which is mandatory for all products sold in the EU since 2010, was conceived.