Efficiency

Using the efficiency results from the previous page, we plotted a chart showing efficiency of the TRIATHLOR FC 550 W at low loads and at loads equal to 20-110% of the PSU's maximum-rated load.



As expected, the Bronze efficiency Thriathlor unit cannot compete with the others we have tested in the past, since most of them are Gold and Platinum certified. At low loads, the Enermax unit fell below 80% efficiency, but it did register a fairly high score with normal loads by reaching almost 87% efficiency, which is high for a Bronze unit.

Efficiency at Low Loads

In the next tests, we measured the efficiency of the TRIATHLOR FC 550 W 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 is decent at low loads and never falls below 70%, but the fan outputs significant noise since it operates at high speed. Output noise should, ideally, be under 40 dBA.

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: one at 100, 250, and 1000 mA each, and one with the full load that the 5VSB rail can handle.

The 5VSB rail sported good efficiency levels, especially during the first two tests. It, however, failed to surpass the 80% mark on the last two tests, but such a feat isn't necessarily easy for this rail.

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 dead low and only reaching 0.13 W, which is much lower than the 0.5 W limit that the ErP Lot 6 2013 directive sets.

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 39°C - 46°C ambient.



A chart that shows the cooling fan's speed (RPMs) and the output noise follows. We measure the fan's noise from 1 meter away—inside a small custom-made anechoic chamber with internals that are completely covered in specialized soundproofing material (Be Quiet! Noise Absorber Kit). Background noise inside the anechoic chamber was below 30 dBA during testing, and the results were obtained with the PSU operating at 39-46°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 in this case was between 28 and 32°C.



Even at normal ambient temperatures, the fan is not quiet, despite its twister bearings. It is, on the other hand, not so easy to cool down a Bronze unit, even if this one has a relative small capacity.