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. You will find more details about our equipment and the review methodology we follow inthis article. We also conduct all of our tests at 40-45°C ambient in order to simulate with higher accuracy the environment seen inside a typical system, with 40-45°C being derived from a standard ambient assumption of 23°C and 17-22°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
The hold-up time is a very important characteristic of a PSU and represents the amount of time, usually measured in milliseconds, that a PSU can maintain output regulations as defined by the ATX spec without input power. In other words, it is the amount of time that 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 hold-up time is significantly above 16 ms, which easily meets the ATX requirement. This simply means that you may avoid an undesirable restart during a power interruption and that your UPS (Uninterruptible Power Source) will have the required time to engage and save the day.
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.
This one registered the highest inrush current of all 750 W units we have tested so far. This is not good, but the inrush current is restricted to under 50 A, which means it is not enough to cause any problems.
Voltage Regulation and Efficiency Measurements
The first set of tests revealed the stability of the voltage rails and the efficiency of the AGD-750. 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 that the +12V rail could handle while the load on the minor rails was minimal.
Voltage Regulation & Efficiency Testing Data High Power AGD-750
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
10.652A
1.993A
1.999A
0.975A
149.69W
93.10%
0 RPM
0 dBA
47.45°C
0.910
12.030V
5.004V
3.296V
5.115V
160.79W
40.17°C
230.1V
40% Load
21.680A
4.000A
4.003A
1.175A
299.68W
93.67%
672 RPM
32.6 dBA
39.53°C
0.955
12.016V
4.998V
3.295V
5.099V
319.94W
41.84°C
230.1V
50% Load
27.091A
4.993A
5.009A
1.570A
374.56W
93.34%
883 RPM
37.6 dBA
40.82°C
0.962
12.001V
4.999V
3.293V
5.085V
401.28W
44.50°C
230.1V
60% Load
32.496A
5.998A
6.012A
1.970A
449.48W
92.87%
1095 RPM
41.2 dBA
42.21°C
0.967
11.993V
4.996V
3.293V
5.071V
483.99W
47.83°C
230.0V
80% Load
43.489A
8.009A
8.030A
2.375A
599.40W
91.81%
1270 RPM
44.2 dBA
43.67°C
0.974
11.981V
4.990V
3.287V
5.051V
652.85W
50.45°C
230.0V
100% Load
55.111A
9.024A
9.044A
2.980A
749.36W
90.55%
1290 RPM
44.6 dBA
45.38°C
0.975
11.970V
4.987V
3.283V
5.028V
827.55W
53.62°C
230.0V
110% Load
61.404A
9.023A
9.063A
2.985A
824.26W
89.97%
1290 RPM
44.6 dBA
45.69°C
0.976
11.963V
4.988V
3.276V
5.021V
916.15W
54.24°C
229.9V
Crossload 1
0.098A
16.013A
16.004A
0.004A
134.03W
85.98%
672 RPM
32.6 dBA
44.53°C
0.905
12.038V
5.007V
3.290V
5.119V
155.88W
49.63°C
230.3V
Crossload 2
61.943A
1.001A
1.003A
1.000A
754.76W
90.96%
1290 RPM
44.6 dBA
46.07°C
0.975
11.969V
4.983V
3.287V
5.080V
829.80W
54.82°C
230.0V
Efficiency was the first thing we noticed about the performance of this unit. It is crazily high throughout the entire load range, reaching close to 94% at its peak. This is impressive and clearly one of the benefits of the design this unit utilizes. Its other benefit is the unit's ultra-stable output, with all major rails registering a voltage regulation within 1% voltage. This PSU inevitably belongs to the major league, easily meeting the digital Corsair competition eye to eye, at least in terms of voltage regulation and efficiency. We, to be frank, didn't expect it to perform as well here since High Power mostly focuses on the mainstream sector. They apparently are capable of much more, and we are anxious to see more High Power products like this one in the future.
The good news don't stop there since the PSU easily delivered more than its full power at very high ambient, proving that its components have the required tolerances to provide a reliable operation under even very tough conditions.