Test Setup

All measurements are performed utilizing ten electronic loads (seven Array 3711A, 300W each, and three Array 3710A, 150W each), which are able to deliver over 2500W of load and are controlled by a custom made software. We also use a Picoscope 3424 oscilloscope, a CHY 502 thermometer, a Fluke 175 multimeter and an Instek GPM-8212 power meter. Furthermore, in our setup we have included a wooden box, which along with a heating element is used as a Hot Box. Finally, we have 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 up 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 from 60W to the maximum specified load, and 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 HALE82 850M at low loads and at loads equal to 20-100% of PSU’s maximum rated load.

Voltage Regulation and Efficiency Measurements

The first set of tests reveals the stability of voltage rails and the efficiency of HALE82 850M. The applied load equals to (approximately) 20%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80% and 100%, of the maximum load that the PSU can handle. In addition, we conduct two more tests. In the first we stress the two minor rails (5V & 3.3V) with a high load, while the load at +12V is only 2A and in the second test we dial the maximum load that +12V can handle while load at minor rails is minimal.


Efficiency is pretty high for the Bronze certification and the unit works flawlessly even at very high operating temperatures. Voltage regulation on the +12V rail is tight enough, remaining under 2% while at 5V is within 3% and at 3.3V a little below 4%. Overall decent voltage regulation on +12V and 5V rails and loose at 3.3V although we have seen other, high-end PSUs perform much worse here. Fan noise at low-typical loads is low but at higher loads, in conjunction with high ambient, the fan is quite audible and may annoy users with sensitive hearing. Initially our sample suffered from a strange clicking noise over the fan's whole RPM range. After reporting this to NZXT, they investigated and fixed the problem. We received two updated samples which do not show the issue and NZXT reassures us that the clicking is not present on any retail power supplies.

Efficiency at Low Loads

In the next tests, we measure the efficiency of HALE82 850M at loads much lower than 20% of its maximum rated load (the lowest load that the 80 Plus Standard measures). The loads that we dial are 40, 60, 80 and 100W (for PSUs with over 500W capacity). This is important for scenarios in which a typical office PC is in idle with power saving turned on.


With only 40W load, efficiency is pretty low and falls below 70%. With 60W and 80W it is at normal levels, taking of course into account the Bronze certification of the unit. Finally, the unit manages to surpass the 80% mark only with 100W of load. Overall we pretty much expected these levels of efficiency at low loads, although we would like to see over 70% at test#1.

5VSB Efficiency

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


Efficiency is fairly good here since at all tests it is above the equivalent ATX spec thresholds. The peak is registered with full load, showing that the unit can easily handle 3A load at 5VSB.

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 (On but without any load at its rails) and the power consumption when the PSU is in standby (without any load at 5VSB).


Despite the low efficiency certification, phantom power is really low reaching only 0.19W, so the PSU easily meets the ErP Lot 6 2010 requirements and will still meet them in 2013, when the limit will come down to 0.5W.