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 HALE90 850W 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 HALE90 850W. 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 definitely Gold here even at the high temperatures we conducted our tests. It peaks at 91.36% with 40% load, a pretty high level. Voltage regulation at +12V is tight enough since it's within 2% range; at 5V it stays below 3% and at 3.3V it's close to 3.7%. Overall we were pleased with the unit's voltage regulation since the results were close to the best we have seen from PSUs of the same (or similar) capacity. Finally, the fan of the unit is really silent and even at full load and CL2 tests it didn't make its presence felt, so this PSU will be greatly appreciated by silence lovers, that's for sure.

Efficiency at Low Loads

In the next tests, we measure the efficiency of HALE90 850W 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.


Despite the high capacity, in three out of the four tests the PSU scored over 80% efficiency, so even at low loads the HALE90 850W performs really well and saves you from unnecessary wastage of electricity.

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.


In the first two tests the unit is below the respective limits set by ATX spec. The situation reverses in the last two tests where efficiency is over 70%. Overall, although voltage regulation at 5VSB is tight, efficiency is nothing exceptional.

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).


Vampire power in this fellow is really low, at 0.18W, so the unit easily meets the ErP Lot 6 requirements.