Efficiency

Using the efficiency results from the previous page, we plotted a chart showing the efficiency of the SilentNight-500 at low loads and at loads equal to 20-110% of the PSU's maximum rated load.



For a discussion of these results, see the text at the end of the previous page.

Efficiency at Low Loads

In the next tests, we measured the efficiency of the SilentNight-500 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.


The SilentNight-500 plays in its field at lower loads, registering extra-high efficiency that even trumps its Seasonic rival. This unit will definitely fit a system that wastes such low wattage in idle like a glove.

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 circuit can't keep up with the unit's overall performance since the efficiency it registered throughout these tests was nothing to write home about. On the first test, efficiency was lower than what the ATX spec recommends, and it failed to surpass or even come close to the 80% mark on any of the above tests; that said, cracking the 80% mark is rather rare on 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 stays well under 0.5 W, making this unit compatible with the new ErP Lot 6 2013 directive.

Delta Temperature

The delta difference between input and output temperature is illustrated in the following chart. The following results were obtained at 40°C - 45°C ambient.