Thermaltake Smart RGB 500 W (230V) Review 13

Thermaltake Smart RGB 500 W (230V) Review

Fan Noise »

Efficiency

Using the results we gathered so far, we plotted a chart showing the PSU's efficiency at low loads and loads ranging from 10 to 110 percent of the maximum-rated capacity.



This is not an efficient platform, and as you can see in the charts above, PSUs of similar capacity leave it behind. The Cooler Master MWE PSUs are pretty efficient because they are based on a capable platform.

10%–110% Load Testing

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan-speed profile behaves under severe operating conditions.

Load Regulation & Efficiency Testing Data - Thermaltake SPR-500AH2NK-2
Test12 V5 V3.3 V5VSBPower
(DC/AC)
EfficiencyFan SpeedPSU NoiseTemp
(In/Out)
PF/AC
Volts
10% Load2.337A1.946A1.945A0.980A49.994W78.265%1016 RPM27.9 dB(A)35.37°C0.872
12.148V5.140V3.394V5.102V63.878W37.57°C230.30V
20% Load5.714A2.921A2.925A1.180A100.010W83.960%1303 RPM34.5 dB(A)35.52°C0.920
12.096V5.134V3.384V5.084V119.116W38.10°C230.30V
30% Load9.443A3.412A3.423A1.381A149.955W85.936%1368 RPM35.8 dB(A)36.13°C0.935
12.063V5.128V3.374V5.067V174.496W39.08°C230.29V
40% Load13.198A3.908A3.925A1.584A199.987W86.535%1658 RPM41.0 dB(A)36.90°C0.947
12.030V5.120V3.365V5.050V231.104W40.57°C230.28V
50% Load16.597A4.901A4.921A1.789A250.011W86.489%1799 RPM42.9 dB(A)37.52°C0.952
12.021V5.101V3.353V5.030V289.067W41.61°C230.26V
60% Load19.988A5.900A5.924A1.995A299.952W86.049%1839 RPM42.9 dB(A)37.68°C0.958
12.015V5.084V3.343V5.011V348.583W42.58°C230.26V
70% Load23.397A6.911A6.934A2.203A350.016W85.506%1900 RPM43.9 dB(A)38.66°C0.962
12.006V5.066V3.332V4.991V409.347W43.87°C230.25V
80% Load26.803A7.929A7.949A2.413A399.857W84.741%1905 RPM44.1 dB(A)39.07°C0.965
11.993V5.047V3.321V4.970V471.860W44.56°C230.25V
90% Load30.700A8.435A8.452A2.420A449.573W84.015%1903 RPM44.0 dB(A)39.16°C0.967
11.957V5.039V3.312V4.957V535.112W45.02°C230.25V
100% Load34.609A8.942A8.993A2.529A499.867W83.192%1906 RPM44.1 dB(A)40.24°C0.969
11.924V5.032V3.302V4.942V600.857W46.59°C230.25V
110% Load38.989A8.943A9.015A2.535A549.476W82.053%1892 RPM43.5 dB(A)40.97°C0.972
11.857V5.032V3.293V4.929V669.658W47.85°C230.24V
Crossload 10.099A12.002A11.998A0.001A98.520W75.184%1984 RPM44.4 dB(A)37.28°C0.928
13.364V4.739V3.360V5.084V131.038W41.61°C230.24V
Crossload 234.971A0.999A0.999A1.000A415.607W85.198%1836 RPM42.8 dB(A)40.41°C0.965
11.496V5.223V3.337V5.028V487.812W46.40°C230.23V

Load regulation is not good, but the PSU at least managed to deliver the full load and even more at over 40 °C without treating me to fireworks, which is something in this price range. Finally, the horrible results in the crossload tests, especially CL1, clearly show that this unit cannot handle unbalanced loads on its rails.

Light Load Testing

In the following tests, we measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10 percent of the maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with its power-saving features turned on.

Efficiency at Low Loads - Thermaltake SPR-500AH2NK-2
Test #12 V5 V3.3 V5 VSBPower
(DC/AC)
EfficiencyFan SpeedPSU NoisePF/AC
Volts
12.905A0.480A0.486A0.195A40.026W77.781%921 RPM24.8 dB(A)0.848
12.007V5.193V3.401V5.129V51.460W230.31V
24.131A0.966A0.972A0.391A59.977W81.489%935 RPM25.5 dB(A)0.883
12.024V5.179V3.395V5.119V73.601W230.32V
35.365A1.452A1.460A0.587A80.014W83.787%949 RPM26.5 dB(A)0.903
12.034V5.168V3.390V5.108V95.497W230.32V
46.599A1.939A1.948A0.785A100.048W84.917%963 RPM27.3 dB(A)0.918
12.040V5.157V3.386V5.097V117.818W230.33V

While these results aren't bad, the competition still achieves higher efficiency.

5VSB Efficiency

5VSB Efficiency - Thermaltake SPR-500AH2NK-2
Test #5VSBPower (DC/AC)EfficiencyPF/AC Volts
10.100A0.514W66.323%0.062
5.143V0.775W230.25V
20.250A1.284W74.006%0.127
5.139V1.735W230.25V
30.550A2.821W77.034%0.215
5.130V3.662W230.25V
41.000A5.117W78.086%0.278
5.118V6.553W230.25V
51.500A7.656W78.920%0.312
5.105V9.701W230.24V
62.499A12.685W77.779%0.349
5.077V16.309W230.25V


The 5VSB rail achieves good efficiency numbers.

Power Consumption in Idle and Standby

Idle / Standby - Thermaltake SPR-500AH2NK-2
Mode12 V5 V3.3 V5VSBPower (AC)PF/AC Volts
Idle12.197V5.167V3.410V5.145V5.156W0.322
230.2V
Standby0.134W0.010
230.2V

It would be nice to see standby power below 0.1 W, but it would require additional parts.
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