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 the XQ Series 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 XQ Series 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.


Let's start with the positives first. The PSU managed to deliver its full power at 50°C ambient and other than the 20% load test all other efficiency readings are pretty high. Also the two 60mm fans are fairly quiet and only during the 80%, 100% and CL2 tests we could hear them working by putting our ears close to the hotbox of course, since the loads make a hell of a noise once all of their fans start to spin.
It's time for the not so great aspects of this unit. On top of this list resides voltage regulation at +12V which is far from tight. Also the 3.3V rail registered a well over 4% deviation. As it seems the pursuit of efficiency came at the cost of tight voltage regulation especially at +12V.

Efficiency at Low Loads

In the next tests, we measure the efficiency of the XQ Series 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.


At low loads efficiency is pretty good, considering the large capacity of the unit. In two out of four tests the PSU managed to easily surpass the 80% mark and even with 40W of load efficiency didn't drop below 70%.

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.


The 5VSB rail is powerful, for the unit's category, and registers good efficiency. At all tests it easily passed the corresponding limits that ATX spec sets and at full load efficiency went beyond 80%, a pretty high reading for this rail's standards and judging of course from what we have seen so far from other units.

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 is only one fourth of the respective limit that the ErP Lot 6 2010 directive sets. Clearly this unit easily meets the stricter ErP Lot 6 2013 directive, too.