Efficiency

Using the efficiency results from the previous page, we plotted a chart that shows the Leadex Platinum 2 kW's efficiency at low loads and at loads equal to 20%-100% of the PSU's maximum-rated load.



At light loads, efficiency was low, but the situation improved dramatically with normal loads as the unit placed fourth in the graph. Please keep in mind that two of the top three contenders are Titanium-certified units, which has them play ball in a different category.

Efficiency at Low Loads

In the next tests, we measured the Leadex Platinum 2 kW's efficiency at loads much lower than 20% of its maximum-rated load (the lowest load the 80 Plus Standard measures). The loads we dialed were 40 W, 60 W, 80 W, 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.

At light loads, efficiency definitely isn't this PSU's strong point, and the same applies to the fan's output noise. But whoever buys this PSU won't have it running at loads below 100 W, that's for sure.

5VSB Efficiency

The ATX specification states that 5VSB standby supply 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 the 5VSB rail can handle.

Efficiency at 5VSB is decent, but we would like this PSU to have a stronger and even more efficient 5VSB rail.

Power Consumption in Idle & Standby

In the table below are 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).

Power consumption in standby was fairly low.

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature & Output Noise

The cooling fan's speed (RPMs) and the delta difference between input and output temperature are illustrated in the following chart. The following results were obtained at 38°C-45°C ambient.



A chart that shows the cooling fan's speed (RPMs) and the output noise follows. We measure the fan's noise from one meter away, inside a small custom-made anechoic chamber whose internals are completely covered in specialized soundproofing material (Be Quiet! Noise Absorber Kit). Background noise inside the anechoic chamber was below 20 dBA during testing, and the results were obtained with the PSU operating at 38°C-45°C ambient.