Power Supply efficiency

[TheOnlyXenoT_T]

Hey I'm think about making a new pc but when i was searching for a power supply i come across like bronze, gold and platinum ratings but what do they mean ?

[Oshino Shinobu]

It's how efficient the PSU is at converting AC to DC power. The higher the better generally. You should read this though 

 

https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/423141-80-plus-efficiency-and-what-it-really-means/

[Stefan Payne]

6 minutes ago, TheOnlyXenoT_T said:

Hey I'm think about making a new pc but when i was searching for a power supply i come across like bronze, gold and platinum ratings but what do they mean ?

They are efficiency levels certified from a 3rd party.

Though that doesn't mean that the PSU you're buying is the same that is tested. There are some dishonest companys that send in some Gold Thingy and replace it with a Bronze one...

But that's not that common and reputable brands (like be quiet, Cooler Master, Silverstone and most others) don't do that.

 

The Thing is:
Due to development in technology, the price difference of 80plus Gold and Bronze became pretty much non existant, wich means that you have to cut cost on a Bronze model more compared to a Gold one...

 

And also that you can get a far better PSU for just a bit more money, so it makes sense to avoid the Bronze PSU and get an Entry Level Gold unit like Bitfenix Formula, 450W or Cougar GX-F.

[Gedgn]

That's why its important to use the psu that's right for your system as you reach certain loads it becomes more efficient. 

 

Corrected*

[dcgreen2k]

10 minutes ago, Gedgn said:

For example you have Gold rated 550W psu and your system uses 478W total, your psu will be efficient at this 87% mark. That's why its important to use the psu that's right for your system and not a 850W where you would need to use 739W to achieve efficiency. 

That's not how it works... The 80+ ratings certify that the power supply will convert AC to DC power at a certain efficiency at different load levels. For example, 80+ Gold requires 87% efficiency at 20% load, 92% at 50% load, and 87% at 100% load. All this means is that at a load level like 50%, the power supply must convert 92% of the AC power it takes in to DC power. The other 8% is converted into heat.

[Gedgn]

55 minutes ago, thegreengamers said:

That's not how it works... The 80+ ratings certify that the power supply will convert AC to DC power at a certain efficiency at different load levels. For example, 80+ Gold requires 87% efficiency at 20% load, 92% at 50% load, and 87% at 100% load. All this means is that at a load level like 50%, the power supply must convert 92% of the AC power it takes in to DC power. The other 8% is converted into heat.

eh that's what I meant, confused something in there with something else. At 50% load it's efficient at converting power to the components yet that's why it's important to have the right psu wattage and not something overly estimated as when it's at 50 -100% load for example it's more efficient.

[Stefan Payne]

5 hours ago, thegreengamers said:

That's not how it works... The 80+ ratings certify that the power supply will convert AC to DC power at a certain efficiency at different load levels. For example, 80+ Gold requires 87% efficiency at 20% load, 92% at 50% load, and 87% at 100% load. All this means is that at a load level like 50%, the power supply must convert 92% of the AC power it takes in to DC power. The other 8% is converted into heat.

No, 87/90/87 at those loads

90/92/89 is Platinum

 

 

BUT: Peak Efficiency is NOT really at 50% load, often its at 40% and even if, we are talking about like 0,5% difference in a 30-40% Range.

 

The Efficiency line is rather flat and not as curvy as the 80plus thing suggest.