Overclock3D Launches Power Supply Certification Programme

[JN]

Great idea guys. Just a thought...

I was looking at the PDF and something stood out to me... voltage regulation should be judged on a curve that follows the wattage capability of the unit.

In other words: 2% regulation on a 450W PSU, going from 10% to 100% load essentially sucks. But 2% regulation going from 10% to 100% load on a 1200W PSU is pretty good. You really can't set a firm 1% or 2%, etc. regulation requirement for all units across the board. Unless, of course, you don't plan to review any high wattage units.

Hey jonny, good to see you post. You have a very good point. I'm going to have to give that some thought. Thank god for revisions

 

[ppuff]

Awesome idea guys!!! Love to see someone give a lie detector test to the manufacturers cuz we all know that a fancy box with logos and claims all over it doesn't always mean it's a great product. Let us know who ends up passing the torture test and who just ends up with their tit in the ringer.

 

[delusion77]

nice idea

 

[meh]

Look forward to seeing this, given the ... surprising ... nature of some of the previously tested psus =)

 

[Nemesis429]

Im in need of buying a PSU so..

 

[Diablo]

Looking forward to seeing this spring into action. An actual test with results not a certain other website's "test" which always seem to favour one brand.

 

[Yewen]

Im quite interested in this.

Would also be good to get some generic units tested for an example of why you should buy a high quality unit.

Be more than up for sending over a few of the "horrific" units for testing.

 

[JN]

Im quite interested in this.

Would also be good to get some generic units tested for an example of why you should buy a high quality unit.

Be more than up for sending over a few of the "horrific" units for testing.

I'll make sure the camera is rolling so we can put on a good fireworks show

 

[JN]

Homepage list of manufacturers has been updated.

We've had a couple of manufacturers so far agree to send units in - they're just finalising which ones.

...and..

We've had one manufacturer respectfully decline to be tested after they asked if we could test at 40C instead of 50C

 

[Brooksie]

List looks interesting, test results should be good

 

[chudley]

what he said ^^ I would also be interested in the noise levels of the ones that claim to be silent, speaking of which do you plan to test any fanless PSU's ?

 

[AMDFTW]

thats silverstone off my next PSU list

 

[tinytomlogan]

thats silverstone off my next PSU list

/emails that quote to Silverstone

/makes a video about manu's reasons why they say no. That way everyone using YouTube can see what excuses they have

/rant over

 

[JN]

what he said ^^ I would also be interested in the noise levels of the ones that claim to be silent, speaking of which do you plan to test any fanless PSU's ?

I've yet to think of a way that we can accurately test noise. Ya see, in order to stress the PSU so it spins up its fans the load tester needs to be on. However when the load tester is on there's absolutely no way you could get an accurate noise reading as the load testers are sooo noisy (can hear them 2 floors down!).

I've tried switching the load testers off for a few seconds, but some psu's are so quick to respond to the drop in current that the fans immediately throttle down.

Sound-proof box is another option, but yet again if we're conducting testing at 50c, that requires a heating element and fan to be in the box with the psu.

I'll happily test fanless PSU's, but I dont think there's a manu on earth that would send me one once they see that the testing is done at 50c (heatsink quickly becomes a heat source).

 

[chudley]

so all that I need to do is invent a noiseless tester

but yeah i see your point Jim. 2 floors down is a bit ouch, you got ear plugs?

 

[Bungral]

Was really interested to see how many of the manufacturers would be up for this and figured it would be the quality ones that would happily agree.

Can you say which ones have agreed yet, or not really?

If enough agree to the tests, then the ones that turn it down for whatever reason will look bad regardless of their reasons.

 

[JN]

so all that I need to do is invent a noiseless tester

but yeah i see your point Jim. 2 floors down is a bit ouch, you got ear plugs?

LOL yep. Unfortunately 100% of the load testers power draw is converted to heat. So its a case of trying to dissipate anything up to 1.6kw of heat silently

A couple of manufacturers have already agreed. One has already been tested and has failed. But before I say who it was I want to publish the whole review, as they only failed by the skin on their teeth and I think its a bit unfair to say "FAIL" without explaining it more.

 

[Notleh]

I just removed Silverstone off of my mental shortlist for psu vendors I will buy from. The competition is too tight for one to wimp out from testing in what is a very realistic environment. Bad show Silverstone.

Tom, have you looked at the testing done in the US by Hardocp.com? They (and jonnyguru.com) are the best psu testing I have seen and who I use religiously for psu selection.

 

[AMDFTW]

notleh,dont link to other forums fell its not likes hear

 

[Notleh]

notleh,dont link to other forums fell its not likes hear

Not sure exactly what you were saying there, but i removed the link ;-)