We conducted several tests with this power supply, as described in the article Hardware Secrets Power Supply Test Methodology.
First we tested this power supply with five different load patterns, trying to pull around 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of its labeled maximum capacity (actual percentage used listed under “% Max Load”), watching how the reviewed unit behaved under each load. In the table below we list the load patterns we used and the results for each load.
If you add all the power listed for each test, you may find a different value than what is posted under “Total” below. Since each output can vary slightly (e.g., the +5 V output working at 5.10 V), the actual total amount of power being delivered is slightly different than the calculated value. On the “Total” row we are using the real amount of power being delivered, as measured by our load tester.
The +12V1 and +12V2 inputs listed below are the two +12 V independent inputs from our load tester. During this test both were connected to the single +12 V rail from this power supply.
Input | Test 1 | Test 2 | Test 3 | Test 4 | Test 5 |
+12V1 | 4 A (48 W) | 7 A (84 W) | 11 A (132 W) | 14.5 A (174 W) | 18 A (216 W) |
+12V2 | 3 A (36 W) | 7 A (84 W) | 10 A (120 W) | 14 A (168 W) | 18 A (216 W) |
+5V | 1 A (5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 4 A (20 W) | 5 A (25 W) | 6 A (30 W) |
+3.3 V | 1 A (3.3 W) | 2 A (6.6 W) | 4 A (13.2 W) | 5 A (16.5 W) | 6 A (19.8 W) |
+5VSB | 1 A (5 W) | 1 A (5 W) | 1.5 A (7.5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 2.5 A (12.5 W) |
-12 V | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) |
Total | 105.4 W | 195.4 W | 304.2 W | 397.3 W | 507.6 W |
% Max Load | 21.1% | 39.1% | 60.8% | 79.5% | 101.5% |
Room Temp. | 46.5º C | 46.5º C | 46.1º C | 47.2º C | 48.5º C |
PSU Temp. | 48.6º C | 49.1º C | 49.2º C | 50.0º C | 51.8º C |
Voltage Stability | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
Ripple and Noise | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
AC Power | 127.1 W | 227.6 W | 358.7 W | 472.6 W | 618.0 W |
Efficiency | 82.9% | 85.9% | 84.8% | 84.1% | 82.1% |
AC Voltage | 114.0 V | 112.4 V | 110.8 V | 109.9 V | 108.3 V |
Power Factor | 0.984 | 0.960 | 0.961 | 0.966 | 0.971 |
Final Result | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
Ultra X4 500 W can really deliver its labeled power at 48.5º C.
Efficiency was very good when delivering between 40% and 80% from its labeled power (between 200 W and 400 W), on the 84%-86% range. At 20% load (100 W) efficiency dropped to 82.9%, still a decent number. When delivering 500 W, it presented 82.1% efficiency, not the best but still above 80%.
This unit is 80 Plus Bronze certified and it could really delivered its promised efficiency at high temperatures.
Voltage regulation was another highlight from this product, with all voltages within 3% from their nominal values, including the -12 V output, which doesn’t like to stay that close to its nominal number. Translation: voltages closer to their nominal values than required (ATX specification allows voltages to be up to 5% from their nominal values; 10% for -12 V).
Ripple and noise levels were also very low. You can see the results below for test number five. All values are peak-to-peak figures and the maximum allowed is 120 mV for the +12 V outputs and 50 mV for the +5 V and +3.3 V outputs.
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Figure 15: +12V1 input from load tester at 507.6 W (42.2 mV).
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Figure 16: +12V2 input from load tester at 507.6 W (44 mV).
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Figure 17: +5V rail with power supply delivering 507.6 W (21.2 mV).
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Figure 18: +3.3 V rail with power supply delivering 507.6 W (23.2 mV).
Now let’s see if we could pull more than 500 W from this unit.
