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 +12VA and +12VB inputs listed below are the two +12 V independent inputs from our load tester. During this test both inputs were connected to the power supply single rail (+12VB input was connected to the power supply EPS12V connector from the cable that is permanently attached to the power supply and all other cables were connected to the load tester +12VA input).
Note: We are now using the names +12VA and +12VB for the two inputs from our load tester because some people were thinking that the “+12V1” and “+12V2” names present on our table referred to the power supply rails, which is not the case.
Input | Test 1 | Test 2 | Test 3 | Test 4 | Test 5 |
+12VA | 4 A (48 W) | 9 A (108 W) | 13 A (156 W) | 17.5 A (210 W) | 21.5 A (258 W) |
+12VB | 4 A (48 W) | 9 A (108 W) | 13 A (156 W) | 17.5 A (210 W) | 21.5 A (258 W) |
+5V | 1 A (5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 4 A (20 W) | 6 A (30 W) | 8 A (40 W) |
+3.3 V | 1 A (5 W) | 2 A (6.6 W) | 4 A (13.2 W) | 6 A (19.8 W) | 8 A (26.4 W) |
+5VSB | 1 A (5 W) | 1 A (5 W) | 1.5 A (7.5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 3 A (15 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 | 114.3 W | 239.7 W | 351.9 W | 473.9 W | 589.8 W |
% Max Load | 19.1% | 40.0% | 58.7% | 79.0% | 98.3% |
Room Temp. | 45.1º C | 44.6º C | 44.7º C | 46.8º C | 48.2º C |
PSU Temp. | 50.2º C | 49.6º C | 49.7º C | 51.3º C | 53.9º C |
Voltage Regulation | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
Ripple and Noise | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
AC Power | 139.1 W | 285.9 W | 427.0 W | 591.1 W | 760.0 W |
Efficiency | 82.2% | 83.8% | 82.4% | 80.2% | 77.6% |
AC Voltage | 116.8 V | 115.3 V | 114.1 V | 112.3 V | 110.2 V |
Power Factor | 0.951 | 0.980 | 0.989 | 0.992 | 0.993 |
Final Result | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
Mushkin Volta 600 W can really deliver its labeled power at high temperatures. However during test five the power supply would shut down several times, showing that a protection was kicking in.
This power supply presented efficiency above 80% while we pulled up to 80% from its labeled wattage (i.e., 480 W), peaking 83.8%. At full load (600 W) efficiency dropped below the 80% mark.
Voltage regulation was very good, with all voltages within 3% from their nominal values (except -12 V during all tests and +12VB during test five) – i.e., values closer to their “face value” than required, as the ATX12V specification allows voltages to be within 5% from their nominal values (10% for -12 V).
And then we have noise and ripple, below the maximum allowed level, however somewhat high at +5 V and +3.3 V outputs during test five. The maximum allowed is 120 mV on +12 V and 50 mV on +5 V and +3.3 V. All these numbers are peak-to-peak figures.
click to enlarge
Figure 16: +12VA input from load tester at 589.8 W (56.4 mV).
click to enlarge
Figure 17: +12VB input from load tester at 589.8 W (67.8 mV).
click to enlarge
Figure 18: +5 V rail with power supply delivering 589.8 W (40.8 mV).
click to enlarge
Figure 19: +3.3 V rail with power supply delivering 589.8 W (46.8 mV).
As explained, this power supply was already shutting down during test five, so we didn’t even bother overloading it.
