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Power Supply Torture Test
An anonymous reader writes "With the latest batch of power hungry graphics cards, the PSU in your computer is more important than ever. If you're looking for a new power supply, check out this group test. They've tested 19 PSUs - some good, some bad and some downright explosive!"
That page is annoying, it keeps jumping up and down while I'm trying to read it, because of that stupid javascript ad.
It's kinda silly anyway, the article's premise is that they got access to this $20,000 power supply testing equipment... A set of simple $10-$20 high wattage load resistors would have worked just as well.
A $1000 scope might help if you want to catch a load dump overshoot, startup transient, or ripple, but it looks like they aren't even concerned with such important specs of a power supply, specs that could burn our your system.
Anyway, some testing is better than no testing, which seems to be the norm for computer power supplies, so I am thankful that someone with access did these tests, but it would have been more useful if they had tested more than simply steady state load.
I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
First - I spent the better part of 20 years designing military and aerospace switching power supplies and systems. Admittedly these toys were commercial products, but I think I'm qualified to say the following:
:) )- the latter is seldom accurate.
a) purely resistive loads are a poor model for PC load characteristics, as are purely constant-current loads. But the CC load is a tougher test.
b) transient line and load response (or lack thereof) can preclude operation at the steady-stete levels tested.
c) I just skimmed the article as it was loading strange, but I didn't note any specific cross-regulation tests. These types of tests may yield poorer performance measurements. They almost always do.
d) Testing to see if a PS will run at full load is not the same as seeing if it will START under FL. I didn't notice these tests. Likewise Starting at low or hi input is tougher that running at same.
e) we ps designers had an expression: Power supplies are like assholes - everyone has one and everyone thinks they're an expert. The former is true (some folks have two
OK - flame away. I'm gonna go eat lunch.
Cloned foods give the statement "We had that last week!" a whole new meaning.