Efficiency

Using the efficiency results from the previous page, we plotted a chart showing the efficiency of the Tachyon-1000 at low loads and at loads equal to 20-110% of the PSU's maximum rated load.



For a discussion of these results, see the text at the end of the previous page.

Efficiency at Low Loads

In the next tests, we measured the efficiency of the Tachyon-1000 at loads much lower than 20% of its maximum rated load (the lowest load that the 80 Plus Standard measures). The loads that we dialed were 40, 60, 80, and 100 W (for PSUs with over 500 W of capacity). This is important for settings where the PC is in idle mode with power saving turned on.


Efficiency at low loads is simply amazing, given the high capacity of this unit. Super Flower did an excellent job with this platform and managed to combine high capacity with high efficiency throughout the entire load range; not easy to achieve.

5VSB Efficiency

The ATX spec states that the 5VSB standby supply's efficiency should be as high as possible and recommends 50% or higher efficiency with 100 mA of load, 60% or higher with 250 mA of load, and 70% or higher with 1 A or more of load.
We will take four measurements: one each at 100, 250, and 1000 mA , and one with the full load that the 5VSB rail can handle.


Unfortunately, efficiency at 5VSB doesn't keep up with the efficiency registered by the other rails. Only with tests #3 and #4 does it manage to surpass the minimum allowed thresholds set by the ATX spec, and its efficiency is nothing special, even at full load; we have seen PSUs register well over 80% efficiency on this rail. Clearly the 5VSB rail is not this unit's strong point since it is neither efficient nor strong enough for a 1 kW PSU.

Power Consumption in Idle & Standby

In the table below, you will find the power consumption and the voltage values of all rails (except -12V) when the PSU is in idle mode (powered on but without any load on its rails) and the power consumption when the PSU is in standby mode (without any load at 5VSB).


Vampire power is lower than 0.5 W, making the PSU compliant with the ErP Lot 6 2013 directive that will come into effect very soon.

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature and Output Noise

The cooling fan's speed (RPMs) and the delta difference between input and output temperature are illustrated in the following chart. The following results were obtained at 40°C - 45°C ambient.



The following chart shows the cooling fan's speed (RPMs) and its output noise. We measure the fan's noise from 1 meter away. The background noise in our lab was close to 30 dBA during testing.