Test Setup

All measurements were performed using two Chroma 6314A mainframes equipped with the following electronic loads: six 63123A [350 W each], one 63102A [100 W x2], and one 63101A [200 W]. The aforementioned equipment is able to deliver 2500 W of load, and all loads are controlled by a custom-made software. We also used a Rigol DS2072A oscilloscope kindly sponsored by Batronix, a Picoscope 3424 oscilloscope, a Picotech TC-08 thermocouple data logger, two Fluke multimeters (models 289 and 175), a Keithley 2015 THD 6.5 digit bench DMM, and a Yokogawa WT210 power meter. We also included a wooden box, which, along with some heating elements, was used as a hot box. Finally, we had at our disposal three more oscilloscopes (Rigol VS5042, Stingray DS1M12, and a second Picoscope 3424), and a Class 1 Bruel & kjaer 2250-L G4 Sound Analyzer we equipped with a type 4189 microphone that features a 16.6-140 dBA-weighted dynamic range. You will find more details about our equipment and the review methodology we follow in this article. We also conduct all of our tests at 40°C-45°C ambient to simulate the environment seen inside a typical system more accuractly, with 40°C-45°C being derived from a standard ambient assumption of 23°C and 17°C-22°C being added for the typical temperature rise within a system.

Primary Rails Load Regulation

The following charts show the voltage values of the main rails, recorded over a range from 60 W to the maximum specified load, and the deviation (in percent) for the same load range.

5VSB Regulation

The following chart shows how the 5VSB rail deals with the load we throw at it.

Hold-up Time

Hold-up time is a very important PSU characteristic and represents the amount of time, usually measured in milliseconds, a PSU can maintain output regulations as defined by the ATX specification without input power. In other words, it is the amount of time the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption. The ATX specification sets the minimum hold-up time to 16 ms with the maximum continuous output load. In the following screenshot, the blue line is the mains signal and the yellow line is the "Power Good" signal. The latter is de-asserted to a low state when any of the +12V, 5V, or 3.3V output voltages fall below the undervoltage threshold, or after the mains power has been removed for a sufficiently long time to guarantee the PSU cannot operate any longer.



Our scope measured a very low hold-up time, which, given the PSU's small bulk cap, didn't surprise us.

Inrush Current

Inrush current or switch-on surge refers to the maximum, instantaneous input-current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. Because of the charging current of the APFC capacitor(s), PSUs produce a lot of inrush-current right as they are turned on. A lot of inrush current can cause the tripping of circuit breakers and fuses and may also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers; as a result, the lower a PSU's inrush current right as it is turned on, the better.



Registered inrush current was pretty low.

Load Regulation and Efficiency Measurements

The first set of tests revealed the stability of the voltage rails and the Maverick's efficiency. The applied load was equal to (approximately) 10%-110% of the maximum load the PSU can handle, in 10% steps.
We conducted two additional tests. In the first test, we stressed the two minor rails (5V and 3.3V) with a high load while the load at +12V was only 0.10 A. This test reveals whether the PSU is Haswell ready or not. In the second test, we dialed the maximum load the +12V rail can handle while the load on the minor rails is minimal.

Load regulation was loose on all rails, and only within 3% on the +12V and 5V rails. Such an old platform can't match the load regulation of fresh platforms; however, it did manage to deliver its full power (and even more) at very high ambient temperatures, which proves Xigmatek's claim of an operating temperature of up to 50°C true. This unit's efficiency is nothing to write home about, but it is as efficient as other Bronze-certified units. You will, as such, have to spend a lot more money on a PSU with a modern platform if you want tighter load regulation and higher efficiency.

Performance in both Cross Load tests was bad because of the unit's group-regulation design. The CL1 test result shows that this PSU can't meet the load regulation requirements with full power on its minor rails while power output on its +12V rail is as low as possible. Such is Intel's Haswell ready testing procedure, and the Maverick S 500 W failed since its +12V rail nearly hit 13 V, which is well out of spec.