Antec Signature 850W Review

Testing (Continued):

Efficiency and Power Factor:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Output & Efficiency at 110VAC
DC Load (W)	AC Load (VA)	AC Load (W)	PF	Efficiency (%)	Pass/Fail
0	10	0	0.02	N/A	N/A
172	210	210	1.0	82	Pass
472	568	570	1.0	83	Pass
809	1035	1036	1.0	78	Pass

 

Output & Efficiency at 240VAC
DC Load (W)	AC Load (VA)	AC Load (W)	PF	Efficiency (%)	Pass/Fail
0	43	1	0.03	N/A	N/A
172	219	206	0.94	83	Pass
472	557	555	0.99	85	Pass
811	1001	997	0.99	81	Pass

 

The 80 PLUS Bronze certification requires the Antec Signature 850W to run at greater than or equal to 82-85-82 percent efficiency at 20-50-100 percent of rated power output. While the specification has been partially met, I think I can allow a pass at 240VAC, there is a failure as you see can above at 110VAC. The power supply did, however, meet the ATX12V minimum required efficiency, and I have therefore given the power supply an overall pass in this section.

The 80 PLUS certification also requires the power supply to maintain a power factor PF of 0.9 or better, no problems here.

These are some of the best efficiency figures I have seen so far and go some way in explaining the use of a smaller 80mm cooling fan. High efficiency = less heat.

 

AC Ripple on DC Outputs:

 

All AC ripple measurements are made at the maximum load, and were found to be virtually identical for 110VAC and 240VAC input. I have therefore included oscilloscope screenshots for 240VAC only.

 

AC ripple on 3V3 rail.

AC ripple on 5V0 rail.

AC ripple on 12V rail.

 

Antec Signature 850W AC Ripple/Noise Measurements
DC Output	3V3	5V0	12V1	12V2	12V3	12V4	-12V	5VSB
Ripple (mV p-p)	8	10	13	13	13	13	20	10
Pass/Fail	Pass	Pass	Pass	Pass	Pass	Pass	Pass	Pass

 

Impressive figures! These really are very low and will be hard to equal, let alone improve.

Onward...