NZXT HALE90 750W Power Supply Review

Testing:

Efficiency and Power Factor:

Efficiency is a measure of the ATX power supplies ability to minimize losses during the conversion of the AC mains voltage into multiple DC rails. It is a simple ratio of output power measured in watts over input power measured in watts expressed as a percentage. It has no affect whatsoever on the power supply’s ability to power a PC but with higher efficiency comes less heat and lower utility bills; it’s also “green” and friendlier to the environment which is the driving force behind the 80 Plus certification program.

Power factor is a strange beast that’s difficult to fully explain without the use of complex AC theory, so let’s keep it simple. Power factor doesn’t have a unit of measurement - it’s a simple number from 0 to 1 that is concerned with the way various loads consume power and the nearer to unity the better. It is closely linked to 80 Plus certification because low power factors imply wasted energy that the normal domestic consumer does not get charged for but the utility companies still have to generate.

Supply at 110VAC:

Whilst not quite hitting the 90% mark following the OCC power supply testing methodology, the NZXT HALE90 750W power supply still produced a creditable 89% efficiency at 51% DC loading. The efficiency of 84% at or near full load is a little under the specified level of 87% but the power factor levels are maintained well above the 0.9 level required by 80 Plus. A pretty good set of results that compare well with other power supplies in this class.

Supply at 230VAC:

Nothing out of the ordinary here yet again with improved efficiency, an excellent 91% at 51% DC loading, and slightly lower power factor levels when powered from 230VAC.

AC Ripple On DC Outputs:

I have consistently found the AC ripple levels on the DC rails to be more or less equal with an 110VAC or 230VAC mains supply. The results given below are for 230VAC only but I will continue to check the levels at 110VAC during testing and publish them below if there are any significant differences.

AC ripple/noise on the +3V3 rail at 230VAC

Oscilloscope settings: Amplitude = 2mv/div, Timebase = 20uS/div

AC ripple/noise on the +5V0 rail at 230VAC

Oscilloscope settings: Amplitude = 2mv/div, Timebase = 20uS/div

AC ripple/noise on the +12V rail at 230VAC

Oscilloscope settings: Amplitude = 2mv/div, Timebase = 20uS/div

AC ripple/noise on the -12V rail at 230VAC

Oscilloscope settings: Amplitude = 2mv/div, Timebase = 20uS/div

AC ripple/noise on the +5VSB rail at 230VAC

Oscilloscope settings: Amplitude = 2mv/div, Timebase = 20uS/div

The NZXT HALE90 750W power supply performed very well in this section with low levels of AC ripple/noise on all its rails.