SPCR

Hello,
so I just ordered a Seasonic S12-380 for my server, mainly because of efficiency. Just for fun I measured it against my SS-300SFD 80+ Seasonic and was very disappointed with the results:

SS-300SFD idle: 25w, max during bootup: 64w
SS-380HB idly: 31w, max during bootup: 77w

I believe it will be more efficient in my server because it has a much higher load, probably around 100-150w (never idle, 8 3.5" disks in RAID5 and so on) but I'm still surprised how badly it performed against the 80+ supply. I sure do love my little SS-300SFD!

Or are there any other possible explanations, how does all the PFC-stuff affect the power meter?

Regards,
Kent.

Your SS-300SFD also has active PFC, so that isn't the issue.

The issue is that the S12-380 just isn't as efficient as the SS-300, especially since the 20% load point of the S12-380 is 76w compared to to 60w and typically efficiency drops off rapidly below the 20% load level, even on 80plus certified PSUs.

Only recently have the S12-380s been made 80plus compliant, do you have one of those or one of the earlier ones?

drees wrote:Only recently have the S12-380s been made 80plus compliant, do you have one of those or one of the earlier ones?

Can't find any date of manufacturing on it, S/N R0612AA2B0960794. Could 0612 mean december 2006? No 80+ sticker on it.

So hopefully it will perform better in the server then... Thanks for your respons.

Regards,
Kent.

Only recently have the S12-380s been made 80plus compliant

The S12 range is not 80Plus compliant, the S12II range is.

jaganath wrote:The S12 range is not 80Plus compliant, the S12II range is.

Thanks for the correction.

Anyway, just looking at the SPCR reviews, of the SS-300FD compared to the S12 series, kentc's numbers just about match up in terms of the expected efficiency and power draw.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article286-page4.html
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article596-page4.html
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article226-page3.html

Edit: SPCR has reviewed some S12 80plus models, I would expect the S12II to perform similarly:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article656-page4.html

Ofcourse I should've checked the reviews... My bad!
Now I'm gonna go upgrade the server, will post the (hopefully) much improved figures over my current Chieftech PSU in an hour.


Edit:
Maximum (startup) used to be 245w, now 204w
Idle (2GHz/1.4V) used to be: 89w, now: 82w
Everyday(*) work now: average 105w

That's a:
AMD A64 3200+ (1.1/1.4V stock)
MSI K8NGM2-FID
2x 512MB DDR-400
8x 3.5" HDD RAID5
CD-RW
2x PCI Network Adapters

* streaming 1080p for HTPC, Folding, firewall duties and Azureus with 4 active torrents.

Reagrds,
Kent