Certification and efficiency
be quiet! markets the Straight Power 12(ATX 3.0) as an 80 Plus Platinum power supply. Certification is performed by an organization called 80 PLUS. But what does this mean “on paper”? It was introduced in 2004 to promote efficient energy use in computer power supply units (PSUs). Only products that offer more than 80% efficiency at 20, 50, and 100% load and a power factor of 0.9 or more are eligible. The PSU will waste 20% or less electric energy as heat, reducing power consumption and bills compared with less efficient designs.
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115 V internal non-redundant |
230 V EU internal non-redundant |
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Percentage of rated load |
10% |
20% |
50% |
100% |
10% |
20% |
50% |
100% |
|
|
80 Plus |
|
80% |
80% |
80% |
|
82% |
85% |
82% |
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|
80 Plus Bronze |
|
82% |
85% |
82% |
|
85% |
88% |
85% |
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|
80 Plus Silver |
|
85% |
88% |
85% |
|
87% |
90% |
87% |
|
|
80 Plus Gold |
|
87% |
90% |
87% |
|
90% |
92% |
89% |
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|
80 Plus Platinum |
|
90% |
92% |
89% |
|
92% |
94% |
90% |
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|
80 Plus Titanium |
90% |
92% |
94% |
90% |
90% |
94% |
96% |
94% |
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As you can see above, there are 80 Plus, Bronze, Silver, Gold (these three are from 2008), Platinum (2009), and Titanium (2012) certificates. As power consumption has dropped, most computers with a single GPU don’t need more than a 600-650 W PSU. The PSU tested today is the most efficient at 50% load (750 W), but the differences above and below this threshold are insignificant. You don’t need to keep it precisely at half load, but it’s best to stay below the maximum wattage for better noise performance, longevity, etc. The reviewed sample is 80 PLUS Platinum certified – up to ~92% efficiency @ 115 V (at 20~100% loads) and 94% @ 230 V – and has active PFC with a power factor of up to 0.99. It consumes < 0.3 W in its off-mode, complying with the ERP standard.
There are actual results (only for the 1500 W variant) on the 80 Plus website. Also, there are no data from Cybenetics.
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Max. DC Output |
1500 W |
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PFC |
Active PFC |
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Efficiency |
80 PLUS Platinum |
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Topology |
Full bridge + LLC + SR + DC/DC Primary Side: APFC,
half-bridge & LLC converter |
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Modular |
Yes |
|
Protections |
OTP, OCP, OPP, SCP, OVP, UVP, SIP |
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Cooling |
135 mm FDB, 2600 rpm |
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Semi-passive operation |
Yes |
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Dimensions (W x L x H) |
180 x 150 x 86 mm |
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Weight |
2.12 kg |
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Warranty |
Ten years |
As for the provided cables, you’ll find this information in the unboxing section of the review. The street price of the reviewed unit is about €349.90 / $379.90 / £349.99 (1500 W). Let’s see if it’s worth it. Next page, please.
