Silver Power Blue Lightning 600W
by Christoph Katzer on August 27, 2007 6:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Temperatures
Our testing confirms our initial impression of the heatsinks. They dissipate heat quite well and manage to cool all of the components attached to them. Exhaust temperatures of only 50°C at 26° room temperature, even at maximum load, mean that users will have a relatively cool system. With a 50°C test environment, exhaust temperatures rise 15°C up to 65°C, while the heatsinks are only 10°C warmer than the ambient temperatures. These are fairly good results, but in a stress test environment temperatures are rising quite rapidly and we definitely would be cautious about using this power of supply in such an environment for an extended period of time. At normal room temperatures, the results are much better.
Fan Speed and Acoustics
In our stress testing "heat chamber", fan speed is constantly rising up to the maximum speed of around 2400 RPM as the load and temperatures increase. At room temperatures, the fan holds a steady 1250 RPM up until about a 45% load. While the fan speed is definitely increasing, it's a bit unusual - and actually impressive - that the noise levels continue to stay relatively low, reaching a maximum of 37 dB at full load. Subjectively, the noise levels also agree with what we see on the charts: at maximum load the power supply isn't much louder it than at minimum load. Unfortunately, you can still hear the fan regardless of load, but once placed within a typical computer case the result should be a good, reasonably quiet system.
Our testing confirms our initial impression of the heatsinks. They dissipate heat quite well and manage to cool all of the components attached to them. Exhaust temperatures of only 50°C at 26° room temperature, even at maximum load, mean that users will have a relatively cool system. With a 50°C test environment, exhaust temperatures rise 15°C up to 65°C, while the heatsinks are only 10°C warmer than the ambient temperatures. These are fairly good results, but in a stress test environment temperatures are rising quite rapidly and we definitely would be cautious about using this power of supply in such an environment for an extended period of time. At normal room temperatures, the results are much better.
Fan Speed and Acoustics
In our stress testing "heat chamber", fan speed is constantly rising up to the maximum speed of around 2400 RPM as the load and temperatures increase. At room temperatures, the fan holds a steady 1250 RPM up until about a 45% load. While the fan speed is definitely increasing, it's a bit unusual - and actually impressive - that the noise levels continue to stay relatively low, reaching a maximum of 37 dB at full load. Subjectively, the noise levels also agree with what we see on the charts: at maximum load the power supply isn't much louder it than at minimum load. Unfortunately, you can still hear the fan regardless of load, but once placed within a typical computer case the result should be a good, reasonably quiet system.
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meyergru - Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - link
...how do those two statements add up?"In fact, the efficiency is above 80% over almost the entire range which can not only save money on electrical costs but is also generally a good indicator of power supply quality. "
"This isn't an ideal result, but at the same time PFC isn't necessarily one of the most critical factors in determining power supply quality."
As far as I know, a PFC of ~0.92 means 8% more will actually be billed to me by the provider. Thus, the good efficiency of over 80% does not help at all.
13Gigatons - Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - link
PFC intended purpose is to turn a complex load into a simple one.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_factor_correcti...">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_factor_correcti...
mindless1 - Thursday, August 30, 2007 - link
Meeting the 80% efficiency does still help, but you are pointing out one of the interesting developments these days, how PSU manufacturers are tweaking to arrive at higher efficiency and that within the context of expectations of how the industry (reviewers et al) will review, particularly when it's a retail product. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is ideally bad, but at any given moment and price, can be subjectively more or less important depending on your needs.The important part is that this information was revealed so you can decide for youself if this unit meets those needs or if you'd rather some other compromise. No PSU is perfect in every way including price.
Christoph Katzer - Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - link
What was the relation of the both again?Your provider charges reactive power?
swtethan - Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - link
I'd like to see where the x-pro stands to see if I should upgrade or not :) got an ETA on that? All over the forums for the past 5 months that PSU has been on banners :PMissPriss - Monday, August 27, 2007 - link
Great review, though perhaps Anandtech should consider gearing a small percentage of articles to those who aren't technomaniacs. BTW - how do you pronouce "Anandtech"?JarredWalton - Monday, August 27, 2007 - link
I'll take the second part - I think there might be some less-techy articles on occasion, but the PSU stuff definitely doesn't qualify.Anyway, for those interested, it's pronounced Ahn-Ahnd-Tech. Or "On Ond Tech". So if you pronounce it with a nice southern twang and an "A as in apple" sound, Anand might make weird faces at you. That, or I need to check my hearing and make sure Anand isn't saying, "Hi guys, it's '&n - &n(d)" as opposed to "Hi guys, it's 'än - änd." (When did http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phoneti...">phonetic symbols get so stinking complex?)
SemiCharmed - Monday, August 27, 2007 - link
I agree with MissPriss. It could be called "NotsoAnandtech"DividedweFall - Monday, August 27, 2007 - link
Hoorah for MissPriss! I don't send comments in fear of being rejected by the eleet technomanic crowd.Samus - Monday, August 27, 2007 - link
We readers at Anandtech are loyal to this place BECAUSE the reviews are for technomaniacs. They're among the most thorough reviews of hardware around.Go look at any other site's PSU reviews and you'll see what I mean.