The p-Code Machine

I recently came across one of these Cooler Master Real Power Pro 520W power supplies. The fact that the PSU is modular is great, it’ll save you some cable clutter in your computer case. However, the coolest thing about the Cooler Master power supply is its 80PLUS certification. If a power supply is 80PLUS certified, it should be at least 80% energy efficient at all load levels. Now that doesn’t sound very impressive does it? I mean 80% efficient means 20% is wasted on heat.

Cheap (Passive PFC) power supplies are easily only 70% efficient. And that efficiency is usually only reached with high load, as power supplies tend to get more efficient with increasing load. So in real life, the power supplies effiency may very well be below 70%.

Better power supplies have Active PFC, which means they’re more efficient, which is good. However the efficiency rating supplied by the manufacturers for these, is usually best case. So in real life you’re probably stuck somewhere slightly above 75%.

Now enter 80PLUS, these babies are always at least 80% efficient, no matter the load. So besides the fact it’s good for the environment, it will save you money. When taking the dutch energy prices into account, this will probably save you about 5EUR per year, for average computer use. Computers which are always on, will easily save you 10EUR per year.

Even when not considering the energy use, you should never skimp on your power supply, buying a cheap power supply might even cause your computer to destabilize at times, especially when your power line isn’t conditioned, lucky for us that the dutch power grid is relatively stable. Pricier power supplies are much better equiped for handling brief brownouts than cheaper ones. And some even have built in overcurrent protection.