Testing:

The testing of this power supply will take on the new format implemented just once so far at Bigbruin.com [link]. The equipment is still very new to me, and the methodology is evolving as experience and the equipment come together, so I won't go too deep into the specifics. Basically, the gear to be used for this review consists of four dynamic DC loaders (two rated for 300W each, and two rated for 750W each), a 4-channel USB data logger, a digital multimeter, a 2-channel digital thermometer, a digital infrared thermometer, an AC power monitor, and a heat source. A brief description of each item's role is described below...



The DC loaders will be split up to handle the loads on the main power rails. The 300W units were intended to be used on the 3.3V and 5V rails, while the two 750W units were intended to work together on 12V rails. I say intended, because that was the plan until I realized the 300W loaders didn't care to go down to 3.3V. In cases like the EX-1000 which features more than two 12V rails (four actually), rails will be combined and connected to the loaders to distribute power as evenly as possible. For this review I will use one 750W loader for three of the 12V rails, one 300W loader for the other 12V rail, one 300W loader for the 5V rail, and the other 750W loader will be going to waste a bit as it is used on the 3.3V rail. To avoid confusion, I will refer to the two 12V loaders as 12Va and 12Vb, with 12Va handling rails 12V1/12V2/12V4 and 12Vb handling rail 12V3. -12V and +5VSB will not be considered.

The 4-channel USB data logger is like an oscilloscope, and the channels will be used to monitor and log voltage data on the 3.3V, 5V, and 12V rails. In the first review published with this setup I developed a bit of buyer's remorse due to one discovery regarding the limitations of this USB device. While it is very handy and useful, the first limitation I discovered was that it only goes to two decimal places, making ripple readings down to single digits in terms of milliVolts impossible. Instead, results will be reported in terms like "< 10mV" or "< 30mV", where I can only really say the value was less than 10 or 30mV, for example. Later I discovered that the sampling frequency is slower than I had first thought, so that is another factor to consider in analyzing the data acquired. I have one more PSU review on the immediate horizon to complete, and after that i will look into an upgrade.

The digital multimeter is mostly for confirmation and setup.

The 2-channel digital thermometer is for monitoring the PSU inlet and outlet temperatures, while the digital infrared thermometer is for setup purposes and for checking the temperatures of cables and other surfaces to make sure nothing melts or burns.

The AC power monitor will have the PSU plugged in to it in order to monitor the AC Wattage to be compared to the DC Wattage to calculate an efficiency value).

The heat source is a compact ceramic space heater with variable controls that is about the size of a power supply. It will be used for testing at elevated temperatures.