Many Popular PSUs of the day don't have OTP?

altich88

altich88

altich88

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Looking around it seems that many of the Superflower/Seasonic/EVGA units that people rave about don't have OTP?

I'm quite concerned by this to be honest. So this would mean that if a fan fails, there is nothing to stop the PSU overheating until something goes badly wrong?

This seems especially troublesome when a lot of these units have a semi-passive mode.

Am I worrying about nothing?
 
Most if not all of the Seasonic PSUs support OCP, OPP/OLP, OTP, OVP, UVP and SCP even if they don't mention it in the technical specs AFAIK the ones that don't support OTP are by far the exception than the rule.

Superflower is another matter with more models not supporting those features hence one of the reasons I've been a little less enthusiastic than some to hype them into the top tier of PSUs. (EDIT: Though again its not always mentioned on the technical specs when they do support it - but its well known that some of their top models actually don't - or didn't).

EVGA aren't the OEM for the internals in their PSUs so that is a bit of a different story - mostly using the other 2 named and IIRC still have some models using FSP internals.

EDIT: I don't really see it as that big a deal - the design of most PSUs will semi-gracefully handle over temperature naturally in terms of health and safety - there might be a higher potential for the PSU to fail dramatically and/or result in some potentially harmful voltage transients when failing but it shouldn't be actually dangerous to life and limb.
 
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(Search for "otp" on the following pages)

SuperNOVA 550 GS

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/evga-supernova-550-gs-power-supply,4146.html

SuperNOVA 550 G2

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/evga-supernova-550-g2-power-supply,review-33302.html

SuperNOVA 650 GS

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/EVGA/SuperNOVA_GS_650/2.html

SuperNOVA 650 G2

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/EVGA/SuperNOVA_G2_650/2.html

The above reviews seem to explicitly mention the lack of OTP in EVGA units. Also the tech specs/manuals on EVGA's website specifically mention many other protection features, but OTP is never mentioned.

I appreciate your response and specifically that you don't see it to be a big problem, but if I'm honest I am disappointed that such a basic but important safety feature seems to have been excluded. The above reviews also comment on the importance of OTP, especially in semi-passive units. Seems a shame seeing as how highly regarded these units are at the moment.

Maybe someone from EVGA could comment?
 
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evga says all their PSUs have OTP but the product pages dont confirm it

http://www.evga.com/articles/00722/default.asp

SAFETY FIRST WITH EVGA
EVGA provides a series of total safety protections to keep all components safe during normal to extreme power levels. Trust EVGA to provide a set standard in safety to cover multiple scenarios that can go from bad to worse if you don't have the right protection. These protections not only protect the power supply, but protect all components attached. Gain peace of mind knowing your system is protected from every angle with top-quality, power supplies by EVGA.

EVGA STANDARD POWER SUPPLY SAFETY PROTECTIONS INCLUDE:
OPP (Over Power Protection)
Protection from when a power supply exceeds its maximum rated capacity.
OVP (Over Voltage Protection)
Continuously checking the voltages at each rail point and will kick in if they surpass their set limits.
UVP (Under Voltage Protection)
Continuously checking the voltages at each rail point and will kick in if they surpass their set limits.
SCP (Short Circuit Protection)
Continuously monitoring the output rails and looks for impedance rates less than 0.1, if detected it immediately shuts down.
OCP (Over Current Protection)
Protects when the current in the rail goes beyond its limit.
OTP (Over Temperature Protection)
Added Thermistor's to heat sinks provides real time monitoring for protection and better fan control. When exceeded, the power supply shuts down.
Click to expand...
 
EDIT: Looks like those reviews might be questionable - would be interesting to hear from EVGA - AFAIK the Seasonic units the GS are based on support OTP (its in the specs for the internals used in those units) and while there were concerns over the Superflower units the OcUK description for the Leadex which I believe the G2 are based on states Over Temperature Protection.

altich88 said:
I appreciate your response and specifically that you don't see it to be a big problem, but if I'm honest I am disappointed that such a basic but important safety feature seems to have been excluded. The above reviews also comment on the importance of OTP, especially in semi-passive units. Seems a shame seeing as how highly regarded these units are at the moment.

Maybe someone from EVGA could comment?
Click to expand...

I might be underplaying how concerning it could be in that a well designed unit should have some natural built in protection in the design incase the electronic management failed - but then you'd have to question how well it was really designed if it lacked OTP.

EDIT: On the design side Superflower claim that even if one of their PSUs didn't support OTP the design means that in a thermal management situation one of the other protection systems would be tripped before or by the time OTP would normally engage. (For whatever that is/isn't worth).
 
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Whilst I can appreciate that manufacturers try to keep the information about their products short and punchy.. I am finding it more and more discerning that product information that I consider vital to any decision making before committing to buy a product via an online purchase, is not being shown/being withheld.
Even the manufacturers website product brochures, are becoming less descriptive about technical info, and much more all marketing blurb.
Such information as warranty is also sometimes not declared. :(

Given there is so little human interface in many purchases these days, it troubles me...we will be expected to part with cash to buy the goods of renowned companies, but of unknown specifications, quantity and quality soon.

Luckily, we have a well supported OveclockersUK supported forum here to ask some of these more searching questions :)
 
Trying, you and the rest of us who do care about the quality of every component are just a small percentage. The sad thing is that most people don't care (or have a clue) when it comes to the psu. I have seen loads of problems, including fried pc's due to people blowing the budget on what they consider to be the main components and then finding themselves short when it comes to choosing a psu. They then use the psu as a place to save money and buy a so called 750w psu for £15 on ebay. As far as they are concerned it's 750w so it's more than enough when in reality they are crap that will be lucky to output much more than a couple of hundred watts. Sadly we still have to set people on the right track even on this forum from time to time but our constant preaching about buying quality units has sunk into the vast majority.
 
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