80 PLUS APPROVED
The SS-xxxHT Active PFC F3 models have all been 80 PLUS certified. Regular readers of SPCR (and dedicated observers of the power supply scene) will know about 80 PLUS. SPCR provided news coverage about this initiative to promote the use of efficient power supplies in computers. There was also related discussion on page three of the article, A New Energy Star.
80 PLUS is described as "a national buy-down program for desktop computers and desktop-derived servers that contain highly efficient power supplies." The program invites submissions of PSUs, which are tested, and if the units pass, they become 80 PLUS approved. The test is quite tough: It calls for 80% or better efficiency at 20%, 50% and 100% of a PSU's rated power output. When a system integrator uses any 80 PLUS certified PSUs in systems, they can receive rebates through the 80 PLUS program, ostensibly to offset the initial higher cost of these highly efficient PSUs. You can check out all the details of the program, administered by Ecos Consulting, a company that "only undertakes projects that make a positive environmental impact", at the 80 PLUS web site.
The Seasonic SS-400HT APFC F3 was the first PSU to be approved by the 80 PLUS program. There are now four Seasonic PSU models on the approved products list. At time of posting, three other brands each feature a model on the an 80 PLUS approved PSU list.
What all this means to the end user is that the S12-500 and S12-600 should be >80% efficient at all power loads above 100W and 125W respectively. In SPCR's test rig, the S12-430 achieved the requisite >80% efficiency between 90W and 250W load but fell shy of it at maximum load. The 500 and 600 shouild fare better.
and only just 80 at max (85% at 50%)
