80PLUS Bronze modular power supplies are good because they combine, on the one hand, reasonable price, and on the other hand, flexible cable system configuration options, decent power and efficiency acceptable for home systems. No wonder their popularity is only growing. Chieftec has a sufficient number of different models of this class in its arsenal, however, the APS-850CB PSU considered in today's article belongs to the latest generation of "bronze".

The new A-135 family, to which the Chieftec APS-850CB PSU belongs, includes five 350-550 W units with standard cabling (the first letter S in the suffix) and five 550-1000 W units with modular cabling (the first letter C in suffix). All models of the family have a standard layout with a large, 135mm fan bottom, but eight of them have an efficiency of 80PLUS, and only two models - APS-750C and APS-850C - are certified according to the 80PLUS Bronze standard. Accordingly, most of the features and capabilities covered in this article can be applied to a certain extent to the 750-W model.

To begin with, according to tradition, let's turn to the characteristics of the model in question, declared on the manufacturer's website.

Chieftec APS-850CB A-135 family power supply
cable system Modular
Rated power 850 W
Shutdown Switch
Auto (ATX logic)
Cooling system 135mm fan
Form factor PSII
Input parameters 100-240V, 10A, 47-63Hz
Declared efficiency More than 80% (up to 85%)
Compliance ATX 12V 2.3, EPS12V, ATI Crossfire X, NVIDIA SLI
output parameters +5V 30A
+12V1 40 A
+12V2 40 A
-12V 0.8A
+5VSB 3 A
+3.3V 28A
Load distribution +3.3V and +5V< 180 Вт, ∑+12В < 750 Вт
Voltage protection UVP (Under Voltage Protection), OVP (Over Voltage Protection), SCP (Short Circuit Protection), OPP (Overload Protection), OCP (Over Current Protection), OTP (Over Temperature Protection), AFC (automatic fan speed control)
PFC (Power Factor Correction) Active, PF>0.9
Average time uptime(time to failure, MTBF) At least 100 thousand hours
Dimensions 155x150x87 mm
Guarantee 12 months

⇡ Delivery set. Design

For mass-series power supplies without claims for premium equipment (and therefore extra charge), a kind of packaging standard has long been established. As a rule, this is a small box with graphic design and brief description basic features, sometimes with a plastic carrying handle. The Chieftec APS-850CB model is no exception to this rule, except that initially the packaging is rolled up in a film, and at the same time, along with a handle: apparently, it is assumed that when you buy, you still print the kit and take a look at it, and at the same time free up the convenience for carrying.

The delivery set of the model is typical for this class: the power supply itself, a set of modular cables, network cable, fasteners, instructions.

The design of the APS-850CB model, as noted above, is also predictably ordinary: a durable case made of cold-rolled steel and a 135-mm fan on the bottom plane.

Ventilation openings of large "honeycomb" perforation occupy the entire outer plane with a switch and a power cable connector, the opposite plane without ventilation is completely reserved for cable management.

The supply connectors of the Chieftec APS-850CB model are represented by the following set:

  • One non-removable 20+4-pin motherboard power connector, 500mm
  • One non-removable 8-pin connector ATX power supply 12V/EPS12V, 500mm
  • One non-removable 8 (4+4)-pin ATX12V/EPS12V power connector, 500mm
  • Two modular 8 (6+2)-pin PCI-E power connectors, 450 mm
  • Two modular 6-pin PCI-E power connectors, 450mm
  • Two modular cables with three connectors SATA power supply, 550mm + 150mm + 150mm
  • Two modular cables with two 4-pin peripheral power connectors (Molex) and a 4-pin Floppy power connector, 550 mm + 150 mm + 150 mm

All cables are made with high quality and are enclosed in a shielding braid. The length of the cables of this model can hardly be called a record - for example, in the “bronze” modular model Chieftec NITRO II 85+ BPS-750C2, which we previously reviewed, the PCI-E cables are 550 mm long, but the new product also has more than enough for for use with most frame sizes.

Let's take the cover off and take a look at the inner kitchen.

The cooling system of the Chieftec APS-850CB model is based on the RL4Z S1352512HH fan manufactured by the well-known Chinese company Globe Fan, which is found in various modern retail and OEM versions of power supplies with a power of about 500-900 W.

This 135mm fan has 11 blades and relatively inexpensive sleeve bearings. At rated voltage power supply 12 V, maximum current 0.45 A and maximum energy consumption up to 5.4 W, the fan provides a maximum rotation speed of up to 1800 rpm, air pressure up to 2.88 mm Hg. Art. and airflow up to 3.67 cubic meters per minute (129.76 CFM). The operating voltage range of the RL4Z S1352512HH model is standardized within 6-13.8 V, the maximum noise level does not exceed 33.9 dB.

The primary conversion circuits of the APS-850CB model are made according to a single-cycle circuit; a modern electrolytic capacitor with a capacity of 470 microfarads for a maximum operating voltage of 400 V and a maximum allowable temperature of 85 degrees Celsius is used here. In the secondary conversion channels +5 V and +3.3 V, effective DC-DC converters are used to achieve additional stability of the output voltages.

The heat sinks of the APS-850CB model, as in most modern power supplies with efficient circuitry and high efficiency, are quite modest in size, since even at maximum load, power losses for heat dissipation are minimal. Also worth noting is the impeccable quality of soldering, insulation and shielding of critical circuit elements, impeccable fastening of large components and excellent layout of the output power cables.

⇡ Testing methodology

Since our last articles on power supplies, the testing methodology used in the 3DNews lab has not changed. You can get acquainted with it in full, for example, in this article. The graph generated from the results of the study of the efficiency of the tested power supplies contains benchmarks according to the standards of the 80PLUS family, as well as minimum requirements base standard ATX12V version 2.2.

⇡ Test results

Fill in the load parameters test stand according to the model label.

The results of tests in automatic cross-load mode showed excellent stability of the output voltages on the +12 V, +5 V and +3.3 V channels for any combination of loads, while the deviations in the actual operating ranges did not exceed 3%.

A run of static load modes with manual adjustment, carried out in the process of characterization for constructing an efficiency graph, demonstrated a fairly high stability of output voltages, while for +12 V channels the deviations were minimal even at maximum load (no more than a percent or two), and for channels +3.3 V and 5 V in any mode, they did not go beyond the limits prescribed by the standard ± 5%.

The graph of dependence of efficiency on the load level, built on the results of step-by-step measurements, fully confirmed the compliance of the Chieftec APS-850CB power supply with the declared 80PLUS Bronze certification.

Results

The Chieftec APS-850CB power supply, according to Moscow online retail, cost an average of 3,700-3,800 rubles at the time of writing, which can be safely called a very attractive offer for a modular 850-W model with an 80PLUS Bronze certificate.

It is worth paying attention not only to worthy declared characteristics, fully confirmed by testing, but also on such advantages of the Chieftec APS-850CB model as two +12 V power rails, an impressive MTBF, and support for four PCI-E power connectors (two 8-pin and two 6-pin).

We started our acquaintance with power supplies from the new CHIEFTEC A-135 series. Recall that her the lineup includes eleven devices, the power of which lies in the range from 400 to 1000 watts. The series itself can be conditionally divided into two subgroups: blocks with a standard implementation of power cables and with a modular one. Last time we considered a model with non-detachable wires. In this review, we will get acquainted with the power source, which belongs to the second subgroup. It received the name and has a power of 650 watts.

CHIEFTEC APS-650CB power supply specification:

Manufacturer

Rated power, W

Power per channel 12V, W

Line power +3.3V and +5V, W

Lines +12V

3.3V - 22A,
+5V - 22A,
+12V1, +12V2 - 26 A,
-12V - 0.3A,
+5VSB (standby power line) - 2.5 A

PCI-E connectors

2 (6+2-pin)

CrossFire Certified

Modular

Certified 80PLUS

Power factor (PF), %

Power factor compensation method

Active

Input voltage, V

frequency Hz

Input current, A

Fan size, mm

135 x 135 x 25

Fan Speed ​​Controller

Noise level, dB

Mean time between failures (MTBF), hours

Electromagnetic safety and compatibility (EMI/EMC)

OVP, UVP, OPP, SCP

RoHS compliant (low lead and cadmium solder)

Dimensions (LxWxH), mm

155 x 150 x 87

Equipment

power cord, fixing screws, modular cables, instructions

Guarantee

Products webpage
All prices for Chieftec+APS-650CB

Packaging, scope of delivery and appearance

For all modular blocks from the new A-135 series, the same packaging made of thick cardboard with high-quality printing and a convenient handle for transportation has been developed. She looks pretty attractive, doesn't she? useful information a little on her. The emblems of the 80 PLUS Bronze certificate and ATI CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI technologies deserve special attention. It would not be superfluous to place a logo with the inscription "Intel Haswell Ready". After all, compliance with all the requirements of Intel Haswell processors (the ability to deliver a minimum current of 0.05 A) is one of the advantages of new products from CHIEFTEC.

Only the most necessary components that the user will need during the installation and connection of the device:

  • modular cables;
  • power cord;
  • four fixing screws;
  • instruction.

The modular cable kit is not shown in the photo, we will get to know it in more detail a little later.

Despite the presence of modular connectors, the dimensions of CHIEFTEC APS-650CB remained standard - 155 x 150 x 87 mm. The power supply is painted black with a glossy sheen, so it will look decent in cases with a side window. Top panel closed with a huge grill-type grill, the front panel is made in the form of a mesh with small stamped cells. Note that the "grill" is a little "drowned" in the top cover, so installing the power supply on the bottom of the computer case with the grill down should not cause any difficulties.

Connectors for connecting power cables are placed on the rear panel. CHIEFTEC APS-650CB refers to the so-called "semi-modular" solutions. That is, the main cables for powering the motherboard and the processor are brought out directly from the case, and the wires for connecting other devices are already made detachable.

Altogether CHIEFTEC APS-650CB is equipped with six modular connectors: red ones are used to connect video cards, black ones are for peripherals. Note that the connectors through which additional power is supplied to video cards are connected to different +12V lines. This will make it possible to more evenly distribute the load and avoid voltage drops of +12V in the case of using highly productive hardware, especially during overclocking.

Two cables are brought out directly from the power supply - for powering the motherboard and additional power for the processor. They are quite rigid, as they are in a nylon braid, and in some places are tightened with heat shrink.

The main 24-pin ATX power connector is non-separable. A 4 + 4-pin connector is provided for additional processor power.

A set of detachable cables consists of six positions: wires with red connectors are used to connect video cards, and those with black connectors are used for peripherals. PCIE connectors have 6+2-pin design, that is, the user will be able to power one "top" video accelerator without the use of adapters. In addition, these connectors are located on separate cables, which greatly simplifies their installation.

All available types of connectors, as well as the length of the wires, are shown in the table:

Connector types

Quantity

Wire length to connector(s), cm

Cables routed directly from the power supply

24-pin ATX power connector

4+4-pin ATX12V power connector

Modular (detachable) cables

6+2-pin PCIe connector

three SATA connectors

two PATA connectors and one FDD connector

On the back wall, the manufacturer placed a label with technical specifications. +12V channel power is 585 W; lines +3.3V and +5V have a maximum total power of 120 W and are able to withstand a load of 22 A each. The +12V channel is divided into two lines, each of which is designed for a load of 26 A.

In terms of energy efficiency, the CHIEFTEC APS-650CB power supply meets the 80 PLUS Bronze standard, as indicated by the image on the label. Recall that power supplies are standardized 80 PLUS Bronze if their efficiency for a voltage of 230V at loads of 20%, 50% and 100% does not fall below 81%, 85% and 81%, respectively.

It is also worth noting a wide range of input voltages - from 115 to 230V, which makes it possible to refuse external voltage regulators in conditions of an unstable power supply.

Internal organization

The process of disassembling the power supply is quite simple, you just need to unscrew the four screws on the top cover. True, in this case, you risk losing the warranty on the device itself. This is also reminded by a sticker pasted on one of the screws.

A 135mm GLOBE FAN RL4Z S1352512H fan is used to cool the internal components of the power supply. The letter "S" in the marking indicates that a plain bearing is used here.

A more complete fan specification is given in the table below:

Fan

GLOBE FAN RL4Z S1352512H

Bearing type

slip

Supply voltage, V

Power, W

Max speed rotation, rpm

Airflow, CFM

Noise level, dB

Dimensions, mm

135 x 135 x 25

To optimize airflow inside the power supply, a small transparent plastic plate is attached to the fan.

The CHIEFTEC APS-650CB uses the same platform that we saw in another member of the new A-135 series - the CHIEFTEC APS-550SB block. True, there are differences. First of all, they touched on the passive part of the cooling system. The radiators on which the power elements are mounted have become noticeably larger, therefore, the effective area heat dissipation. In addition, there was another board with modular connectors located on it. But it is possible to determine the differences in the element base only by examining in detail each node separately.

A filter is installed at the input to smooth out high-frequency noise emitted to the network by the power supply. This is a standard node for high-quality power supplies, so we are more interested in the set of elements used. There are no special comments, the dimensions of the chokes are a little confusing, but otherwise full order. I also liked the care with which the manufacturer approached the isolation of the filter components.

Nearby is a high voltage rectifier bridge and an Active Power Factor Correction (APFC) module. A fairly large aluminum heatsink is used to cool the APFC keys. The APFC PWM controller is soldered on the back of the PCB.

The power part of the APFC consists of two field-effect transistors (AP20S60I) and a Schottky diode (its value could not be considered).

The input capacitor is the same as in the CHIEFTEC APS-550SB. Moreover, not only the name of the manufacturer coincides (Taiwanese company Kuan Kun Electronic Enterprise, better known under the Su "scon brand), but also the value of the element (330 uF x 400 V, operating temperature up to 85 ° C).

The main converter is built according to the usual half-bridge scheme with two switches, which are cooled by a separate aluminum radiator. The power transformer has a fairly large size, corresponding to the power of the power source.

Since the platform for both units (CHIEFTEC APS-650CB and CHIEFTEC APS-550SB) is the same, the device of the low-voltage part has not changed. The main voltages are also formed using diode assemblies. For a topology like this, 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency is pretty good. In total, we counted six diodes in the low-voltage part, however, we could not determine how many of them are assigned to each of the lines.

The voltage stabilization system is organized according to the group principle, as indicated by a large coil with channel windings + 5V and + 12V. A separate choke is intended for the + 3.3V line smaller. To filter the output voltages, quite a lot of capacitors from the high-temperature series (up to 105 ° C) are used. The manufacturer is still the same company Kuan Kun Electronic Enterprise (Su "scon). The quality of its products can be assessed as average.

The board with modular connectors is quite small. We did not find any additional smoothing elements here.

The supervisor Infinno ST9S313A-DAG, familiar to us from the CHIEFTEC APS-550SB unit, is also responsible for monitoring the output voltages (UVP/OVP) on all three channels (+3.3V, +5V, +12V).

The soldering quality is quite good, no streaks or critical flaws were noticed.

Testing

Cross load characteristics

According to the ATX12V standard, the allowable voltage tolerance range for all power lines is ±5% of the line rating.

During cross-load tests on the main power lines, the following deviations in supply voltages were recorded:

  • +3.3V line: -5% to +3%;
  • +5V line: -4% to +4%;
  • +12V line: -3% to +2%

In general, the stabilization system performed well in this test. On all lines, the voltage deviation range does not go beyond the permissible limits.

Noise and ripple over the entire voltage range

The ATX12V standard has the following peak-to-peak limits:

  • +3.3V and +5V lines: 50 mV;
  • line +12V: 120 mV.

According to the diagrams above, on the +3.3V and +5V supply lines, the ripple level did not exceed 50 mV, and on the + 12V line - 75 mV. We pay attention to the excellent condition of the +12V line, where the noise was much lower than the permissible 120 mV.

Standby power line +5VSB

The condition of the standby power line of the CHIEFTEC APS-650CB model is quite good. Depending on the load, the voltage on it varies from 5.16 V to 5.00 V.

Table showing PFC change depending on power supply load:

Load* - load as a percentage of the rated power of the power supply.

The CHIEFTEC APS-650CB power factor correction module does its job very well. As can be seen from the table, already when the load reached 280 W, the PFC coefficient crossed the mark of 0.9, while the maximum value (0.98) was recorded at loads over 450 W.

The test of real efficiency at different loads confirmed the compliance of the CHIEFTEC APS-650CB power supply with the 80 PLUS Bronze standard for a voltage of 230 V. As can be seen from the graph, at loads of 20%, 50% and 100% of the rated power, the power supply efficiency exceeds 81%, 85 % and 81% respectively.

Cooling system and temperature conditions

You can indirectly estimate the noise level of the device by the fan speed at different load values. The time interval after which the rotation speed was measured and the subsequent increase in power was about twenty minutes. The measurement results are marked with dots on the graph. At the same time, the temperature environment for the power supply was approximately 27 °C. It should be noted that the air inside the computer case can be much hotter, in particular, a temperature of 40 ° C is quite acceptable. At the same time, the load itself created by the computer system is variable, which facilitates the temperature regime of the power source.

Up to 150 W, the CHIEFTEC APS-650CB power supply is very quiet. Above a load of 150 W, the noise level rises slightly, but remains quite comfortable.

But, the payoff for low noise was poor cooling of the components. Above is a temperature map of the power supply at a load of 550 W (85% of rated power) after 20 minutes of operation. During the experiment, a strong heating of the power transformer and the inductor of group voltage stabilization + 5V and + 12V was noticeable. But it was not even the maximum load. The manufacturer obviously miscalculated when choosing a fan. Installing a more powerful "turntable" could improve the situation. Still, overheating of components is not a price worth paying for low noise levels.

OverLOAD

Despite the poor cooling system, we still decided to test the CHIEFTEC APS-650CB for overload. It turned out that the power supply can still work stably at a load of 680 W, which equals an increase of + 4.6% to the rated power. At a load of 690 W, the supply voltage at the output took on values ​​that did not fit within the permissible limits. Therefore, it was pointless to continue the experiment further.

Practical tests on a real configuration

To build a real computer system a powerful 6-core processor was involved Intel Core i7-3930K, overclocked to 4.3 GHz with voltage up to 1.36 V. We used ZOTAC as a video accelerator GeForce GTX 480 AMP!, which can rightfully be considered the most “gluttonous” among video cards.

Motherboard

ASUS P9X79 PRO (Socket LGA 2011, Intel X79 Express)

CPU

Intel Core i7-3930K (LGA2011, 3.2GHz, L3 12MB) @4.3GHz, 1.36V

Thermalright TRUE Spirit 120M

RAM

4 x DDR3-1333 4096MB Transcend PC3-10600

Video cards

Zotac GeForce GTX 480 AMP!

HDD

western digital Caviar Blue 1TB (WD10EALX)

Spire SwordFin SP9007B with two 120mm fans

Wattmeter

Seasonic PowerAngel

multimeter

Measurements were made in two modes: simple and maximum load, which was created by the Linpack and FurMark 1.10.4 utilities. During testing, the total power consumption of the system was measured using the Seasonic PowerAngel device, the voltage on the power lines was +12V; +5V; +3.3V was measured with a MASTECH MY64 multimeter.

As a result of measuring the supply voltage on the output power lines, the following values ​​were obtained:

CHIEFTEC APS-550SB

Seasonic M12II-650 Bronze

Value, V

Deviation, %

Value, V

Deviation, %

Value, V

Deviation, %

Input power consumption, W

The voltage stabilization system coped well with a powerful gaming configuration. All voltages, regardless of the nature of the load, remained within acceptable limits. A small voltage drop was observed only on the +12V line, but the -0.8% deviation can hardly be called significant.

CHIEFTEC APS-650CB input power level different modes operation ("Idle", "Burn") is comparable to other power supplies that comply with the 80 PLUS Bronze standard.

Power consumption when the computer is idle and off

Power supplies

Power consumption in mode, W

CHIEFTEC APS-550SB

Seasonic M12II-650 Bronze

The same can be said about the power consumption of the CHIEFTEC APS-650CB power supply when the computer is off and in sleep mode. According to this parameter, it can also be put on a par with other "bronze" devices.

conclusions

Based on the results of testing, we can safely say that it has every chance of becoming a "people's" power supply. At a relatively low cost, it is distinguished by the good condition of the output power lines under different types loads, as well as high efficiency (81 - 85%). Liked and internal organization this model. Unlike budget blocks, all the necessary nodes are present here, and the element base is far from the worst quality. CHIEFTEC APS-650CB has a rated power of 650 W and two 6 + 2-pin PCIE connectors, which will allow it to be used in fairly powerful systems. In the latter, we ourselves were convinced in practice during testing. In addition, almost all cables are made detachable, which greatly simplifies their installation.

But, this model has one serious drawback, which for some users can negate all its advantages. We are talking about the cooling system, or rather even about its active part - the fan. Yes, it works very quietly, but at the same time it is not efficient enough. Under high continuous loads, we observed overheating of some components. So, when buying CHIEFTEC APS-650CB, you should also pay great attention to the ventilation of the case.

In general, CHIEFTEC APS-650CB can be called good choice in his price segment. But, it’s not the most best implementation cooling systems.

Advantages:

  • relatively high efficiency (compliance with the 80 PLUS Bronze standard);
  • partial modular organization of cables;
  • the presence of two 6 + 2-pin connectors for additional power supply for video cards;
  • good voltage condition on the power lines + 12V, + 5V, + 3.3V under heavy load;
    • thermal right , Transcend , western digital and ZOTAC for the equipment provided for the test bench.

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Chieftec is known in Russia and Europe for its cases and power supplies. The popular A-135 family has recently been updated to include models with and without modular cabling. The updated A-135 family also has increased efficiency. Our test lab received a power supply entry level APS-550SB without modular cabling, which we'll take a close look at.

The updated A-135 family power supplies are available in two versions. The fixed cable options range from 400W to 650W and can be identified by the addition of "SB" to the name. These power supplies can be recommended to price-sensitive consumers, but Chieftec has abandoned paint spraying, which is not very appealing to gamers.

The second version of the A-135 boasts not only modular cabling, but also improved appearance. The "CB" options are available in 550-850W, the dark gray finish does seem visually more appealing. Other key performance and efficiency characteristics are broadly comparable.


550W Chieftec A-135 fixed cabling power supply

The features of the "new" A-135 power supplies are adapted to their price and performance class, but in general the A-135 models left a positive impression. The use of a 135mm fan is not standard. In terms of performance and efficiency, the power supplies showed the expected high level.

As for the prices for the A-135 power supplies, we did not get an advantage compared to competitors - they are on a comparable level with direct competitors, such as the Corsair CX family, which we recently tested - see. The Chieftec APS-550SB power supply discussed in the article will cost 2.1 thousand rubles in Russia (62 euros in Europe), which corresponds to the Corsair CX500 price level of about 2.3 thousand rubles in Russia (52 euros) and is cheaper than a better equipped CX600M for 2.9 thousand rubles (69 euros). In Europe, the direct competitors of the A-135 are the be quiet! pure power L8 and Cougar PowerX.

Below are the specifications of the A-135 APS-550SB (550 W) in tabular form:

Comparison of technical specifications
Manufacturer and
model		 Chieftec
A-135 Series PSU without modular connection
550 W
Model APS-550SB
Retail price about 2.1 thousand rubles in Russia
about 62 euros in Europe
Products webpage APS-550SB Official Page
Performance
+3.3 V 22A
+5 V 22A
+12V1 22A
+12V2 22A
+5Vsb 2.5A
-12V 0.3A
Power 12V 495 W
Power 3.3V and 5V 120 W
general power 550 W
Interfaces
ATX 24(20+4)-cont.
EPS/12V/CPU 1x 8(4+4)-cont.
PCI Express
(6P / 8(6+2)P / 8P)		 0 / 2 / 0
SATA 6
4-pin Molex 3
Drive 2
Functions
Efficiency 80PLUS Bronze
Dimensions (LxWxH) 155 x 150 x 86mm
Fan 135 mm
Modular cable connection Not
Manufacturer's Warranty 2 years
Additionally -

Let's start with a photo of the APS-550SB box.


We can say that the box uses a "simple design".

The power supply is packaged in a box with bubble wrap, which should be enough to protect it during shipping. The delivery set does not differ in any additional accessories.


The APS-550SB power supply comes with standard accessories.

Chieftec included a user manual, power cable and mounting screws in the package. The user manual is written in several languages, it seems thick, but in fact it has two pages per language.

On the next page, we'll take a closer look at the Chieftec APS-550SB.

< > Test and Review: Chieftec APS-550SB (A-135) - Budget 80 Plus Bronze 550W PSU

In June 2013, Chieftec introduced the updated A-135 series, which includes 11 PSU models ranging from 400 to 1000 watts. The series includes models with both disconnected wires (the so-called modular PSUs) and fixed ones (standard PSUs). The latter have a power range from 400 to 650 W in 50 W increments, and modular PSUs are represented by 550, 650, 750, 850 and 1000 W models.

We will introduce the Chieftec APS-750CB power supply, which is a 750W power supply with modular wiring.

The packaging is a cardinally black box with a carrying handle. The power supply case is also painted black, which is quite typical of the latest Chieftec solutions with modular wires.

Characteristics

All the necessary parameters are indicated on the power supply case in full, for the power of the + 12VDC bus, the value of 750 W is declared. The +12VDC bus power to full power ratio is 1, which is, of course, an excellent indicator.

Wire length and number of connectors


fixed
to the main ATX connector - 50 cm
to processor socket 8 pin SSI - 58 cm
Modular
to PCI-E 2.0 VGA Power Connector - 47 cm
to PCI-E 2.0 VGA Power Connector - 47 cm
to PCI-E 2.0 VGA Power Connector - 47 cm
to the first SATA Power Connector - 45 cm, plus 15 cm to the second and another 15 cm to the third of the same connector
to the first SATA Power Connector - 45 cm, plus 15 cm to the second and another 15 cm to the third of the same connector
to the first Peripheral Connector (molex) - 45 cm, plus 15 cm to the second and another 15 cm to the third of the same connector, plus 15 cm to the FDD power connector

Connector nameNumber of connectorsNote
24 pin Main Power Connector1 collapsible
4 pin 12V Power ConnectorNo
8 pin SSI Processor Connector2 one collapsible
6 pin PCI-E 1.0 VGA Power ConnectorNo
8 pin PCI-E 2.0 VGA Power Connector4 collapsible
4 pin Peripheral Connector3 ergonomic
15 pin Serial ATA Connector9 on 3 strands
4 pin Floppy Drive Connector1

This power supply uses the so-called modular wire connection system with connectors for powering components inside system block. This design allows you to remove unused wiring harnesses, freeing up more space and giving a neater look to the inside of the system unit.

The number of connectors and their location on the wiring harnesses, although not ideal, nevertheless deserves a good rating. Nine SATA Power connectors on three harnesses, as well as the ability to disconnect extra wires for powering video cards, make this model quite convenient. Unless it would be nice to make one of the harnesses with the processor power connector disconnectable.

Regarding the length of the wires to the connectors - it is quite standard for this price category. The length of the wires to the processor power connector is somewhat increased compared to the standard 50 centimeters and is about 58 centimeters. This length will be sufficient for almost any case with a top-mounted power supply, it will also be sufficient for almost all miditower cases with a bottom-mounted power supply, but for full tower and larger cases with a bottom-mounted power supply, the length of the wires to the processor power connector may not be sufficient.

Cooling system

The power supply is equipped with a 135 mm fan (RL4Z S1352512HH), which, according to the manufacturer, has a maximum rotation speed of 1800 rpm. The fan is based on a sleeve bearing. Fan produced by Globe Fan.

It should be taken into account that the use of a fan based on a boundary type bearing is not optimal in a power supply due to the low resource of such bearings when operating at high temperatures and dusty conditions. But in relatively inexpensive products, fans of this type are widely used as they are cheaper than ball bearing fans.

The main semiconductor elements are mounted on two medium-sized radiators with a base thickness of 4.5 mm.

Independent power converters for +3.3VDC and +5VDC channels are located on daughter boards and do not have additional heat dissipators.

A 390 uF (400 V) Su'scon capacitor is installed in the high-voltage part, and mainly Su'scon capacitors of various ratings are also installed in the output stage.

Power supply testing

The first stage of testing is operating the power supply at maximum power long time. Such a test with confidence allows you to verify the performance of the PSU.

In this case, no problems arose, the voltage values ​​\u200b\u200bhave small deviations from the nominal value.

The next stage of instrumental testing is construction of cross-load characteristics (CNC) and its representation on a quarter-plane, limited by the maximum power on the 3.3 & 5 V bus on the one hand (along the ordinate axis) and the maximum power on the 12 V bus on the other hand - along the abscissa axis. At each point, the measured voltage value is indicated by a color marker depending on the deviation from the nominal value.

Size designation deviations of output voltages from the nominal value
ColorDeviation rangeQualitative assessment
more than five percentunsatisfactory
+5 percentpoorly
+4 percentsatisfactorily
+3 percentGood
+2 percentvery good
1 percent or lessGreat
−2 percentvery good
−3 percentGood
−4 percentsatisfactorily
−5 percentpoorly
more than five percentunsatisfactory

It is worth clarifying that if there are deviations within three percent, the parameters of the power supply can be considered to be at a good level.

In this model, in the entire tested power range, there are no deviations of more than five percent - the measured voltage values ​​\u200b\u200bmanaged to meet three percent deviations, which is a good indicator.

With a typical distribution of power across the channels, the output parameters of the power supply are at a very good level.

During the next stage of testing, we measure the parameters of the power grid alternating current, to which the investigated power supply is connected, when the latter is operating at constant power. Based on the data obtained, the parameters that determine the efficiency and effectiveness of the power source are calculated.


Operation without load
ModeI, AP, W
PWR_Off0,049 0,2
STB0,098 0,3
Zload0,127 10,5

At a power of 50 watts, the PSU dissipates about 22 watts, and at maximum it already dissipates about 138 watts. It dissipates 100 W at a power of about 600 W, at the same power the last surge in the increase in the increment of dissipated power was noted. Thus, from an economic point of view this model has an optimal range, limited from above by a value of 600 watts. Economy is not strong point this model.

According to our measurements, the efficiency of this PSU reaches over 85% in the power range from 200 to 700 watts, the maximum recorded value was about 87.7% at a power of 300 watts. At the same time, the efficiency at a power of 50 W was about 69%, at a power of 42 W - about 65%. This is an average figure for modern power supplies of similar power and equivalent cost, you should not expect any records from such solutions.

Noise level measurement

In preparing this material, we continued to use a new method for measuring the noise level of power supplies, which still has experimental status. The power supply is located on a flat surface with the fan up, above it at a distance of 0.35 meters is placed the measuring microphone of the Octava 110A-Eco sound level meter, which measures the noise level. The power supply is loaded using a special stand that has a silent mode of operation. During the noise level measurement, the power supply is operated at constant power for 20 minutes, after which the noise level is measured.

Such a distance to the measurement object is the closest for the desktop placement of the system unit with the power supply installed. This method allows you to evaluate the noise level of the power supply in harsh environments in terms of short distance from the noise source to the user. With an increase in the distance to the noise source and the appearance of additional barriers with good sound reflecting ability, the noise level in checkpoint will also decrease, leading to an improvement in acoustic ergonomics in general.

The noise level of this model when operating in the power range from 50 to 350 W approaches the average typical value when the PSU is located in the near field; with a more significant removal of the power supply and placing it under the table in a case with a lower PSU location, such noise can be interpreted as being at a level below average. In the daytime in a residential area, a source with a similar noise level will not be too noticeable, especially at a distance of a meter or more, and even more so it will be hardly noticeable in an office room, since the background noise in offices is usually higher than in residential areas. At night, a source with such a noise level will be clearly visible, it will be difficult to sleep nearby. This noise level can be considered comfortable when working at a computer.

At a load of 500 W, the noise of the power supply overcomes the ergonomic level of 40 dBA when placed on a desktop, that is, when the power supply is located in the near field in relation to the user.

The noise level during operation at maximum power can be described as high. Being in the near field from such a noise source for a long time is already uncomfortable even in an office environment. With a greater distance, such a source will still attract attention, but it will become less annoying.

For lovers of silence, a model with similar characteristics will not work, at the same time, the power consumption of the computers of the vast majority of users does not exceed 350 W, and with such power, the power supply will not stand out much against the background of computer components with stock cooling systems.

We also evaluate the noise level of the power supply electronics, as in some cases it is a source of annoying sounds. This evaluation is carried out by determining the difference between the noise level in our laboratory with the power supply on and off. If the obtained value is within 5 dBA, then there are no deviations in the acoustic properties of the PSU. With a difference of more than 10 dBA, as a rule, there are certain defects that can be heard at a distance of about half a meter.

At this stage of measurements, the sound level meter microphone is located at a distance of about 40 mm from the upper plane of the PSU, since it is very difficult to measure electronic noise at greater distances. The measurement is carried out in two modes: standby mode (STB or Stand by) and when the PSU is working on the load, but with the fan forcedly stopped.

In this case, the noise level of the electronics is minimal, the main contribution to the overall noise level of the power supply is made by a running fan.

Assessment of consumer qualities

Consumer qualities of this product are at the average level. Of the significant shortcomings, we note not the most successful acoustic ergonomics: even in idle mode, the noise level cannot be called low, but under typical loads, the noise is still within ergonomic limits, but under high load, the noise level becomes very significant. The electrical characteristics of the model are at a quite decent level, especially for a budget solution. The rest of the parameters are at or near the average level.

Based on the combination of consumer qualities that the tested power supply demonstrated, we can conclude that this model will be most successful in displaying its advantages in productive systems with a powerful video subsystem, but on the condition that the computer does not require improved acoustic ergonomics.

This model is a good option for those who want to save money when buying a PSU for very powerful systems. The power supply can be attributed to the lower segment of the mid-budget range - this is not yet an economy, but already close to it.

Results

About a year ago, we reviewed the Chieftec CTG-750C power supply from the updated A-80 series, which, in theory, has a lower positioning than the A-135 series, of which the APS-750CB is a representative. It is all the more interesting to discover the advantage of the CTG-750C in some respects: in particular, its acoustic ergonomics are better, the wires are longer, but there are fewer connectors and the electrical characteristics are slightly worse. It costs less, and the power of the + 12VDC bus is 102 watts less, but for the majority, even 600 watts on this channel is very redundant.

Power supply Chieftec APS-750CB provided for testing by the manufacturer

A year ago we already considered Chieftec power supplies, but then the new A135 series (APS-xxxS and APS-xxxC models) did not enter our laboratory - and today we are correcting this omission. In addition, today we will consider the Chieftec CFT-600-14CS power supply - compared to the heroes of the previous article, one letter has been added to its name. Since it is models with the “CS” suffix that currently dominate the sale, readers have repeatedly asked us how the CFT-xxx-14CS differ from the CFT-xxx-14C we tested earlier.

Test Methodology

A description of the testing methodology, the equipment we use, as well as a brief explanation of what these or those passport or measured power supply parameters mean in practice, can be found at the following link: " Power supply testing methodology". If you feel that you are not well versed in the numbers and terms that the article abounds in, please read the relevant sections of the specified description, we hope it will clarify many questions.

You can get acquainted with the full list of models that have been in our laboratory at the link " Catalog of tested power supplies».

On the diagrams of the cross-load characteristics of the blocks, we will mark with crosses the real maximum power consumption of the three most powerful configurations of gaming computers that we tested in the material "", which allows us to assess how necessary or sufficient each power supply is for fairly typical modern computers.

Chieftec A135 Series: APS-550S

The first block in today's article is a representative of the A135 series, which includes models with power from 350 to 850 watts. Internally, it is divided into two partially overlapping sub-series: 350 to 550 watts and 500 to 850 watts.

The unit comes in a small cardboard box that lists its many features, but there is no word - on either side - about specific features.

The UL certificate number - E320351 - tells us that the unit was manufactured for Chieftec by Sirfa, whose products we have already met. If this name does not tell you anything, let us clarify that Sirfa was formed two years ago on the basis of one of the Sirtec factories, whose products we have encountered dozens of times.




The block is made in a simple gray case of almost standard size - its length is 160 mm, which allows you to install a 140 mm fan. Pay attention to how the case is molded around the fan: it looks like Chieftec is adopting Enermax experience, whose engineers believe that reducing the gap between the case and the fan reduces the noise level of the unit by 1-2 dB.



Inside, we see a layout that is quite typical for modern blocks: the power elements are spaced apart by three radiators, which, due to the high efficiency and low heat dissipation of the block electronics, are made of simple smooth aluminum plates. PFC - active, voltage stabilization - group.



The unit uses Teapo capacitors that have a good reputation - so you can hope for a long life. The quality of assembly and soldering is also generally satisfactory.


a motherboard power cable with a 24-pin connector, 42 cm long;
processor power cable with 8- and 4-pin connectors, 41+16 cm long;
a video card power cable with two 6-pin connectors, 41 + 16 cm long;
a cable with three power connectors for PATA hard drives and one for a floppy drive, 41+15+15+15 cm long;
two cables with three power connectors for SATA hard drives on each, 42 + 16 + 16 cm long.

The kit raises some complaints: both the short length of the wires and the lack of a second power connector for the video card - the power of the unit is quite enough for older models with two connectors. In large cases, the length of the loops may not be enough to connect hard drives, and in cases with a lower PSU location, which are becoming more and more now, it is almost guaranteed that the length of the processor power cable will not be enough.

Passport parameters



The unit is designed for load power up to 550 W, of which it can deliver up to 450 W via the +12 V bus - thus, its effective power (that is, the one we can get in a real computer, the main consumption of which falls on +12 V ) about 500 W, which is not bad. The +12 V bus is divided into two "virtual" lines of 25 A each.



The voltage stability of the APS-550S is very good, especially considering that this unit does not have additional independent stabilization. In fact, the voltages go beyond the permissible limits only when the load is strongly skewed towards +5 V and +3.3 V, which does not happen in real computers. Our real systems - their consumption is marked with crosses - fall into the "green zone", that is, the deviation of the block voltage from the nominal value does not exceed 3%.




The range of output ripples at maximum load slightly exceeds the allowable limits on the +5 V bus - but since only single narrow peaks jump out beyond the 50-mV border, in principle, you can close your eyes to this: they will not affect the stability of the computer. On the other two tires everything is in perfect order.

Noisiness


The block is equipped with a Globe Fan RL4Z S1352512H fan, a quarter of the impeller of which is covered with a film - this helps to direct the flow to the back of the power supply and avoid the formation of “stagnant zones” in it with a low air speed.


Under light loads, the fan rotates at less than 700 rpm, making it virtually silent. At a load of more than 200 W, the rotation speed begins to increase linearly, and at 300-350 W, air noise becomes confidently distinguishable. The maximum fan speed is 1430 rpm, the unit is perfectly audible on it, but we can say that its noise level remains within reasonable limits, and the fan sound does not turn into a roar.

Pairing with a UPS

Paired with APC SmartUPS SC 620, the unit worked with a load of up to 362 W when powered from the mains, but when switching to batteries, the UPS turned off after 2-3 seconds at a load of 350 W and after 5-7 seconds at a load of 300 W. Therefore, compatibility with the UPS is poor, it is recommended to use a UPS with either a significant power reserve or a sinusoidal output voltage.

Efficiency and power factor


The block demonstrates good, but not a record efficiency - at the level of 85-86%. Of the pluses, it can be noted that the efficiency rather weakly depends on the load on the unit, it drops below 83% only at powers of the order of 60 watts.

Standby power supply


The standby source, designed for a current of up to 2.5 A, coped with its task without problems: under full load, its voltage turned out to be only slightly lower than the nominal five volts.

Outcome

The only thing you can seriously complain about in the case of the Chieftec APS-550S is the relatively modest length of the cables: from the block to the first connector no more than 42 cm, which can be a problem for owners of large cases. However, if you have a small case, the APS-550S will be a good choice - it is a neat, stable, quiet and at the same time relatively inexpensive (about 2100 rubles in Moscow retail) power supply.

Chieftec Super Series: CFT-600-14CS

Earlier we already considered Chiftec power supplies with very similar names - only the "S" at the end was missing from the model code. The only difference that can be seen from the official description is that for the blocks of the 14CS series, compliance with the 80 + PLUS standard, which determines the minimum possible efficiency, is not indicated.


The unit comes in a medium-sized box, which, like other Chieftec models, only shows various advantages, but, alas, there are no plates with specific characteristics.

Appearance, internal structure, set of cables and connectors



The block is made in a black case, the length is 160 mm.



Having removed the cover, we easily recognize the Channel Well PSH platform, which we have already met under so many names that we can’t remember everyone - Chieftec (yes, Turbo Series CFT-xxx-14C blocks were made on it), Thermaltake, Corsair , Xigmatek and many, many others.

The love of manufacturers for this platform is, in principle, understandable: it is a solid modern block with active PFC and independent voltage stabilization, demonstrates stable work, good quality and reliability. About the work, however, we will talk more below, but about the quality we can already say - visual inspection did not reveal any problems.



Like the APS series, these units use Teapo electrolytic capacitors, which have a good reputation.



Chieftec CFT-600-14CS is a block with modular cables, which is very convenient, especially when assembling computers in cramped cases, where it is difficult to hide a huge bundle of unused cables. The connectors are regular Molex Mini-Fir Jr., differing from each other in shape and color depending on which cable is connected to them.

The designations "V1", "V2" and so on indicate which particular +12 V line is connected to which group of connectors. It is somewhat strange that two lines are allocated to the processor, while two lines of video cards are allocated one: modern video cards consume much more processors. With some monster of the GeForce GTX 295 class, a stupid situation can turn out: the 18 A available on two regular cables under full load is simply not enough for it, and one of the card's power connectors will have to be connected through an adapter to the hard drive power cables. Apparently, Chieftec considered that the owners of such video cards would prefer to buy more powerful block- although actually 600 watts is enough for a very serious gaming computer.

In general, the unit is equipped with the following cables and connectors:

motherboard power cable with a 24-pin connector, 47 cm long;
a processor power cable with a 4-pin connector, 50 cm long;
connector for the processor power cable;
two connectors for power cables for video cards;


processor power cable with 8-pin connector, 49 cm long;
video card power cable with 6 + 2-pin connector, 49 cm long;
video card power cable with 8-pin connector, 49 cm long;
a cable with two power connectors for PATA hard drives and one for a floppy drive, 49+15+15 cm long;
a cable with two power connectors for PATA-hard drives, 49+15 cm long;
two cables with three power connectors for SATA hard drives on each, 47 + 15 + 15 cm long.

As in the case of the previous block, one can complain about the relatively short length of the wires - since they are made removable, it would be possible to bring them up to 60 cm at the same time, so that there would definitely not be problems even in large cases. Also, nesting the same number of SATA and PATA cables looks like an anachronism - as a result, connecting four hard drives to this unit will be inconvenient, since one SATA cable will go to the DVD drive, which is usually far from the hard drives, and on the second there are only three connectors.

However, in general, the set of cables is adequate, it will satisfy most users.

Passport parameters



The unit can supply almost all available power via the +12 V bus, divided into four “virtual” lines of 18 A each. As we said a little higher, they are not distributed among the connectors in the most optimal way - two for the processor and one for video cards. It would be wiser to either increase the current of the lines to 22-25 A, or to allocate two lines to video cards, so that the user is guaranteed not to get into a situation where the top-end 18 A video card installed by him is not enough, and he will have to connect its power through an adapter.

Output voltage stability


The voltages are kept perfectly: the main bus, +12 V, fits into a 1% deviation from the nominal value, the other two buses - into a 3%! Excellent result.

Output voltage ripple



At the maximum load on the unit, the range of output voltage ripples is within the allowable limits.

Noisiness



The unit is equipped with a 140 mm Yate Loon fan, slightly less than half of the impellers are covered with plastic.


The fan starts at 1000 rpm and stays at this speed until a load of more than 300 watts. At the same time, air noise is audible, but its level is within comfortable limits, so from the point of view of acoustics, the CFT-600-14CS can be attributed to average models: not silent, but within reason. When the load approaches 500 W, the unit, on the contrary, becomes very noisy.

Pairing with a UPS

Paired with an APC SmartUPS SC 620, the unit ran up to 370W on both mains and battery power. The transition to batteries was normal, the UPS worked stably.

Efficiency and power factor


Despite the lack of mention of "80+PLUS" on the label of the unit, its efficiency remained above 80% over a wide range of loads - at least when powered by 220 V. The maximum recorded efficiency was 86%.

Standby power supply


The standby power supply in the block is designed for current up to 3.0 A, and it copes with this load perfectly.

Outcome

If we compare the CFT-600-14CS with the APS-550S, then the first one, in addition to greater power, has three advantages: more stable voltages, trouble-free operation in tandem with a UPS, and removable cables. Of these, only the last two can become significant, since with the distribution of loads typical of modern computers, the APS-550S also does not go beyond a 3% voltage deviation.

On the other hand, the APS-550S is quieter in operation, and it costs significantly - 600-700 rubles - cheaper.

Finally, if we compare CFT-600-14CS and CFT-600-14C, then there is actually no difference between them from the user's point of view.

Chieftec A135 Series: APS-750C

The last of the blocks we are considering belongs to the A135 series, but it differs from the APS-550S studied above not only in power, but also in the letter index - “C” at the end of the marking. What will be the difference in practice?



The power supply comes in a medium-sized box, designed in a familiar style.

Appearance, internal structure, set of cables and connectors



Unlike the gray APS-550S, the body of the APS-750C is matte black. Other major differences when viewed from the front are not visible - except that the power switch has become different.



But this cannot be said about the internal structure: obviously, we simply have a different power supply than the APS-550S. The layout has changed, the radiators have become much larger, independent voltage stabilization has been added, and most importantly, a board with connectors for connecting removable loops is visible on the back wall. At the same time, the block manufacturer remained the same - the Sirfa company.



Four connectors for powering video cards already simply obliged the manufacturer to distribute two +12 V lines on them in order to provide sufficient load capacity. If you have one powerful video card (for example, one of the two-chip models), it would be wiser to connect one of its connectors to V3, and the other to V4, in order to obviously avoid a situation where protection in the unit will work due to an overload not in terms of total power , but by the current of one "virtual" line.

A small minus of the block is that the configuration of the "keys" of the connectors allows you to plug the hard drive power cable into the video card connector. Be careful and watch the color of the plug-in connectors: black to black, red to red.

The unit is equipped with the following cables and connectors:

motherboard power cable with a 24-pin connector, 51 cm long;
processor power cable with 4 + 4-pin connector, 52 cm long;
processor power cable with 8-pin connector, 51 cm long;
four connectors for power cables for video cards;
four connectors for peripheral power cables.

The unit comes with:

two power cables for video cards with one 6-pin connector on each, 45 cm long;
two power cables for video cards with one 6 + 2-pin connector on each, 45 cm long;
two cables with three power connectors for PATA hard drives and one for a floppy drive on each, 45+16+16+16 cm long;
two cables with three power connectors for SATA hard drives on each, 45 + 16 + 16 cm long.

The set of connectors is generally normal, however, if we are to quibble, we would like to note that on a 750-watt block we would like to see longer cables, at least for connecting a processor - 52 cm in most cases with a lower block location is not enough to reach for the socket motherboard. Also, the manufacturer should have put one more SATA cable in the box, perhaps at the cost of a PATA cable that is not very necessary in our time.

Passport parameters



Out of 750 W of total power, the unit can deliver up to 650 W via the +12 V bus, divided into four virtual lines.

Output voltage stability


Despite independent stabilization, the APS-750C performed slightly worse than the CFT-600-14CS in this test. However, under typical loads, all three main stresses were kept within 3%, and not a single one went beyond the 4% deviation under any circumstances. allowable loads, so from this point of view, the unit works out the declared power absolutely honestly.

Output voltage ripple



On the +5 V rail at full load, individual narrow peaks were knocked out of the allowable ripple limits, but not significantly - so you can ignore this. The rest of the block met the requirements of the ATX12V standard with a margin.

Noisiness



The unit is equipped with a 140mm fan manufactured by Globe Fan, with about a quarter of the impeller area covered by a transparent plate - this helps to direct air to the rear of the unit and avoid the appearance of "dead zones".


The fan starts at a speed of less than 900 rpm, but at the same time, the unit cannot be called completely quiet - with increasing load, the rotation speed increases and already at 300 W it exceeds 1000 rpm. Thus, the APS-750C can be classified as a medium-noisy unit - it will suit most users, especially with a small load, but big connoisseurs of silence may not like it.

Pairing with a UPS

The unit was paired with an APC SmartUPS SC 620 with a load of up to 360W on mains power, but even with a 300W load, the UPS turned off 1-2 seconds after switching to batteries.

Efficiency and power factor


The unit showed a maximum efficiency of about 86%, but at low loads it quickly fell below 80%.

Standby power supply


The standby source copes with its task without problems: at maximum load, it output voltage does not drop below 5.0 V.

Outcome

Summing up, we can say that the Chieftec A135 Series APS-750C is a good, but not outstanding unit: it works stably and quietly, but still not silently, and besides, it is not good friends with a UPS, at least with a non-sinusoidal output voltage. It should not be confused with models of the same A135 series, but with the letter "S" at the end - they are built on different platforms, so that their characteristics differ, albeit not very significantly (at least in terms of practical use). If we compare the APS-750C with the Chieftec CFT-750-14C, then neither of them has a clear advantage - the first is a little quieter, but the second works fine with a UPS. At the same time, both of them have one drawback - not too long wires, which may not be enough when assembling a computer in large corps.

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