Is 80 Plus certification an indication of the quality of a power supply?

A computer power supply is one of the most essential computer components. It has a number of important parameters that should be followed when choosing the right model. One of the most obvious is the 80 Plus certification in the appropriate color. Many people equate the presence of the proverbial 80 Plus sticker, with a good and reliable unit, but is it right?

What are 80 Plus certifications?

The 80 Plus certification was first unveiled in 2004 to promote the creation of
energy-efficient computer power supplies. Such a certificate could be obtained by a power supply that achieved a certain specified efficiency at 20, 50 and 100% load. In addition, it had to achieve a power factor above 0.9 at nominal load. Such requirements ensured that certified equipment offered high efficiency across the entire spectrum of its operation, not just within a narrow range. It is worth noting here that switching power supplies typically achieve their highest efficiency at 50% load,

Other certifications like 80 Plus followed: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Titanum. Each successive one has become more and more restrictive in terms of efficiency, with manufacturers scrambling to be able to display a badge on their product’s packaging, confirming that specific criteria have been met. Below are the requirements that a power supply must meet to be certified in the appropriate color.

Efficiency of 80%? What about the rest of the energy?

If we drive a car, do we use 100% of the energy we get from burning the fuel mixture? No, much of what we manage to obtain goes into the proverbial sand. Friction between the engine’s mechanical components, friction, resistance to movement and, above all, heat. A similar situation exists inside computer power supplies. All the processes that take place inside it cause some loss of energy, which is then converted into heat. The consequence of this phenomenon is that a power supply with higher efficiency will heat up much less than its inferior brethren.

Higher efficiency also means no compulsion to use more efficient cooling systems. Consequently, the volume of the power supply will usually be lower. Here, however, it is worth noting – the noise that comes to us from a power supply will largely depend on the cooling used in it. Even the most economical power supply can turn out to be very noisy if a low-quality fan is used in it.

Which 80 Plus certification is worth considering?

Currently, the most popular certifications we can encounter are 80 Plus Bronze, especially in cheaper models, and 80 Plus Gold usually encountered in mid-range products.
You are unlikely to find new units in stores anymore that have no certification, or a basic 80 Plus. This is due to the fact that the requirements for the brown certificate are not much higher than for the basic one. Currently, it is no longer a challenge to create a power supply that achieves the requirements necessary to obtain, at least a basic energy efficiency badge.
As for Platinum and Titanum attestations, however, it should be borne in mind that practically only top power supplies have them. The choice of units with such a badge may be dictated by the purchase of a very expensive and current-consuming computer, or if we have really high requirements for the power supply and its efficiency.
Of course, this description is a very large generalization and should not be taken as rigid criteria. There will certainly be cases that break out of this description.

Is 80 Plus certification an indicator of quality?

Power supply manufacturers are increasingly eager to boast about the presence of the 80 Plus certification. For this reason, a dangerous myth has grown up, saying that the presence of the badge in question determines whether a power supply is worthy of choice. This is a very harmful belief, since even the most budget-oriented proposals increasingly carry the 80 Plus mark in silver or gold.

The efficiency of a power supply is only one of many parameters that define a good power supply. The presence of individual protections, ripple, voltage maintenance under cross-loading, or the quality of the components used are other categories in which power supplies should be classified. Unfortunately, none of the manufacturers or stores will provide us with information on most of the issues mentioned above.

The 80 Plus certification is a convenient parameter that power supply manufacturers can easily claim. It is one of the few tangible examples that show that a power supply meets certain standards. Other power supply performance is no longer so easily standardized, and you have to look a little deeper to find out more about a particular model.

So where to get information on whether a particular power supply is worth considering?

First of all, we should tell ourselves that it is a bad idea to look only at who is the manufacturer of the power supply we are interested in. Some people may start laughing at this point, because, after all, power supplies from manufacturer X or Y are recommended. Fact, they are recommended, but only specific models. Unfortunately, reality is not black and white and each manufacturer has better and worse products. Power supply manufacturers are no exception here – they, too, happen to release units that have their ills and after thorough testing it turns out that a better option would be to look for something else.

Personally, I adhere to the rule not to approach any new power supply with excessive enthusiasm. The fact that the previous series of a particular manufacturer beats the records of popularity does not mean that the latest model will also follow this path. Some manufacturers, seeing the great interest in the market, release new versions of the same product, but already with changed specifications.

Wanting to find out whether a particular model of power supply represents something more than the bold assurances of the manufacturer, I suggest reaching out to foreign reviews by independent editors. First of all, they have a wealth of knowledge and equipment that is required for in-depth analysis and testing of power supplies. They focus on every aspect of the power supply that directly, or indirectly, affects the performance of the computer. In addition, they look at all the functionalities that the manufacturer has offered in its product and analyze each of them with a cool eye. At the end, they give their rating and summarize the entire review. Thanks to this, we learn whether the discussed equipment, according to the experts, is worth recommending or not

I have also selected a few portals that, in my opinion, approach power supply tests as reliably and professionally as possible. These are the first places where I personally look for information on news in this market segment:

– Tom’s Hardware

– Kitguru

– Guru3D

– AnandTech

To sum up…

The 80 Plus certification is an important element to consider when choosing a new power supply. However, it in no way tells us whether a particular power supply can be called worthy of recommendation. The subject of power supplies is a very complex issue that could be contemplated for hours. Simplifying its selection to a minimum is no small mistake, which, in a critical situation, can even cost several thousand zlotys. Before choosing a particular power supply, first of all, you should read, or watch its review in a trusted source. With the appropriate body of knowledge, you can in good conscience decide to buy a particular unit. Another option is to advise an expert in this field. He will choose the right model and power depending on your budget and the components used.