Antec VPA500P Power Supply Review

Contents

Load Testing

Test 1 (73.78W Load)

Rail	Load	Voltage	Ripple
12V	2.3A	12.48V	8.4mV
5V	5.02A	5.02V	6.4mV
3.3V	4.88A	3.32V	6.0mV
-12V	0.1A	-11.62V	11.4mV
5Vsb	0.5A	5.04V	7.0mV
AC Power	93.2W
Efficiency	79.16%
Power Factor	0.85
Intake Temp	28°C
Exhaust Temp	30°C

Test 2 (163.39W Load)

Rail	Load	Voltage	Ripple
12V	9.4A	12.32V	9.6mV
5V	5.04A	5.04V	6.4mV
3.3V	4.85A	3.3V	7.0mV
-12V	0.1A	-11.7V	12.8mV
5Vsb	1A	5.01V	9.8mV
AC Power	197.8W
Efficiency	82.60%
Power Factor	0.97
Intake Temp	28°C
Exhaust Temp	33°C

Test 3 (207.74W Load)

Rail	Load	Voltage	Ripple
12V	9.6A	12.49V	11.0mV
5V	9.88A	4.94V	8.6mV
3.3V	9.91A	3.27V	7.6mV
-12V	0.1A	-11.91V	14.8mV
5Vsb	0.99A	4.97V	10.2mV
AC Power	249.0W
Efficiency	83.23%
Power Factor	0.97
Intake Temp	28°C
Exhaust Temp	33°C

Test 4 (263.38W Load)

Rail	Load	Voltage	Ripple
12V	14.2A	12.4V	11.6mV
5V	9.9A	4.95V	8.8mV
3.3V	9.88A	3.26V	7.8mV
-12V	0.1A	-11.97V	15.6mV
5Vsb	0.99A	4.95V	10.8mV
AC Power	82.70%
Efficiency	318.5W
Power Factor	0.99
Intake Temp	28°C
Exhaust Temp	34°C

Test 5 (316.04W Load)

Rail	Load	Voltage	Ripple
12V	18.6A	12.31V	13.0mV
5V	9.9A	4.95V	9.0mV
3.3V	9.85A	3.25V	8.2mV
-12V	0.1A	-12.02V	17.0mV
5Vsb	0.99A	4.93V	11.6mV
AC Power	387.6W
Efficiency	81.54%
Power Factor	0.99
Intake Temp	30°C
Exhaust Temp	37°C

Test 6 (370.13W Load)

Rail	Load	Voltage	Ripple
12V	23.2A	12.21V	16.8mV
5V	9.92A	4.96V	10.2mV
3.3V	9.97A	3.23V	8.4mV
-12V	0.1A	-12.08V	20.0mV
5Vsb	0.98A	4.91V	12.2mV
AC Power	457.5W
Efficiency	80.90%
Power Factor	0.97
Intake Temp	31°C
Exhaust Temp	39°C

Test 7 (396.38W Load)

Rail	Load	Voltage	Ripple
12V	25.4A	12.17V	20.2mV
5V	9.94A	4.97V	11.2mV
3.3V	9.82A	3.24V	8.2mV
-12V	0.1A	-12.12V	21.2mV
5Vsb	0.98A	4.91V	12.2mV
AC Power	492.4W
Efficiency	80.50%
Power Factor	0.97
Intake Temp	31°C
Exhaust Temp	41°C

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Test 8 (455.5W Load)

Rail	Load	Voltage	Ripple
12V	27.8A	12.27V	24.6mV
5V	14.64A	4.88V	14.4mV
3.3V	9.7A	3.2V	8.0mV
-12V	0.2A	-12.27V	30.0mV
5Vsb	1.94A	4.85V	11.6mV
AC Power	575.6W
Efficiency	79.13%
Power Factor	0.97
Intake Temp	31°C
Exhaust Temp	43°C

Test 9 (507.14W Load)

Rail	Load	Voltage	Ripple
12V	32.0A	12.17V	30.6mV
5V	14.64A	4.88V	17.0mV
3.3V	9.67A	3.19V	8.8mV
-12V	0.31A	-12.26V	42.0mV
5Vsb	2.5A	4.83V	12.0mV
AC Power	655.0W
Efficiency	77.43%
Power Factor	0.98
Intake Temp	32°C
Exhaust Temp	45°C

Overload Test (553.81W Load)

Rail	Load	Voltage	Ripple
12V	36.2A	12.06V	37.2mV
5V	14.64A	4.88V	20.2mV
3.3V	9.61A	3.17V	10.0mV
-12V	0.31A	-12.36V	49.6mV
5Vsb	2.4A	4.8V	12.0mV
AC Power	729.1W
Efficiency	75.96%
Power Factor	0.98
Intake Temp	33°C
Exhaust Temp	49°C

The 12V rail’s highest value was 12.49V during Test 3. That gives us 0.49V (4.08%) regulation. It dropped to 12.17V during Tests 7 and 9, which gives us a drop of 0.32V, or 2.66%. The 5V rail had a maximum value of 5.04V, and a minimum of 4.88V. This gives us 2.4% regulation and a drop of 3.2%. The 3.3V’s maximum and minimum values were 3.32V and 3.19V respectively, which works out to be 3.33% regulation and 3.93% variation. This result is acceptable, but it’s not what we could call excellent, and not quite good enough not to get any points deducted.

The efficiency was reasonable, peaking at 83.23% at about 200W load, although it was below 80% both at light loads and at full load. I was able to overload the unit to 550W without incident. If I attempted to ask for 600W, it would run for about 30 seconds before shutting down – presumably because it was getting too hot. The difference between the intake and exhaust air temperature was 2°C during Test 1. At full power, the exhaust was 13°C hotter than the intake and when overloaded, 16° hotter.