Comparison be quiet! Straight Power 11 Platinum BN307 vs be quiet! Straight Power 11 BN283

Efficiency, in this case — the ratio of the power of the power supply (see "Power") to its power consumption. The higher the efficiency, the more efficient the power supply, the less energy it consumes from the network at the same output power, and the cheaper it is to operate. Efficiency may differ depending on the load; the characteristics can indicate both the minimum efficiency and its value at an average load (50%).

It should be noted that compliance with one or another level of 80PLUS efficiency directly depends on this indicator (for more details, see "Certificate").

The presence or absence of an 80+ certificate for the power supply. This certificate indicates high energy efficiency: to obtain it, the efficiency (see above) must be at least 80%, and in different modes (20%, 50% and 100% of the maximum load). There are several degrees of 80+:

— 80+. The original version of the certificate, assuming an efficiency of at least 82% (at least 85% for 50% load).

— 80+ White. The second name of the original 80+ certificate (see above).

— 80+ Bronze — efficiency not less than 85% (for half load — 88%).

— 80+ Silver — respectively 87% (90% for half load).

— 80+ Gold — 89% (92% for half load)

— 80+ Platinum — 90% (94% for half load).

— 80+ Titanium — 94% (96% for half load).

The power factor (see "PFC Type") must be at least 0.9 for the lower levels and at least 0.95 for the Platinum level. Also note that for redundant power used in server systems, the efficiency requirements are somewhat lower.

A standard for power supplies that supplements the ATX specifications regarding power supply along the 12 V line. Introduced into use since the time of the Intel Pentium 4 processor. In the first series of the standard, the +5 V line was mainly used; from version 2.0, the +12 V line was introduced to fully power the components computer. Also in the second generation, a 24-pin power connector appeared, used in most modern motherboards.

The presence of at least one Floppy power connector in the PSU.

Initially, this connector was intended to power floppy disk drives, hence the name. It is also known under the designation "mini-Molex". Anyway, this standard is generally considered obsolete, but it is still used by some specific types of components, and therefore continues to be used in power supplies.

The maximum current that the PSU is capable of issuing to the power line is -12V.

For more information about power lines in general, see "+3.3V". Here it is worth mentioning that 12 V is the most popular voltage among computer power connectors. However, most often it is used in the + 12V format; and the -12V line performs mainly a service function, it is almost never found in other connectors, except for the motherboard power plug (for 20 or 24 pins).

The maximum power that the PSU is capable of delivering to the + 12V power line.

See "Maximum current and power" for details on power lines in general. Here it is worth mentioning that 12 V is the most popular voltage among computer power connectors. It is used in almost all such connectors (with a few exceptions), and some plugs (for example, additional PCI-E power for 6 or 8 connectors) use only 12-volt lines — and in the + 12V format. So this indicator is one of the most important characteristics of any PSU.

Note that many power supplies have several separate + 12V power lines. In such cases, the total power is indicated here, which, usually, is divided equally between the lines.

The maximum power that the PSU is capable of delivering on the + 3.3V and + 5V power lines.

See "Maximum current and power" for details on power lines in general. Here we note that the power lines + 3.3V and + 5V are used both in the general connector for the motherboard (for 20 or 24 pins), and in specialized plugs — in particular, the SATA power connector (both) and Molex (only +5V, in addition to +12V). The power of these lines is a rather specific parameter, rarely required in fact; it is usually the same for both voltages, so it is indicated in the general clause.

Protection circuits provided in the power supply. In addition to the OVP (overvoltage protection), OPP (overcurrent/power protection), and SCP (short circuit protection) described above, modern PSUs may include the following safety features:

— O.C.P. Overload protection on individual power outputs. It differs from OPP in that it takes into account not the total current consumption, but the current at each output separately.

— UVP. Undervoltage protection at the output of the power supply. For some components, such a voltage is as undesirable as an increased voltage: for example, a hard drive at reduced power cannot spin the plates to the required speeds. Usually, UVP is activated when the voltage drops by 20 – 25%.

— OTP. Protection against overheating of individual components of the power supply.

— SIP. Protection against voltage surges and surges is, in fact, a built-in stabilizer that can smooth out these surges to a certain extent. This feature does not eliminate the need for an external stabilizer, but it improves the overall performance of the protection.

— A.F.C. Not so much a protective as an “energy saving” function: automatic fan speed control, which allows you to change the speed depending on the load and the actual heat dissipation of the PSU. In addition to saving energy, this adjustment also reduces wear on the moving parts of the cooler.

— C.E. Power supply complies with European Union dire...ctives for energy efficiency and safety.

— CB. Power supply complies with IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) directives regarding the safety of electrical equipment and components.

— FCC. Power supply complies with FCC (Federal Communications Commission) directives, especially regarding electromagnetic interference.

— CCC. Compliance of the power supply with the requirements necessary for official certification in the Chinese market (PRC).

— K.C. Compliance of the power supply with the requirements necessary for official certification in the South Korean market.

— BSMI. Compliance of the power supply with the requirements required for official certification in the Taiwan market.

— RCM. Power supply meets the requirements for official certification in the Australian and New Zealand market. RCM requirements are primarily concerned with safe use and electromagnetic compatibility.

— TUV-RH. Power supply meets the criteria for certification by TÜV Rheinland Group, one of the world's largest and most respected auditing and certification companies. Most often, we are talking about the TÜV-Mark Approval certificate, which indicates that the individual parts of the device (body, boards, parts, switches, etc.) comply with the requirements for safe use.

— cTUVus. Another certification held by the above mentioned TÜV Rheinland Group. In this case, we are talking about the compliance of the power supply with the technical requirements necessary for admission to the markets of the USA and Canada. The cTUVus certificate has the same legal validity as certificates issued directly by the authorities in those countries.

— EAC. Compliance of the power supply with the technical requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union (former Customs Union).