Silverstone Strider 850w ST85F PSU
Load Testing
In order for the results from all current and future PSU reviews to remain fair and comparable, Overclock3D uses a custom built Power Supply load stress tester. The tester will be placing the following loads on each of the Strider’s rails:
| Â | Idle | Load |
| +3.3v Rail | 10a | 20a |
| +5.0v Rail | 10a | 20a |
| +12v1 Rail | 5a | 20a |
| +12v2 Rail | 5a | 20a |
As some power supplies produce obscure voltage outputs when running with 0% load, the Idle testing simulation will be produced by placing each rail under a small load similar to what would be expected from a mid-range PC. Load testing results are obtained by placing the unit under the maximum load selectable on the OC3D equipment without tripping the OLP (Over Load Protection) on the power supply.
Efficiency Testing
Efficiency tests are performed by measuring the wattage consumed by the power supply at the mains against the power (in watts) consumed by the OC3D power supply stress tester. These results may not be 100% accurate, but have proven to be extremely close to results obtained from professional equipment.
Increasing the load on the unit produced even more favourable results, with the ST85F managing 83.4% efficiency when being placed under a total load of 646 watts.
Noise Testing
Possibly the hardest part of any PSU review is summarising the level of noise given out by the unit. The threshold for what is considered ‘noisy’ varies from person to person and therefore what I may consider a quiet unit, another person may consider extremely loud. A common way to resolve this issue is to use a dBA meter to measure the units noise level, however this doesn’t take into account the pitch (type) of noise emitted and whether it is likely to irritate end users.
For this reason OC3D records all power supplies at idle and load in wav format for you to make your own informed decisions. All recordings are taken at 30cm away from the PSU and outside of a PC case. You will need to remember that noise levels will be reduced by varying amounts once the PSU has been installed inside your PC enclosure.
