MARK’S RAMBLINGS AT A GLANCE

With a standard power supply running at 100% constant, the following actual watts are available for each
listed efficiency. If you look at the Blue line, the actual available watts are listed under all listed
Efficiencies. For example, a standard 300 watt power supply at 65% efficiency, will put out (running at
100%) basically 195 watts. In the same vein with 85% efficiency, it will produce 255 watts.

Qualified testers report that all power supplies operate best if they run between 65% to 85% of their
available wattage. They also state that it is not realistic to expect any power supply to run at 100% of the
available wattage constantly. When one runs said power supply at 100% of their actual output, then the
result is heat and noise caused by fans trying to dispose of excess heat. Ultimately, these factors may
ultimately lead to a a shorter life span for the power supply and/or other computer components.

Therefore, as you view the blue numbers listed below for a 300-watt power supply with 65% efficiency, it
shows that 195 watts only is available. 65% of that available wattage is only 127 watts (Yellow column)
for optimal operation. 85% of that available wattage would be 166 watts (Green column) for optimal
operation. A 300 watt power supply running at normal 65% efficiency should be used at the optimal range
of between 127 watts and 166 watts although the manufacturer says it is a 300 watt power supply before
taking into account power supply efficiency and optimal performance wattage.

Each row designates the available wattage for normal operation for all power supply efficiencies.

Efficiency---> 65% 70% 72.50% 75% 77.50% 80% 82.50% 85% 87.50% 90%

300 Watts==> Actual 195 210 218 225 233 240 248 255 263 270
Min 127 137 142 146 151 156 161 166 171 176
Max 166 179 185 191 198 204 211 217 224 230

350 Watts==> Actual 228 245 254 263 271 280 289 298 306 315
Min 148 159 165 171 176 182 188 194 199 205
Max 194 208 216 224 230 238 246 253 260 268

400 Watts==> Actual 260 280 290 300 310 320 330 340 350 360
Min 169 182 189 195 202 208 215 221 228 234
Max 221 238 247 255 264 272 281 289 298 306

450 Watts==> Actual 293 315 326 338 349 360 371 383 394 405
Min 190 205 212 220 227 234 241 249 256 263
Max 249 268 277 287 297 306 315 326 335 344

500 Watts==> Actual 325 350 363 375 388 400 413 425 438 450
Min 211 228 236 244 252 260 268 276 318 338
Max 276 298 309 319 330 340 351 361 284 315

550 Watts==> Actual 358 385 399 413 426 440 454 468 481 495
Min 233 250 259 268 277 286 295 304 313 322
Max 304 327 339 351 362 374 386 398 409 421

600 Watts==> Actual 390 420 435 450 465 480 495 510 525 540
Min 254 273 283 293 302 312 322 332 341 351
Max 332 357 370 383 395 408 421 434 341 459
650 Watts==> Actual 423 455 471 488 504 520 536 553 569 585
Min 275 296 306 317 328 338 348 359 370 380
Max 360 387 400 415 428 442 456 470 484 497

700 Watts==> Actual 455 490 508 525 543 560 578 595 613 630
Min 296 319 330 341 353 364 376 387 398 410
Max 387 417 432 446 462 476 491 506 521 536

800 Watts==> Actual 520 560 580 600 620 640 660 680 700 720
Min 338 364 377 390 403 416 429 442 455 468
Max 442 476 493 510 527 544 561 578 595 612

850 Watts==> Actual 553 595 616 638 659 680 701 723 744 765
Min 359 387 400 415 428 442 456 470 484 497
Max 470 506 524 542 560 578 596 615 632 650

Interesting Links:

Power Supply Efficiency

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-radeon-power,2122-5.html

Actual Power Consumption And Current Requirements

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-radeon-power,2122-6.html

Calculating Power Consumption Of The Entire System

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-radeon-power,2122-7.html

Calculating Power Supply Performance

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-radeon-power,2122-10.html