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80 Plus

{{Short description|Voluntary computer power supply certification program}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}

File:80 Plus Standard.svg

File:Enhance Electronics ENP-7025B 20160316.jpg PSU]]

80 Plus (trademarked 80 PLUS) is a voluntary certification program launched in 2004, intended to promote efficient energy use in computer power supply units (PSUs).

Certification is acquirable for products that have more than 80% energy efficiency at 20%, 50% and 100% of rated load, and a power factor of 0.9 or greater at 100% load.

History

  • EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) and Ecos Consulting (promoter of the brand) develop the Generalized Internal Power Supply Efficiency Test Protocol for desktop derived multi-output power supplies.
  • March 2004: the 80 Plus idea was presented as an initiative at the ACEEE Market Transformation Symposium.
  • February 2005: the first market-ready power supply was created by Seasonic.
  • 2006: Energy Star added 80 Plus requirements to their then-upcoming (in effect since July 2007) Energy Star 4.0 computer specifications.
  • November and February 2006: HP and Dell certify their PSUs to the 80 Plus specification.
  • 20 July 2007: Energy Star Computer Specification 4.0 goes into effect. The specification includes 80 Plus power supply efficiency levels for desktop computers.
  • December 2007: over 200{{Citation |title=Join |url=http://www.80plus.org/manu/psu_80plus/psu_join.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526041420/http://www.80plus.org:80/manu/psu_80plus/psu_join.php |archive-date=2008-05-26 |url-status=deviated |publisher=80+}}. PSUs on the market are 80 Plus certified and it is becoming the market standard.
  • First-quarter 2008: standards revised to add Bronze, Silver, and Gold higher efficiency level certifications.
  • October 2009: added specification for the Platinum efficiency level.{{cite web|url=http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/news/4405|title=New 80 Plus Platinum Certification|last=Lima|first=Cássio|date=9 December 2009|work=Hardware Secrets|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711161809/http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/news/4405|archive-date=11 July 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=2 October 2010}}
  • February 2012: Dell and Delta Electronics working together were able to achieve world-first 80 Plus Titanium server power supply.{{cite web|url=http://en.community.dell.com/dell-blogs/direct2dell/b/direct2dell/archive/2012/02/22/dell-first-to-achieve-80-plus-titanium-psu-energy-efficiency.aspx|title=Dell First to Achieve 80 Plus Titanium PSU Energy Efficiency|date=22 February 2012|work=Direct2Dell|publisher=Dell|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929132410/http://en.community.dell.com/dell-blogs/direct2dell/b/direct2dell/archive/2012/02/22/dell-first-to-achieve-80-plus-titanium-psu-energy-efficiency.aspx|archive-date=29 September 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=31 May 2013}}

{{Anchor|LEVELS}}Efficiency level certifications

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|+80 Plus Certification Levels{{Cite web |date=2025-05-31 |title=80 PLUS® Power Supply Certification Program |url=https://www.clearesult.com/80plus/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250531034853/https://www.clearesult.com/80plus/ |archive-date=2025-05-31 |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=www.clearesult.com}}{{Cite web |date=2025-05-31 |title=80 PLUS certification specifications and ratings |url=https://www.clearesult.com/80plus/program-details |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250531034852/https://www.clearesult.com/80plus/program-details |archive-date=2025-05-31 |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=www.clearesult.com}}

! 80 Plus test type

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! colspan="4" | 115V internal non-redundant

! colspan="5" | 230V internal redundant

! colspan="4" | 230V EU internal non-redundant

Percentage of rated load

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! 100%

! 5%

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style="background:#FFFFFF"| 80 Plus

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| 80%

| 80%

| 80%

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| 82%

| 85% PFC ≥ 0.90

| 82%

style="background:#9E6425" |80 Plus Bronze

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| 82%

| 85% PFC ≥ 0.90

| 82%

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| 81%

| 85% PFC ≥ 0.90

| 81%

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| 85%

| 88% PFC ≥ 0.90

| 85%

style="background:#A3ADAF"| 80 Plus Silver

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| 85%

| 88% PFC ≥ 0.90

| 85%

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| 85%

| 89% PFC ≥ 0.90

| 85%

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| 87%

| 90% PFC ≥ 0.90

| 87%

style="background:#F1BC47"|80 Plus Gold

| 50px

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| 87%

| 90% PFC ≥ 0.90

| 87%

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| 88%

| 92% PFC ≥ 0.90

| 88%

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| 90%

| 92% PFC ≥ 0.90

| 89%

style="background:#E7E7E9"| 80 Plus Platinum

| 50px

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| 90%

| 92% PFC ≥ 0.95

| 89%

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| 90%

| 94% PFC ≥ 0.95

| 91%

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| 92%

| 94% PFC ≥ 0.95

| 90%

style="background:#7B8781"| 80 Plus Titanium

| 50px

| 90%

| 92% PFC ≥ 0.95

| 94%

| 90%

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|90%

| 94% PFC ≥ 0.95

| 96%

| 91%

| 90%

| 94% PFC ≥ 0.95

| 95.4%

| 94%

style="background:#CD5C5C"| 80 Plus Ruby

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|90% PFC ≥ 0.90

|91% PFC ≥ 0.90

|95% PFC ≥ 0.96

|96.5% PFC ≥ 0.96

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7 categories for the certification:

  • 115V Internal - certified for desktop, workstation and non-redundant server applications.
  • 230V Internal - certified for redundant, data center applications.
  • 230V EU Internal - certified for desktop, workstation and server applications in non-redundant configurations.
  • 277V Internal - certified for redundant, data center applications.
  • 480V Internal - certified for redundant, data center applications.
  • 380V DC - certified for redundant, data center applications.
  • 115V Industrial - Units in any physical format (embedded, encapsulated, open frame, rack mount, DIN-mount).

For the higher certification levels, the requirement of 0.9 or better power factor was extended to apply to 20% and 50% load levels, as well as at 100% load. The Platinum level requires 0.95 or better power factor for servers.{{cite web |url=http://www.silentpcreview.com/article814-page1.html |title=80 Plus expands podium for Bronze, Silver & Gold |first=Michael 'Mike' |last=Chin |work=Silent PC Review |date=19 March 2008 |access-date=21 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410201407/http://www.silentpcreview.com/article814-page1.html |archive-date=10 April 2008 |url-status=live}}

The Climate Savers Computing Initiative efficiency level targets for workstations for 2007 through 2011, corresponding to the 80 Plus certification levels. From July 2007 through June 2008, the basic 80 Plus level (Energy Star 4.0). For the next year, the target is 80 Plus Bronze level, the following year 80 Plus Silver, then 80 Plus Gold, and finally Platinum.

Redundancy is typically used in data centers.

Misleading power supply advertising

There have been instances where companies claim or imply that their supplies are 80 Plus when they have not been certified, and in some cases do not meet the requirements.{{Cite web|url=https://www.overclock.net/threads/how-to-spot-fake-80-plus-badges.867689/|title=How to spot fake 80 plus badges|website=Overclock.net|date=19 September 2013 }} For example, the highest 80 Plus is 80+ Titanium (95.4% efficiency at 50% load).{{cite web |title=Generalized Test Protocol for Calculating the Energy Efficiency of Internal Ac-Dc and Dc-Dc Power Supplies Revision 6.7.1 |url=https://www.plugloadsolutions.com/docs/collatrl/print/Generalized_Internal_Power_Supply_Efficiency_Test_Protocol_R6.7.1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112014239/https://www.plugloadsolutions.com/docs/collatrl/print/Generalized_Internal_Power_Supply_Efficiency_Test_Protocol_R6.7.1.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2020 |date=5 October 2018}} Some companies will claim they meet this requirement even when they are only close (i.e. 94.xx%) therefore claiming 80+ Titanium.{{Cite web|url=https://hexus.net/tech/tech-explained/psu/29911-80-plus-certification/|title=80 PLUS certification|website=HEXUS|date=18 November 2010 }} However, this is not the case as one could easily modify the test unit to be more enhanced than production models in order to slightly raise numbers.{{Cite web |title=Cooler Master FAQ |url=https://landing.coolermaster.com/faq/can-the-80-plus-efficiency-rating-be-falsified/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240907074941/https://landing.coolermaster.com/faq/can-the-80-plus-efficiency-rating-be-falsified/ |archive-date=2024-09-07 |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=landing.coolermaster.com |language=en}}

When a company resells an OEM power supply under a new name, it must be certified under the new name and company, even if the OEM supply is certified. In some instances, a reseller has claimed a higher wattage than the supply can deliver, so the resellers supply would not meet 80 Plus requirements.{{cite web|url=http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Power-Supplies-With-Fake-80-Plus-Badges/1054|title=Power Supplies With Fake 80 Plus Badges|last=Torres|first=Gabriel|date=3 December 2010|website=Hardware Secrets|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711161931/http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Power-Supplies-With-Fake-80-Plus-Badges/1054|archive-date=11 July 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=8 October 2010}}

Although some power supply manufacturers name their products with similar names, such as "85 Plus", "90 Plus" and "95 Plus",{{cite web|url=http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/941|title=Amacrox Free Earth 85PLUS 650 W Power Supply Review|last=Torres|first=Gabriel|date=29 March 2010|website=Hardware Secrets|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711161717/http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/941|archive-date=11 July 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/500w-psu-power-supply,2658-6.html|title=FSP Everest 85 Plus 500|last=TG Publishing Team|date=8 July 2010|website=Tom's Hardware|page=6}} there is no such official certification or standard.

Certification

File:80+ Certification Example for Compuware model CDR-2227-2M2 PSU.png

Plug Load Solutions tests PSUs according to their testing protocol and lists certified PSUs, allowing consumers to verify how many and which models are listed by each company.

Technical overview

The efficiency of a computer power supply is its output power divided by its input power; the remaining input power is converted to heat as expected under conservation of energy. For instance, a 600 W power supply with 60% efficiency running at full load would draw 1000 W from the mains and waste 400 W as heat.

{{Stacked bar|A1=600|T1=600 W output |A2=400|T2=400 W heat |Total=1000}}

{{Stacked bar|A3=1000|T3=1000 W input |Total=1000}}

A 600 W power supply with 80% efficiency running at full load would draw 750 W from the mains and waste only 150 W as heat.

{{Stacked bar|A1=600|T1=600 W output |A2=150|T2=150 W heat |Total=1000}}

{{Stacked bar|A3=750|T3=750 W input |Total=1000}}

File:PC-Netzteil (redundant).jpg

For a given power supply, efficiency varies depending on how much power is being delivered. Supplies are typically most efficient at between half and three-quarters load, much less efficient at low load, and somewhat less efficient at maximum load. Older ATX power supplies were typically 60% to 75% efficient. To qualify for 80 Plus, a power supply must achieve at least 80% efficiency at three specified loads (20%, 50% and 100% of maximum rated power). However, 80 Plus supplies may still be less than 80% efficient at lower loads. For instance, an 80 Plus, 520 watt supply could still be 70% or less efficient at 60 watts (a typical idle power for a desktop computer).{{cite web|url=http://www.silentpcreview.com/article692-page4.html|title=Corsair HX520W & HX620W Modular power supplies|last=Chin|first=Michael 'Mike'|date=17 November 2006|work=Silent PC Review|page=4}} Thus it is still important to select a supply with capacity appropriate to the device being powered.

It is easier to achieve the higher efficiency levels for higher wattage supplies, so gold and platinum supplies may be less available in consumer-level supplies of reasonable capacity for typical desktop machines.

Typical computer power supplies may have power factors as low as 0.5 to 0.6.{{cite web | url = http://www.80plus.org | title = The Program | publisher = 80 Plus}} The higher power factor reduces the peak current draw, reducing load on the circuit or on an uninterruptible power supply.

Reducing the heat output of the computer helps reduce noise, since fans do not have to spin as fast to cool the computer. Reduced heat and resulting in lower cooling demands may increase computer reliability.

The testing conditions may give an unrealistic expectation of efficiency for heavily loaded, high power (rated much larger than 300 W) supplies. A heavily loaded power supply and the computer it is powering generate significant amounts of heat, which may raise the power supply temperature, which is likely to decrease its efficiency. Since power supplies are certified at room temperature, this effect is not taken into account.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Can-We-Trust-the-80-Plus-Certification/856/1|title=Can We Trust the 80 Plus Certification?|last=Torres|first=Gabriel|date=10 November 2010|website=Hardware Secrets|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025042343/http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Can-We-Trust-the-80-Plus-Certification/856/1|archive-date=25 October 2014|url-status=dead}}

80 Plus does not set efficiency targets for very low load. For instance, generation of standby power may still be relatively inefficient, and may not meet requirements of the One Watt Initiative. Testing of 80 Plus power supplies shows that they vary considerably in standby efficiency. Some power supplies consume half a watt{{cite web|url=http://www.silentpcreview.com/article813-page4.html|title=Corsair TX650W ATX12V power supply review|last=Chin|first=Michael 'Mike'|date=16 March 2008|work=Silent PC Review|page=4}} or less in standby with no load, where others consume several times as much at standby,{{cite web|url=http://www.silentpcreview.com/article806-page5.html|title=Enermax Modu82+ 625 Power Supply Review|last=Chin|first=Michael 'Mike'|date=2 March 2008|work=Silent PC Review|page=5}} even though they may meet higher 80 Plus certification requirement levels.

See also

References

{{reflist |colwidth= 32em}}

External links

  • {{Official website|https://www.clearesult.com/80plus/}}
  • {{Citation |url=https://www.clearesult.com/80plus/manufacturers/115V-Internal |title=80 Plus certified power supplies and manufacturers |type=official CLEAResult list |publisher=CLEAResult}}.

Category:Computer hardware standards

Category:Computers and the environment

Category:Power supplies

Category:Energy conservation