Chieftec VEGA M 850W ATX v3.1 PSU Review

Load Regulation

It measures the stability of the output voltage when the load connected to the power supply varies.

Test	12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	DC/AC (Watts)	Efficiency	Fan Speed (RPM)	PSU Noise (dB[A])	Temps (In/Out)	PF/AC Volts
10%	5.271A	1.995A	1.993A	0.985A	84.999	84.742%	621	18.5	40.3°C	0.972
10%	12.028V	5.013V	3.311V	5.077V	100.282	84.742%	621	18.5	42.8°C	115.1V
20%	11.571A	2.994A	2.992A	1.185A	169.921	89.463%	623	18.6	40.89°C	0.986
20%	12.015V	5.01V	3.309V	5.063V	189.949	89.463%	623	18.6	43.18°C	115.07V
30%	18.262A	3.495A	3.493A	1.386A	254.921	91.198%	623	18.6	41.17°C	0.996
30%	11.985V	5.008V	3.307V	5.049V	279.534	91.198%	623	18.6	44.84°C	115.03V
40%	24.963A	3.996A	3.994A	1.589A	340.003	91.183%	623	18.6	41.73°C	0.996
40%	11.970V	5.006V	3.305V	5.034V	372.856	91.183%	623	18.6	45.52°C	115V
50%	31.302A	4.999A	4.996A	1.793A	424.762	90.874%	631	18.5	42.49°C	0.997
50%	11.957V	5.002V	3.303V	5.019V	467.449	90.874%	631	18.5	47.55°C	114.97V
60%	37.642A	6.003A	5.999A	1.999A	509.3	90.393%	818	27.3	42.64°C	0.997
60%	11.941V	4.998V	3.301V	5.004V	563.394	90.393%	818	27.3	47.63°C	114.93V
70%	44.063A	7.009A	7.003A	2.205A	594.618	89.726%	1036	34.3	43.07°C	0.998
70%	11.927V	4.994V	3.299V	4.988V	662.733	89.726%	1036	34.3	49.15°C	114.9V
80%	50.499A	8.015A	8.007A	2.311A	679.441	89.036%	1211	38.7	43.64°C	0.998
80%	11.912V	4.99V	3.297V	4.975V	763.161	89.036%	1211	38.7	50.37°C	114.86V
90%	57.349A	8.52A	8.498A	2.418A	764.869	88.311%	1360	41.7	44.82°C	0.998
90%	11.899V	4.988V	3.295V	4.962V	866.165	88.311%	1360	41.7	51.82°C	114.83V
100%	63.951A	9.026A	9.02A	3.039A	849.676	87.438%	1452	44	45.32°C	0.998
100%	11.885V	4.985V	3.292V	4.936V	971.79	87.438%	1452	44	53.05°C	114.79V
110%	70.427A	10.037A	10.12A	3.046A	934.257	86.511%	1455	44.2	46.53°C	0.998
110%	11.871V	4.981V	3.29V	4.924V	1079.937	86.511%	1455	44.2	55.6°C	114.76V
CL1	0.115A	12.068A	11.986A	0A	101.284	81.449%	680	21.1	41.35°C	0.977
CL1	12.016V	4.988V	3.312V	5.083V	124.361	81.449%	680	21.1	46.63°C	115.08V
CL2	0.115A	20.14A	0A	0A	101.355	79.977%	631	18.5	41.33°C	0.978
CL2	12.024V	4.964V	3.312V	5.091V	126.8	79.977%	631	18.5	46.58°C	115.08V
CL3	0.115A	0A	19.948A	0A	67.375	74.569%	626	18.5	41.06°C	0.969
CL3	12.022V	5.019V	3.308V	5.086V	90.336	74.569%	626	18.5	45.27°C	115.09V
CL4	71.424A	0A	0A	0A	849.434	88.125%	1412	42.8	45.58°C	0.998
CL4	11.894V	5.011V	3.291V	5.035V	963.916	88.125%	1412	42.8	52.4°C	114.79V

Load regulation is loose at 12V, the most important rail. It is tight enough on the minor rails.

Test	12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	DC/AC (Watts)	Efficiency	Fan Speed (RPM)	PSU Noise (dB[A])	Temps (In/Out)	PF/AC Volts
20W	1.232A	0.498A	0.498A	0.196A	19.997	75.913%	620	18.4	36.88°C	0.831
20W	12.049V	5.017V	3.311V	5.108V	26.379	75.913%	620	18.4	37.43°C	115.11V
40W	2.717A	0.698A	0.698A	0.294A	39.996	68.136%	618	18	37.5°C	0.944
40W	12.030V	5.016V	3.31V	5.103V	58.692	68.136%	618	18	39.74°C	115.1V
60W	4.200A	0.897A	0.897A	0.392A	59.995	81.159%	621	18.5	38.74°C	0.957
60W	12.029V	5.016V	3.311V	5.098V	73.923	81.159%	621	18.5	40.79°C	115.1V
80W	5.678A	1.097A	1.096A	0.491A	79.931	84.434%	620	18.4	39.5°C	0.97
80W	12.029V	5.016V	3.311V	5.093V	94.67	84.434%	620	18.4	41.32°C	115.09V

A glance at the light loads table is always useful, as the PSU will typically operate at light loads.

Ripple Suppression

Ripple in power supplies refers to the small, unwanted AC voltage fluctuations superimposed on the DC output. It occurs due to imperfect filtering of the AC-to-DC conversion process. Lower ripple is highly preferable because it ensures a cleaner, more stable DC output, thereby reducing noise and potential interference in sensitive electronics, which improves performance and extends the lifespan of components. High ripple can cause instability, overheating, or damage to connected devices.

Test	12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	Pass/Fail
10% Load	9.9 mV	9.8 mV	10.5 mV	6.6 mV	Pass
20% Load	9.9 mV	9.8 mV	10.2 mV	6.7 mV	Pass
30% Load	21.3 mV	10.0 mV	10.7 mV	7.5 mV	Pass
40% Load	18.0 mV	10.2 mV	10.8 mV	8.0 mV	Pass
50% Load	17.1 mV	9.9 mV	11.1 mV	8.2 mV	Pass
60% Load	16.4 mV	10.1 mV	11.4 mV	8.8 mV	Pass
70% Load	16.1 mV	10.3 mV	11.6 mV	9.5 mV	Pass
80% Load	17.9 mV	13.6 mV	14.9 mV	10.5 mV	Pass
90% Load	22.9 mV	21.3 mV	22.9 mV	13.8 mV	Pass
100% Load	20.6 mV	18.6 mV	20.1 mV	11.9 mV	Pass
110% Load	20.0 mV	18.7 mV	19.2 mV	12.4 mV	Pass
Crossload 1	25.1 mV	9.9 mV	11.2 mV	10.4 mV	Pass
Crossload 2	28.1 mV	11.8 mV	10.9 mV	10.7 mV	Pass
Crossload 3	12.6 mV	14.3 mV	13.5 mV	9.9 mV	Pass
Crossload 4	21.5 mV	19.8 mV	21.4 mV	15.4 mV	Pass