BFGTech BFGR1000WPSU Review @ [H]

All in all a very good first review. Test methodology is sound and the incubator really puts the screws to 'em for sure. Would have been nice to nail down just where it started to flake out though, where between 787 and 958 did it start to go? Almost all PSU's are rated at 25c which is nice for room temp but nowhere near realistic inside a gamer's case, so you're right on with saying the standards are poor. Liked the fact that you stated that even though the sound level was not part of the overall score the unit became quite noticeable under load, as I have 2 PC's sharing space with TV viewing, etc. and even non-measured impressions are useful. 1000 watts stated should be 1000 watts ouput, so good to see a [H]ard review and recommendation. Looking forward to the next one ...:cool:
 
Seiuchi said:
So being that BFG is THE respectable vid card company that it is. I am wondering If they have any response to the review of their psu.

I just surfed the BFG site and the page on that psu is not so detail specific. Maybe I am just used to an enermax specs page but BFG is definately not giving us the full nine on their page.

As stated in the review they dont tell us what peak vs continuous wattage is, they dont tell you what each rails output is and what the tolerance is, they dont tell us what kind of power protection circuitry it has just that there is some there. No pictures of the connectors included and the configuration of said connectors. There is more information on the box than on the website. I shouldnt have to go to newegg to get more info on the psu than they have.

Dont get me wrong. I like BFG as do many of us I am sure. It is just that they have built a name for themselves and this I think creates high expectations. I just think they stumbled a little in this case.
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Me thinks you shouldn`t hold your breath.....
 
I really want to know what BFG's response to this torture testing is ? I loved the review as did others,and thought it was very well done !! need more pics,with better labling as others
have pointed out in future ps reviews.

I really think [H] will change things for the better with this,and bring out,or force out ? :D Some truth in adverstising in the power supply industry.

I also cant wait to see the Corsair units get the [H] 'treatment' :) My HX520 is a amzing little unit.
 
Seiuchi said:
So being that BFG is THE respectable vid card company that it is. I am wondering If they have any response to the review of their psu.

I just surfed the BFG site and the page on that psu is not so detail specific. Maybe I am just used to an enermax specs page but BFG is definately not giving us the full nine on their page.
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Try here?

http://www.epowertec.com/power_ep-1000p10.html

Same thing.. different sticker. :)

AFAIK: They don't tell you peak because it's a useless number. They're already up to 1000W (at 25C.) So stating that it can do another 4A on the +12V rail for 3ns is sort of pointless on any decent power supply (yes, it's still "decent.") That would be a stat that someone like Powmax would use so they could sell their 500W as a 1200W. :D
 
Seiuchi said:
I just surfed the BFG site and the page on that psu is not so detail specific. Maybe I am just used to an enermax specs page but BFG is definately not giving us the full nine on their page.

As stated in the review they dont tell us what peak vs continuous wattage is, they dont tell you what each rails output is and what the tolerance is, they dont tell us what kind of power protection circuitry it has just that there is some there. No pictures of the connectors included and the configuration of said connectors. There is more information on the box than on the website. I shouldnt have to go to newegg to get more info on the psu than they have.
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This is EXACTLY why it's a good thing that [H] is now doing PSU reviews. That shit has gone on too long in the PSU world.

The BFG should be marketed as a 750W IMHO.
 
Good JOB !!!

Concerning lack of PSU specs.

Well then, that needs to be changed then doesn't it? I think HardOCP can have enough influence in the market place to correct this marketing issue.
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Hope so, no-go so far with motherboards that list features and call them specs, but I am pulling for you.

This is going to get messy as companies continue to try to cram 700+ W of power supply in a space designed for a 65W supply. "CLICK , you smell something funny ? " :eek:

Please include the MSRP, I know its not realistic but neither is most everything else on a ATX form factor supply rated at more than 700W (PCP+C excepted) or a link if newegg carries it and still supports you with advertising ;)

THANK you for including at least the primary and filtering cap temp rating, I want the part number, but I will live.

Oh noise (high freq switching) and ripple (poor filtering) are generally regarded as two different things when talking about power supplies but now I am just being annoying, :p

Again, good job and thanks for not making me read between the lines.
 
BillParrish said:
Oh noise (high freq switching) and ripple (poor filtering) are generally regarded as two different things when talking about power supplies but now I am just being annoying, :p
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Covered in the thread discussing the new methodology. Look for my first post in that thread.
 
jonnyGURU said:
Covered in the thread discussing the new methodology. Look for my first post in that thread.
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Good enough, if the supply is CB it should be OK anyway, I dont have that software but it should be pretty easy to determine noise from ripple just due to the time domains involved but I dont care anyway and was not aware the spec read that way, which I agree makes it kinda moot for these purposes. One nice side effect of crappy supplies is almost everything downstream has its own regulation/filter/bypass ;)
 
GoodBoy said:
This is EXACTLY why it's a good thing that [H] is now doing PSU reviews. That shit has gone on too long in the PSU world.

The BFG should be marketed as a 750W IMHO.
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So you never knew about jonnyGURU.com??
 
Yes, I've been to jonny's site. Its just he only has so many reviews.

Until now jonny was the only one digging into a PSU's capabilities in a useful way.

With both jonny and [H] doing it, maybe PSU manufacturers can be more truthful in their PSU claims, or at least give the extended information up front that we will start seeing revealed here. Like 1000W at 25C, but only 800W at 50C etc...

GoodBoy
 
GoodBoy said:
Yes, I've been to jonny's site. Its just he only has so many reviews.
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Only 35 (one is actually of two PSU's) using the most current methodology. Another 15 or so using the old setup.

But I'm only a tiny little website (as SentToSchool would say.) :D :cool:
 
OCC_Yoda said:
1+1=2?? HEHEHE give us a good review and we advertise with yuo all...lol..rofl
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Advertising does not get you a free pass around the old [H]. Would not be the first time we lost an advertiser because they did not want to hear the truth about their product being told to the our readers.
 
SPCR is NOT the definitive source for anything.....

Let me ask you a question bsoft....can you honestly tell the difference between 40 decibles vs say 30 decibles or even 50 decibles??

I find it frightening and even shall we say nieve for anybody to buy a PSU based solely on how quiet it is??

Lets use the universal standard for loud...PC Power & Cooling PSU`s in general are loud,
Yet you ask those of us who own them and we will tell you for the most part that what we hear is our case fans...not the PC Power & Cooling ramping up the dcb`s.......

I have seen many many instances where SPCR has reviewed a PSU and the whole 100 yards. Then people go out and buy the "quiet" PSU and they post the next day damn this thing is louder than my case fans......and so on and so on......

What you need to remember is that SPCR stands for silnece...hell they even give "silent" PSU`s a better rating over a far superior PSU just because that Superior PSU is NOT silnet...so go figure......

The way Kyle and others will be doing the noise part is just fine. Its IMO assinine for somebody to insist that you need expensive noise meters to determine if a PSU is loud...in fact thats funny...hahahaaaa
 
You know what they say about arguing on the internet....

[H] actually already owns some db measuring equipment. I think if an acceptable, repeatable process could be reasoned out, they could add a few measurements without much extra cost.

The difference between 30db and 40db is that 40db is TWICE as loud as 30db. Every 10db is double the sound pressure. Your point that other components can drown out the sound is valid, there's a good chance that the total system db change from a 25db PSU vs a 35db PSU might not be much if the users case fans are 42db fans. I'm guessing it's part of the reason [H] isn't making a huge deal at this point over sound measurement.

Chances are, a single blurb on subjective sound observations will be sufficient for most [H] readers. That, and a little common sense. If you see a 1kw PSU that only has a single 80mm fan (P&PC!), it doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to tell you its going to be a loud sumbitch. jonny's review said as much regarding the P&PC 1kw unit.

One handy thing I believe the [H] might consider doing, is when say 'X' PSU gets reviewed, at the end of the review [H] posts a link to say jonny and spcr (whatever)'s reviews of the same unit.

I myself believe that there are ways to take measurements reliably, even if you just apply full 12v to a fan and measure it so we know "this is the loudest the fan gets in PSU 'X' ".

Any PSU over 600W rated with only a single 80mm fan is likely to be louder than the same W psu with a 120mm.....

my $4.99 worth....

GoodBoy
 
If you're going to do the dB rating of a PSU, you might as well do the pitch of the fan noise coming from it as well. You know how some fans have a high pitched whine that is very annoying, and some have a low whirr that is tolerable even at high dBs. Then make a comparison between the two, like "this PSU is loud and sounds like birds chirping" compared to "well this PSU is loud, but it's like a pasta maker" to "well, this thing is a like a Makita 9553NB 4 inch 6A angle grinder with the stock grinding wheel on full power tilted at a 30 degree angle grinding down the hood of a crimson 1997 Camry CE".
 
bsoft said:
Well, SPCR's new rig goes to 1100W. At 120V/80% efficency, that's 11.45A - approaching the limit for a 15A circuit.
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And the SM-8800 can do more than that.



That's a fine method, but it's unfortuante that SPCR seems to be the only website out there that actually takes the time to get real measurements. We wouldn't accept "pretty fast" for a new CPU, so why should this be different? It's a key differentiating factor between high-end power supplies.
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I have to ask...if there are no biscuits what use is the gravy?



SPCR's rig is built from resistors and aluminum plates. Nothing there comes close to $3000.
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I am not sure how you plan on isolating the noise with a couple of aluminum plates and resistors....can you explain?
 
OK bsoft, as they said, they dont take db measurements because the testing equipment itself makes a shitload of noise. How are they supposed to isolate the PSU from all the test equipment AND maintain the integrity of the test? As Johnny said extensions add another factor to the tests so that is out.
 
looking forward to seeing the Corsair and PCP&C units
Kyle you said you had two PCP&C units - are the both 1KW? was hoping to see the 750W Silencer

and did I miss it or was there no mention of sound levels?
not expecting data as indepth as SPCR, but a subjective opinion wouldn't hurt
 
EnderW said:
and did I miss it or was there no mention of sound levels?
not expecting data as indepth as SPCR, but a subjective opinion wouldn't hurt
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That has been adressed many many times in the article and in the thread here. Here is the relevant paragraph from the article once more:

Up through test #2 the fans were noticeable outside the incubator so they were definitely working at the elevated temperature we exposed the unit to but from outside the incubator the sound was not obnoxious being that it was a low whirring sound. By test #3 though I was getting concerned that I may need to strap down the incubator as it seemed ready for take off while the fans spun up very high and for the few minutes it ran test #4 I was certain a cargo plane had mistaken my test bench for a landing strip. Due to the noise output from the SM-8800 it is currently difficult to establish an exact decibel for any power supply we review, but it is sufficient to say the BFGR1000WPSU is not a candidate for a quiet cooling environment.
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Paul_Johnson said:
I am not sure how you plan on isolating the noise with a couple of aluminum plates and resistors....can you explain?
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I think he means the SCPR PSU loading system is a simple resistor based load box, which would be pretty much silent using power resistors and heatsinks.
 
Yeah, it's silent. But as they heat up, the load changes. The ATE is far more accurate. There's a reason they're used on the factory floor. ;)
 
I'm only stepping into the ring on the whole [H]/JonnyGuru/SPCR argument for a moment to offer these thoughts:

Isn't it remotely possible that the three reviewers can be used in tandem to make one whole decision on a purchase? Think of it this way: Would you solely rely on Car & Driver to buy a car? Or Consumer Reports? I sure as hell wouldn't. I did tons of research before I bought any component that is in my computer, even despite some sucky reviews. Not everyone is right all the time. Deal with it.

I read JonnyGuru's website for the first time a few days ago. While his site lacks polish (no offense intended), he's got the know-how, he's got the equipment, and he has the heart and stomach for the testing he's doing. Some of his final comments, like SPCR's, are highly subjective, but, in the end, the facts speak for themselves. JonnyGuru is not perfect, but it's a strong source.

Going back to the [H] review, I find myself hard pressed to say if there's anything wrong with the test methodology. Sure, silence would be a great feature in a high-end power supply, but if the sucker is pushing a kilowatt of power, silence is the last thing on your mind if you have a hand-built PC that needs that much electricity. From a complete usability perspective, they did everything right: They tested load stability, output quality, efficiency, and then baked it at a realistic temperature and did it all over again. The BFG PSU failed after a certain point, which means it doesn't live up to the claim that matters the most.

Bottom line for me with [H]: I need to see a few more reviews. Usually, any kink in your methodology will crop up after a few tries, as I'm sure you're more than well-aware of. Right now, with a single article, I can't personally nit-pick because more samples need to be provided. On an initial impression, I like what you're doing, and I hope this methodology pans out to be a reliable one.
 
yojimbo said:
I'm only stepping into the ring on the whole [H]/JonnyGuru/SPCR argument for a moment to offer these thoughts:

Isn't it remotely possible that the three reviewers can be used in tandem to make one whole decision on a purchase? Think of it this way: Would you solely rely on Car & Driver to buy a car? Or Consumer Reports? I sure as hell wouldn't. I did tons of research before I bought any component that is in my computer, even despite some sucky reviews. Not everyone is right all the time. Deal with it.

I read JonnyGuru's website for the first time a few days ago. While his site lacks polish (no offense intended), he's got the know-how, he's got the equipment, and he has the heart and stomach for the testing he's doing. Some of his final comments, like SPCR's, are highly subjective, but, in the end, the facts speak for themselves. JonnyGuru is not perfect, but it's a strong source.

Going back to the [H] review, I find myself hard pressed to say if there's anything wrong with the test methodology. Sure, silence would be a great feature in a high-end power supply, but if the sucker is pushing a kilowatt of power, silence is the last thing on your mind if you have a hand-built PC that needs that much electricity. From a complete usability perspective, they did everything right: They tested load stability, output quality, efficiency, and then baked it at a realistic temperature and did it all over again. The BFG PSU failed after a certain point, which means it doesn't live up to the claim that matters the most.

Bottom line for me with [H]: I need to see a few more reviews. Usually, any kink in your methodology will crop up after a few tries, as I'm sure you're more than well-aware of. Right now, with a single article, I can't personally nit-pick because more samples need to be provided. On an initial impression, I like what you're doing, and I hope this methodology pans out to be a reliable one.
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Well said... Also, if I wanted to find what is the most quiet PSU, I will check SPCR for sure but If I wanted some beefy PSU to power a demanding rig, noise is a very small concern so the [H] reviews will be useful and I know everyone will adjust the needs depending on the tolerance to noise.
 
Xilikon said:
Well said... Also, if I wanted to find what is the most quiet PSU, I will check SPCR for sure but If I wanted some beefy PSU to power a demanding rig, noise is a very small concern so the [H] reviews will be useful and I know everyone will adjust the needs depending on the tolerance to noise.
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Exactly only bear in Mind that you said "most Quiet" you didn`t say -- most quiet and best......

SPCR has been known for a long time to marguinally favor quiet over quality and workmanship....
 
Just to beat the dead bloated horse to see if it pops!:D I would be more than satisfied with a subjective well this psu seems to be the same/quieter/louder/ than the previous psu/s we tested or this is the quietest/loudest psu we have ever tested.

Did it pop did it pop! Is it stinking?? are the worms coming out?:D
 
Seiuchi said:
Just to beat the dead bloated horse to see if it pops!:D I would be more than satisfied with a subjective well this psu seems to be the same/quieter/louder/ than the previous psu/s we tested or this is the quietest/loudest psu we have ever tested.
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It is to date the loudest power supply we have tested. :)
 
But remember, it's the ONLY psu they've tested to date. :p
 
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