2 Identical PSUs - differing power draw

smaudioz

Weaksauce
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Oct 29, 2013
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I have 2 identical PSUs here, yet one of them shows slightly more power coming in than the other and shows 8A on the 12V at minimum load rather than 7A on the other one. Is this normal and just down to minor differences in the components? Also which one is the better one in this case, or does it make no difference?

Thanks
 
How are you measuring the power variables in this case? Whats your definition of minimum load and how are you measuring it?
 
Corsair link and it is showing the power in and power out. PC is in idle state, not doing anything. One PSU has a minimum power in of 124W and the other one is 130W. I have swapped them other numerous times and one of them shows a consistently higher Power In value.
 
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that is only a 4.8% difference between 124 and 130 watts. I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Ok thanks, well let's say one of them was drawing a fair amount more than the other and it was over 10%, which one would be better in that case? The one drawing less?
 
At the same state, your components should be drawing the same amount of power. A significant difference in power draw can be an indicator of some sort of partial short, and that would have to be corrected.
 
Variance in voltage will change the power drawn in a square law. ie a small voltage variance gives a much higher power variance.
As pointed out, the hardware used to read voltage for use in Windows can be inaccurate, as well as the software calibration.

If you measure from the mains you will find it differs again when the the PSUs have different efficiencies.
This measurement is for total power draw. Not easy/accurate to use for measuring single rails.
The only real way to know is to measure the DC voltage rails with a calibrated meter.
Otherwise accept the result could be quite a way out.
 
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