How substantial is Active PFC?

[aldy402]

I'm currently running an OCZ Powerstream 600 SLI *Blue LED rev.
It doesn't support Active PFC but it has have adjustable rails.

Im thinking about upgrading to the new Corsair HX620 because of the single 120mm fan and the Active PFC but my question is, will I expect a decrease in the energy bill every month because of Active PFC? Is it a signifigant upgrade and will it save me money in the near future? Thanks

 

[jonnyGURU]

Where do you live?

If you're in the US, you will have NO improvement in electric bill because of APFC. You are charged by kWH, not kVA.

You WILL have an improvement in electric bill because the Corsair is MORE EFFICIENT.

Read: http://www.motherboards.org/articles/guides/1487_9.html

 

[[Spectre]]

I'm currently running an OCZ Powerstream 600 SLI *Blue LED rev.
It doesn't support Active PFC but it has have adjustable rails.

Im thinking about upgrading to the new Corsair HX620 because of the single 120mm fan and the Active PFC but my question is, will I expect a decrease in the energy bill every month because of Active PFC?

Short answer.....no.

Is it a signifigant upgrade and will it save me money in the near future? Thanks

Well the Corsair is a better and more efficent unit so it would cut down on power usage to a degree....but you are going to be spending a chunk of change to replace a currently functioning PSU. So the net total is you will lose money on this deal short term...and honestly the difference in power used won't recoup the investment cost any time soon.

Edit: jonny got there first.

 

[aldy402]

thanks johnny and spectre, the arcticle was also very informative

 

[MassiveOverkill]

Correct if I'm wrong, but with Active PFC, if you're on a UPS, you'll have more uptime if power goes out right?

 

[aldy402]

hey johnny, i just wondered apon ur website, very good stuff

have you had a chance to test out the zalman 600 yet?

 

[pawstar]

Correct if I'm wrong, but with Active PFC, if you're on a UPS, you'll have more uptime if power goes out right?

Yes, that is correct.

 

[ChumpusRex]

Active PFC alone is unlikely to save you much money. You are far better off spending your money of a high efficiency PSU.

There is an official high-efficiency standard for PC PSUs called '80 plus' which requires good efficiency and active PFC. You can be sure that if you get a model with this certification, you're saving energy.

The point of PFC isn't so much to improve efficiency of the PSU. Yes, in theory, it could do - but manufacturers like to cut costs and active PFC costs money - especially if you want efficent aPFC. In most consumer grade PSUs the PFC will use more energy than it saves.

What PFC does is improve the efficiency of power delivery. This means that PFC can reduce your energy costs by reducing the amount of energy wasted on the trip from your meter, along your building wiring, to your PSU. Again, in practice, unless you are in a large office this isn't significant. (But if you've got a large office, with 200 feet of wiring from the meter, then active PFC can bring you savings equivalent to about a 3% gain in efficiency).