+12V Ripple Testing



The ripple suppression exhibited by the ZM1200 was absolutely stunning. Without a doubt, this is a test which really allows the well-appointed +12V filtering components to shine. Considering the server-nature of this power supply, it is only natural to expect results like this but it did feel good when we had to increase the resolution of the Stingray display to better see the minimal amount of ripple the Zeus was putting out. This is one phenomenal result here folks!!


Heat and Noise

Let’s be honest here; we needed to bench this power supply on an open test bench and with the assault on your senses the stock HD2900XT cooler puts out, it is a miracle we are not deaf. Did we hear the Zeus over the screaming of a pair of HD2900XT coolers? No, but then again a bomb could have went off outside the office and we would have been oblivious with the racket from these cards. All kidding aside (actually, the R600 cards do make that much noise) we installed the Zeus into the X2 3800+ test system with the 8800GTX installed and even though the Zeus started with a titanic “wooosh” which blew our hair back, it stayed silent.

Below are Silverstone’s specified acoustical numbers for the Zeus 1200W

22dBA @ 300W or below
28dBA @ 600W
40dBA @ 1200W

Judging from this, once you approach the 1200W system load mark this power supply will put out a fair amount of noise.
Believe it or not, even after 30 minutes of the Extreme Load test the air being exhausted by the single 80mm fan was quite a bit cooler than we would have thought it would have been. While not scalding hot, at the warmest point we measured the exhausted air to be 33*C.