Seasonic goes beyond 80Plus with Cybenetics PSU ratings

Seasonic reports it's adopting the new Cybenetics ratings for power supplies. This is touted at a more stringent test than the aging 80Plus ratings, Cybenetics offers efficiency level certifications as well as noise level certifications.

In the wake of many years of getting comfortable with 80 plus efficiency ratings of PC power supplies, in the past year a new company has emerged with the aim to take the testing of power supplies to the next level. Cybenetics has devised a revolutionary testing system where power supplies are examined under even more stringent circumstances than previously. This rating system renders all power supplies easily comparable and it also has added a crucial element to the process – the testing of the sound output of the power supplies.

Seasonic was glad to jump on board to assess the performance of their PRIME units to see how they fare against the new Cybenetics test parameters. Seasonic was even happier to receive back the first test results of its flagship units, which without exception have demonstrated that they have passed the highest level of certifications with flying colors.

A look at the Cybenetics database reveals they've tested 12 power supplies so far, including models from Seasonic, ThermalTake, SilverStone, Riotoro, Enermax and EVGA. Eight power supplies received the ETA B efficiency rating, while four others received the ETA A badge.

At the moment, no power supply has managed to score the ETA A+ efficiency label. Here's a look at what a PSU needs to achieve in order to get the best Cybenetics rating:

Overall Efficiency: ≥ 94% & <97%
Overall PF: >0.985
Overall 5VSB Efficiency: >79%
Vampire Power: <0.1W
5VSB Efficiency:
>45% with ≤ 0.225W load (2013 ErP Lot 6)
>45% with ≤ 0.45W load (2010 ErP Lot 6)
>55% with ≤ 2.75W load (2014 ErP Lot 3)

The noise level test uses Lambda ratings going from A++ to E. To achieve the best score, the Lambda A++ label, a PSU needs to achieve a noise level of under 20dBA.