VR Features

Power supplies used in computers have to power multiple components that draw huge currents. The only method to efficiently regulate voltages, is to switch them. Switchmode Power Supplies (SMPS) make up PSUs we know of. Even then, efficiency varies. The industry is literally "turning green" today. One step for power efficiency, and one step on the competitors' face. First up, a simple setup to simulate an average enthusiast "rig" consisting a lowend Core 2 Quad or an overclocked Core 2 Duo with a single GPU. This review will feature Asus' latest X48 board with its energy processing unit (EPU), which is a programmable digital interface with VRM regulation and CPU performance calibration features.

Consisting Asus P5E3 Premium and a low-clocked Kentsfield at 1.2V on Vcore, Sappire HD3850 and 2GB or DDR3 memory, this system isn't the fastest around. It is made to represent generic setups that gamers afford and use. Here are the standby and idle readings of the two.

We've included standby readings of the two not to compare efficiency, but rather to show that power is still drawn when a system is shut down but not taken offline. This minor cost can add up in the long run, so do your part for the environment by shutting down and flicking the switch. 5VSB is still supplied to USB ports, logic and the like, hence the power draw. On idle, it is visible that the FSP commands better power efficiency, saving near 20W of power on the desktop.

Prime was run with four threads, and 3DMark06 looping to simulate a multithreaded game in botmatches Two Seagate SATA 7200RPM drives and an inactive Pioneer DVD writer formed part of the load.

Again, we see the FSP gaining higher grounds on efficiency over the Olympia. Pure muscle? We shall see. What it does to a higher end setup. Next page!