Gigabyte's New Odin GT 800W Power Supply
by Christoph Katzer on July 24, 2007 12:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
The P-Tuner Software
We have mentioned the software quite a few times already, so let's take a closer look. The P-Tuner software can be found on the CD. The installation is very easy but it does have one big flaw: it automatically detects the language of the operating system installed on the PC and uses that. You cannot change the language which unfortunately leaves us with the German version of the software since that is the language on our test PC. (Ed: Guten tag?) We might also point out that the translation used for some items is incorrect, and likely that is the same for other languages as well. Hopefully the language issue will be corrected with a patch in the near future, but for now you'll have to deal with German screenshots.
After a successful installation you will be greeted with this screen. This will only occur if the connection between the power supply and system is functioning correctly; if the connection is not established the software fails to start.
On the main-screen we have the actual usage of the system in watts on the left side and the highest amount used during that session on the right side. Compared to our results using the Chroma equipment, the amounts shown aren't identical. For example, with lower load testing we measured 160W from the rails and the software only showed 130W. If that amount had been correct we would have only had 68% efficiency, since the system was drawing 190W from the AC source. At higher loads the software showed 875W and in reality we were only drawing 771W - it's unfortunate that the software was incorrect, as we were about ready to start selling perpetual motion machines. In short, the results of the software are nothing close to reality, but it looks nice and it does at least give home users a place to start.
The second row shows the voltages of each rail. Each rail can be shown by clicking on it. If you want to see all rails at the same time you just click the All ("Alle") button on the lower right side of this row. A second screen will open and show all rails and their respective voltages. We compared the voltage on each rail with our equipment and found the results were quite similar. The differences were in the millivolt range and not more (i.e. less than .01V).
The third row shows the actual power drawn on each rail. By clicking on each rail the load can be seen in the little round display on the right side. The upper amount shows the actual used power on the chosen rail and the lower amount shows the highest power drawn on that rail during the current session. The amounts shown were not been equal to the actual loads we had put on the rails. We measured differences of up to 10A. Bringing up the details display, we can see all rails at once. The display shows on all 12V rails with a maximum 18A which is not quite accurate since two of the rails are rated at 25A.
We have mentioned the software quite a few times already, so let's take a closer look. The P-Tuner software can be found on the CD. The installation is very easy but it does have one big flaw: it automatically detects the language of the operating system installed on the PC and uses that. You cannot change the language which unfortunately leaves us with the German version of the software since that is the language on our test PC. (Ed: Guten tag?) We might also point out that the translation used for some items is incorrect, and likely that is the same for other languages as well. Hopefully the language issue will be corrected with a patch in the near future, but for now you'll have to deal with German screenshots.
After a successful installation you will be greeted with this screen. This will only occur if the connection between the power supply and system is functioning correctly; if the connection is not established the software fails to start.
On the main-screen we have the actual usage of the system in watts on the left side and the highest amount used during that session on the right side. Compared to our results using the Chroma equipment, the amounts shown aren't identical. For example, with lower load testing we measured 160W from the rails and the software only showed 130W. If that amount had been correct we would have only had 68% efficiency, since the system was drawing 190W from the AC source. At higher loads the software showed 875W and in reality we were only drawing 771W - it's unfortunate that the software was incorrect, as we were about ready to start selling perpetual motion machines. In short, the results of the software are nothing close to reality, but it looks nice and it does at least give home users a place to start.
The second row shows the voltages of each rail. Each rail can be shown by clicking on it. If you want to see all rails at the same time you just click the All ("Alle") button on the lower right side of this row. A second screen will open and show all rails and their respective voltages. We compared the voltage on each rail with our equipment and found the results were quite similar. The differences were in the millivolt range and not more (i.e. less than .01V).
The third row shows the actual power drawn on each rail. By clicking on each rail the load can be seen in the little round display on the right side. The upper amount shows the actual used power on the chosen rail and the lower amount shows the highest power drawn on that rail during the current session. The amounts shown were not been equal to the actual loads we had put on the rails. We measured differences of up to 10A. Bringing up the details display, we can see all rails at once. The display shows on all 12V rails with a maximum 18A which is not quite accurate since two of the rails are rated at 25A.
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strikeback03 - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link
Does the software need to be running for the voltage regulation to work? Or can you make changes then close the software and have the changes still work on the PSU?Also I'd guess if UV lighting is that useful for a case you could swap the blue LEDs for some UV ones - looks like enough wire is exposed to cut the blue ones and solder in UV ones.
Oberst - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link
Hello,nice review (i wouldn't expect anything else of you). But I've got a question about the measuring-software: Was it reliable, when measuring voltages? You already mentioned, that the wattage was not reliable. So I'd like to know, if that was because of wrong measured amps or volts.
greets Oberst.
Christoph Katzer - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link
Voltages have been quite accurate; amps have been wrong in almost every case.qpwoei - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link
Once you've got the ripple measurements sorted out, it'd be nice to get some scope traces as the load changes. Poor transient response of the rails can cause all sorts of hard-to-diagnose problems in the real world.Christoph Katzer - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link
We use a scope to follow response on the rails but until now we feel the data is not good enough to present. If there would be something to extraordinary to tell we surely would.bob4432 - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link
what about that? a good quality unit, the Corsair 520HX seems to be a lot of people's favorite lately, how does it really stack up? or some of the FSP "Green" units - are they really that efficient? what about seasonic - really as good as everyone says?these reports are all fine and dandy, but you are catering to possibly 5% of your user base, yes even here 800W is extreme overkill.
and it is not a $$$ issue but rather a reality issue. i am surprised you guys testing these are continuing the thought process by only reviewing the upper wattage units and thus making everyone think they need one when they don't - people on review 750W psus, so i must need one...come on guys
Christoph Katzer - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link
Will come. No worries about that. At the moment we are just starting as you can see and of course every company wants to have the best PSU tested first. We'll have lower ones very soon but need to work on that mountain of PSUs here first. With 380w you will see a Seasonic pretty soon for example.bob4432 - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link
will definitely be looking forward to them :)ATWindsor - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link
I disagree that an OCP per rail i s a good thing, it onyl makes using the PSU more of a hassle, since you can draw a lot less from the PSU on 12V than the specs would make possible, if you are unlucky and draw most of it from one rail. Several manufacturers have one big rail without any know safety-problems, having an OCP for the combined drav from the 12V-lines however is a good thing.AtW
dare2savefreedom - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link
I would be interested in knowing how a psu runs with dual 8800gtxs in virginia in summertime in an old house with a window air conditioner.Not these theoretical white glove clean room lab environment tests.
triple sli 8800gtx?
come one stop playing with your iphone.