The XPG Cybercore II 1300W ATX 3.0 PSU Review: A Slightly More Modest High-End PSU

Cold Test Results (~22°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high-precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox, and various other bits and parts. For a thorough explanation of our testing methodology and more details on our equipment, please refer to our How We Test PSUs - 2014 Pipeline post.

The XPG CYBERCORE II 1300W PSU meets the 80Plus Platinum efficiency certification requirements and does so regardless of the input voltage. Manufacturers commonly target their designs to meet the 80Plus certification requirements with an input voltage of 115 VAC due to the lower certification thresholds, frequently failing to meet the certification’s requirements with an input voltage of 230V. This is not the case here, as the CYBERCORE II does reach efficiency figures high enough to meet the 80Plus Platinum requirements regardless of the input voltage. With an input voltage of 115V, the CYBERCORE II 1300W PSU has a top efficiency of 93.1% and an average nominal load range (20% to 100% of the unit's capacity) efficiency of 92.2%. Switching the input voltage to 230 VAC increases the top efficiency to 94.1% and the average efficiency to 93.4%. We should also note that the efficiency is slightly improved over the first generation CYBERCORE units that we reviewed last year.

The cooling profile of the CYBERCORE II PSU is unconventional, and even significantly different from the first version of the series. It has the fan sitting immobile until the load hits around 600 Watts, even with an ambient temperature of 26°C, a figure that would trouble all passive PSU designers. When the fan does start, it immediately speeds up to about 1200 RPM, instantly reaching audible sound pressure levels that sharply increase with any increase of the load beyond 700 Watts, with the fan reaching its maximum speed when the CYBERCORE II 1300W unit is fully loaded. This cooling profile does cause high internal temperatures while the fan is deactivated but will keep the CYBERCORE II entirely quiet while any system is idling (and, in many cases, even while the system is loaded).