A
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Methodology
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Tier A - OTP should be tested (if not tested - detier to SP subtier), working and set below 200°C (if it's set higher - detier to LP subtier), required to be based on ZVS primary topology (LLC or phase shift resonant), have ripple below 50mV under all load situations up-to 110% overload, <=3% transient response on 12V rail, <=3% 12v voltage deviation from nominal. Fan with =>30k hours MTBF at 40°C (generally non-plain-sleeve bearing) or be fanless. All capacitors rated for 105°C. Minimum 18AWG gauge wires for hot 12V leads on GPU/EPS/ATX cables, on pig-tail cables - at least to the first connector, 20AWG to the second or for ground leads.

ATX 3.0 subsection requires an Intel DB entry or third party power excustion tests.
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Tier B and above - required to have OTP (just claimed is enough, but if it's tested and the unit did not survive - detier to LP subtier), to have OPP and OCP tested (detier to tier C if failed), be based on ACRF or ZVS primary, DC-DC secondary topology, and have APFC with full VAC input range (100-230V); voltage regulation and ripple should be in spec under 110% overload; 12V ripple below 100mV under 110% overload; should be rated for continuous operation at minimum 40°C ambient (not just 'operating conditions' but unless proven to not qualify by testing, only claimed operating conditions without continous operation remark is enough)
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Tier C and above - required to have independent regulation on all rails and/or <5% min to max voltage regulation on all rails under extreme crossloads and high combined load; ripple on 12V rail should be below 100mV under extreme crossload and high combined load situations and up-to 100% load.
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Tier D and above - required to have OPP claimed; requires OCP on minor rails tested, SCP on all rails tested, UVP, OVP on all rails claimed (or a teardown showing that supervisor IC supports that), ripple within specs, voltage regulation in specs on all rails under moderate crossloads and 100% load
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Tier E - units expected to be qualifying for no higher than tier D but without reviews or reliable information on, or otherwise having characteristics or issues keeping them from being placed on the same tier as better tier D units, or otherwise, units there are too little information on to be reliably tiered
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Tier F - heavily malfunctioning protections, QC issues or design flaws leading to widespread malfunctions / DoAs
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There's one allowed exclusion for test point not passing tier requirements for ripple, load regulation or transient response without detiering.
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Subtiers :

- Normal priority - direct reviews with transient response and protection tests (OCP, OPP, plus OTP for tier A), and sufficient for tier B and lower - only a teardown confirming highly similiar component choices
- Low priority - direct reviews without protection tests (for tier B and lower) or due to minor issues with the tests
- Speculative position - units with barely sufficient info on. Meaning at least primary and secondary topology is known. But tier A requries either a full teardown to confirm high similiarity with the unit from normal priority or a Cybenetics with a components breakdown report available.
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Colors definition
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Gold - Best units in the tier, requirements :

- Tier A : <=1.5% 12V peak to peak, <=2% transient response on 12V rail, <=3% deviation from nominal 5V rail, <=30mV max ripple on the 12v rail(s) including 110% load tests, transient response within ATX spec on 5V rail. One exception allowed for test data point outside of required range. Minimum 18AWG cable gauge for hot 12V leads. Includes requirements for blue color (quiet operation).
- Tiers B & C : mostly based on review availability, objective quality and performance compared to competition in the same tier to highlight the most important models in respective price ranges
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Blue - Quiet operation, meaning sub 30 dBa (35 dBa for SFX units) under moderate load i.e :

- 300W at 12V rail for <=500W units
- 400W for 550-700W units
- 500W for =>750W units (30-50W load on minor rails).
Additionally, for tier A units, sub 35 dBa (45 dBa for SFX units) under 70% load for =>850W units (30-50W load on minor rails), and sub 20 dBa under low load (idle), i.e 100W at 12V rail and 15-20W load on minor rails.
Stock or after manual configuration using software or fan mode switch button.
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Colors priority : Gold > Blue