With this post i want to show some results i got trying different Gold PSU's
I also might get Platinum PWS-741P-1R or even the smaller PWS-501P-R for this system.
The motivation behind this is that i'm planning to deploy two very similar systems (in SC826BE1-XXXXLBP that will come without PSU). These will be near idle for estimated 30-40% of the time. So, there is quite some potential how much energy could be saved over time. Also, even if i like the tech-stuff, i also feel somehow committed to the planet we live on
This will be a bit 'work in progress', as i'm currently missing some gear, more PSU's to test and also time to test everything was a bit short today.
(see: next steps)
So, currently the most worse thing is that all the wattages are taken from IPMI.
Will do the best to get a TRMS Power Meter asap and update the numbers i gathered so far.
System under Test
i will have this exact system until October in the labs, and won't change anything:
X10SRL-f BIOS 2.0b IPMI FW 3.58
Xeon E5 1620v3
2x 4GB DDR4 Micron
CSE-825, different PSU, each single and dual
1x ConnectX2 Dual Port
2x 500GB WD RE3
OS: Proxmox 5.0
All Power Draw numbers from IPMI, 'Server Health' => 'Power Source'
kW/h based on 8670 hrs/year
No values for savings given as power plans differ.
Left to each reader to estimate it's savings.
Notice: after adding/removing a PSU:
System must be taken from Power/unplugged (all PSU) and booted to see changes in IPMI.
IPMI might be unavailable for a minute or so.
One of the Asssertions would be that a PSU with smaller nominal load performs more efficient, as efficiency generally is bad in low load situation. 80 Plus requirements start at 20% load, optimization is done towards 50% load.
Supermicro gives an informative number for 10% load in their 80 Plus verification sheets. I added links to the PDF's for the PSU's tested so far.
In them here is a number how much the psu-fans draw, that is not included (!) in the calculated efficiency of the 80 Plus standard, but your power bill. The power-draw from these fans can be quite different.
PSU's tested so far:
PWS-1K21P-1R
1200 W 80+ Gold
http://www.supermicro.com.tw/products/powersupply/80PLUS/80PLUS_PWS-1K21P-1R.pdf
Single PSU:
Dual PSU:
PWS-721P-1R
720 W 80+ Gold
https://www.supermicro.com/products/powersupply/80PLUS/80PLUS_PWS-721P-1R.pdf
Single PSU:
Dual PSU:
Observations so far:
1.) The Measurements of DC12V Output Power in IPMI 'Power Sources' must be wrong, so the effectiveness simply says noting.
2.) Even so, the total AC-Draw (what will be accounted) can be compared.
3.) In total, the smaller PSU (PWS-721P-1R) performs worse in powered-off state and idle than the larger.
Powered off add's up 32W for single PSU and 59W for dual PSU.
This are the differences in kW/h per Year:
=> Single: 280 kW/h per Year
=> Dual: 517 kW/h per Year
Idle is the same with single PSU, but 37W more with dual PSU.
=> Dual: 324 kW/h per Year
4.) The Difference in total idle AC Input in the two dual PSU setups can only be explained by PSU fan's power draw, as the OS idling wouldn't draw more power.
Conclusions:
1.) if you have PWS-721P-1R and your systems are often under low load or even powered-off but IPMI running:
get rid of them and replace, it will payout fast, especially when you manage to get some money selling them
2.) PSU with smaller nominal load not always have higher efficiency at lower load, keep the fans in mind as they are not part of the efficiency they are sold for.
next steps:
- get / borrow a true-rms power meter to validate IPMI totals / estimate error range
- get some Platinum 500W and 740W PSU's to compare
- test under 50% and 100% load
- add informative results from FatTwin Platinum PSU - even if no alternative PSU's available.
Any comments, critics, suggestions how to change testing are really wellcome,
Alex
I also might get Platinum PWS-741P-1R or even the smaller PWS-501P-R for this system.
The motivation behind this is that i'm planning to deploy two very similar systems (in SC826BE1-XXXXLBP that will come without PSU). These will be near idle for estimated 30-40% of the time. So, there is quite some potential how much energy could be saved over time. Also, even if i like the tech-stuff, i also feel somehow committed to the planet we live on
This will be a bit 'work in progress', as i'm currently missing some gear, more PSU's to test and also time to test everything was a bit short today.
(see: next steps)
So, currently the most worse thing is that all the wattages are taken from IPMI.
Will do the best to get a TRMS Power Meter asap and update the numbers i gathered so far.
System under Test
i will have this exact system until October in the labs, and won't change anything:
X10SRL-f BIOS 2.0b IPMI FW 3.58
Xeon E5 1620v3
2x 4GB DDR4 Micron
CSE-825, different PSU, each single and dual
1x ConnectX2 Dual Port
2x 500GB WD RE3
OS: Proxmox 5.0
All Power Draw numbers from IPMI, 'Server Health' => 'Power Source'
kW/h based on 8670 hrs/year
No values for savings given as power plans differ.
Left to each reader to estimate it's savings.
Notice: after adding/removing a PSU:
System must be taken from Power/unplugged (all PSU) and booted to see changes in IPMI.
IPMI might be unavailable for a minute or so.
One of the Asssertions would be that a PSU with smaller nominal load performs more efficient, as efficiency generally is bad in low load situation. 80 Plus requirements start at 20% load, optimization is done towards 50% load.
Supermicro gives an informative number for 10% load in their 80 Plus verification sheets. I added links to the PDF's for the PSU's tested so far.
In them here is a number how much the psu-fans draw, that is not included (!) in the calculated efficiency of the 80 Plus standard, but your power bill. The power-draw from these fans can be quite different.
PSU's tested so far:
PWS-1K21P-1R
1200 W 80+ Gold
http://www.supermicro.com.tw/products/powersupply/80PLUS/80PLUS_PWS-1K21P-1R.pdf
Single PSU:
Code:
DC 12V Output AC Input efficiency
Power off: 0 16W n/a
Idle: 48W 90W 53%
Code:
Power off: 0 16W / 24W n/a
(total) 0 40W n/a
Idle: 24W / 18W 48W / 60W
(total) 42W 108W 38%
PWS-721P-1R
720 W 80+ Gold
https://www.supermicro.com/products/powersupply/80PLUS/80PLUS_PWS-721P-1R.pdf
Single PSU:
Code:
DC 12V Output AC Input efficiency
Power off: 0 48W n/a
Idle: 54W 90W 60%
Code:
Power off: 0 50W / 49W n/a
(total) 0 99W n/a
Idle: 57W / 59W 61W / 84W
(total) 116W 145W 80%
Observations so far:
1.) The Measurements of DC12V Output Power in IPMI 'Power Sources' must be wrong, so the effectiveness simply says noting.
2.) Even so, the total AC-Draw (what will be accounted) can be compared.
3.) In total, the smaller PSU (PWS-721P-1R) performs worse in powered-off state and idle than the larger.
Powered off add's up 32W for single PSU and 59W for dual PSU.
This are the differences in kW/h per Year:
=> Single: 280 kW/h per Year
=> Dual: 517 kW/h per Year
Idle is the same with single PSU, but 37W more with dual PSU.
=> Dual: 324 kW/h per Year
4.) The Difference in total idle AC Input in the two dual PSU setups can only be explained by PSU fan's power draw, as the OS idling wouldn't draw more power.
Conclusions:
1.) if you have PWS-721P-1R and your systems are often under low load or even powered-off but IPMI running:
get rid of them and replace, it will payout fast, especially when you manage to get some money selling them
2.) PSU with smaller nominal load not always have higher efficiency at lower load, keep the fans in mind as they are not part of the efficiency they are sold for.
next steps:
- get / borrow a true-rms power meter to validate IPMI totals / estimate error range
- get some Platinum 500W and 740W PSU's to compare
- test under 50% and 100% load
- add informative results from FatTwin Platinum PSU - even if no alternative PSU's available.
Any comments, critics, suggestions how to change testing are really wellcome,
Alex