Demystifying 80 PLUS Ratings

by PC BUILD JAPAN February 23, 2024

Have you ever noticed those little stickers with "80 PLUS" on power supply units but had no idea what they meant? Don't worry; you're not alone! Understanding 80 PLUS ratings might seem like delving into the world of rocket science, but fear not! We're here to break it down into easy-to-understand bits.

What is 80 PLUS?

First things first, let's decipher the mystery behind "80 PLUS." It's not some secret code; it's a certification program for power supplies. Essentially, it tells you how efficiently a power supply converts electricity from your wall outlet into power that your computer or other electronic devices can use.

How Does it Work?

Imagine you have a bucket of water (your electricity) that you want to pour into a smaller container (your device). The more water (electricity) you waste in the process, the less efficient it is. 80 PLUS ratings tell you how good a power supply is at not wasting electricity. The higher the rating, the less waste there is.

Understanding the Ratings:

Here's where it gets a bit technical, but bear with us:

80 PLUS Standard: This is the basic level. A power supply with this rating is at least 80% efficient at 20%, 50%, and 100% of its maximum load. In simpler terms, it's pretty good, but there's room for improvement.
80 PLUS Bronze: A Bronze-rated power supply is at least 82% efficient at 20% and 100% of its load, and 85% efficient at 50% of its load. It's a step up from the standard.
80 PLUS Silver: Silver-rated power supplies are even better, with efficiencies of 85%, 88%, and 85% at 20%, 50%, and 100% of their load, respectively.
80 PLUS Gold: Gold-rated power supplies are highly efficient, boasting efficiencies of 87%, 90%, and 87% at 20%, 50%, and 100% of their load, respectively.
80 PLUS Platinum: These are among the cream of the crop, with efficiencies of 90%, 92%, and 89% at 20%, 50%, and 100% of their load, respectively.
80 PLUS Titanium: The Titanium rating represents the peak of efficiency, with efficiencies of 90%, 94%, and 90% at 20%, 50%, and 100% of their load, respectively. These are the most efficient power supplies on the market.

Why Does it Matter?

You might wonder why you should care about all this efficiency stuff. Well, aside from being environmentally friendly by reducing wasted electricity, more efficient power supplies also save you money in the long run. They waste less energy, which means lower electricity bills for you!

PC BUILD JAPAN has access to various different kinds of power supplies, ranging from Bronze to Titanium for your build with us. Contact us today to find out more!