Cougar 1000CM 1000w PSU Revisited
Simulated Load Testing
Published: 22nd January 2010 | Source: Cougar | Price: £133 |
To provide accurate and consistent results in all of our PSU testing, Overclock3D uses professional grade DC electronic load equipment capable of placing a sustained load of 3690w across a total of six rails (including +5vsb and -12v) on the PSU! This is achieved by using a combination of SunMoon and Analogic electronic load equipment which allow us to adjust amperage loads in increments as small as 0.01A while also measuring voltage and wattage readings on-screen. During today's tests, we will be placing the Cougar 1000CM under 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% load levels inside a hot box regulated to a temperature of around 50°C. Additional 'Cross Load' and a 'Max Load' tests will also be performed under these conditions to simulate how the PSU reacts to heavily uneven loads as well as running above its specified output.
| Cougar 1000CM Results @ 50°C | ||||||||||
| +3.3v | +5.0v | +12v | +5vSB | -12v | AC Watts / DC Watts | Efficiency | Intake / Exhaust | Δ Temp | ||
| Test 1 (Low) | 5.25A | 5.25A | 16.75A | 1.00A | 0.20A | 294w / 256w | 87.07% | 52.4°C / 47.0°C | -5.4°C | |
| 3.35v | 5.09v | 12.25v | 5.06v | -11.88v | ||||||
| Test 2 (Med) | 10.50A | 10.50A | 33.50A | 2.00A | 0.40A | 567w / 510w | 89.94% | 50.1°C / 50.5°C | 0.4°C | |
| 3.30v | 5.02v | 12.18v | 4.98v | -11.89v | ||||||
| Test 3 (High) | 15.75A | 15.75A | 50.25A | 3.00A | 0.60A | 851w / 758w | 89.07% | 50.1°C / 54.2°C | 4.1°C | |
| 3.23v | 4.95v | 12.10v | 4.90v | -11.90v | ||||||
| Test 4 (Full) | 21.00A | 21.00A | 67.00A | 4.00A | 0.80A | 1147w / 1003w | 87.44% | 49.5°C / 59.5°C | 10.0°C | |
| 3.19v | 4.87v | 12.02v | 4.83v | -11.92v | ||||||
| Test 5 (x-load) | 21.00A | 21.00A | 1.00A | 0.00A | 0.00A | 230w / 185w | 80.43% | 49.6°C / 50.8°C | 1.2 °C | |
| 3.30v | 4.95v | 12.25v | 5.08v | -11.95v | ||||||
| Test 6 (x-load) | 1.00A | 1.00A | 80.00A | 0.00A | 0.00A | 1103w / 966w | 87.57% | 50.0°C / 56.0°C | 6.0°C | |
| 3.32v | 5.06v | 12.02v | 5.03v | -11.99v | ||||||
| Test 7 (MAX) | 21.00A | 21.00A | 70.00A | 4.00A | 0.80A | 1247w / 1031w | 82.67% | 52.3°C / 66.4°C | 14.1°C | |
| 3.21v | 4.88v | 12.00v | 4.79v | -12.00v | ||||||
| Cougar 1000CM Performance Overview | |||||
| +3.3v Diff. T1-T4 | +5.0v Diff. T1-T4 | +12v Diff. T1-T4 | Avg Effic. T1-T4 | Noise Rating | |
| -4.77% | -4.32% | -1.87% | 88.38% | Low | |
The performance overview chart is the first port of call, and here we can see that the Cougar 1000CM managed to hold extremely respectable voltage stability on its +12v rail between test 1 and test 4 with a drop in output of only 1.87%. Granted this isn't a record breaking result, but it's still around 1.4% better than the HEC built 1000CM and even outperforms a lot of the PSU's in top 10 list. Unfortunately the results from the +3.3v and +5v rails spoil the mood a little with both being quite "high". I say high with inverted comma's as the result its self isn't too shabby at all, it just foils any chance of the Cougar finding its way anywhere near the top of our leader board.
During the cross-load tests 5 & 6 the Cougar copes surprisingly well with no out-of -check voltages at all. Only the efficiency takes a nose-dive during test 5, dropping to just over 80%. This is a fairly surprising result considering the average results from the other tests so far, but very few PSU's pass these tests so the Cougar deserves a few points here at least. Finally in the MAX Load test, it is quite obvious to see that the Cougar 1000CM is already stretched to its limits as far as power output is concerned. Although the unit was briefly capable of up to ~1400w before OCP/OPP kicked in and shut it down, the maximum sustainable load was just 1031w. Obviously at this load the voltages were quite similar to those at 1000w in Test 4 with the only difference being approx 4% lower efficiency at 82.67%.
And now for the moment of truth. Will all those solid state caps help to tame the beastly ripple results seen on the HEC badged 1000CM, or will Cougar be added to the swearword list on the Overclock3D forums? I can almost hear the knorring of fingernails at Cougar HQ....
| Cougar 1000CM Scope Results @ 50c | ||||
| +3.3v | +5.0v | +12v | ||
| Test 1 (Low) |  |  |  | |
| Test 2 (Med) |  |  |  | |
| Test 3 (High) |  |  |  | |
| Test 4 (Full) |  |  |  | |
| Test 5 (x-load) |  |  |  | |
| Test 6 (x-load) |  |  |  | |
| Test 7 (MAX) |  |  |  | |
WOW what an improvement. It's almost like somebody took the original HEC 1000CM ripple results to the hairdressers and asked for a number one all over! Gone are the massive mohawk-like spikes of ripple that hit over 300mV and instead we're left with what looks at first glance like some pretty acceptable results.
But don't go cracking open the bottle of champagne just yet...
While the ripple results from tests 1-3 are more than acceptable with results hovering around the 30mV mark for all of the rails, the +3.3v rail looses its cool in test 4 by exceeding the ATX Specified maximum ripple output of 50mV. Sure it's not by any massive amount, but considering the insides of the 1000CM has more solid state capacitors than an ASUS motherboard, I was at least hoping that it could keep up with the other units that we've tested recently.
This aside though the rest of the results are quite acceptable with the +12v rail especially managing to stick below 60mV no matter what was thrown at it. If Cougar could add just a little bit more filtering to the DC-DC boards for the +3.3v and +5v rails then I'd have no quibbles at all.
Now let's move on to the all important conclusion...
Most Recent Comments
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Originally Posted by name='killablade'
One thing that I immediately thought of is: Damm that would look good in MNR 1.2 ^^
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(Tom...i jest...no really...dont hit me)
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Originally Posted by name='Jim'
(Tom...i jest...no really...dont hit me) |
If only I knew someone who wanted a black and orange PC.
Wait what?
Good review Jim and glad to see that Cougar have taken the comments on board and rectified a lot of the issues. Considering the price a small ripple is to be expected.
Odd choice of colour, cuts them off from many users I think
would be nice in the MNR V1.2
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