The 80 Plus performance specification required power supplies to be 80% or greater energy efficient at 20%, 50% and 100% of rated load with a true power factor of 0.9 or greater. Last year, the group unleashed an update to the spec with bronze, silver, and gold labels to distinguish among PSUs with even higher levels of efficiency. The silver certification is awarded to power supplies that are 85% efficient at 20% utilization, 88% efficient at 50%, and 85% efficient at 100%. To earn gold (only 40 models have to date), efficiencies requirements are 87%, 90%, and 87%.
Originally posted to GoodCleanTech.com.