Foreword

About a year ago, that computer base last had power supplies in the test. Because these tests are enormously time consuming, we have forth more reviews long before us, but the prospect of driving the new, as well as promising tagan TG380-U01 its limits was too tempting.

Test methods

On the measurements carried out by us we want to not go at this point, since only slightly different from the last test. The only significant difference is the sound-level meter, for which we have acquired a sound level meter. A similar device was already used in our fan test.

The tagan TG380-U01

Already the discreet black as also sound packaging of Tagans represents a real eye-catcher. But when unpacking of the power supply, a “AHA effect” provides a truly. With a case held in a Matt Black, an ATX cable sheathed with a flexible hose, shipping lines zwirbelten and blessed consistently gold plated connectors, like it right away.

As Encores – which are unfortunately by no means self-evident – there are five colored cable ties with practical Velcro and five screws per a detailed manual in English, as well as in German, a power cord.

The tagan has two continuously controlled fan, which is nowadays no peculiarity, finally, there is already power supplies with three fans. Their arrangement, as it is not unusual but as usual in the 90 ° angle are arranged (below the air intakes – rear out bubbles), but are available on an axis, so take a 180° arrangement. The advantage is that according to German distribution in a much improved airflow by laminar air flow, which we can quite understand, because the inner fan through the heat sink can blow so freely, while, however, a fan in the ground only to the Külkörper can blow what quite significantly hampered its air flow. Fears that this arrangement would have disadvantages with regard to the Airflows in the housing, have resolved in the course of the test to be pleased with.

The power switch is equipped with a waterproof CAP, which unfortunately hampered the actuation of the switch, because the pressure point, which provides the switching status without inspection, no longer readily touch. We believe tagan should better save at this point, just sometimes less is more.

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Also the processing inside can convince consistently. Two lush sized, black anodized, as well as two smaller, bare aluminum heat sink worry about the heat balance of Tagans. At the sight of the meaning of the 180° is clear fan arrangement: for a Lüfteranordung in the 90 ° angle would have to the heat sink much smaller fail, to make room for the fan. It would blow flow poor this on the top of the heatsink, which would clearly reduce the effect of the second fan. Further generous Elkes at the entrance can be found and particularly positive, we noted the existence of a socketed safety fuse, who like to save for many manufacturers. A connection for a third, controlled fan is found in the tagan, it could serve for an extra case fan which automatically supplies depending on the load from the power supply with the optimum tension. Unfortunately, the port only under warranty loss is accessible, since the housing must be opened. This is particularly tragic because the tagan with respectable 36 months warranty is equipped. We would only too happy to exchange an accessible from the outside, regulated fan connector against the cap of the power button, even if we need consider this by no means mandatory. But if there is already a connection, this is on halt appetite more. We hope for improvement on the part of the manufacturer.

Amazed at the quality of the used fan also us, because they have no specific characteristics purely externally, but with about 3.9 V be powered at low load and call at easily at this low voltage. Four Pope put forward to the comparison made, however, no matter how small Mucks 8412 N/GL at a voltage of less than 4V.

The fan control, appears somewhat unusual to us, however, which does not exist, but rather its working is meant. While all known to us power supplies on a temperature-dependent regulation of trust, the tagan controls the fan depending on the load. An advantage we do not see it, but also a serious disadvantage, because usually with increasing load, also an increase in temperature is accompanied. In this case, the tagan increases the speed of the fan before the computer heats, while in other parts of the network that have a temperature-dependent regulation, speed later raising regelt free usa virtual address. Should, however, use a Wakü, the fans despite lower heat turn high, although this is perhaps not necessary. Where “high” geprahlt is, the tagan is really quiet.

Was the German sales announced by the us to do this:

&Lt; blockquote > originally posted

The temperature level is a consequence of the dissipation, i.e. it is dependent on total loads (or consumption performance) and the efficiency of the power supply. Burden is therefore more appropriate, since it represents the cause of any temperature changes in the power supply (depending on the component as well depending on the location). TSCT-regulation represents an optimum/compromise between consumption loads and fan RPM/sound or heat (by power loss/temperature) and heat transfer (by air flow). P.S. The “worse-case” size here serves as a control parameter.

The tagan TG380-U01 (continued)

Connections

All connections of the power supply in the overview:

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For estimated 98.5% of all PC users, the AUX port is the reason why tagan here has saved meaningless, surely. Unfortunately this link at our dual-Athlon 2400 + is but imperative, and so we could run the power supply is not on this computer. A praise worthy the tagan, however, with the two SATA connectors, which are part of the ATX 1.3 specification, and those two lack SATA optical drives are initially enough so that you can safely dispense with corresponding adapter. This circumstance will be far more important for most users, as the missing AUX port. There is still an additional grounding cable, which was led out of the case.

Connection cable length

A considerable feature represents the length of the cable, because it is possible just in large packages for very deep-seated disks that this can be achieved more easily.

All information shall be here in centimeters, which pulled the cables with brute force in the length.

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The cables offered by the tagan should be sufficient in all cases.

As input mentioned all wires are twisted pairs (or braided). The manufacturer shall specify the following grounds:

&Lt; blockquote > originally posted

All connections have twisted cables for a reduction of EM interference.

Now, we can not easily due to lack of measurement capabilities, but from the physics we know that there is indeed a magnetic field around the conductor with direct current, but not interference occur because they arise only from waves (pronounced Wechselströmen). Apart from these grounds have the twisted pairs but a quite tangible advantage: the clutter is significantly inhibited. A unique installation like the lines of a normal power supply, in which the individual wires every 20-30 cm with a Loveless attached cable ties are kept together, still neatly set can be, but who performs a test with four or more mainboards in a hurry, will find nested within each other and often then carefully knotted cables. This is possible with the twisted pairs of tagan only see misconduct in connection with use of considerable force. In short: in a few seconds all lines are again properly, no matter how strong you has come before.

Measurements

Noise level

In addition to high performance of inclined PC users expected in particular a low noise level, contributes a significant amount to which the power supply. We have verified receipt mentioned sound level meter in the tagan with the. To actually operate the fan for the measurement of full load with maximum speed, we have bridged the internal fan control and supplied with constant 12V. In the normal operation of the test we not managed it, to run the power supply or the fan on high level.

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Still, it was noted that our meter in a supposedly silent room in which there is no single device producing noise, announced already 29.6 dB(A). Already the air had to be encouraged, since even normal breathing exceeds this value.

Performance

The ATX specification provides a maximum voltage variation of +/-5% before, so that on the 3.3 / 5 / 12V line must concern at least 3,14 / 4.75 / 11,4V. Because virtually all power supplies despite Active PFC have the property, to represent decreasing values of voltage, when the load increases, we measure the maximum current in just these tensions. Performance in addition offered is not considered by us, what was already the COBA in our last test’s undoing.

The following measurement the 5V measured line solo (3.3 and 12V unloaded), while at the two other voltages the 5V line with 16 A was encumbered.

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You can just yet as vast scale the performance of this power supply on the 3.3 – and 12V surpasses it management the manufacturer’s clear. The manufacturer’s specification on the 5V line is missed here just around 200 mA. At this point the tagan has baffled similar to us, as at the time managed the Zalman.

Yet the wide input voltage range, ranging from 95-250 V, without that, you must switch is worth mentioning in any case.

Powering up under load

As already in the first power supply test, we examined also the tagan with 16 A load on the 12 V supply (i.e. 192 W) on the ability, to start yet clean even under unusually high load. It probably not really baffled that the tagan unquestionably mastered this test.

Efficiency

With the steadily increasing power of current hardware, the efficiency of a power supply becomes more and more important. Ever worse the efficiency of a power supply, the more is converted from the expensive anything current already into heat, before reaching the actual hardware in the form of CPU or graphics card at all.

We have tested the tagan at different loads on its efficiency:

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On average, 80.6% efficiency arise so.

This represents a very good value. Unfortunately, it is a fact that the most power supplies not nearly reach this value, and many low-cost products with an efficiency of about 65% do need to. How enormous that affects, is clear on the basis of a small sample:

We have a machine which consumes on average 200 W, and runs around the clock. For two power supply modules with similar specs available are, one for 49 EUR, the other for EUR 89. Unfortunately, the “cheaper” power supply has an efficiency of 65%, the more expensive one of 80%. The first configuration consumes so 307,7 W, and thus 2658,5 KWh a year (360 days), while the second 250W consumes, and 2160 approved KWh. It sets based on 15 cents per KWh to save 75,34 EUR per year with the more expensive power supply anyway. One can appear the same but in a different light the purchase price. Unfortunately, we can conclude by no means out of the purchase price on the efficiency. We deeply regret that manufacturers are not legally obliged to specify the efficiency of their power supplies. There, we could save very much power.

Conclusion

What remains to say given the observed properties over the tagan?

It looks chic has a well-thought-out design, is high-quality processed, provides ample power, load stable, remains always whisper-quiet and is has on an excellent efficiency. In short: The best power supply, we had ever available. Only the missing AUX connection and the well intentioned but pretty impractical cap on the power switch of negative. But here, tagan may even rework.

We are neutral to the somewhat unorthodox, load dependent fan control we could make up neither serious advantages nor disadvantages.

The excellent tagan TG380-U01 can be purchased at Caseking for 64.90 euro.

Update:
To make the power supply still quieter, the tagan has received a changed fan controller. Therefore, the second fan at low load is no longer controlled, but only runs at increased load. This is not due to a defect!

Annex

The manual

For those who have now received your appetite for the tagan, here the German user manual, which in our view after pleasing extensively was designed.

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