Skip to content

Ripple: The Overlooked Threat to PSU Longevity and Performance

Ripple can halve capacitor lifespan with just a 10°C temperature increase. Top-tier PSUs go beyond ATX standards to minimize ripple, ensuring enhanced system stability.

In this picture we can see few buttons, regulators and lights, in the middle of the image we can...
In this picture we can see few buttons, regulators and lights, in the middle of the image we can find some text.

Ripple: The Overlooked Threat to PSU Longevity and Performance

Ripple, a common issue in power supply units (PSUs), plays a significant role in system stability, particularly during overclocking. It represents AC fluctuations and noise in the DC rails of a PSU, posing threats to component lifespan and overall performance.

Ripple's impact is substantial. A mere 10°C increase in temperature can halve the lifespan of capacitors. Modern, high-quality PSUs mitigate this by having ripple and spike limits that are roughly half those specified by the ATX standard. The ATX standard itself limits ripple to 120mV for +12V and -12V rails, and 50mV for other rails. However, in top-tier PSUs with superior components and effective filtering capacitors, ripple levels are expected to be much lower than these specifications.

Ripple, though often overlooked, is a crucial factor in PSU performance and longevity. While ATX standards provide guidelines, exceptional PSUs go beyond these limits to ensure minimal ripple, protecting components and enhancing overall system stability.

Read also:

Latest