Gold and Platinum ratings primarily differentiate in power supply efficiency under the 80 PLUS certification program, impacting both energy savings and long-term operational costs.
Key Efficiency Differences
- Gold Rating: Requires 87% efficiency at 50% load, 90% at 100% load (115V). Full-load efficiency typically remains below 90%.
- Platinum Rating: Requires 90% efficiency at 50% load, 89% at 100% load (115V). Full-load efficiency consistently exceeds 90%, reaching up to 94% in optimal conditions.
Cost Savings Analysis
While Platinum PSUs cost approximately 20-35% more upfront than comparable Gold units, they offer greater energy savings:
- Reduced Power Draw: Platinum units convert more AC to DC power, directly lowering electricity consumption.
- Lower Vampire Power: Platinum PSUs waste less energy in standby mode (e.g., 0.16W vs. Gold's 0.19W).
For high-load systems (e.g., 650W 24/7 operation), Platinum may save 40-70kWh annually compared to Gold.
Practical Considerations
- Best for Gold: Moderate-use systems where upfront cost matters most.
- Best for Platinum: High-performance rigs, servers, or systems with continuous heavy loads where efficiency justifies the premium.
Ultimately, Platinum offers superior efficiency for sustained high loads, while Gold provides balanced performance for typical computing needs.
