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Inside be quiet!

01.10.2019
„Full bridge + LLC + SR + DC/DC“ - what does that mean? We shed a bit of light on the world of PSU abbreviations.

Power supply units are the hearts of the computer. Without them nothing is going to work - where there's no power, there's no activity. In the earlier days their structure was quite simple, they weren't much more than compact transformers. These days they are way more complex - and with a heightened complexity comes a higher amount of kryptic abbreviations. Which is why we shed some light onto the meaning of "DC/DC", "LLC", "Half/Full Bridge" or "Synchronous Rectifier". Let's take our flagship PSU "Dark Power Pro 11" for example. Its topology reads like this: "Full Bridge + LLC + SR + DC/DC" - what does that mean? Let's take it from the top.

"Full Bridge" means that four MOSFETs are used, as opposed to two in "Half Bridge". MOSFET is the abbreviation of "Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor" - and the main task of this transistor is to generate high-frequency alternating voltage. The maximum number of MOSFETs is four, and the more are used, the more efficient the operation.
In electronics, "L" represents a coil and "C" a capacitor. Therefore an "LLC" means two coils and one capacitor. This integrated circuit has one function: To harmonize the alternating current, by transforming square patterns, which are typical for capacitor circuits, into sinusform waves, which highly increase efficiency.
"SR" stands for "Synchronous Rectifier". Usually rectifier circuits have the problem that their diode-based architecture suffers from high power dissipation. With a synchronous rectifier and the usage of several MOSFETs, controlled by ICs, the loss can be avoided which means that SR-equipped power supplies work two to three percent more efficiently.
Power supplies with "DC/DC" technology ("direct current to direct current") convert only the 12V DC in their transformator and use this as the basis for 3.3V and 5V - unlike conventional models which create all currents at the same time. This not only increases the efficiency but also creates a strong 12V rail from which power-hungry components like a graphics card profit directly.


These are the most important abbreviations which you encounter when dealing with power supply units and to which you should pay attention. But of course there are way more: "OCP", "OVP", "UVP", "SCP", "OTP" und "OPP" are protective circuits, shielding your PSU from overheating, shortcircuiting, overloading or power fluctuation. "ErP", "WEEE" and "ROHS" on the other hand are environmental guidelines which take care of energy efficiency, environmentally sound disposal of older appliances and the usage of hazardous materials in electronic devices.