Keeping power costs down is critical for the datacentre. Low power memory, low voltage processors, small format factor (2.5") drives and more efficient fans are key elements in this battle and ones that most customers identify with and are already starting to specify. Power supplies are not but they can have a significant impact on your power consumption.

In the process of turning AC power into DC power there is always some loss. Until recently, breaking the 90% efficiency barrier has been a problem. Now Supermicro, has been awarded the 80 Plus Silver rating from 80plus.org. Their new 560W power supply for 1U servers is the first 80 Plus Silver power supply available today.

What does 80 Plus mean? To achieve the 80 Plus Silver standard a power supply must meet convert over 85% of power when the load is between 25% and 100%. Supermicro's new power supply delivers 88% efficiency at 25% load, 92% ay 50% and 88% at 75% and 87% at 100% loading.

Supermicro is now shipping the power supply in three of their 1U server models - SC113MTQ-560CB, SC111T-560 and the SC113TQ-560.