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| 80 PLUS Platinum | |
|---|---|
| Name | 80 PLUS Platinum |
| Introduced | 2008 |
| Category | Power supply certification |
| Predecessor | 80 PLUS Gold |
80 PLUS Platinum
80 PLUS Platinum is a certification tier for computer power supply units associated with the broader 80 Plus program. It denotes high energy-conversion efficiency across multiple load levels and is used by manufacturers, retailers, and procurement bodies to signal reduced energy losses and improved thermal performance. The designation interacts with standards, testing laboratories, and industry programs influencing desktop computing, server infrastructure, and telecommunications deployments.
The certification operates within a framework of performance benchmarks used by companies like Intel Corporation, Advanced Micro Devices, Dell Technologies, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, and ASUS to differentiate products in consumer, workstation, and data center markets. It aligns with energy programs and policies promoted by agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy, European Commission, and standards organizations including Underwriters Laboratories and International Electrotechnical Commission. Manufacturers including Seasonic, Corsair, EVGA, Thermaltake, Cooler Master, Antec, SilverStone Technology, and FSP Group commonly pursue the Platinum level to meet procurement criteria from organizations like Google, Facebook, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft.
The Platinum tier specifies minimum efficiency percentages at defined load points, which are referenced in purchasing specifications used by United States Department of Defense, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and large system integrators such as Hewlett Packard and Lenovo. The thresholds influence product listings on marketplaces operated by Newegg, Amazon (company), and Best Buy. Compliance is often cited in press releases by firms including NVIDIA, AMD (company), Intel, and OEMs like Acer Inc. and MSI (company) to demonstrate alignment with energy initiatives from Energy Star and regional programs administered by the California Energy Commission and Japan METI.
Independent testing laboratories such as UL Solutions, Intertek Group, SGS, TÜV SÜD, and CSA Group perform measurements according to procedures derived from standards bodies including IEC 62301, IEC 61000, and methodologies promoted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through partnerships with organizations like Energy Star. Test suites capture efficiency at loads typically expressed as 10%, 20%, 50%, and 100% of nameplate capacity, with instrumentation traceable to national metrology institutes like NIST and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt. Conformity assessments feed into certification registrations used by procurement teams at Oracle Corporation, IBM, and HPE.
Adoption of the Platinum tier affects purchasing by hyperscale operators such as Google LLC, Meta Platforms, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure. It informs total cost of ownership models employed by firms like Gartner, IDC, and Forrester Research and is referenced in sustainability reporting aligned with frameworks from Global Reporting Initiative, CDP (organization), and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board. Retail marketing leverages Platinum certification alongside brand campaigns by Corsair, Seasonic, and EVGA to attract enthusiasts and professionals sourcing equipment from distributors including Ingram Micro and Tech Data.
The Platinum level sits above Gold and below Titanium in the multi-tier 80 Plus spectrum, a structure used by manufacturers and reviewers at outlets such as Tom's Hardware, AnandTech, PC Gamer, Linus Tech Tips, and TechSpot. Alternative efficiency frameworks include initiatives by Energy Star, server-focused procurement schemes from The Green Grid, and regional energy labeling programs like EU Energy Label. Competitive certifications and ratings are also referenced by standards bodies including IEEE and ISO when evaluating system-level efficiency alongside product-level metrics.
Achieving Platinum efficiency imposes design impacts on topology, component selection, and thermal management. Power supply architectures such as full-bridge, half-bridge, and LLC resonant converters are influenced by semiconductor choices from Infineon Technologies, STMicroelectronics, ON Semiconductor, Texas Instruments, and ROHM Semiconductor. Passive components provided by Murata Manufacturing, TDK Corporation, and Vishay Intertechnology and active cooling solutions from Noctua, Delta Electronics, and Papst affect acoustic and thermal profiles. Systems integrators including Supermicro and QCT integrate Platinum PSUs when optimizing rack-level power distribution units from APC by Schneider Electric and monitoring with solutions from Schneider Electric, Eaton, and Emerson Network Power.
The certification emerged as part of industry efforts in the 2000s to reduce losses in desktop and server power supplies, paralleling energy initiatives supported by entities like Environmental Protection Agency, European Commission Directorate-General for Energy, and industry consortia such as Climate Savers Computing Initiative. Over time the program evolved through engagement with testing labs like UL Solutions and TÜV Rheinland and through adoption by OEMs including Dell Technologies and HP Inc., with market influences from review media such as CNET and Wired (magazine). The tier structure and laboratory practices continue to adapt alongside semiconductor advances from Intel, AMD, and supply-chain shifts involving distributors like Arrow Electronics and Avnet.
Category:Power supply certification