BFG Tech's ES-800 800W
Love you lifetime

Already well-known to PC enthusiasts, BFG Tech recently entered the power supply market and now has no fewer than ten different models on offer. The ES-800 is the latest, and as its name not so subtly implies, it's rated for a maximum output of 800W. BFG's trademark lifetime warranty is by far this unit's most unique feature, though. This is the first time we've seen lifetime coverage offered with a power supply, and although BFG cuts the warranty to a single year if you don't register within 30 days of purchase, online registration isn't much of a chore. The relative value of a lifetime warranty for a product whose realistic useful life may not stretch beyond five years is debatable, however. 800W may indeed prove to be enough power for years to come, but as we saw with the transition to 24-pin primary power plugs, any major shift in connector standards could quickly render current PSUs obsolete.

BFG is quick to point out that there's more to the ES-800 than just a long warranty. The unit uses rather nebulous "frequency conversion technology" to improve efficiency at lower load levels. PSUs are typically inefficient under loads far below their maximum wattage rating, and BFG says the ES-800 is at least 80% efficient all the way down to just 10% of its total output potential.

A massive 140mm fan keeps the ES-800 cool with plenty of venting at the rear of the unit. The cables are neatly sheathed from end-to end, and a flat grey finish completes the decidedly stealthy package. According to BFG, the ES-800 also makes use of Japanese-made capacitors throughout.

The ES-800's DC voltage regulation looks quite good, with 3.3, 5, and 12V output all well within acceptable tolerances. Delivered voltages do start to slide as the load increases, but not by margins that would give us pause.

Although AC ripple content jumps around a bit and is notably more prevalent on the 3.3V line, there's very little of it overall. At worst, just one one-hundredth of a volt's worth of AC content sneaks into the ES-800's DC feeds.

True to BFG's promise, the ES-800 maintains at least 80% efficiency across all four of our load levels. The PSU is at its most efficient with our relatively modest 25% load, where it's an impressive 87% efficient. Efficiency drops by about 2% with each 25% load step.