• Recently [ElecrArc240] got his paws on an Intel-branded 3 kW power supply that apparently had been designed as a reference PSU for servers. • At 3 kW in such a compact package air cooling would be rather challenging, so it has a big water block sandwiched between the two beefy PCBs. • In thefull teardown and analysis videoof the PSU we can see the many design decisions made to optimize efficiency and minimize losses to hit its 80 Plus Platinum rating. • For the power input you’d obviously need to provide it with 240 VAC at sufficient amps, which get converted into 12 VDC at a maximum of 250 A. • This also highlights why 48 VDC is becoming more common in server applications, as the same amount of power would take only 62.5 A at that higher voltage. • The reverse-engineered schematic shows it using an interleaved totem-pole PFC design with 600 V-rated TILMG3422600V GaN FETs in the power stages.
Article Summaries:
- Intel has unveiled a compact 3 kW water‑cooled power supply designed as a reference unit for servers. The PSU achieves an 80 Plus Platinum rating by combining a large water block with interleaved totem‑pole PFC and a phase‑shifted full‑bridge rectifier. It uses TI’s 600 V GaN FETs and OnSemi’s SiC cascode JFETs, offering high current density and efficiency. The design highlights the shift toward 48 VDC in data‑center and telecom applications, reducing current for the same power output. While the teardown revealed design quirks, it underscores Intel’s push for high‑efficiency, high‑power density power supplies.
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