Varying power load conditions on systems under test

A method comprising:

• initiating a system power test for a computer system, the computer system comprising one or more power supplies providing power to a plurality of system components, the system power test comprising determining power system characteristics under various loading conditions;
• configuring a system component of the plurality of system components during the system power test, the system component using a higher amount of power after being configured than in a previous un-configured condition;
• de-configuring the system component during the system power test, the system component using a lower amount of power after being de-configured than in a previous configured condition;
• and
• measuring power system performance of the computer system during varying loading conditions caused by configuring and de-configuring one or more system components.

A computer system comprising:

• a power supply;
• a plurality of system components configured to process data;
• a power bus that provides power from the power supply to the plurality of system components;
• a system test module that initiates a system power test for the computer system, the system power test comprising determining power system characteristics under various loading conditions;
• a configure module that configures a system component of the plurality of system components during the system power test, the system component using a higher amount of power after being configured than in a previous un-configured condition;
• a de-configure module that de-configures the system component during the system power test, the system component using a lower amount of power after being de-configured than in a previous configured condition;
• and
• a diagnostic module that measures power system performance of the computer system during varying loading conditions caused by configuring and de-configuring one or more system components by the configure module and the de-configure module.