Efficiency, According to the 80 PLUS Specification


Efficiency Across the Power Spectrum


Seasonic's X-460 is not the first model in the company's X-series that we've reviewed. As with the previously-tested models, everything we encountered we liked. The power supply exceeds all of the 80 PLUS Gold requirements. Even subjected to low loads, its efficiency is quite good (though it falls short of be quiet!'s Straight Power E9 CM 480 W).
The X-460’s ripple and noise results are among the best we have ever seen. In all other disciplines, this Seasonic unit performs as expected, just like a good power supply should.
Before discussing our thermal measurements, we want to describe how we take temperatures from a fanless supply. Because there is no active cooler, there is no exhaust air. Thus, we take our results close to, but not in contact with, the top of the power supply enclosure. With an ambient air temperature of 64 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature near the X-460 was 118 degrees Fahrenheit. That's a difference of 54 degrees.
A Peek at the PCB
We expected the interior of a fanless power supply to be crammed with heat sinks. But the Seasonic X-460’s interior is not overloaded with heat sinks at all. Yes, there are more than you'd find in an actively-cooled model, and the MOSFETs in particular are bolted to massive aluminum blocks. Overall, the interior looks organized and neat. The fact that there are almost no wires soldered into the PCB makes it appear even neater. And as we've come to expect from Seasonic, the soldering quality is very good.
Seasonic uses premium brand components from Japan. All electrolytic capacitors are sourced from Nippon Chemikon; most of them are polymer aluminum. The MOSFETs are premium Infineon models. No corners are cut in the electronic circuitry. The input filter circuitry is top-notch, and heat shrink tubes protect what would otherwise be bare cabling. Overall, the manufacturing quality is impeccable.
Fanless at its best. We can’t think of any other phrase that so succinctly and accurately summarizes our impression of the Seasonic X-460. The power supply sports excellent efficiency, performs reliably and accurately, and it is also perfectly silent. A peek inside shows its high manufacturing quality. Taking all of this into account, we think the street price of $130 is reasonable indeed.
- Two Fanless Power Supplies, Compared
- be quiet! Straight Power E9 CM 480 W
- Measurements: be quiet! Straight Power E9 CM 480 W
- Seasonic X-460 460 W
- Measurements: Seasonic X-460
- SilverStone SST-ST50NF
- Measurements: SilverStone SST-ST50NF
- Test Setup, Hold-Up Time, Inrush Current, Peak Load, And Short Circuit Protection Test
- Efficiency According To The 80 PLUS Spec, Temperature, And Standby Power
- Efficiency Across The Power Spectrum
- Which Fanless PSU Is Right For You?


Last time I checked, Americans aren't the only ones who enjoy a silent computing experience...
Many companies that are focused on silence such as Noctua and beQuiet! are not "American."
I think it is quite neat that they have fanless option. I would never take the risk, but if I did I would chose seasonic, my 750W has done me well.
Last time I checked, Americans aren't the only ones who enjoy a silent computing experience...
Many companies that are focused on silence such as Noctua and beQuiet! are not "American."
--> argument over.
For the record I am not an American and I don't live in the US
I've been buying Corsair and even $45 Thermaltake 500... and I cannot hear them... with the cover open. The problems with FANLESS PSUs and GPUs is that they become heat-sinks... sure they are quiet, but everything around them gets warm. You need to blow the hot air out.
Going from a fanless GPU to something with a huge fan (H.I.S. brand) - the fans barely makes noise and use a rear exhaust and I can run the system fans at a lower speed.
Mitko: get soundproofing material, apply to inside of case. Put case on floor.
My case is on the desk, a foot or so away from me... its no louder than the A/C vent blowing air in the room.
1. The heat stress is the factor No. 1 for the lifespan of the capacitors, no matter if they are conductive polymer or very high quality electrolytic brand.
2. The case should use more higher intake flow to make sure that the power supply's heat does not enter the case.
3. A noise level of 10-13 dB can be tolerated for the sake of sustainability and avoiding the risk of heating up your case with the heat from from the PSU.
Personally, in the last 10 years I admire Seasonic for their stile... But I would use a passive solution that is still in the PC case just for a while.
most of the voltage regulators are mostly the same though they may add a larger heatsink on them.
you could pretty much turn a standard PSU into a silent one by swapping the caps and heatsinks. High quality capacitors are about 3-5 times more expensive (may take the cost of a single cap from 5 cents, to around 15-20 cents)
Yeap, and you get a better, more reliable, energy efficient bit of kit too. Bit I don't think I'll be having a go a swapping them
Not an 'American' thing, but a medical one. Noise pollution is becoming more and more of a problem; and affects long term hearing quality.
No wonder people can no longer hear the difference between an MP3 and a CD recording.
Every now and then you can find it on sale for $120. A steal for the best 650W PSU in the world.
it'll be used in an HTPC/home media server. to those that have doubts about the usefulness of such a PSU, I will ask: "what's the point of having that nice audio system in your living room if all you're gonna hear is fan noise in the background?"
Another article is what got me hooked http://www.silentpcreview.com/Seasonic_X-400_Fanless_PSU, they basically had to resort to a hair dryer to make the thermal protection trip. A very good power supply that can put up with alot of heat before having to shut down.
translate please...don't understand...thanks in advance