The GeForce RTX 50-series desktop graphics lineup has remained unchanged for just over a year now (since the introduction of the RTX 5050), and none of the conversations we've had at major trade shows suggests that a mid-cycle Super refresh will occur any time soon. But there are still signs that such an update could still happen at some point, and the latest sign comes from Seasonic, which has listed an RTX 5080 Super, an RTX 5070 Ti Super, and RTX 5070 Ti Super in its PSU wattage calculator.

You can click through the calculator and assemble a hypothetical system with these unannounced products inside.

To be useful, this calculator also provides board power numbers for these as-yet-unreleased cards, and that gives us another bit of juicy info. Given that no official specifications for these GPUs exist, it's impossible to say whether these figures are accurate. But it does allow us to speculate a bit on how they might stack up to existing products.

*As listed in Seasonic PSU calculator. Unconfirmed by Nvidia.

Seasonic gives this purported RTX 5080 Super a board power of 415W in its calculator, or 15% higher than the existing RTX 5080's 360W envelope. That makes sense, because the RTX 5080's GB203 GPU is already fully enabled, so any Super version of that card would have to lean on higher power limits and more aggressive clock speeds to see any baseline performance benefit.

That figure could also partially account for slightly higher power usage from 8 GB more GDDR7 memory on such a card. Past RTX 50 Super-series rumors have suggested that Nvidia will boost VRAM capacity on those products by moving to higher-density GDDR7 modules with 3GB of capacity each. GDDR7's power consumption as part of the overall board picture is relatively small, but more of it will still matter.

If Seasonic's figures are accurate, we should also expect a similarly sized TGP increase out of the RTX 5070 Ti Super, whose 350W rating is 17% higher than that of the RTX 5070 Ti. The RTX 5070 Super, meanwhile, gets only a 10% TGP bump over the RTX 5070, from 250W to 275W. Both of these cards rely on GPUs that are slightly cut down from their full available resources, so it's possible that Nvidia could boost their performance through a balance of enabling more Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs) in addition to boosting clocks through higher power envelopes.

Beware of extrapolating performance improvements directly from these percentages, though. Our own testing has shown that any real-world performance benefits from these power limit increases are likely to be smaller than those figures would suggest.

As our review of the MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z showed, the largest performance boosts from higher power limits are likely to be concentrated in ray-traced and path-traced games, whose computational intensity is significantly higher than pure raster titles and is more likely to run the GPU into its power limits.

In any event, we shouldn't expect to see these products any time soon. Nvidia has instead been focused on getting more out of existing Blackwell silicon with software improvements such as DLSS 4.5 upscaling and Multi-Frame Generation multipliers up to 6X.

These technologies enable higher output frame rates and image quality with lower input resolution than past DLSS technologies, and the boost to both performance and image quality from those technologies in tandem has certainly made existing Blackwell products more appealing than they were at launch.

But as monitor refresh rates continue to climb thanks to ongoing improvements to OLED and LCD panels, and next-generation HDMI 2.2 connectors looming over 2027, a hardware update of some kind that boosts baseline performance and potentially implements support for those standards seems practical at some point. Given these primarily consumer-focused improvements, an announcement at CES 2027 or Computex 2027 might make sense. As with any future product rumors, however, only time will truly tell.

Seasonic has long occupied a unique position in the power supply industry as one of the few manufacturers that designs, engineers, and produces its own units rather than relying on third-party ODMs. This vertical integration allows the Taiwan-based company to maintain exceptional quality control while building decades of platform development expertise. The Seasonic name has become virtually synonymous with reliability in enthusiast circles, though this reputation commands premium pricing that can make their products difficult to recommend in intensely competitive market segments.

The G12 GC-750 enters this challenging landscape with an unusual strategy. Rather than developing an entirely new budget-oriented platform, Seasonic has repurposed a proven design that has underpinned several high-end products over the past five years. This approach promises exceptional engineering fundamentals typically reserved for premium units, theoretically allowing Seasonic to compete on quality rather than features. The unit adheres to the Intel ATX 12V v2.31 specification and achieves 80 Plus Gold certification, targeting the mainstream market while maintaining Seasonic's characteristic focus on long-term reliability. At its typical retail price exceeding $140, however, the G12 GC-750 faces formidable competition from both Seasonic's own product line and rivals offering modular designs with contemporary connectivity. This positioning creates an intriguing question: can exceptional internal quality overcome external compromises in today's feature-driven market? We take a close look at the G12 GC-750 to determine whether it belongs on our best power supplies list.

Specifications and Design

*100% capacity at 40 °C, 80% capacity at 50 °C

In the Box

The Seasonic G12 GC-750 arrives in packaging that reflects the unit's split personality between premium engineering and budget positioning. The cardboard box features a black and blue aesthetic theme, with the G12 GC series logo dominating the front panel while smaller product images occupy the sides. Inside, foam inserts and a nylon pouch that cradle the unit during transport provide additional protection.

The accessory bundle strips away any pretense of premium treatment. Seasonic includes only the bare essentials: mounting screws and a standard AC power cable. There are no cable management accessories, no documentation beyond basic specifications, and none of the extras that we would expect bundled with a premium unit.

The cable situation warrants significant discussion, as it represents one of the G12 GC-750's most controversial design decisions. Every cable emerges hardwired from the unit's chassis, a design philosophy that has become increasingly rare in an era where even budget power supplies typically offer at least partial modularity. Seasonic also offers the G12 GM series, a semi-modular version of these units for a slightly higher price. Most significantly, the G12 GC-750 completely omits a 12V-2x6 connector, immediately limiting compatibility with graphics cards requiring one. Given the unit's 750W capacity and the proven platform's ability to handle high-end components, this absence appears to be a product age issue rather than a technical limitation. For builders planning to use current-generation high-end graphics cards or for users planning on frequent future upgrades, this represents a deal-breaking omission. Seasonic employs all-black cables throughout, with most featuring flat, ribbon-like construction devoid of exterior sleeving. The ATX cable receives special treatment with black nylon sleeving, while a substantial reusable cable strap keeps the bundle organized.

External Appearance

Seasonic's design philosophy more frequently than not emphasizes elegant simplicity over aggressive styling, and the G12 GC-750 exemplifies this approach beautifully. The unit receives a satin black chassis finish that demonstrates exceptional quality, resisting fingerprint marks and scratching. The chassis adheres precisely to the ATX standard's 140mm length specification, ensuring universal compatibility with any ATX-compliant case without clearance concerns.

The front panel is home to just a typical AC cable receptacle and an on/off switch, complemented by subtle Seasonic branding. The rear panel, dictated by the fully hardwired cable design, presents a plain surface that is adorned with the series logo. The right side of the unit displays the electrical specifications and certifications sticker, providing essential information without cluttering the overall aesthetic.

The top surface features a honeycomb-pattern fan finger guard that integrates seamlessly with the chassis. It is very dense and there is no logo standing out. This design provides effective airflow characteristics while maintaining the unit's clean, professional appearance. The overall presentation strikes a balance between functionality and understated elegance that should complement virtually any build without drawing attention to itself.

Internal Design

A Hong Hua HA1225H12F-Z 120mm fan equipped with a fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) engine is responsible for the cooling of this unit. This represents a significant step up from the basic sleeve-based alternatives typically found in budget-oriented units. FDB fans offer exceptional reliability and remarkably quiet operation, with premium pricing being virtually their own practical drawback. The maximum rotational speed of 2200 RPM seems very aggressive for a 750W unit.

As expected from Seasonic, the G12 GC-750 eschews third-party ODM platforms entirely. Seasonic designed and manufactured this unit in-house, drawing upon the company's extensive platform development experience. The use of a proven design that has powered numerous high-end products over the past five years immediately signals that the G12 GC-750 benefits from mature engineering.

The input filtering stage implements a fairly strong configuration utilizing four Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two filtering inductors. Two rectifying bridges are mounted on a substantial shared heatsink positioned immediately after the filtration stage. The APFC circuitry demonstrates Seasonic's willingness to invest in quality components despite the unit's budget positioning. Two Infineon 60R180P7S MOSFETs handle active power factor correction alongside a single STMicroelectronics diode, paired with an encased inductor and a premium Nippon Chemi-Con 470 μF capacitor.

The primary inversion stage employs four Great Power GPT10N50AD MOSFETs arranged in a full-bridge topology configuration. This design choice merits discussion, as full-bridge topologies typically appear in higher-end units rather than budget-focused designs. Rather than utilizing two expensive high-performance MOSFETs in a half-bridge configuration, Seasonic opted for four mainstream components that collectively deliver comparable performance while potentially offering better thermal characteristics through load distribution. These MOSFETs mount on two dedicated heatsinks in pairs, ensuring adequate cooling even under sustained high-load conditions.

The secondary side implementation places synchronous rectification MOSFETs underneath the main PCB. Four Nexperia units handle the primary 12V rail generation through standard synchronous rectification assembly. Separate DC-to-DC circuits on a vertical daughterboard generate the 3.3V and 5V rails.

The capacitor selection throughout the secondary side comes exclusively from Teapo, a highly reputable Taiwanese manufacturer whose products occupy a respected position in the component hierarchy. While Teapo capacitors may not command the same reverence as flagship Japanese alternatives from manufacturers like Nippon Chemi-Con or Rubycon, they represent excellent choices for mainstream retail products and far exceed the specifications of budget-tier alternatives. An interesting construction detail: rather than direct PCB soldering, the wires connect through some sort of crimped wire end terminals that are then soldered to the board, with a plastic assembly grouping them.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

Under controlled cold testing conditions, the Seasonic G12 GC-750 delivered efficiency performance that satisfies its 80 Plus Gold certification requirements. At 115 VAC input voltage, the unit achieved an average nominal load efficiency of 88.8%, while 230 VAC input improved performance to 89.7%. These figures place the unit solidly within Gold certification parameters and represent respectable performance for a mainstream power supply. The efficiency curve exhibits typical behavior, peaking at approximately 50% load. Low load efficiency proves quite good for a unit in this market segment, suggesting that users running basic systems will benefit from acceptable power conversion characteristics even during idle or light usage scenarios.

The fan behavior during cold testing reveals Seasonic's conservative thermal management philosophy. The Hong Hua fan maintains remarkably low rotational speeds across most of the load spectrum, remaining virtually inaudible even at moderate loads. However, the fan profile exhibits a sudden jump in speed once load exceeds 500 watts, creating a noticeable acoustic step rather than a gradual ramp. While this behavior may prove disconcerting for users planning for a quiet build even when it becomes heavily loaded, it reflects Seasonic's prioritization of component longevity over absolute acoustic refinement. Internal temperatures remain very low throughout testing, suggesting that the fan curve provides substantial thermal headroom even when not strictly necessary.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

Elevated ambient temperature testing reveals the G12 GC-750's remarkable resilience under thermal stress. Contrary to typical mainstream power supply behavior, high ambient temperatures exert almost no detrimental effect on electrical performance. Average nominal load efficiency measures 87.5% at 115 VAC and 88.4% at 230 VAC under hot conditions, a hardly meaningful performance loss. This stability represents exceptional engineering, particularly given that Seasonic rates this unit for full output at 40 °C ambient and 80% output at 50 °C ambient temperature.

The fan profile under hot conditions reveals the conservative philosophy underlying this unit's thermal management strategy. The steps in the fan curve become considerably wider compared to cold testing, and the fan reaches maximum speed at just 80% load despite internal temperatures remaining quite low throughout testing. This behavior creates significant acoustic impact, as the fan becomes noticeably audible well before the unit approaches its thermal limits. It becomes apparent that the company has aggressively optimized the G12 GC-750 for long-term reliability rather than acoustic comfort. By maintaining substantial thermal margins even under adverse conditions, Seasonic ensures that component temperatures remain conservative, maximizing lifespan at the expense of noise generation. Users in warm climates or poorly ventilated cases will experience increased noise levels during demanding applications, but they can take comfort knowing their power supply operates well within safe thermal parameters.

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

The Seasonic G12 GC-750's electrical performance validates its premium platform heritage, delivering metrics that approach or match far more expensive units. Voltage ripple filtering proves exceptional across all rails, with maximum measurements of just 20 mV on the 12V rail and 14 mV on both the 5V and 3.3V rails. These figures place the G12 GC-750 in elite company, comparable to flagship power supplies costing significantly more. Voltage regulation also achieves near-perfection across all rails. The primary 12V rail maintains an outstanding 0.3% regulation from 20% to 100% load, while the 5V and 3.3V rails achieve 0.6% and 0.5% regulation respectively. These extraordinarily tight specifications exceed typical requirements by substantial margins and ensure that connected components receive stable, clean power regardless of load conditions.

During our thorough assessment, we evaluate the essential protection features of every power supply unit we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP). All protection mechanisms were activated and functioned correctly during testing.

Over Current Protection (OCP) triggers at sensible thresholds: 132% on both the 3.3V and 12V rails, and 130% on the 5V rail. These settings provide adequate headroom for transient load spikes while protecting against sustained overcurrent conditions that could damage components or the power supply itself. Over Power Protection (OPP) activates at 130% under hot conditions. The unit handles very short temporary power bursts approaching 1000 watts. This transient power handling capability proves valuable for modern systems with components that exhibit brief power spikes, such as graphics cards during load transitions.

Bottom Line

The Seasonic G12 GC-750 exists as a study in contradictions - a power supply where exceptional internal engineering confronts pragmatic market realities. From a purely technical perspective, this unit performs magnificently. The electrical characteristics rival units costing twice as much, the component selection demonstrates Seasonic's commitment to quality even in supposedly budget-focused products, and the proven platform heritage promises long-term reliability that cheaper alternatives cannot match. This truly is a wolf in sheep's clothing, with top-tier performance hidden beneath a conservative exterior and budget-segment positioning.

However, power supplies compete in markets where technical excellence represents only one dimension of value. The completely non-modular cable design, while potentially defensible as a cost-reduction measure that could enable better component investment, becomes difficult to justify when the retail price regularly exceeds $140. At this price point, competitors offer modular connectivity as a standard feature, and Seasonic's own product line includes semi-modular alternatives like the G12 GM series. The non-modular design might appeal to builders who prioritize internal quality over cable management convenience and aesthetics but the pricing undermines this value proposition significantly. The absence of a 12V-2x6 connector represents a more fundamental limitation, immediately restricting compatibility with newer graphics cards. Given the unit's 750W capacity and demonstrated ability to handle power bursts approaching 1000W, this omission appears to stem from platform age rather than technical limitations. For builders planning system longevity, this missing connector could necessitate premature power supply replacement as graphics card requirements evolve.

Yet these criticisms must be contextualized by market realities: the G12 GC-750 frequently appears on sale for less than $80 or €70, transforming its value proposition entirely. At these promotional prices, the technical excellence and component quality become genuine advantages rather than footnotes to an overpriced product. A builder acquiring this unit on sale receives electrical performance and reliability typically reserved for units costing $150 or more, with the only compromises being cable management convenience and modern connectivity that may not matter for current-generation systems. For builders assembling systems intended for multi-year service lives, particularly those using graphics cards that do not require PCIe 5.0 power connectors, the G12 GC-750 on sale represents an outstanding choice. The exceptional power quality ensures stability and longevity for sensitive components, the conservative thermal management promises longevity in challenging environments, and the top-tier electrical performance eliminates power delivery as a potential system bottleneck. The non-modular cables become a minor inconvenience rather than a deal-breaker in this context.

However, at full retail price, the G12 GC-750 struggles to justify its premium. Builders paying $140+ would be better served by competitors offering modular designs, contemporary connectivity, and longer warranties even if internal electrical performance proves slightly inferior. The technical excellence, while genuinely impressive, cannot overcome market realities when similar money purchases more well-rounded products. The Seasonic G12 GC-750 ultimately succeeds brilliantly in its intended role as a sale-priced powerhouse for reliability-focused builders, while struggling at MSRP against feature-rich alternatives. For those fortunate enough to acquire it at promotional pricing, this represents one of the best values in the PSU market, proof that Seasonic's engineering excellence can create compelling products even when compromised by positioning decisions. For those paying full retail: shop around.

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Nvidia's mid-gen refresh for Blackwell is currently best rumored to launch next year at CES 2026. The RTX 50 Super series was recently caught up in the rumor mill, as some current-gen FE cards were delisted from the chipmaker's website, which was later confirmed to be a stock issue. Now, the informal chatter is set to reignite as Seasonic — a leading PSU manufacturer — has just listed a few RTX 50 Super models on its website, as part of its PSU calculator.

Various PC hardware companies have power supply calculators on their websites these days to not only help customers estimate the wattage they'll be pulling, but also to pick out an appropriate model subsequently. Hence, in these PSU calculators, one of the most crucial questions is that of the GPU: which graphics card would be in your system? For Seasonic, that list of potential nominees includes the unreleased and unannounced RTX 50 Super cards, at least two of which.

Seasonic doesn't list the specs of a GPU beyond its TDP. Still, the RTX 50 Super series is rumored to feature 3 GB memory modules, effectively increasing the VRAM capacity by 50% while keeping the same number of chips onboard. That means the RTX 5070 Super would potentially have 18 GB (up from 12 GB on the 5070) of memory, and the 5070 Ti Super might rock 24 GB (up from 18 GB on the 5070 Ti), which would make them notable upgrades in what is otherwise a similar spec sheet.

Seasonic states that the 5070 Super has a 275W TDP, which aligns with the leaked specs, as the additional 25W for the 6GB VRAM makes sense. The same goes for the 5070 Ti Super, which has a 350W TDP listed on the PSU calculator, a 50W increase over the standard 5070 Ti. The RTX 5080 Super is conspicuously missing from the website, but a 415W TDP has been leaked for it before. These numbers align with previous industry rumors, so Seasonic's not necessarily leaking anything new, but rather corroborating existing information.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 Super Series*

As hardware gets more powerful and power hungry, makers of power supplies have to keep up to offer relevant PSUs to interested parties, and to that end, we see even more and more powerful PSUs at every Computex. If last year we thought that 2,800W was crazy, then this year we see that several manufacturers have managed to build 3,000W+ power supplies.

Seasonic introduced the Prime PX-2300, a 3,200W 80+ Platinum ATX 3.1 model, at the show, beating Asus’s 3,000W PSU that the company showcased earlier this week. The new unit features four 12V-2×6 connectors for high-performance gaming or AI/HPC GPUs, and to that end, it powered a server running four Nvidia datacenter-grade graphics cards and an AMD datacenter processor during the demonstration.

Such a setup is common for datacenter environments, though as this is an ATX-standard PSU, it can perfectly fit into a workstation, or even into a gaming desktop, though 3.2kW of power is an overkill for the vast majority of machines that are out there.

But as if 3200W is not enough, Super Flower stole Seasonic’s thunder with a 3,300W PSU. In fact, Super Flower again displayed the most powerful PSU at Computex — the Leadex SF-3300F14HP. This 3300W monster is also fully ATX 3.1 compliant, offers five power rails, and is capable of supplying power to high-end processors and four GPUs using four 12V-2×6 connectors. The company expects to start its mass production late this year, so expect its wide availability in late 2025 – early 2026. As for pricing, the company’s current-generation flagship 2800W PSU costs some $899. Since the new 3300W does not really replace the previous-gen, but rather enhances the product lineup, expect it to exceed the $1,000 mark.

Seasonic plans to add a feature to its next-generation Prime power supplies that promises to solve the problem of overheating and melting 12VHPWR and 12V-2×6 power connectors once and for all. While the company promises to solve the problem, it does not resolve its source. At Computex, the company demonstrated a prototype. 

A set of sensors, a microcontroller, and firmware that Seasonic plans to incorporate into its upcoming Prime power supplies will all work together, according to the company. 

Although the production quality of cables, connectors, and the way people plug in their graphics cards have consequences, one of the key sources of the problem lies in the fact that graphics cards can create unbalanced loads on power rails in different circumstances, which can cause voltage increases and/or current increases on the power supply side. This causes wires in the power cable to overheat, eventually melting them and damaging graphics cards.

Seasonic proposes what is essentially two-factor protection against such a catastrophe. First up, contemporary premium power supplies can monitor their voltage output and current, and can alert PC owners of a malfunction. Seasonic proposes to use a special external device to tell users about problems, as well as enable end-users to monitor their 12V-2×6 connectors while using their graphics cards.

Chinese tech video channel Eixa Studio tested one of Nvidia's powerful new GeForce RTX 5090D graphics cards this weekend (h/t Uniko's Hardware). What makes this video stand out from the pack, though, is that the channel investigated whether the "monster grade card with DLSS 4" would be feasible to shoehorn into a Mini ITX PC build, but they used a decidedly underspec'd power supply for their experiment. While this ambitious PC DIY project was a success – the system ran without restarts or crashes - one of the little SFX PSUs that was tested got so hot its barcode label started to disintegrate.

Eixa introduced the video with an overview of the GeForce RTX 5090D. The Bilibili channel had access to a substantial looking (360 x 149 x 71mm) Colorful iGame GeForce RTX 5090D Vulcan OC model. This sports quad fans (one round the back) and a pivoting detachable display. A 1,000W PSU is recommended, according to Colorful's product pages, which seems reasonable for a card rated at 600W, but enthusiasts would be advised to pick something with a little more headroom.

The Chinese TechTuber wanted this 360mm card to fit into a prototype 15.8-liter Mini ITX chassis they had received. This case's max compatibility figures stated that GPUs up to 362mm in length could be accommodated. Great, that would leave 2mm of 'breathing space.'

Now comes the power crunch

Moving onto power, Eixa noted that the case was supposed to be compatible with PSUs up to 140mm long. On PC Part Picker, we see it is quite easy to grab an 850W PSU for about $100, which fits this constraint. However, high-efficiency PSUs of >1,000W can easily double this expected price, and a desirable compact SFX unit like the SilverStone Extreme 1200R Platinum SFX-L we reviewed in November is currently on offer at $330 on Amazon.

Eixa chose three PSUs to test out in this Mini ITX build project. The first was the headlining Seasonic Focus SFX 750W model. However, they are clear that they "wouldn't recommend anyone use this wattage" (machine translation). During a 20-minute Furmark run with the 750W PSU, Eixa seemed pleased that the system experienced "no black screen or reboots." Thanks to the tests, including the view of a plug-in power meter, we can see that the little Seasonic could deliver a sustained 1,000W+. However, as our main image shows, the barcode label on the PSU began to bake and disintegrate, even after this relatively short test run.

After the Seasonic Focus SFX 750W power test, Eixa said that it isn't recommended to use an underpowered PSU like this to shoulder such a power burden in your PC at home. They recommended at least a 1,000W PSU for smooth running (as per Colorful's specs). This should also ensure better temperatures and avoid power limiting with these choice components. The TechTubers also tested a more appropriately selected Asus ROG Loki SFX-L 1,000W Platinum PSU and a Cooler Master SFX V1300 Platinum, which handled the ITX PC system's power demands much better.

Eixa also used an AMD Ryzen 9800X3D processor (120W) for this compact yet powerful build. This chip's gaming performance was demonstrably devastating to the competition during our lab investigations, so it's the best match for the 5090D. An Asus ROG Strix X870-i Gaming WiFi ITX motherboard was the other major component chosen for this build. This board was launched at Gamescom last year, but we haven't reviewed it (yet).

This experiment serves as yet another reminder that you should always use a properly equipped power supply. That said, the Eixa channel seems to like pushing PSUs to their limits. They note in this video that the last build to use this ITX chassis mixed an RTX 4090 and a Core i9-12900K, but the chosen 1,000W Silverstone SFX PSU endured just 20 minutes before it died.

Seasonic, a veteran in power supply technology, is renowned for its commitment to high-quality PC hardware, particularly in the power supply unit (PSU) sector. Seasonic’s long-standing reputation is built on delivering reliable and efficient products tailored for a wide array of users, from high-demanding professionals to gaming enthusiasts. Known for designing and manufacturing its own platforms, Seasonic sets itself apart by focusing on component quality and performance, making the brand a staple for those who prioritize durability and stability in their systems.

In this review, we examine the Focus GX ATX 3, currently $189 in the U.S. and the latest in Seasonic’s widely-recognized Focus GX series. This 4th revision brings the new “OptiSink” design that offers improved thermal performance and enhanced efficiency, along with ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 compliance. The unit that we tested is rated at 1000W @ 50°C and has an 80Plus Gold certification, appealing to users looking for a highly reliable, balanced offering with substantial power and the efficiency to compete with the best power supplies on the market.  

Specifications and Design

In the Box

The Seasonic Focus GX ATX 3 comes in robust packaging, featuring the black-and-gold aesthetic typically used by the company for the Focus series. The PSU itself is securely encased in a nylon pouch and protected by dense foam inserts for safe transit.

The company provides a comprehensive bundle of essentials, including mounting screws, an AC power cable, a jump-starting connector for testing, cable ties, and three quality cable straps, catering well to users who value a more complete installation kit.

The Focus GX ATX 3 includes all-black, individually sleeved cables, designed for flexibility and ease of management. This PSU comes with one 600W 12+4 pin PCIe connector, along with three 6+2 pin PCI Express connectors – a fairly conservative setup for the rated output of the unit.

External Appearance

 The external appearance of the Seasonic Focus GX ATX 3 has a premium, understated look. The PSU is encased in a satin black chassis with a smooth, high-quality finish. Seasonic added decorative embossments on the chassis's sides, which provide a slight texture and break up the otherwise minimalist aesthetic. Both sides and the front of the PSU display the Seasonic and Focus GX branding. 

The unit adheres to the ATX standard length of 140mm, making it compact enough to fit into any ATX-compliant case and leaving space for optimal airflow in tighter builds. Although 140 mm long units are typically limited to 120 mm fans, Seasonic tweaked the chassis to force a 135 mm fan to fit. The fan grille design is integrated directly into the chassis, forming a unique visual pattern.

On the rear panel, we find the standard AC input socket, an on/off power switch, and a hybrid fan mode button. Turning off the hybrid fan mode will force the fan to start regardless of the load but it does not override the thermal control of the fan, meaning that it would still be rotating at minimal speeds when the load is low. The front panel is where the modular cable connectors are located, with a subtle legend to guide users during installation.

Internal Design

The Seasonic Focus GX ATX 3 is equipped with a 135mm Hong Hua HA13525H12F-X fan featuring a fluid dynamic bearing (FDB), known for balancing durability and low-noise performance. By default, the fan is only engaging when necessary, thanks to its zero-RPM mode, which aids in reducing both operational noise and component wear over time. 

As a fully in-house platform designed by Seasonic, the Focus GX ATX 3 series integrates Seasonic’s proprietary OptiSink design. OptiSink places the majority of heat-generating components on a dedicated daughterboard before the main transformer, reducing the space needed for heatsinks. This approach aids in heat dissipation and reduces the PSU's overall footprint.

The input filtering stage includes four Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two inductors, a typical and effective filtering scheme. The Active Power Factor Correction (APFC) stage features two Alpha & Omega B125A60L MOSFETs and one high-quality Nippon Chemi-Con 820 μF capacitor.  The active components of APFC circuitry are located on the OptiSink PCB. The primary inversion stage is also located on the OptiSink PCB, comprising four Alpha & Omega B190A60C MOSFETs that form a standard full-bridge LLC setup. 

On the secondary side, six Nexperia MOSFETs, located right after the main transformer in between two simple but tall heatsinks, generate the primary 12V line. DC-to-DC circuitry on a daughterboard at the edge of the unit produces the 3.3V and 5V lines. The secondary capacitors are all sourced from reputable Japanese manufacturers like Nichicon, Rubycon, and Nippon Chemi-Con.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

During cold testing, the Seasonic Focus GX ATX 3 consistently meets the 80Plus Gold certification requirements across different input voltages. With a 115 VAC input, it achieves an average nominal load efficiency of 89.8%, which increases to 92.1% at 230 VAC. Efficiency peaks around 40% load, a little sooner than typically expected, and the unit maintains reliable efficiency throughout the nominal load range (10-100%). Efficiency at very low loads is also acceptable, though it could be improved further.

The fan in the Focus GX ATX 3 starts operating once the load exceeds 450 watts, running at a low speed up to approximately 700 watts. The fan becomes audible as the load exceeds 700 watts but never reaches its maximum speed, not even if the unit is left at maximum load for a prolonged period of time. The unit’s internal temperatures are relatively low throughout room temperature testing.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

During hot testing, the Seasonic Focus GX ATX 3 experiences a measurable but unsurprising decrease in efficiency. The unit averages 88.9% efficiency at 115 VAC and 91.2% at 230 VAC, about 0.9% lower than the 89.8% and 92.1% observed during cold testing. This decrease is expected in elevated temperatures and remains within acceptable performance limits, with the unit showing no indication of thermal stress.

In higher ambient temperatures, the fan in the Focus GX ATX 3 activates at a slightly lower load threshold than during cold testing, beginning operation as soon as the load exceeds approximately 250 watts. The fan speed then ramps up progressively with the load, though it again never reaches maximum speed, not even under full load. While the fan becomes audible at higher loads, it remains within a tolerable noise range for the most part of the load range. 

Internal temperatures are very well-regulated given the high power output of the unit, staying within safe operating limits and not getting anywhere near the thresholds for over-temperature protection (OTP), indicating an exceptional balance between thermal and acoustics performance.

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

The Seasonic Focus GX ATX 3 demonstrates strong electrical stability and power quality within its category. Voltage regulation is precise, with the 12V rail holding at 0.4%, the 5V rail at 0.6%, and the 3.3V rail at 0.5%. Ripple suppression is well-executed, with maximum ripple levels of 34 mV on the 12V rail, 20 mV on the 5V rail, and 20 mV on the 3.3V rail. Filtering has room for improvement but is by all means excellent for a PSU of this tier.

During our thorough assessment, we evaluate the essential protection features of every power supply unit we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP). All protection mechanisms were activated and functioned correctly during testing.

The Focus GX's OCP is set to engage at 136% for the 3.3V rail, 140% for the 5V rail, and 130% for the 12V rail, with an OPP setting of 132%, all of which are reasonable trigger points for an ATX 3.1-compliant unit.

Bottom Line

The Seasonic Focus GX ATX 3 presents itself as a high-quality, well-rounded PSU that combines good overall performance, long-term reliability, and modern features, making it a compelling choice for users with high demands. 

With its 1000W output and 80Plus Gold certification, this unit delivers solid efficiency, consistently meeting the requirements across a wide range of input voltages. Its compliance with ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards ensures compatibility with current top-tier and next-gen equipment, making it future-proof for demanding setups.

The standout aspect of the Focus GX ATX 3 undoubtedly is its exceptional build quality. It is built with premium components all-around and sports an immaculate assembly job. The highlight is the OptiSink design that helps with heat dissipation and reduces the overall size of the unit. According to Seasonic, the OptiSink design also minimizes manufacturing defects, ensuring better quality. 

Performance-wise, the Focus GX ATX 3 does not set any records but shines through its balance. It achieves great average efficiency figures that rival Platinum-certified units, with a relatively small drop in efficiency during hot testing that implies exceptional resilience towards adverse operating conditions. The fan remains either off or relatively quiet across most of the load range, only becoming noticeable under high loads, all while internal temperatures are very well-managed. Voltage regulation is precise and ripple suppression is effective, ensuring clean and stable power.

Perhaps the only shortcoming of the Focus GX ATX 3 is the current retail price. Retailing at $189, the Focus GX ATX 3 is priced on the higher end of the spectrum. While it may be considered expensive for some, the cost is justified by its top-quality components, reliability, and balanced performance. For users prioritizing long-term durability, especially in high-demand systems, the Focus GX ATX 3 currently is a good investment.

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Noctua developed a custom 120mm fan grill for the Seasonic Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition built for silence, and now anyone can get it for free. The company posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account that it’s sharing the high-efficiency fan grill on Printables, allowing anyone with a 3D printer or laser cutter to make one of their own.

According to Noctua, the fan grill “ensures smooth pressure gradients as the fan blades pass the radial struts,” which results in higher airflow and a noise reduction of about 2dB(A) versus the stock power supply grill found on the Seasonic power supply.

The high-efficiency Noctua 120mm fan grill, as the company calls it on the 3D model database, is licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). That means you can remix it and share it anywhere you like if you attribute its original creator, do it for non-commercial purposes, and your creation should have the same license as the original (i.e., CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).

This isn’t the first thing that Noctua and Seasonic have for free in recent weeks. The two collaborated on a keychain merch giveaway that’s up for grabs for users who commented on the Seasonic Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition post on the Chinese video-sharing site BiliBili. These events seem to celebrate the successful launch of the PSU, an improvement of Seasonic’s flagship power supply. This ultra-quiet version retains the exact excellent specifications and performance but reduces the noise generated by replacing its cooling fan with Noctua’s 120mm NF-A12x25 fan and this unique fan grill.

Seasonic and Noctua might also have no problems releasing this fan grill for free, especially with the price that this high-performance PSU demands. The vanilla Seasonic Prime TX-1600 has a retail price of $539.99 on Amazon, while you have to pay a $30 premium to get the Noctua Edition. Nevertheless, you’re getting a good power supply for the price, with the TX-1600 being one of our recommended options in our best PSUs of 2024 list. So, if you need that much power and have grown tired of the cacophony of multiple noisy fans, this ultra-quiet PSU might just be exactly what you need for a quieter workspace.

Noctua has also shared several other 3D designs you can download, like the NV-AA1-12 Airflow Amplifier, which will turn your 120mm Noctua fan into the $100 NV-FS1 desk fa (without the stand), the NA-FD1 Fan Duct, designed to improve the performance of Noctua fans with SFF cases that has a significant gap, and the NA-FMA1 120mm/140mm Adaptor for Noctua 120mm fans. Aside from its excellent fan designs (and controversial color choices), this tendency to share some of its designs for free is one of the reasons why Noctua is loved by its fans love Noctua.

After the big launch of Seasonic's ultra-quiet 1,600W flagship PSU with Noctua cooling last week, the tech twosome is following up with some less obvious new products. Seasonic's Bilibili (Chinese) social media channel announced a new collaborative venture into the promotional keychain business today. The renowned PC power supply maker teased followers that keychains modeled on a Noctua Fan and Seasonic Power Dog would be available to a few customers to complete various social media tasks.

This week, eager participants will get a chance to grab Noctua keychains by commenting on a Seasonic Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition post. The post seems pretty popular with PC aficionados and tech trinket collectors, attracting 170 comments at the time of writing. Many offered up jokes about the silence of the fan-based keychain.

The Noctua keychain delivers on the firm's unmistakable branding, with a tiny cute fan hewn from the firm's signature coffee and cream plastics. We wonder if it also works as a fidget spinner. Noctua China said it will also give away these keychains starting next week.

It is doubtful we will see similar promo trinket giveaways in the West. However, for those of you feeling pangs of Noctua keychain envy right now, we note that the cooling specialist sells eminently pocketable 40mm fans on Amazon, like the Noctua NF-A4x10 FLX Premium Quiet Fan at $13.95. Attaching your keychain hardware to one of the fan's corners would be a cinch. Moreover, it would be a working spare that you always carry around with your keys.

Seasonic's Power Dog is also very cute. We only see this Seasonic branded trinket's front and one side in the official social media posts. Its bulk suggests it might be more than an inert lump of stylized plastic. However, more digging through Chinese social media revealed that the dog doesn't feature any ports (so it's not a charger or power bank), and its tail ends with a plastic PCIe 5.0 connector replica. Seasonic also recently sold a mid-autumn festival Power Dog Lego model as a promotional gift.

At Computex earlier this year, we witnessed an exciting collaboration between cooling specialists Noctua and renowned power supply manufacturer Seasonic. The result was the Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition, a flagship PSU designed to deliver unparalleled performance alongside optimized silent operation. True to their promise, this one-of-a-kind desktop PC power supply is now available for purchase.

As a quick refresher, the Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition is a customized version of the original Prime TX-1600 with Noctua's cooling optimizations. It replaces the original 135mm Hong Hua fan with Noctua’s 120mm NF-A12x25, which spins up to 2,000 RPM and reduces noise by up to 10 dB(A). The PSU retains semi-passive fan control, keeping the fan off at loads below 50% under 25°C. Fully modular and equipped with Noctua-themed braided cables, it minimizes clutter but may polarize users with its distinctive design.

The PSU also maintains certifications such as 80 Plus Titanium and Cybenetics Titanium for efficiency, and Cybenetics Lambda A for low noise levels. With Noctua’s cooling expertise, the unit features a custom brown fan grill, optimizing airflow while minimizing visual impact in most PC cases.

This PSU delivers up to 1,600W, including 133.3A on the +12V rail, making it suitable for multi-GPU setups. While technologies like Nvidia SLI and AMD CrossFire have declined, the power supply is ideal for professionals or enthusiasts using multiple GPUs for tasks like AI workloads. It complies with ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards, featuring the latest 12V-2x6 connectors to support Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs with reduced risk of connector overheating. By the looks of it, the Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition should be more than enough to tame the upcoming Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs.

As per Noctua, the suggested retail price is $569 and €499, and the PSU is available for purchase as of today via Noctua’s official Amazon webpage. Notably, if you do end up ordering one, the earliest shipment date one can expect in the US is around the second week of January 2025. This is possibly to maintain buzz until CES 2025 when Nvidia is going to announce at least two new GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs - the RTX 5090 and the RTX 5080.

Seasonic has introduced its fourth iteration of Focus GX series power supplies with several new updates, including a new PCB layout and smaller MOSFETs. However, the main update Seasonic has incorporated is its all-new OptiSink technology, which has a revamped and improved cooling design.

Seasonic has coined the term OptiSink for its latest thermal solution for power supplies. OptiSink "increases internal space by approximately 48%, facilitating better air movement." According to the PSU maker, the extra space available allows OptiSink to exchange heat at a "significantly" faster rate, which boosts efficiency.

Optisink does this by changing how the power supply components are installed and making additional improvements to the cooling aspects of the power supply. Seasonic's new tech takes advantage of "modern surface mounting technology with direct soldering of components" and a fully automated manufacturing process "that minimizes human error."

The main design change with OptiSink is the introduction of PCBs used to power and cool the Metal-Oxide Semiconductors (MOS) powering the PSU. Seasonic's new tech takes advantage of PCBs by installing the MOS directly onto the copper surface of the PCB through soldering. This was done to "harness the superior thermal conductivity of copper." OptiSink differs massively from Seasonic's older implementation, which uses screws and thermal pads to mount the MOS onto aluminum heatsinks —completely lacking PCBs and any copper material.

This design has enabled Seasonic to massively reduce the footprint of many of its power supply components. The heatsinks alone are substantially smaller than Seasonic's previous design iterations, taking up only a very small amount of space on the PCB they help cool. The new heatsinks can also dissipate heat in any direction.

As the image above demonstrates, Seasonic's OptiSink tech drastically changes the layout of its GX Focus 2024 power supplies compared to the previous generation. Most of the components have been moved to multiple PCBs installed on the borders of the unit, opening up space in the middle of the unit. As previously mentioned, the heatsinks have been massively altered, now featuring a significantly smaller footprint.

Seasonic's v4 (2024) Focus GX lineup is purportedly one of the first (if not the first) power supply lineups to use OptiSink technology. Seasonic states that OptiSink will be introduced into all future power supply models.

Seasonic’s PSU wattage calculator has suddenly become surprisingly interesting. Twitter/X’s Everest today noticed the online tool has been updated with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 50 family graphics cards. Specifically, this data may show the TDPs of the upcoming Blackwell architecture gaming cards from the RTX 5090 at the top, all the way down to an RTX 5050. Of course, the data used by Seasonic may or may not be accurate, but let’s have a look.

We've plucked the RTX 50 family TDP data from Seasonic's wattage tool and tabulated it for your convenience, alongside of the existing RTX 40 family. To get a stronger grip on the other key specifications of the RTX 50 family, and thus the changes and benefits they will deliver, please check out our extensive feature: Nvidia Blackwell and GeForce RTX 50-Series GPUs, which has rumors, specifications, release dates, pricing, and everything we know.

If the above data is correct, it is interesting to see the largest generational uplift in TDP is going to be with the ’60 series GPU. Hopefully, this means Nvidia is addressing the common complaints that it faced due to the large performance and price gap between the RTX 4070 and 4060. Importantly, we should see the RTX 5060 return to a 12GB VRAM standard, too.

We expect Nvidia’s rollout of its Blackwell architecture consumer graphics cards to begin around October – starting with the high-end RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 cards. The enthusiast RTX 5070 should follow in January 2025, with the mainstream RTX 5060 launched in Q3 or Q4.

AMD spills too

Seasonic’s PSU wattage calculator has also been updated with the Ryzen 9000 series of desktop processors. Specifically, the Ryzen 9 9950X, the 9900X, Ryzen 7 9700X, and Ryzen 5 9600X. We already have the specifications and pricing for these Zen 5 processors from AMD, though. You can read AMD Granite Ridge details in-depth in our guide from Computex. These AM5 chips are due to go official by the end of this month.

Lastly, Seasonic includes the AMD Radeon RX 7990 XTX and RX 7500 XT in its TDP database, for some reason. Neither of these cards has been released, and as time marches on towards the AMD RDNA 4 era, they don’t look as likely to reach the market.

Seasonic has released a new 12V-2x6 600W power cable for its outgoing ATX 3.0 compatible power supplies. The new cable is designed to replace its older 12VHPWR cables that came with all its original ATX 3.0 power supplies. The newer 12V-2x6 cable is a more mature revision of the 12VHPWR cable that is less susceptible — dare we say immune? — to meltdowns.

The cable itself is 700mm long and can deliver up to 600 watts to a connected GPU, and it uses 16 gauge wiring. The connector features HCS (High-Current System) terminals with 94V-0 plastic material for the 16-pin housing, and it's rated for up to 50-lifetime mating cycles. The connectors are also colored blue to help differentiate them from Seasonic's earlier black 12VHPWR power cables.

The new cable and the 12V-2X6 standard are backward compatible with 12VHPWR power connectors, which is how Seasonic was able to provide this upgrade in the first place. Compatible Seasonic power supplies include any of its ATX 3.0 power supplies. These PSU lineups are the Prime TX ATX 3.0 series, Prime PX ATX 3.0 series, Vertex GX, PX, GX White, and Sakura units, and the Focus GX and GX White ATX 3.0 lineups. Older ATX 2.0 Seasonic units are not compatible with this new power cable.

Seasonic recommends that you only use 750W or higher if your graphics card pulls a significant amount of power, like the RTX 4090. The new cable will be optimal for users who want to be free from the risk of a system meltdown due to the 16-pin power connector. The original 16-pin 12VHPWR standard became notorious for causing GPU meltdowns and was responsible for the vast majority of RTX 4090 deaths last year.

The new 12V-2X6 standard alleviates this problem by rectifying many of the problematic elements of the 12VHPWR standard. Most notably, the new connection standard boasts shortened connecting pins that are less resistant to voltage coming from the power supply. Hardware Busters tested the new 12V-2X6 standard and found it drastically outperforms the 12VHPWR standard in operating thermals, making it "virtually impossible" for the connector to melt.

Seasonic's new cable is available now, though that's dependent on your location. If you have any questions regarding availability, Seasonic recommends you contact them via their support email for assistance.

Seasonic is ready with its new ATX 3.1 compliant 12V-2x6 connector to replace the 12VHPWR (16-pin) power connector, unofficially dubbed the 'RTX 4090 killer', for its power supplies. Seasonic is also willing to give these cables to 100 users in China for free if users sign up for beta testing with their graphics cards that utilize a 16-pin power connector and a compatible Seasonic power supply.

The beta test application is open until December 31st, and it's for users with either Focus, Vertex, or Prime series ATX 3.0 compliant power supplies and GPUs with a 12VHPWR connector. Though many would like to see this be tested with an RTX 4080 and RTX 4090, two of the best graphics cards, some GPUs with a much lower draw use this connector.

The leaked images of the Asus RTX 4070 Super OC Edition show that some GeForce RTX 4070 Super will likely use the 16-pin connector instead of the 8-pin PCIe connector used by its non-Super version. Irrespective of the GPU and its draw, one would like to be assured this new standard is also not prone to the same meltdown issues— Seasonic plans to address this by having up to 100 beta testers using their hardware.

The contest is limited to one application per person. You will need to provide information such as the platform ID (Weibo, Bilibili, and WeChat), photographs of the power supply, and a graphics card showing the serial numbers. The entry is limited to up to 100 people; hence, it is first come, first served. Winners of these new power cables with the 12V-2x6 power connectors will be announced via Weibo, Bilibili, and WeChat on January 5, 2024.

Regarding the cable, Seasonic claims via Weibo that this is a one-piece molded connector with additional reinforcement and precision-wielded wires. As a result, there will be no need to bend, and its 12V-2x6 connector is claimed to have a reinforced terminal structure, high-current resistant allo,y, and copper right-angled terminals. As per specifications set by Intel (which also developed the specification for the 12VHPWR standard), this is a 16-AWG wiring support 600w output and complies with ATX 3.1 and CEM 5.1 standards.

It is not known at the time of writing if Seasonic will give these cables free of charge to qualifying PSU owners worldwide or if they need to be purchased. But the same question also applies to other power supply manufacturers.

The 12V-2x6 connectors could be safer than 12VHPWR because of their increased power terminal length and shorter sense pin, which addresses the cause of the meltdown. The newer connector shows it can maintain its cool even with a worst-case scenario. Also, 12VHPWR connectors have backward compatibility with 12V-2x6 cables, therefore addressing the meltdown concerns for existing users as they need to get this cable from respective PSU makers. Newer manufactured power supplies should be bundled with the 12V-2x6 cables by default, but FSP has been doing that since September.

However, it would have been nice if Seasonic disclosed its responsibility if any user(s) faced a meltdown during this beta testing contest. Though this goes with the word 'beta,' many would rather be a spectator given the potential fire and electric hazards surrounding the 12VHPWR standard. Nobody would want to be in a situation where they put their hardware at risk. And since this, in a way, is a public test and given the cost of the hardware, it wouldn't hurt if SeaSonic made that disclosure in these details, just like disclosing about warranty coverage with these free cables. Here's wishing there were no meltdowns with 12V-2x6 connectors, even in a worst-case scenario.

The MSI MEG Ai1000P PCIe5 achieves top performance, and the fact that it is ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 ready brings it to the newest standards. That combination earns it a place in our best PSUs article. It achieves almost similar performance to the Seasonic Prime Platinum 1000 and the EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P6, but none of those units have 12VHPWR connectors, nor are they ATX 3.0 compatible. 

Besides ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 compatibility, the MSI MEG Ai1000P PCIe 5 also has an interesting (we could say appealing) exterior design. Thanks to the semi-digital platform that the PSU uses, provided by Channel Well Technology, there is compatibility with the MSI Gaming Intelligence application, through which you can adjust several settings, like the fan's speed and toggle on/off the single +12V mode while monitoring the PSU's vital functions and power delivery. 

The MEG Ai1000P PCIe5 has a fully modular cable design and compact enough dimensions, given its capacity, measuring 160mm in depth. MSI could go with a larger fan than the 120mm it used, to keep the noise output low. Nonetheless, the fan's build quality is high, and the product's warranty is extended at ten years to match the competition's offerings. 

Specifications

Power Specifications

Cables & Connectors

The PSU is equipped with connectors, including two EPS and six PCIe, all in dedicated cables. It also has two more PCIe on a single cable and a 12VHPWR connector able to handle up to 600W. According to the ATX spec, a 1000W PSU should have up to 450W 12VHPWR connector, 

Component Analysis

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

The platform is made by CWT and uses a semi-digital design with the code name CTT. This is a modern design where digital controllers handle the primary side and a part of the secondary side. Thanks to the digital controllers, the PSU can "talk" to the system so users, besides monitoring its vital functions, can also make changes to the fan speed control and toggle on/off the multi-rail mode for the 12V rail. CWT uses high-end parts everywhere, and our only objection is the small diameter fan, which is of extremely high quality, but the chassis could accommodate a 140 mm fan. 

The transient/EMI filter has all necessary parts, including an MOV for protection against voltage surges. Moreover, there is an NTC thermistor and bypass relay combo for suppressing high inrush currents. 

The pair of bridge rectifiers can handle up to 50A. 

The APFC circuit has two Infineon FETs and two boost diodes because it uses an interleaved design where two converters work in parallel. The bulk caps are by Nichicon, and their combined capacity is high, allowing for more than 17ms hold-up time easily. 

The four main FETs are installed into a full-bridge topology. An LLC resonant converter is also used for lowering energy losses. 

This is the board holding one of the Texas Instruments digital controllers. 

Six Infineon FETs regulate the 12V rail. Two VRMs generate the minor rails. 

All filtering caps are of high quality, electrolytic and polymer ones. 

The standby PWM controller is an On Bright OB2365T. 

Besides bus bars and shunt resistors, we also find several filtering caps at the face of the modular board. 

The main supervisor IC is a Weltrend WT7502R.

Soldering quality is not the best we have seen by CWT, probably because this was an early sample. 

The Powerlogic fan is of high quality, using a hydro-dynamic bearing. MSI could use a larger diameter fan, though, for lower noise output. 

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To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40 watts up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

Load regulation is within 1% on all major rails, so it is pretty tight. It could be tighter at 12V, though. 

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is long and the power ok signal is accurate and longer than 16 ms. 

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

Inrush current is low with 230V input, but pretty high with 115V. 

Leakage Current

In layman's terms, leakage current is the unwanted transfer of energy from one circuit to another. In power supplies, it is the current flowing from the primary side to the ground or the chassis, which in the majority of cases is connected to the ground. For measuring leakage current, we use a GW Instek GPT-9904 electrical safety tester instrument.

The leakage current test is conducted at 110% of the DUT's rated voltage input (so for a 230-240V device, we should conduct the test with 253-264V input). The maximum acceptable limit of a leakage current is 3.5 mA and it is defined by the IEC-60950-1 regulation, ensuring that the current is low and will not harm any person coming in contact with the power supply's chassis.

Leakage current is low. 

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

The PSU delivered 1,100 wats of load at close to 47 degrees Celsius without any issues, but you should not over-stress it if you want it to outlive the extended warranty. The cooling fan rotated at full speed only during the overload test.

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10% of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 Plus standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with power-saving features turned on.

Efficiency under light loads should be higher. We would like to see three out of four tests with over 80% efficiency. 

2% or 10W Load Test

From July 2020, the ATX spec requires 70% and higher efficiency with 115V input. The applied load is only 10W for PSUs with 500W and lower capacities, while for stronger units, we dial 2% of their max-rated capacity.

With super-light loads, the platform delivers high efficiency. 

Efficiency & Power Factor

Next, we plotted a chart showing the PSU's efficiency at low loads and loads from 10 to 110% of its maximum rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency, the less energy goes wasted, leading to a reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills. The same goes for Power Factor.

Efficiency is high enough with normal and super-light loads, but not so high with light loads. Moreover, the APFC converter needs tuning for higher PF readings with 230V input. 

5VSB Efficiency

The 5VSB rail is not efficient and this is a great shame!

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Vampire power is low. 

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37 to 47 degrees Celsius (98.6 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fan speed profile is not aggressive, but the 120mm fan has to spin at high speeds under harsh conditions, to handle the thermal loads. 

The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.       

At normal operating temperatures, close to 30 degrees Celsius, the PSU is silent with up to 500W loads. With more than 650W at it enters the 30-35 dBA zone and the 40 dBA mark is passed with 860W and higher loads. As we already stated, with a larger fan, noise output could be lower at high loads. 

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Protection Features

Check out our PSUs 101 article to learn more about PSU protection features.

The OCP triggering points are correctly set at 12V and the same goes for OPP. It is a pleasant surprise to find proper OCP triggering points on the minor rails, too. 

DC Power Sequencing

According to Intel’s most recent Power Supply Design Guide (revision 1.4), the +12V and 5V outputs must be equal to or greater than the 3.3V rail at all times. Unfortunately, Intel doesn't mention why it is so important to always keep the 3.3V rail's voltage lower than the levels of the other two outputs.

No problems here since the 3.3V rail is always lower than the other two. 

Cross Load Tests

To generate the following charts, we set our loaders to auto mode through custom-made software before trying more than 25,000 possible load combinations with the +12V, 5V, and 3.3V rails. The deviations in each of the charts below are calculated by taking the nominal values of the rails (12V, 5V, and 3.3V) as point zero. The ambient temperature during testing was between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Load Regulation Charts

Efficiency Graph

Ripple Graphs

The lower the power supply's ripple, the more stable the system will be and less stress will also be applied to its components.

Infrared Images

We apply a half-load for 10 minutes with the PSU's top cover and cooling fan removed before taking photos with a modified Fluke Ti480 PRO camera able to deliver an IR resolution of 640x480 (307,200 pixels).

The 12V board exceeded 100 degrees Celsius without active cooling and a half load for ten minutes. The FETs on this board can handle the heat, but up to a point, which is why active cooling is required at increased loads. 

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Advanced Transient Response Tests

For details about our transient response testing, please click here.

In the real world, power supplies are always working with loads that change. It's of immense importance, then, for the PSU to keep its rails within the ATX specification's defined ranges. The smaller the deviations, the more stable your PC will be with less stress applied to its components. 

We should note that the ATX spec requires capacitive loading during the transient rests, but in our methodology, we also choose to apply a worst case scenario with no additional capacitance on the rails. 

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 1ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 1ms

Transient response is great on all rails! 

Advanced Transient Response Tests (ATX 3.0 & 12VHPWR)

The Intel ATX v3.0 spec, besides the 12VHPWR connector, also introduced new requirements for transient response testing. You can read more on our ATX v3.0 analysis. So we have to conduct extra transient response tests in the new generation PSUs to check if they meet the ATX v3.0 requirements. 

The PSU doesn't have a problem with the tougher ATX 3.0 transient response tests for units with 12VHPWR connectors. All rails are within limits in all tests. 

Turn-On Transient Tests

In the next set of tests, we measure the PSU's response in simpler transient load scenarios—during its power-on phase. Ideally, we don't want to see any voltage overshoots or spikes since those put a lot of stress on the DC-DC converters of installed components.

Everything went fine in the turn-on transient response tests. 

Power Supply Timing Tests

There are several signals generated by the power supply, which need to be within specified, by the ATX spec, ranges. If they are not, there can be compatibility issues with other system parts, especially mainboards. From the year 2020, the PSU's Power-on time (T1) has to be lower than 150 ms and the PWR_OK delay (T3) from 100 to 150 ms, to be compatible with the Alternative Sleep Mode.

The PWR_OK delay is within the 100-150ms region, so the PSU supports the alternative sleep mode recommended by the ATX spec.

Ripple Measurements

Ripple represents the AC fluctuations (periodic) and noise (random) found in the PSU's DC rails. This phenomenon significantly decreases the capacitors' lifespan because it causes them to run hotter. A 10-degree Celsius increase can cut into a cap's useful life by 50%. Ripple also plays an important role in overall system stability, especially when overclocking is involved.

The ripple limits, according to the ATX specification, are 120mV (+12V) and 50mV (5V, 3.3V, and 5VSB).

Ripple suppression is good on all rails. 

Ripple At Full Load

Ripple At 110% Load

Ripple At Cross-Load 1

Ripple At Cross-Load 4

EMC Pre-Compliance Testing – Average & Quasi-Peak EMI Detector Results

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the ability of a device to operate properly in its environment without disrupting the proper operation of other nearby devices.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) stands for the electromagnetic energy a device emits, and it can cause problems in other nearby devices if too high. For example, it can cause increased static noise in your headphones or/and speakers.

΅We use TekBox's EMCview to conduct our EMC pre-compliance testing.

There are some spikes with the average EMI detector, but everything is fine with the peak EMI detector. 

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Performance Rating

The flagship MSI PSU achieves top performance, meeting the Seasonic 1000 Prime Platinum and the EVGA 1000 P6 eye-to-eye. 

Noise Rating

The graph below depicts the cooling fan's average noise over the PSU's operating range, with an ambient temperature between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The average noise output is increased, because the fan has to spin at high speeds at higher loads. 

Efficiency Rating

The following graph shows the PSU's average efficiency throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius.

The average efficiency is high enough. 

Power Factor Rating

The following graphs show the PSU's average power factor reading throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius and 115V/230V voltage input. 

The APFC converter could be tuned for higher PF readings with 230V input. 

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MSI has a strong entry in the high-end category, with the MEG Ai1000P PCIe 5, which as its code name implies comes with a 12VHPWR connector. This is a true ATX 3.0-ready PSU, able to keep up with the demands of the new generation GPUs and most likely with the upcoming ones, too, since the RTX 4090 doesn't require an ATX 3.0 or PCIe 5.0 ready PSU to operate correctly. It just needs a powerful unit, especially if you plan to push its power limit up to 600 watts. 

The MSI MEG Ai1000P PCIe 5 is a fine PSU, topping our performance charts. Its main competitors are the Seasonic Prime 1000 Platinum and the EVGA 1000 P6, none of which are ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 ready.

Even if you plan on getting an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, you don’t need an ATX 3.0, PCIe 5.0 ready PSU. Older but strong PSUs will deliver the necessary power, though you'll have to deal with unwieldy (and possibly dangerous) adapters. So if you're spending well over  $1,000 on a new high-end graphics card, you may want to invest in one of these new power supplies. Even if you don't plan on buying a high-end GPU in the near future, if you're buying a new PSU now that you plan to use for several years, it's at least worth considering buying one that supports the latest standard.

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Disclaimer: Aris Mpitziopoulos is Tom's Hardware's PSU reviewer. He is also the Chief Testing Engineer of Cybenetics and developed the Cybenetics certification methodologies apart from his role on Tom's Hardware. Neither Tom's Hardware nor its parent company, Future PLC, are financially involved with Cybenetics. Aris does not perform the actual certifications for Cybenetics.

Seasonic (via HXL) has teased a sample of the brand's upcoming 90-degree 16-pin power connector for Nvidia's GeForce RTX 40-series graphics cards. The design will potentially mitigate the meltdown issues with standard 16-pin power adapters on the GeForce RTX 4090.

So far, there have been three user reports (now apparently four) of the 16-pin power adapters melting. Admittedly, it's a small number compared to the number of GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards Nvidia has sold, but there still may be affected users out there that haven't come forward. However, it's a severe problem since the issue can potentially be a fire hazard, so Nvidia has wasted no time investigating the situation.

Due to the thickness of the GeForce RTX 4090, consumers are likely having problems installing the flagship Ada Lovelace graphics cards inside cases that don't have the luxury of space. It's not unreasonable to think that some users may have to bend the cable for the 16-power adapter more than they should to close the case's side panel.

Like any power cable, bending the 16-pin adapter's cable immoderately, whether vertically or horizontally, can cause the terminal to come loose and mess up the integrity of the mating. As a result, the load becomes unbalanced over the remaining terminals, which increases the risk of overheating and melting the connector. Cablemod, a popular custom cable vendor, recommends at least 35mm of space from the 16-pin power connector before bending the cable. However, we've seen user feedback that the problem persists even at longer distances, for example, 40mm.

Seasonic isn't the only one with a workaround. Cablemod has announced the brand's custom right-angle 16-pin power adapter, which uses a multiple PCB design and promises zero bending. While the adapter sells on October 31, the pricing is unknown. Seasonic's 90-degree connector doesn't look as pretty as Cablemod's adapter, but it should work similarly. Unfortunately, we can't see the other end of the cable, so we're unsure if Seasonic's product is an adapter or a special cable designed to connect directly to the brand's power supplies. The connector from the photograph is a sample, and Seasonic didn't reveal the launch date or pricing.

While right-angle adapters can reduce cable bending, owners aren't out of the danger zone yet. Remember that the 12VHPWR power connector has a service life of 30 connection cycles. PCI-SIG detected the same mating issues around 40 cycles.

Up to now, we've only seen complaints from consumers using the bundle 4x8-pin to 1x16-pin power adapter. ATX 3.0 power supply owners seem unaffected. These power supplies already come with the 12VHPWR connector, so adapters aren't needed. On the flip side, there aren't many ATX 3.0 units on the market, and they are expensive.

It's curious that the potential problems with the power adapter apparently never showed up in Nvidia's testing. We've checked the GeForce RTX 4090's documentation and online user manuals, and there are no instructions or guidelines on manipulating the 16-pin power connector or its cable. Did Nvidia honestly not know about the issue? If so, it may want to rethink its procedures.

The chipmaker does warn against using third-party adapters, such as the Cablemod and the upcoming Seasonic one, which will void your warranty — though note that all the cases of melted connectors so far have been with the official Nvidia adapter. Can someone build a better right-angle connector than Nvidia's official adapter? Almost certainly, and it will still technically void your warranty.

Updated 10/26/2022 9:00 pm PT: Added the relevant information about the usage of third-party adapters from Nvidia documentation included with the GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition.

"Use only the included PCIe Gen 5 compliant power connector adapter for your GeForce RTX 40-series Founders Edition graphics card. Use of non-compliant or third-party power connector adapters may cause technical issues, and may void your manufacturer warranty."

As launch dates of next-generation graphics cards with a 12VHPWR power connector inch closer, we see more makers of power supply units roll out their ATX 3.0 offerings. Seasonic yet has to announce its ATX 3.0 PSUs formally, but numerous retailers in North America already list these parts. So far, we have seen pretty expensive ATX 3.0 power supplies, but Seasonic's PS Vertex lineup will include models that cost around $230. 

Seasonic's PS Vertex ATX 3.0 power supply family will include four SKUs: 80 Plus Gold-rated 1000W and 1200W models, as well as 80 Plus Platinum-badged 1000W and 1200W models, as discovered by @momomo_us. These PSUs are currently listed at numerous U.S. and Canada stores, including ProVantage and Tech-America, where they cost between $231.23 and $304.78. 

Being aimed at enthusiasts, Seasonic's PS Vertex ATX 3.0 PSUs are fully modular and are equipped with a large fan to ensure stable performance under high loads. The key selling feature of these power supplies is their 12VHPWR connector for next-generation graphics cards. 

Upcoming graphics cards from AMD and Nvidia (which are set to become the best graphics cards) are expected to use ATX 3.0-standard 12+4-pin auxiliary PCIe 5.0 power connector called 12VHPWR that can deliver up to 600W to a graphics card, depending on its needs and PSU capabilities (depending on the application, it is 150W, 300W, 450W or 600W). The 12VHPWR uses 12 pins for power delivery, whereas the four remaining pins carry sideband signals, such as sensing the connector's/PSU's initial allowable power and maximum allowable power. These sideband signals are implemented to ensure that an add-on card does not draw power above certain limits and burn PSU down. 

Seasonic's PS Vertex 1000W 80 Plus Gold is the cheapest ATX 3.0 power supply we have encountered, but as the standard gets more widespread, we will undoubtedly see even more affordable options. Meanwhile, keeping in mind that these PSUs are designed to deliver up to 600W of power to an add-on card, these will be high-wattage power supplies that will be priced accordingly.

The Seasonic Prime TX-1600 deserves a place in our best PSUs article, as the second best option, behind the mighty Corsair AX1600i. The latter remains the performance king, but it doesn't have a PCIe 5.0 connector since at the time it was introduced, there weren't 12+4 pin PCIe connectors. Seasonic's engineers did a fine job on this platform, and we are looking for an updated design providing full ATX 3.0 compatibility. 

Seasonic's newest additions in its flagship Titanium efficiency TX line are the TX-1600 and TX-1300, two powerful PSUs able to support power-hungry gaming systems and workstations. We will look at the TX-1600 in this review and compare it against strong competitors from Corsair, be quiet, Thermaltake, and other key brands with a strong presence in the high-end PSU market. 

The TX-1600 has large dimensions, measuring 210mm in depth, so you must check if your chassis can accommodate it before you get it. That said, most normal dimension ATX chassis will be compatible. The fully modular cable design will make the installation easy despite the large footprint. 

This is a high-end and expensive PSU, which is clearly shown by the exterior design and the quality finish. Moreover, the bundle is rich, including, among others, Velcro straps, zip ties, and a case badge. There is also a pouch for storing any unused modular cables. Given the amount of provided cables, you will surely need it. 

Although the TX-1600 is a new PSU featuring two 12VHPWR connectors, it still isn't ATX 3.0 compatible. According to Seasonic, the TX-1600 supports systems where the AIC (Add-in Card) is up to 450W, so the PSU conforms with ATX 3.0 up to 1000W. 

Specifications

Power Specifications

Cables & Connectors

Plenty of cables are provided, offering many connectors, including a pair of 12VHPWR. The PCIe 5.0 cables can handle 600W, but the PSU's respective outputs are rated at 450W. An issue we spotted here is that the sense pins of the 12+2 pin connector are grounded, informing the graphics card that the PSU can deliver the full 600W, but this is not accurate, according to Seasonic's statement. 

We would like to see the extra two pins on the 12VHPWR connector. One of them handles the optional power-ok sideband signal from the Add-in PCIe card. This signal enhances the system's protection. The other sideband signal, routed from the fourth signal pin of the 12VHPWR connector, is the CARD_CBL_PRES which is not supported by the TX-1600. 

Briefly, this signal informs the PSU how many graphics cards are connected, allowing it to decide how to configure the Sense 0/1 sideband signals and set the power levels it will deliver to its 12VHPWR connectors. From the moment the TX-1600 has two 12VHPWR connectors, the CARD_CBL_PRES signal would be helpful. 

Component Analysis

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

Seasonic used top-notch parts, as expected, in a high-end platform. The sad part is that it didn't go wild in the design section, using a totem-pole PFC and GaN MODFETs. Its engineers preferred a more conventional approach which still can achieve high performance, but it cannot meet the totem pole in terms of efficiency (and performance if we take the AX1600i as reference). It would be nice to see more brands following the totem-pole design and digital controllers, especially in the high-end market. Because only when totem pole APFC overruns the high-end market will we start seeing this highly efficient design in the lower segments, too. 

The transient/EMI filter has all the necessary parts, including an MOV and an NTC thermistor and bypass relay combo. 

The single bridge rectifier is for the standby rail only, since the PSU uses a bridgeless PFC, where FETs are used instead of the typical bridge rectifiers, for higher efficiency. 

The APFC circuit has four Infineon FETs and two boost diodes because it uses an interleaved design, where two APFC converters operate in parallel, offering lower energy losses. The next best thing to totem-pole PFC is an interleaved PFC. The bulk caps are by Chemi-Con and have enough capacity to meet the ATX spec's hold-up time requirements. 

The main FETs are four Infineon IPP60R099CP installed in a full-bridge topology. Two Silicon Labs Si8233BD drive them. 

Sixteen Nexperia FETs regulate the 12V rail, while a pair of DC-DC converters utilize the minor rails. 

The filtering caps are by Chemi-Con mostly, the electrolytics, and many polymer caps are also used. 

The standby PWM controller is a Power Integrations INN3164C IC. 

Besides bus bars, we also find several polymer and electrolytic caps on the face of the modular PCB. 

The main supervisor IC is a Weltrend WT7527RA IC. 

Soldering quality is good.

Seasonic used a fluid dynamic bearing fan, provided by Hong Hua. 

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To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

Load regulation is not as tight as in the digital units from Corsair, Asus, and Wentai, but it is pretty tight. At 5VSB, the most insignificant rail when it comes to load regulation, the TX-1600 takes over the top spot. 

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is extra long and the power ok signal is accurate. 

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

Inrush current is a bit higher at 115V, compared to most competitors, and at a normal level, given the PSU's capacity, with 230V input. 

Leakage Current

In layman's terms, leakage current is the unwanted transfer of energy from one circuit to another. In power supplies, it is the current flowing from the primary side to the ground or the chassis, which in the majority of cases is connected to the ground. For measuring leakage current, we use a GW Instek GPT-9904 electrical safety tester instrument.

The leakage current test is conducted at 110% of the DUT's rated voltage input (so for a 230-240V device, we should conduct the test with 253-264V input). The maximum acceptable limit of a leakage current is 3.5 mA and it is defined by the IEC-60950-1 regulation, ensuring that the current is low and will not harm any person coming in contact with the power supply's chassis.

Leakage current is higher than the other PSUs in the chart, still much lower than the max allowed limit. 

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

The PSU doesn't have a problem delivering close to 139A at 12V, at high operating temperatures and for prolonged periods. Moreover, its fan spins at low speeds, even during the full load and over-load tests, so the output noise remains low. 

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10% of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with power-saving features turned on.

The fan doesn't spin at light loads, if you enable the semi-passive mode. 

2% or 10W Load Test

From July 2020, the ATX spec requires 70% and higher efficiency with 115V input. The applied load is only 10W for PSUs with 500W and lower capacities, while for stronger units, we dial 2% of their max-rated capacity.

The 70% mark is easily passed, with a 2% load. 

Efficiency & Power Factor

Next, we plotted a chart showing the PSU's efficiency at low loads and loads from 10 to 110% of its maximum rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency, the less energy goes wasted, leading to a reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills. The same goes for Power Factor.

This is a highly efficient platform, but it could be further improved at light and super-light loads. Not that it delivers mediocre efficiency levels in these load ranges, but because the competition raised the bar too high. 

5VSB Efficiency

The 5VSB rail is highly efficient! 

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Vampire power is low with 115V. It would be nice to see below 0.1W with 230V. 

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37 to 47 degrees Celsius (98.6 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fan speed profile is relaxed even at harsh operating conditions. The highly efficient platform helps in that, because energy losses are minimized. 

The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.       

At normal operating temperatures, close to 30 degrees Celsius, the PSU's passive operation lasts long and isn't affected by the load on the minor rails. It needs 1300W of load to enter the 30-35 dBA range, so this unit is ideal for high power consumption systems with low output noise. 

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Protection Features

Check out our PSUs 101 article to learn more about PSU protection features.

The over power and over current protection features are correctly set on all rails but 5V, where OCP is set too high. Moreover, there is over temperature protection along with the other, essential protection features. 

DC Power Sequencing

According to Intel’s most recent Power Supply Design Guide (revision 1.4), the +12V and 5V outputs must be equal to or greater than the 3.3V rail at all times. Unfortunately, Intel doesn't mention why it is so important to always keep the 3.3V rail's voltage lower than the levels of the other two outputs.

No problems here since the 3.3V rail is always lower than the other two. 

Cross Load Tests

To generate the following charts, we set our loaders to auto mode through custom-made software before trying more than 25,000 possible load combinations with the +12V, 5V, and 3.3V rails. The deviations in each of the charts below are calculated by taking the nominal values of the rails (12V, 5V, and 3.3V) as point zero. The ambient temperature during testing was between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Load Regulation Charts

Efficiency Graph

Ripple Graphs

The lower the power supply's ripple, the more stable the system will be and less stress will also be applied to its components.

Infrared Images

We apply a half-load for 10 minutes with the PSU's top cover and cooling fan removed before taking photos with a modified Fluke Ti480 PRO camera able to deliver an IR resolution of 640x480 (307,200 pixels).

We didn't measure high temperatures inside the PSU during this test. The highly efficient platform minimizes energy losses,

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Advanced Transient Response Tests

For details about our transient response testing, please click here.

In the real world, power supplies are always working with loads that change. It's of immense importance, then, for the PSU to keep its rails within the ATX specification's defined ranges. The smaller the deviations, the more stable your PC will be with less stress applied to its components. 

We should note that the ATX spec requires capacitive loading during the transient rests, but in our methodology, we also choose to apply a worst case scenario with no additional capacitance on the rails. 

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 1ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 1ms

Transient response is good at 12V and 5VSB, and average on the minor rails. 

Turn-On Transient Tests

In the next set of tests, we measure the PSU's response in simpler transient load scenarios—during its power-on phase. Ideally, we don't want to see any voltage overshoots or spikes since those put a lot of stress on the DC-DC converters of installed components.

The 5VSB rail takes some time to settle down. Still, it is way below the maximum allowed, which according to the ATX spec, is 2 seconds. We didn't notice anything peculiar on the 12V rail in both turn-on transients we conducted. The slope in the "PSU off to full 12V" could be smoother, but it won't create any issues as it is. 

Power Supply Timing Tests

There are several signals generated by the power supply, which need to be within specified, by the ATX spec, ranges. If they are not, there can be compatibility issues with other system parts, especially mainboards. From year 2020, the PSU's Power-on time (T1) has to be lower than 150ms and the PWR_OK delay (T3) from 100 to 150ms, to be compatible with the Alternative Sleep Mode.

The PWR_OK delay is within the 100-150ms region, so the PSU supports the alternative sleep mode recommended by the ATX spec.

Ripple Measurements

Ripple represents the AC fluctuations (periodic) and noise (random) found in the PSU's DC rails. This phenomenon significantly decreases the capacitors' lifespan because it causes them to run hotter. A 10-degree Celsius increase can cut into a cap's useful life by 50%. Ripple also plays an important role in overall system stability, especially when overclocking is involved.

The ripple limits, according to the ATX specification, are 120mV (+12V) and 50mV (5V, 3.3V, and 5VSB).

Ripple suppression is fantastic! 

Ripple At Full Load

Ripple At 110% Load

Ripple At Cross-Load 1

Ripple At Cross-Load 4

EMC Pre-Compliance Testing – Average & Quasi-Peak EMI Detector Results

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the ability of a device to operate properly in its environment without disrupting the proper operation of other nearby devices.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) stands for the electromagnetic energy a device emits, and it can cause problems in other nearby devices if too high. For example, it can cause increased static noise in your headphones or/and speakers.

΅We use TekBox's EMCview to conduct our EMC pre-compliance testing.

EMI emissions are low. 

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Performance Rating

The TX-1600 achieves top performance, taking the lead from the Wentai Aidan. Still, the Corsair AX1600i remains the performance king, thanks to its state-of-the-art platform with the totem-pole PFC converter and the digital controllers. Flextronics' work on the AX1600i looks nothing less but amazing, even after several years of its release! 

Noise Rating

The graph below depicts the cooling fan's average noise over the PSU's operating range, with an ambient temperature between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Under normal operating temperatures, the average noise output is deal low for a 1600W beast. Only the Asus Rog Thor bests the TX-1600 here. 

Efficiency Rating

The following graph shows the PSU's average efficiency throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius.

The Wentai unit is the performance king, followed by the AX1600i and the TX-1600 comes third. This is not bad, at all, given that the latter doesn't use a totem-pole PFC converter, like the aforementioned units. 

Power Factor Rating

The following graphs show the PSU's average power factor reading throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius and 115V/230V voltage input. 

The APFC converter needs tuning for higher readings, especially with 230V input. 

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Seasonic made a point with the TX-1600, that it can create high-performance PSUs without using complex, digital circuits. Analog circuits still have life in them, but we are not sure for how long, considering the crazy requirements of the ATX 3.0 spec for every PSU featuring 12VHPWR connectors. 

Having proper protection features and being able to deliver twice the maximum power, for short periods, is challenging, especially for high power units like the TX-1600. This is why Seasonic had to derate it for ATX 3.0 compatibility and states that this unit meets Intel's newest design guideline up to 1000W only. Despite that, the TX-1600 comes with a pair of 12VHPWR connectors, which can handle up to 600W each. Testing aside, it will be interesting to see if the TX-1600 can handle the upcoming GPUs and why not, a pair of them. 

The primary opponents of the Seasonic TX-1600 are the Asus Rog Thor with similar capacity, which stays behind in overall performance, registering a win only in noise output. At the same time, the Corsair AX1600i remains the performance king several years after its release. Seasonic's engineers did a fantastic job on this platform, but we expect them to continue working on it to make it fully ATX 3.0 ready. Moreover, it is high time for Seasonic to enter the totem-pole PFC train and introduce a digital platform able to take the lead from the AX1600i. 

The TX-1600 achieves top performance while keeping noise output low, utilizing a conventional platform proven to be super reliable. We get it. Why mess with something new when you can achieve such results with the technology you know best? But as we see it, digital circuits are the future for PSUs. 

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Disclaimer: Aris Mpitziopoulos is Tom's Hardware's PSU reviewer. He is also the Chief Testing Engineer of Cybenetics and developed the Cybenetics certification methodologies apart from his role on Tom's Hardware. Neither Tom's Hardware nor its parent company, Future PLC, are financially involved with Cybenetics. Aris does not perform the actual certifications for Cybenetics.

Seasonic's official Power Supply wattage calculator page has been updated to support the AMD Radeon RX 7000 series of GPUs. Twitter user SkyJuice spotted the 'error.' According to Seasonic's handy web tool, AMD's upcoming RDNA 3 graphics cards will consume similar amounts of power as their predecessors. 

If you head on over to the Seasonic wattage calculator page now, you'll be greeted with a simple but functional page. You can select components from a series of drop-down lists and then press 'calculate' to get a page full of Seasonic PSU recommendations.

According to the tool, a mid-range modern Core i5 system packing an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT requires at least a 650W PSU. Swapping the GPU out to the unannounced RX 7700 XT and recalculating results in the same minimum recommendation — a 650W PSU. The database Seasonic uses also appears to hold wattage values for the Radeon RX 7800 XT and the RX 7900 XT. Below you will see the figures we got from plugging in the unannounced RX 7000 series cards and their current-gen counterparts.

The above PC system was configured in Seasonic's calculator with an Intel Core i5-12400, a GPU as above, twin SSDs, twin system fans, and no HDDs. *Please note that Seasonic recommends a 750W PSU for the system configured with an RTX 3070, but Nvidia says it is OK with a 650W PSU. Additionally, our article about GeForce RTX 4060 power requirement rumors is based on a source saying the upcoming RTX 4060 may consume more power than the current RX 3070 graphics card.

The above results are interesting to see with users concerned about the ballooning power requirements of discrete GPUs for PCs. There have been a number of rumors of very high power requirements for next-gen PC GPUs. If this AMD information is accurate it could be a good sign for fans of the red team as they await some official RNDA 3 architecture and product announcements.

Seasonic's PSU calculator also features the Radeon RX 6700 non-XT, which was listed by Sapphire last week but isn't yet an official product on AMD's website.

Readers should add a pinch of salt to the above data found on the Seasonic website. It is possible but unlikely that these are input errors. However, they could just be using placeholder figures rather than basing their calculations on data on the next-gen GPUs supplied by AMD.

The Deepcool PQ850M uses a pretty good and reliable Seasonic platform, which has started to show its age, though. Thanks to its terrific CWT platform, the Corsair RM850x (2021) remains the performance king in the 850W Gold category. The weird exterior design of the PQ850 doesn't help, either. Another decent option with similar specs from Deepcool is the DQ850-M-V2L, which achieves better performance than the PQ850M, using a budget CWT platform. A revision of the PQ850M is required, featuring a 12+4 pin connector, to give it a chance for inclusion in our best PSUs article. 

Deepcool enriched its PSU lines with the PQ-M series, including four models with 650W to 1000W max power. All are fully modular and use the trendy Seasonic Focus Gold platform. They have compact dimensions and are equipped with a 120mm diameter fluid dynamic bearing fan provided by Hong Hua. The exterior design looks weird because of the square holes of the fan grille. The design definitely stands out from the crowd, but not in a good way, according to our taste, at least. 

This review will evaluate the second strongest member of the PQ-M line, the 850W unit, which is strong enough to support a capable gaming system. The PSU doesn't have a 12+4 pin PCIe connector, meaning that it isn't compatible with either the newest ATX spec (v3.0) or upcoming GPUs. It is not ideal to buy a PSU right now because we are in a transition phase from the previous ATX spec to the new one. 

The only graphics card, so far at least, that comes with a 12+4 pin PCIe connector is the Nvidia RTX 3090 Ti, and it has an adapter from three 6+2 PCIe to a single 12+4 PCIe. Still, you need the PSU to be as future-proof as possible, and the upcoming GPUs will utilize the extra 4-pins so that adapters won't be fully compatible. 

An extended, ten-year warranty covers the PQ850M, and its MSRP is set at 169 dollars, which is a fair amount given its features. It is certified as Gold by 80 PLUS and Platinum by Cybenetics. It also has a noise rating of Cybenetics A- (25-30 dB[A]). 

Specifications

Power Specifications

Cables & Connectors

The only three PCIe connectors are on dedicated cables, so this PSU can even power an RTX 3090 Ti, using the provided adapter. Given that it is not wise to use PCIe cables with more than one connector and that SLI and Crossfire are long dead, there is no need for more than three PCIe connectors on dedicated cables in an 850W PSU. 

There are no in-cable caps, and all cables are long enough. If only the distance between the peripheral connectors was longer, at 150mm, at least. Finally, it would be nice to see thicker gauges on the ATX, EPS, and PCIe connectors. 

Component Analysis

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

Deepcool utilized Seasonic's trendy Focus Plus Gold design for this series. This is a good and reliable platform but not fully compatible with the newest ATX spec. The build quality is good, and as usual, Seasonic used good parts everywhere. The heat sinks are small, and there is ample space between parts for good airflow, so the Hong Hua FDB fan won't have to work over hours. 

The transient/EMI filter has all necessary parts, including an MOV and a discharge IC, providing a small efficiency boost. There is also an NTC thermistor for lowering inrush currents, supported by a bypass relay. 

The pair of bridge rectifiers can handle up to 30A of current. 

The APFC converter uses two Infineon FETs and a single boost diode provided by STMicronics. The bulk cap is by Chemi-Con, and it has enough capacity to provide a longer than 17ms hold-up time. The APFC controller is a Champion CM6500UNX. 

The main FETs are four Great Power, installed in a full-bridge topology. An LLC resonant converter is also used to increase efficiency. The resonant controller is a Champion CM6901T6.

Four Nexperia FETs regulate the 12V rail. Two DC-DC converters generate the minor rails. 

The electrolytic filtering caps are by Chemi-Con so that they will outlive the provided warranty. Lots of polymer caps are also used. 

The standby PWM controller is an Excelliance MOS EM8569C. 

The modular board has many polymer and two electrolytic caps. 

The main supervisor IC is a Weltrend WT7527V.

Soldering quality is good. 

The cooling fan measures 120mm across and it uses a fluid dynamic bearing. 

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To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

Load regulation is perfect on the main three rails and acceptable at 5VSB, where it doesn't matter much as long as this rail keeps its voltages within the specified range by the ATX spec. 

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is longer than 17ms, but the power ok signal is lower than 16ms. 

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

Inrush current is low with 115V but pretty high with 230V. A higher resistance NTC thermistor would help here. 

Leakage Current

In layman's terms, leakage current is the unwanted transfer of energy from one circuit to another. In power supplies, it is the current flowing from the primary side to the ground or the chassis, which in the majority of cases is connected to the ground. For measuring leakage current, we use a GW Instek GPT-9904 electrical safety tester instrument.

The leakage current test is conducted at 110% of the DUT's rated voltage input (so for a 230-240V device, we should conduct the test with 253-264V input). The maximum acceptable limit of a leakage current is 3.5 mA and it is defined by the IEC-60950-1 regulation, ensuring that the current is low and will not harm any person coming in contact with the power supply's chassis.

Leakage current is higher than competing offerings, but still lower than the limit. 

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

The PSU doesn't sweat at high operating temperatures, but its fan gets screaming loud. Moreover, efficiency takes a huge hit, so you better not push it so hard. 

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10% of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with power-saving features turned on.

The fan is not needed to spin under light loads, even under increased temperatures. 

2% or 10W Load Test

From July 2020, the ATX spec requires 70% and higher efficiency with 115V input. The applied load is only 10W for PSUs with 500W and lower capacities, while for stronger units, we dial 2% of their max-rated capacity.

It would be nice to see over 70% efficiency with a 2% load. 

Efficiency & Power Factor

Next, we plotted a chart showing the PSU's efficiency at low loads and loads from 10 to 110% of its maximum rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency, the less energy goes wasted, leading to a reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills. The same goes for Power Factor.

With normal loads, the competition is ahead. With 20-80W loads, the PQ850M performs better. Finally, with a 2% load, it cannot reach 70% efficiency, which is not a problem for the EVGA 850 G6, which uses a more advanced version of the Focus platform.

5VSB Efficiency

We would like to see over 79% average efficiency at 5VSB. 

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Vampire power is low.

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37 to 47 degrees Celsius (98.6 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fan speed profile pushes the small fan to its limits, under high operating conditions. 

The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.       

At normal operating temperatures, close to 30 degrees Celsius, the PSU is silent with up to 620W loads. It exceeds 30 dBA with more than 690W, and it enters the 35-40 dBA zone with more than 750W at 12V. All in all, this is not a noisy PSU. 

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Protection Features

Check out our PSUs 101 article to learn more about PSU protection features.