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Packaging, Contents, Exterior, And Cabling
Packaging
The large box features a photo of the PSU with its orange fan on display up front. The 80 PLUS Platinum badge is fairly prominent, and a series of icons convey the single +12V rail, the temperature-controlled fan, the Japanese capacitors, and the modular cabling. On one side of the box, there are technical and power specification tables, along with two graphs depicting the fan noise and efficiency curves.
Around back, a photo shows the PSU's modular panel. More pictures and diagrams provide information on the available connectors and cable length. Gigabyte again highlights the Japanese caps it uses, in addition to the double ball-bearing fan. Both components facilitate more reliable operation.
Contents
The contents of the box are nicely arranged. The PSU itself is protected by two thick pieces of packing foam, though it isn't stored inside the velvet bag we so often find covering expensive power supplies.
The bundle includes a nylon pouch, a set of Velcro straps, fixing bolts, a user's manual, a case badge, an AC power cord, and a cloth wristband that might appeal to sporty builders.
Exterior
The orange fan is definitely eye-catching; it makes this otherwise plain-looking PSU stand out from the crowd. Gigabyte's matte finish exudes quality, too.
Up front, a power switch is installed below the AC receptacle, with the fan facing upwards.
The decals on the sides look nice, and the power specifications label on the bottom is very large.
Around back, the modular panel includes a large number of sockets, two of which are dedicated to the EPS connectors. Although you cannot attach a PCIe cable to one of those EPS sockets, with a little effort you can definitely plug an EPS cable into a PCIe socket. That's definitely a problem since the two cables aren't electrically compatible (the ground and voltage pins are in different positions). Enhance should either use color-coded sockets or, even better, different shapes to prevent builders from making an incorrect connection.
The XP1200M is sized normally for its capacity, and the PSU's external design looks good enough for our tastes.
Cabling
The cable quality is good. They all use dark wires and are flat, reducing clutter and improving airflow. Flexibility isn't an issue either; you'll have no trouble routing the cables around inside your case.
