Seasonic Prime TX-1600 Power Supply Review

The Prime TX-1600 is Seasonic's flagship power supply.

Seasonic Prime TX-1600
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

Tom's Hardware Verdict

The Seasonic Prime TX-1600 might not be fully ATX 3.0 ready, but it achieves fantastic performance, high efficiency, and high build quality.

Pros

  • +

    Delivered full power at 47°C

  • +

    High overall performance

  • +

    High average efficiency

  • +

    Good soldering quality

  • +

    Quiet operation

  • +

    ATX 3.0 compatible with up to 1000W

  • +

    Higher than 70% efficiency with 2% load

  • +

    Highly efficient 5VSB rail

  • +

    Low vampire power with 115V input

  • +

    Tight load regulation at 12V

  • +

    Great ripple suppression

  • +

    Good transient response at +12V

  • +

    Long hold-up time

  • +

    Accurate power ok signal

  • +

    Alternative Low Power Mode (ALPM) compatible

  • +

    Low conducted EMI emissions

  • +

    Plenty of connectors, including 2x 12VHPWR

  • +

    12-year warranty

Cons

  • -

    Not fully ATX 3.0 compatible

  • -

    Efficiency under light loads could be higher

  • -

    Power factor needs boosting with 230V input

  • -

    Above 0.1W vampire power consumption with 230V input

  • -

    Not so good transient response on the minor rails

  • -

    12+2 pin PCIe connector instead of 12+4 pin

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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

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Manufacturer (OEM)

Seasonic

Max. DC Output

1600W

Efficiency

80 PLUS Titanium, Cybenetics Titanium (91-93%)

Noise

Cybenetics A (20-25 dB[A])

Modular

✓ (Fully)

Intel C6/C7 Power State Support

Operating Temperature (Continuous Full Load)

0 - 50 °C (derating from 100 % to 80 % from 40 °C to 50 °C)

Over Voltage Protection

Under Voltage Protection

Over Power Protection

Over Current (+12V) Protection

Over Temperature Protection

Short Circuit Protection

Surge Protection

Inrush Current Protection

Fan Failure Protection

No Load Operation

Cooling

135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan (HA13525H12SF-Z)

Semi-Passive Operation

✓ (selectable)

Dimensions (W x H x D)

150 x 85 x 210mm

Weight

3.03 kg (6.7 lb)

Form Factor

ATX12V v2.52, EPS 2.92

Warranty

12 Years

Power Specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally
RailRow 0 - Cell 1 3.3V5V12V5VSB-12V
Max. PowerAmps2525133.3330.5
Row 2 - Cell 0 WattsRow 2 - Cell 2 1251600156
Total Max. Power (W)Row 3 - Cell 1 Row 3 - Cell 2 1600Row 3 - Cell 4 Row 3 - Cell 5 Row 3 - Cell 6

Cables & Connectors

Swipe to scroll horizontally
DescriptionCable CountConnector Count (Total)GaugeIn Cable Capacitors
ATX connector 20+4 pin (620mm)1116-18AWGNo
4+4 pin EPS12V (710mm)3316AWGNo
6+2 pin PCIe (760mm)8816AWGNo
12+2 pin PCIe (760mm)2216-28AWGNo
SATA (510mm+150mm+150mm+150mm)41618AWGNo
SATA (410mm+150mm)1218AWGNo
4 pin Molex (460mm+125mm+125mm)1318AWGNo
AC Power Cord (1360mm) - C19 coupler1116AWG-

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.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
General Data-
Manufacturer (OEM)Seasonic
PCB TypeDouble Sided
Primary Side-
Transient Filter5x Y caps, 2x X caps, 2x CM chokes, 1x MOV
Inrush Protection2x NTC Thermistor MF72-20D20M (20 Ohm) & Relay

Bridge Rectifier(s) (Standby Mode)

1x Shindengen LL25XB60 (600V, 25A @ 113°C)

Rectifier FETs

4x Infineon IPB60R040C7 (600V, 32A @ 100°C, Rds(on): 0.040Ohm)
APFC MOSFETs 4x Infineon IPA60R099P6 (600V, 24A @ 100°C, Rds(on): 0.099Ohm)
APFC Boost Diodes 2x Infineon IDH10G65C6 (650V, 10A @ 140°C)
Bulk Cap(s) 1x Nippon Chemi-Con (420V, 680uF, 2,000h @ 105°C, KMZ) & 2x Nippon Chemi-Con (420V, 820uF each or 1640uF combined, 2,000h @ 105°C, KHE)
Main Switchers 4x Infineon IPP60R099CP (600V, 19A @ 100°C, Rds(on): 0.099Ohm)
Drivers ICs2x Silicon Labs Si8233BD
APFC ControllerTexas Instruments UCD28070
Resonant ControllerChampion CM6901T2X
Topology Primary side: Bridgeless, Interleaved PFC, Full-Bridge & LLC converter Secondary side: Synchronous Rectification & DC-DC converters
Secondary Side-
+12V MOSFETs16x Nexperia PSMN1R0-40YLD (40V, 198A @ 100°C, Rds(on): 1.93mOhm)
5V & 3.3VDC-DC Converters
Filtering Capacitors

Electrolytic: 7x Nippon Chemi-Con (105°C, W), 1x Nippon Chemi-Con (5-6,000h @ 105°C, KZH), 1x Nippon Chemi-Con (2-5,000h @ 105°C, KZE), 3x Nippon Chemi-Con (4-10,000h @ 105°C, KY), 2x Rubycon (3-6,000h @ 105°C, YXG) Polymer: 18x Nippon Chemi-Con, 20x FPCAP

Supervisor ICWeltrend WT7527RA (OCP, OVP, UVP, SCP, PG)
Fan ControllerWeltrend WT51F104
Fan ModelHong Hua HA13525H12SF-Z (135mm, 12V, 0.5A, Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan)
5VSB Circuit-
Rectifier 1x Infineon BSC100N06LS3 FET (60V, 36A @ 100°C, Rds(on): 10mOhm)
Standby PWM ControllerPower Integrations INN3164C

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. 

Seasonic Prime TX-1600

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

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. 

Seasonic Prime TX-1600

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The main supervisor IC is a Weltrend WT7527RA IC. 

Soldering quality is good.

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

MORE: Best Power Supplies

MORE: How We Test Power Supplies

MORE: All Power Supply Content

Aris Mpitziopoulos
Contributing Editor

Aris Mpitziopoulos is a contributing editor at Tom's Hardware, covering PSUs.

  • watzupken
    Not unexpected coming from the Seasonic Prime series. However, the lack of ATX 3.0 is going to affect its take up rate. Most people buying a 1.6K W PSU are likely enthusiasts that will want the latest and greatest. This is great, but clearly not the latest.
    Reply
  • escksu
    1600W is definitely overkill for most. For the rest of us, a good 600-800W will be sufficient.
    Reply
  • jeremyj_83
    Every single time people think that Seasonic will have to go with digital circuits to reach requirements they figure out how to do it with analog circuits. It is amazing that they are able to get the same or better performance using analog circuits compared to most other high end PSUs using digital circuits.
    Reply
  • infopcX
    Thanks very much for review, amazing work !!!

    can we say that this is the second best source money can buy? just behind the Corsair AXi 1600 ?

    power factor could be better, in practice compared to the AXi would be imperceptible? would even values below 1% in efficiency be relevant? I say in practice

    I would like to know how much we could extract from the Seasonic source? up to 110% Load seemed pretty stable, could we go further with it?

    12 years warranty is a plus


    Best Regards,
    Reply
  • BoredErica
    infopcX said:
    Thanks very much for review, amazing work !!!

    can we say that this is the second best source money can buy? just behind the Corsair AXi 1600 ?

    power factor could be better, in practice compared to the AXi would be imperceptible? would even values below 1% in efficiency be relevant? I say in practice

    I would like to know how much we could extract from the Seasonic source? up to 110% Load seemed pretty stable, could we go further with it?

    12 years warranty is a plus


    Best Regards,
    ax1600i is more aggressive with fan curve vs Seasonic.
    Reply