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Today we take a look at another member of the Seasonic PRIME Gold family – this time in a 850 watt capacity. The PRIME Gold series is more cost effective than the PRIME Platinum and Titanium units while still offering stellar build quality, a pure modular layout and high grade Japanese capacitors.
Seasonic have won many awards on KitGuru over the years due to the overall consistency and quality throughout their series. While their Platinum and Titanium series have taken the headlines in recent months, the Gold PRIME supplies target the widest enthusiast audience demographic.
Prime GOLD Specification:
– Model name: SSR-850GD
– 80 PLUS®: Gold
– Form Factor: Intel ATX 12 V
– Dimensions: 170mm (L) x 150mm (W) x 86mm (H) +/-1 mm
– Fan Size: 135 mm
– Fan Control: Premium Hybrid Fan Control
– Fan Bearing: Fluid Dynamic Bearing
– Life Expectancy: 70,000 hours at 40 °C, 15 % – 65 % RH
– Modularity: Fully Modular
– Cable type: Flat black cables
– Operating Temperature: 0 – 50 °C
– MTBF @ 25 °C, excl. fan: 150,000 hours
– AC Input: Full Range
– Protection: OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
– Safety and EMC: cTUVus, TUV, CB, CCC, BSMI, EAC
– Environmental Compliance: Energy Star, RoHS, WEEE, ErP Lot 6, REACH
Review photography handled in house at KitGuru with a Leica S series medium format camera and S series prime lens. Please do not use any of the images within this review without express permission.
The Seasonic box artwork is shiny and hard to photograph! The box highlights the 80 Plus GOLD standard along with a 7+3 warranty term. This 10 year warranty is actually now 12 years however (HERE), so Seasonic could do with updating their box artwork.
The bundle is extensive. You get a modular cable bag, resealable plastic wallet, regional specific power connector, two kinds of cable ties, a case badge, branded sticker, an installation guide, mounting screws and user manual.
The Seasonic power supply is a pure modular design. The cables are a mixture of sleeved (ATX, CPU and PCIe) and flat ribbon style (peripherals), for ease of routing.
Connectors
– 1 x 20+4-Pin ATX12V/EPS12V
– 2 x 4+4-Pin ATX12V/EPS12V
– 6 x 6+2-Pin-PCIe
– 10 x SATA
– 5 x 4-Pin-Molex
– 1 x Floppy
– Warranty: 12yr
There are a total of six 6+2 Pin PCIe connectors to support very high end Crossfire and SLi systems. Seasonic also supply dual 4+4 Pin ATX12V/EPS12V connectors to deliver power to two high end processors. The 1000W PRIME supply has two extra 6+2 Pin PCIe connectors and 2 extra SATA connectors.
The Seasonic PRIME 850W GOLD supply is an almost identical design to the Platinum versions with gold accenting on the case. The Platinum version is more of a chrome colour scheme.
The PRIME logo on the Gold rated power supply is different to the other ranges – again it is coloured gold. No N shaped grill on this power supply either, with Seasonic opting for plain black.
One side of the unit is home to a big cooling vent, with a power connector and switch at the side.
There is also a switch for Hybrid mode – allowing the fan to be disabled completely when the unit drops to a specific temperature threshold. Seasonic claim the Hybrid Fanless mode works up to:
- Approximately 50 % (±5 %) of system load at 25 °C.
- Approximately 30 % (±5 %) of system load at 40 °C.
One side of the PRIME Gold unit is home to all the modular cables. The main M/B connectors are indicated along the bottom of the panel and are clearly labelled. The Peripheral/SATA/Molex connectors are visible in a bank of two and three along the top right side. On the other side are all the CPU and PCI-e connectors in a row of 1, 3 and 2 from top to bottom (6 in total).
This is exactly the same layout as the higher capacity 1000 watt PRIME Gold power supply that we reviewed a couple of weeks ago.
Above we can see the specifications of the power supply. The Model number is SSR-850GD Active PFC F3.
| Seasonic PRIME 850W Gold Power Supply |
|||||
|
DC Output
|
+3.3V
|
+5V
|
+12V |
-12V
|
+5Vsb
|
|
Max Output
|
20A
|
20A
|
70A |
0.3A
|
2.5A
|
| Total Power | 100W | 840W | 3.6W | 12.5W | |
| 850 Watts | |||||
This 850 watt power supply can deliver 70A on the +12V output. This drops from 83A on the 1000 watt version. The amps on the +3.3V and +5V rails drop from 25A to 20A as well.
Seasonic are using a Hong Hua 135mm fan, Model number HA13525H12F-Z. This fan is being used in the 1000W Gold PRIME unit and the PRIME 1000W Platinum unit as well. It is a Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan, selected by Seasonic for the low noise characteristics. The fan is rated at around 150,000 hours at 25c.
Below - a High Resolution Gallery of the internal layout of the Seasonic PRIME 850W Gold (please remove ad blockers to view)
Overall build quality is very high, as we would expect from Seasonic. Soldering quality is at the same high level as the 1000watt unit we reviewed a little while ago. Seasonic populate the board with some heatsinks in key positions to help with heat control. With the high gold efficiency there is not a need to go crazy with heatsink adoption.
Seasonic use high grade 105c Japanese capacitors in both primary and secondary stages. The two main capacitors are rated 400v 330uF for 660uF total output capacity. The 1000W PRIME Gold unit has a 560uF and 470uF capacitor for a total of 1030uF.
It is interesting to note that the 850 watt Titanium PRIME model (reviewed in August 2016 HERE) has actually a greater uF output than either 1000W Platinum or GOLD models. The Titanium 850W model used a 650uF and a 450uF capacitor in the primary stage for a total output of 1100uF. In this case you certainly get what you pay for!
Seasonic have a well earned reputation for over specifying power supplies. We reviewed a Super Flower 1000W gold unit recently and it was equipped with two 470uF capacitors for a total of 940uF. Very few 1000W power supplies we have reviewed in recent months ship with a total of 1000uF in the primary stage.
Correctly testing power supplies is a complex procedure and KitGuru have configured a test bench which can deliver up to a 2,000 watt DC load. We run at 35c in our environment to greater reflect warmer internal chassis conditions.
We use combinations of the following hardware:
• SunMoon SM-268
• CSI3710A Programmable DC load (+3.3V and +5V outputs)
• CSI3711A Programmable DC load (+12V1, +12V2, +12V3, and +12V4)
• Extech Power Analyzer
• Extech MultiMaster MM570 digital multimeter
• Extech digital sound level meter
• Digital oscilloscope (20M S/s with 12 Bit ADC)
• Variable Autotransformer, 1.4 KVA
We test in a single +12V configuration.
|
DC Output Load Regulation
|
||||||||||
|
Combined DC Load |
+3.3V
|
+5V
|
+12V
|
+5VSB
|
-12V | |||||
|
A
|
V
|
A
|
V
|
A
|
V
|
A
|
V
|
A | V | |
|
100W
|
0.95
|
3.35
|
0.93
|
5.05
|
6.03
|
12.07
|
0.50
|
5.03
|
0.20 | -12.04 |
|
225W
|
1.70
|
3.35
|
1.68
|
5.04
|
12.40
|
12.07
|
1.00
|
5.02
|
0.20 | -12.04 |
|
450W
|
3.00
|
3.34
|
3.05
|
5.04
|
32.20
|
12.07
|
1.50
|
5.01
|
0.30 | -12.03 |
| 675W | 4.07 | 3.33 | 4.05 | 5.04 | 49.00 | 12.04 | 2.00 | 5.01 | 0.30 | -12.03 |
|
850W
|
5.00
|
3.35
|
5.22
|
5.03
|
65.60
|
12.03
|
2.50
|
5.00
|
0.50 | -12.02 |
Load regulation is superb with all rails holding close to reference levels (within 1%).
| Seasonic PRIME 850W Gold |
Maximum Load |
| 924W |
We managed to get the power supply to deliver 924W before it would shut down, delivering around 74W more than rated specifications.
Next we want to try Cross Loading. This basically means loads which are not balanced. If a PC for instance needs 500W on the +12V outputs but something like 30W via the combined 3.3V and +5V outputs then the voltage regulation can fluctuate badly.
| Cross Load Testing | +3.3V | +5V | +12V | -12V | +5VSB | |||||
| A | V | A | V | A | V | A | V | A | V | |
| 760W | 1.0 | 3.35 | 1.0 | 5.05 | 60.0 | 12.02 | 0.2 | -12.03 | 0.50 | 5.02 |
| 165W | 15.0 | 3.33 | 18.0 | 5.02 | 2.0 | 12.06 | 0.2 | -12.04 | 0.50 | 5.01 |
The power supply dealt with the demanding cross load test very well exhibiting little fluctuation. It was tasked with 60A on the +12V rail and it held at 12.02V. The other rails delivered excellent results too.
We then used an oscilloscope to measure AC ripple and noise present on the DC outputs. We set the oscilloscope time base to check for AC ripple at both high and low ends of the spectrum.
ATX12V V2.2 specification for DC output ripple and noise is defined in the ATX 12V power supply design guide.
|
ATX12V Ver 2.2 Noise/Ripple Tolerance
|
|
|
Output
|
Ripple (mV p-p)
|
|
+3.3V
|
50
|
|
+5V
|
50
|
|
+12V1
|
120
|
|
+12V2
|
120
|
|
-12V
|
120
|
|
+5VSB
|
50
|
Obviously when measuring AC noise and ripple on the DC outputs the cleaner (less recorded) means we have a better end result. We measured this AC signal amplitude to see how closely the unit complied with the ATX standard.
| AC Ripple (mV p-p) | ||||
| DC Load | +3.3V | +5V | +12V | 5VSB |
| 100W | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 225W | 5 | 5 | 15 | 5 |
| 450W | 5 | 5 | 15 | 5 |
| 675W | 10 | 5 | 20 | 10 |
| 850W | 10 | 5 | 20 | 10 |
Noise suppression rates as excellent, hitting 20mV on the +12V rail at full load. The +3.3V and +5v rails peak at 10mV and 5mV respectively.
|
Efficiency (%)
|
|
|
100W
|
87.8
|
|
225W
|
91.3
|
|
450W
|
92.0
|
|
675W
|
90.8
|
| 850W | 89.5 |
Efficiency is extremely impressive, peaking at 92 percent at 50 percent load. This drops to around 90 percent at full load.
We take the issue of noise very seriously at KitGuru and this is why we have built a special home brew system as a reference point when we test noise levels of various components. Why do this? Well this means we can eliminate secondary noise pollution in the test room and concentrate on components we are testing. It also brings us slightly closer to industry standards, such as DIN 45635.
Today to test the power supply we have taken it into our acoustics room environment and have set our Digital Sound Level Noise Decibel Meter Style 2 one meter away from the unit. We have no other fans running so we can effectively measure just the noise from the unit itself.
As this can be a little confusing for people, here are various dBa ratings in with real world situations to help describe the various levels.
KitGuru noise guide
10dBA – Normal Breathing/Rustling Leaves
20-25dBA – Whisper
30dBA – High Quality Computer fan
40dBA – A Bubbling Brook, or a Refrigerator
50dBA – Normal Conversation
60dBA – Laughter
70dBA – Vacuum Cleaner or Hairdryer
80dBA – City Traffic or a Garbage Disposal
90dBA – Motorcycle or Lawnmower
100dBA – MP3 Player at maximum output
110dBA – Orchestra
120dBA – Front row rock concert/Jet Engine
130dBA – Threshold of Pain
140dBA – Military Jet takeoff/Gunshot (close range)
160dBA – Instant Perforation of eardrum
|
Noise (dBA)
|
|
|
100W
|
<28.0
|
|
225W
|
<28.0
|
|
450W
|
30.9
|
|
675W
|
34.2
|
| 850W | 35.3 |
The large fan is a slow spinner and it makes very little, if any noise under normal load situations. At around 700 watts, the fan starts to actively spin up, compensating for rising ambient temperatures. At full load, the fan emits 35.3dBa of noise – clearly audible but an unlikely load to be running at.
|
Temperature (c)
|
||
|
Intake
|
Exhaust
|
|
|
100W
|
37
|
39
|
|
225W
|
38
|
40
|
|
450W
|
40
|
47
|
|
675W
|
44
|
52
|
|
850W
|
46
|
59
|
The large fan maintains good internal temperatures, hitting a +13c over intake at full load.
|
Maximum load
|
Efficiency
|
|
924 watts
|
88.8
|
At 924 watts, the efficiency level measures 88.8%. Not a practical situation to be running 24/7, but worth noting.
The PRIME 850W Gold is another superlative product from Seasonic aimed at the demanding enthusiast audience who has set aside ample budget for a quality power supply.
This unit delivers high quality power and technically, in a similar fashion to the 1000 watt PRIME Gold model that we reviewed back in April – there is very little to find fault with. Seasonic are surely standing proud beside these supplies as they offer a class leading 12 year warranty. Their Platinum and Titanium PRIME units are even better than the Gold PRIME supplies, but they are more expensive.
The Titanium PRIME supplies are the most visually dramatic – offering eye catching silver accents and an N shaped grill around the fan mount. The Platinum supplies look almost identical to the Gold supplies but they have gold writing to match the 80 Plus certification.
The PRIME 850W Gold achieves 92% efficiency and ripple suppression falls well within industry rated tolerance levels. The supply passed the cross load tests without a problem.
The pure modular design will appeal to a wide audience who value the neatest possible system build with all cables hidden perfectly out of sight, although I think many would prefer all flat, ribbon style cables, rather than a mixture of sleeved and ribbon style.
The Seasonic Prime 850W Gold power supply can be bought from Overclockers UK for £167.99 inc vat over HERE.
If money is no object I would actually opt for the Seasonic PRIME Titanium 850W supply which can deliver over 1000 watts while outclassing both Gold and Platinum units significantly in all areas. It is priced at £229.99 inc vat HERE but is the companies finest power supply to date.
Discuss on our Facebook page, over HERE.
Pros:
- Great build quality.
- technically solid design.
- generally quite quiet.
- 12 year warranty.
- pure modular.
Cons:
- mixture of sleeved and flat cables.
KitGuru says: Seasonic do it again. Predictable I know, but they really deserve credit for being able to produce quality power supplies in all market segments every time they try.
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