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Fractal Design are launching a new power supply range today, the ION SFX. This new range of power supplies will be offered in two capacities – a 500W and a 650W model. As the name would suggest this new design is 80 Plus Gold certified, fully modular and ships with Fractals new ‘UltraFlex' cable design.
For the purposes of this review, Fractal sent us their higher wattage 650W model. It incorporates a high grade 120mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan with a semi passive ZERO rpm mode in lower load situations. We know that Fractal have worked with Seasonic on the design of this product – its based on the Seasonic SGX.
Key features:
- Fractal Design UltraFlex DC wires have game changing flexibility for effortless cable routing and connectors that twist and bend to suit your installation.
- Large 120mm fan with true long life FDB bearings
- 80 PLUS Gold Efficiency.
- Semi Passive Zero RPM mode allows for absolute silence in low load situations.
- Outstanding output quality with tight voltage regulation and extremely low noise and ripple
- Fully modular design for reduced clutter and maximum ease of installation
- Ultra high strand count 0.08T wire gives cables fluid flexibility while maintaining a high current capacity
- Specially formulated 80P PVC insulation offers just the right amount of rigidity for easy cable management.
- Premium Japanese 105C capacitors provide enhanced reliability and durability.
- Full electrical protection includes Over Power Protection, Over Voltage Protection, Short Circuit Protection, Under Voltage Protection, Over Current Protection and Over Temperature Protection.
- Includes SFX to ATX mounting bracket.
- Extensive 10 year warranty.
Technical Design Data:
- 0.99+ Power Factor Correction and low THD (Total Harmonic Distortion).
- Low-loss, Zero voltage soft switching for improved efficiency
- 12V Synchronous Rectification: Improved efficiency, Low RDS (on), low conduction loss.
- High Efficiency step-down DC-DC circuit provides stiff voltage regulation with low ripple and noise
- Modular board with multi layer PCB allows for more filtering caps further improving output quality.
- 100,000 hours MTFB at full output load.
- Premium black PCB substrate.
Fractal normally keep their box artwork clean and simple, so we are glad to see this hasn't changed. A large image of the product takes up half of the front of the box.
The rear of the box covers some of the key selling points.
Inside is a felt bag of modular cables. a mounting bracket, cable ties, literature on the power supply and a power cable. The ‘ultraflex' cables really are not a gimmick, they are very genuinely very soft and malleable – making them easy to route during a system build.
The ION SFX 650G (650W model) ships with an extra PCIe 6+2 pin cable and an extra SATA cable.
The power supply itself is protected in a large piece of foam, and wrapped in a soft bag.
The Fractal Design ION SFX Gold 650G is a nicely designed power supply – with simple accenting to suit any coloured system build. There are some vents on the side panels to aid with air flow.
The top of the power supply is quite dramatically designed with long grilles across the full length of the chassis. We will take a closer look at the fan when we crack open the chassis later in the review.
One side of the power is vented to aid airflow, with a power connector and power button on the left.
The other side of the power supply is home to the modular bay. The two rows are clearly labelled and will prove idiot proof during the build phase.
One side of the power supply is vented to allow for air flow. Alongside a power button, power slot and ‘smart zero fan’ button. The modular bay is clearly labelled and split across 2 rows.
| Fractal Design ION SFX GOLD 650G | |||||
|
DC Output
|
+3.3V
|
+5V
|
+12V |
-12V
|
+5Vsb
|
|
Max Output
|
20A
|
20A
|
54A |
0.3A
|
3.0A
|
| Total Power | 100W | 648W | 3.6W | 15W | |
| 650W | |||||
The Fractal Design ION SFX delivers 54A on the +12V rail for 648W of the power output.
Fractal are using a 120mm Fluid Dynamic bearing fan by Globe, model number S1201512HB – rated 0.45A, 12V. Its a pretty good quality fan and a good decision by Fractal.
Below a gallery of the insides of the power supply (if you cannot see this gallery you need to whitelist us in your ad blocker as they can interfere with our display code).
Fractal are using Seasonic as their OEM of choice for this power supply, and its based on the Seasonic SGX series. This is a half bridge topology design on the primary side – with an LLC resonant converter used to restrict switching losses. On the secondary side a synchronous rectification system is utilised for the +12V rail. Minor rails are produced by some DC-DC converters. These are populated on the same PCB.
Filtering caps are supplied by Japanese Manufacturers Chemi Con, Nichicon and Rubycon. The design uses a mixture of electrolytic caps and polymer caps. The primary hold up capacitor is Nichicon 105c rated – 400V 470uF.
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 | |
|
65W
|
0.92
|
3.34
|
0.88
|
5.03
|
4.42
|
12.05 |
0.50
|
5.02
|
0.20
|
-12.03
|
|
130W
|
1.63
|
3.34
|
1.65
|
5.03
|
9.18
|
12.03
|
0.50
|
5.02
|
0.20
|
-12.02
|
|
325W
|
2.93
|
3.33
|
3.00
|
5.02
|
24.25
|
12.01 |
1.50
|
5.01
|
0.20
|
-12.02
|
| 490W |
4.04
|
3.33
|
4.10
|
5.02
|
36.90
|
11.98
|
2.00
|
5.01 |
0.30
|
-12.02
|
|
650W
|
5.00
|
3.33
|
5.30
|
5.02
|
49.67
|
11.95
|
2.50
|
5.01
|
0.30
|
-12.01
|
Load regulation is excellent on all rails.
| Fractal Design ION SFX GOLD 650G | Maximum Load |
| 692 watts |
We managed to get the PSU to deliver 692 watts before it would shut down, delivering just over 40 watts more than the 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 | |
| 590W | 1.0 | 3.33 | 1.0 | 5.03 | 48.0 | 11.95 | 0.2 | -12.03 | 0.50 | 5.01 |
| 145W | 12.0 | 3.26 | 15.0 | 5.01 | 2.0 | 12.04 | 0.2 | -12.01 | 0.50 | 5.00 |
The unit passed our cross load test, without much deviance.
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 |
| 152W | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
| 270W | 10 | 10 | 15 | 10 |
| 400W | 15 | 20 | 15 | 10 |
| 523W | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 |
| 650W | 25 | 25 | 25 | 20 |
Ripple suppression is very good, hitting 25mV on both +3.3V and +5V rails at full load. The +12V rail hit 25mV at full load – all well within industry rated specifications.
|
Efficiency (%)
|
|
|
152W
|
89.1
|
|
270W
|
90.6
|
|
400W
|
91.9
|
|
523W
|
90.7 |
|
650W
|
89.5
|
Efficiency peaked at just under 92% , falling to 89.5% at full load. Good results for an 80 Plus Gold unit.
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 SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa) 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)
|
|
|
152W
|
<28.0
|
|
270W
|
<28.0
|
|
400W
|
31.7
|
|
523W
|
34.8
|
| 650W | 36.6 |
Noise levels are low around around 400W-450W of load is demanding and the fan spins up to compensate for rising temperatures. At higher loads the fan is clearly audible.
|
Temperature (c)
|
||
|
Intake
|
Exhaust
|
|
|
152W
|
36
|
41
|
|
270W
|
39
|
45
|
|
400W
|
42
|
50
|
|
523W
|
44
|
55
|
|
650W
|
47
|
63
|
At full load we measured temperatures around 63c.
|
Maximum load
|
Efficiency
|
|
692 watts
|
88.9
|
At 692 watts, the efficiency level measures 88.9%. Not a practical situation to be running 24/7, but worth noting.
The Fractal design ION SFX Gold 650W is a high quality supply for the enthusiast in the market for a small form factor PSU. As we stated earlier in the review, it is based on the market leading Seasonic FOCUS SGX platform.
Fractal ensure ATX compatibility by including an SFX to ATX adapter, although the shorter length cables may prove restrictive in certain larger ATX chassis. The 120mm fan isn't too intrusive either at up to 400 watts load, which means it will suit a variety of system builds, including those potentially being adopted in a bedroom.
Technically, the unit is solid and delivers quality power across the spectrum. Load regulation rates highly and the supply doesn't exhibit any concerning issues.
Ripple suppression while not class leading, rates well within industry parameters and the 650W model we reviewed today dealt with difficult cross loads without any problem.
On a build quality level, the unit is well finished, and the pure modular design means it will cater for system builders dealing with restrictive routing space inside a smaller chassis. We do love the Fractal ‘UltraFlex' cable design – these cables can be bent and routed into some very tight spaces, which would otherwise prove difficult.
I checked with Fractal on the pricing of the units, and they claim that the ION SFX 500G will hit the UK market at £84.99. The ION SFX 650G we reviewed today will cost £104.99. The Seasonic SGX 650W this is based on is priced at £119.99 on Scan right now (HERE). Thats £15 less, with an improved cable design and the same 10 year warranty – the Fractal Design ION SFX 650G seems like a very good deal to me.
Pros:
- Quality construction.
- UltraFlex are the best cables on the market.
- high technical performance.
- reasonably quiet under normal load conditions.
- passive fan mode at lower load.
- 10 year warranty.
- very competitive pricing.
- efficient design.
- Japanese capacitors throughout.
- ATX mounting adapter included.
Cons:
- Cables may be a tad short for bigger ATX chassis.
Kitguru says: The Fractal Design ION SFX Gold 650G is probably the finest SFX power supply on the market right now. Its £15 less than the Seasonic SGX 650 it is based on and the UltraFlex cable design make it a pleasure to build with.
