KitGuru KitGuru.net – Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards
Today we look at one of the latest power supplies from Seasonic. The FOCUS PX 650 is part of an internal company rebrand as they consolidate their range. This ‘OneSeasonic' revamp is a calculated move to repackage and rename their supplies with an easier to follow overview and tier separation.
The unit we review today is a compact size measuring only 150 x 86 x 140 mm (W x H x D). As we would expect from Seasonic it is fully modular, and ships with a high grade 120mm Fluid Dynamic bearing fan inside with a MTBF of 100,000 hours. This unit uses the Seasonic Hybrid Silent Fan Control system. Additionally, Seasonic claim tight voltage regulation of 3%.
Product Overview:
- 650 Watt power supply with powerful 54 A single rail
- High efficiency with 80 PLUS Platinum certification
- Quiet 120 mm fan with semi-passive mode
- Fully modular cable management with flat cables
- Four 6+2-pin PCIe connectors for graphics cards
The Seasonic box artwork is very simple, yet effective. No image of the power supply on the front, which means they can use the same box artwork throughout the range. We can see the 80 Plus Platinum certification and their 10 year warranty bottom right.
Pretty cool to see the EHA logo on the side of the box. KitGuru is a part of the EHA!
The rear of the box highlights some of the key features, along with an efficiency graph.
Inside the box there is some literature on the product, a regional specific power cable, cable ties, a bag of modular cables and the power supply itself. Seasonic also supply a PSU tester, which is very handy to have in your arsenal. This is a new cable bag design, which is slightly improved over the older one (if memory serves me right!). Seasonic have also included a new installation guide pamphlet which may be useful for the more inexperienced audience who are wondering what on earth to do next.
The modular cables are all flat ribbon style for ease of routing, apart from the main ATX cable which is sleeved.
Connections (removable):
1x 24-Pin
2x 4+4-Pin
4x 6+2-Pin PCIe
10x SATA
3x 4-Pin Molex
The Seasonic Focus PX-650 power supply is nicely finished – but what has changed with the new ‘OneSeasonic company strategy' ?
Seasonic explain the changes above, with a ‘before' and ‘after' analysis taken from an internal document they sent me. We always rated the Seasonic chassis finish highly and I can't report any failures with the new design.
The top of the power supply hides the FDB fan underneath a metal grille. The Seasonic logo is shown in the centre of the fan. We will take a closer look inside later in the review when we crack the unit open.
The other side of the unit is vented to aid with air flow. There is a power connector, switch and ‘hybrid' button here.
This Hybrid Silent Fan Control functions in three operational stages: Fanless Mode, Silent Mode, and Cooling Mode.
One side of the unit is home to the modular bay, with all the cable connectors clearly labelled for ease of use.
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.
| Seasonic Focus PX 650 | |||||
|
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 Seasonic FOCUS PX-650 Platinum delivers 54A on the +12V rail for 648W of the power output.
Seasonic are using a high grade Hong Hua fan (Model: HA1225M12F-Z). Seasonic use these family of fans in many of their power supplies currently available. This is a Fluid Dynamic bearing model offering long life and quiet operation. It is rated 0.45A 12V @ 2050RPM.
Below - a High Resolution Gallery of the internal layout of the Power supply.
Soldering quality throughout is excellent as we would expect from a high quality brand such as Seasonic.
We can see that the new Focus units are using a double layered PCB on the modular daughter-card and they have removed in line capacitors on the cables. Due to the high efficiency Seasonic don't need to overpopulate the PCB with many heatsinks.
This design is a full bridge topology on the primary side along with an LLC resonant converter. On the secondary side FET's installed on the PCB's solder side rectify the +12V rail. Minor rails are generated through a couple of DC-DC converters.
Seasonic are using high grade Japanese capacitors throughout the build with a single 105c rated Nippon Chemi Con positioned in the primary stage from their KMR series. This is rated 400v 470uF. In the secondary stage Seasonic have adopted a range of solid and standard electrolytic from Nippon Chemi Con.
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
|
5.01
|
4.42
|
12.02 |
0.50
|
5.03
|
0.20
|
-12.02
|
|
130W
|
1.63
|
3.34
|
1.65
|
5.01
|
9.18
|
12.02
|
0.50
|
5.03
|
0.20
|
-12.01
|
|
325W
|
2.93
|
3.34
|
3.00
|
5.01
|
24.25
|
12.02 |
1.50
|
5.02
|
0.20
|
-12.01
|
| 490W |
4.04
|
3.33
|
4.10
|
5.00
|
36.90
|
12.00
|
2.00
|
5.02 |
0.30
|
-12.01
|
|
650W
|
5.00
|
3.33
|
5.30
|
5.00
|
49.67
|
11.99
|
2.50
|
5.01
|
0.30
|
-12.01
|
Load regulation is fantastic on the +12V rail, as well as the minor rails.
| Seasonic FOCUS PX-650 Platinum | Maximum Load |
| 742 watts |
We managed to get the PSU to deliver 742 watts before it would shut down, delivering just over 60 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 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 270W | 5 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| 400W | 5 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| 523W | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 650W | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Ripple suppression is extremely impressive. hitting a maximum of 10mV at 100% load via the +12V rail. It passed all tests with flying colours.
|
Efficiency (%)
|
|
|
152W
|
92.5
|
|
270W
|
93.7
|
|
400W
|
94.1
|
|
523W
|
93.6 |
|
650W
|
91.4
|
Efficiency peaked at just over 94% which is seriously impressive. At full load this efficiency drops to just over 91%. Another great result for the power supply.
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
|
31.5
|
|
523W
|
34.2
|
| 650W | 36.3 |
Noise levels are low until higher loads are placed on the unit when the fan has to spin up to compensate for rising temperatures inside the chassis.
|
Temperature (c)
|
||
|
Intake
|
Exhaust
|
|
|
152W
|
36
|
41
|
|
270W
|
39
|
44
|
|
400W
|
42
|
48
|
|
523W
|
44
|
52
|
|
650W
|
47
|
61
|
At full load we measured temperatures around 61c.
|
Maximum load
|
Efficiency
|
|
742 watts
|
90.5
|
At 742 watts, the efficiency level measures 90.5%. Not a practical situation to be running 24/7, but worth noting.
The latest FOCUS PX-650 Platinum continues the trend of class leading power supplies from Seasonic. You can usually be assured by buying Seasonic that you are getting a product that will deliver high quality power for a long time. Their 10 year warranty seems to verify confidence in their products.
It is important to point out that Seasonic have yet to make compromises in regards to capacitor selection, incorporating high grade Japanese 105C rated capacitors from leading brands such as Nippon Chemi Con and Nichicon – the latter of which is regarded for making high grade audio capacitors.
These new revised units under the internal ‘OneSeasonic' branding maintain the high standards we expect from Seasonic, but in reality this buzzword means little to the end consumer. Seasonic have removed some of the inline capacitors from the cables, changed some cable quantities under end user feedback and have implemented a new double layer PCB.
The other changes are more cosmetic by nature – no one really will notice that the new warranty sticker for instance is round and not square or that they have created new rating labels for the chassis. On a slightly more relevant note for our audience, Seasonic have improved the cable bags and have included printed documentation which should aid inexperienced users during the system build.
Technically, this unit is one of the best you can buy. Efficiency is top drawer – peaking at over 94% around 55% load. DC output load regulation is stellar, falling within 1% and this unit passed our cross load test with flying colours.
Ripple suppression is class leading, peaking at 10mV across the +12V and minor rails – some of the best results we have seen this year.
Other key features tick the boxes. It is fully modular meaning that system builders aren't dealing with any additional cables to route during the clean up phase of the build. The design is colour neutral ensuring that it will fit into any themed system without an issue. Build quality is stellar, and its a fine looking power supply from all angles.
Seasonic back this unit up with a 10 year warranty, so while this unit (like many Platinum rated supplies) is expensive at around £130 in the UK, it will likely last you at least two future system upgrades before you would need to think about changing it. I consider a high grade power supply a future investment as a low quality power supply will cause a multitude of stability issues as well as potentially causing damage to your processor, motherboard and graphics card.
You can buy the Seasonic FOCUS PX-850 Platinum Supply from Overclockers UK for £127.99 HERE
Pros:
- Compact Size.
- High efficiency.
- 10 year warranty.
- technically rock solid.
- modular cables.
- quiet under load.
- class leading ripple suppression.
Cons:
- Platinum is expensive.
Kitguru says: Seasonic do it again. The FOCUS PX-650 Platinum is one of the highest quality power supplies on the market.
Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here
