Seasonic | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 13 Dec 2023 11:44:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Seasonic | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 KitGuru Advent Calendar Day 7 – Win one of THREE Seasonic power supplies! (Closed) https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/competitions/matthew-wilson/kitguru-advent-calendar-day-7-win-one-of-three-seasonic-power-supplies/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/competitions/matthew-wilson/kitguru-advent-calendar-day-7-win-one-of-three-seasonic-power-supplies/#respond Thu, 07 Dec 2023 11:00:11 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=639698 For Day 7 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar we have teamed up with Seasonic to give away THREE brand new power supplies, perfect for those looking to futureproof their rigs.

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Update: This competition is now CLOSED. Our winners today are Pauline Cox (850W), Michael Martin (1000W), Alex Riley (1600W)! A new competition is now live and can be found HERE.

For Day 7 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar we have teamed up with Seasonic to give away THREE brand new power supplies, perfect for those looking to futureproof their rigs. Seasonic makes some of the best PSUs on the market, so we're giving away a top-end Prime TX-1600, a Prime PX-1000 and a Focus GX-850.  

All of the PSUs we are giving away today are fully modular, so you only need to plug in the cables you need, allowing for better cable management and airflow in your system. Here are the three PSU's we're giving away today:

Prize 1 – Seasonic Prime TX-1600 80Plus Titanium PSU
Prize 2 – Seasonic Prime PX-1000 80Plus Platinum PSU
Prize 3 – Seasonic Focus GX-850 80Plus Gold PSU

Entering this giveaway is simple, all you need to do is head over to THIS POST on our Facebook page and leave a comment. We plan to have a new discussion topic each day, today we are asking you guys to tell us – what power supply are you currently using?

This competition is open in the UK, EU and USA.

The winner will be picked randomly shortly after 11AM GMT December 8th, and a new competition will also be announced for Day 8. The chosen winner has 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, then the prize will be revoked and a new winner will be picked.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open in the UK, EU and USA starting at 11AM GMT on December 7th and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 8th. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to everyone entering today's competition – we'll be back tomorrow to announce a winner and open the door for day 8!

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Seasonic unveils new MagFlow ARGB fans with magnetic daisy chain support https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/joao-silva/seasonic-unveils-its-new-magflow-argb-fans-with-magnetic-daisy-chain-support/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/joao-silva/seasonic-unveils-its-new-magflow-argb-fans-with-magnetic-daisy-chain-support/#respond Sun, 19 Nov 2023 13:00:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=638023 The Seasonic MagFlow 120 ARGB Fan was designed to stand out. Its built-in magnetic connection hooks allow for effortless connection of fan sides pin-to-pin, eliminating the need for wires between fans. Moreover, Seasonic's new fan features aesthetic elements, such as a brushed metallic centre pendant. An X-shaped back support conceals the wires on the rear, …

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The Seasonic MagFlow 120 ARGB Fan was designed to stand out. Its built-in magnetic connection hooks allow for effortless connection of fan sides pin-to-pin, eliminating the need for wires between fans. Moreover, Seasonic's new fan features aesthetic elements, such as a brushed metallic centre pendant. An X-shaped back support conceals the wires on the rear, and the Seasonic logo on the front matches the blue colour strip on the inner side of the frame.

The MagFlow 120 ARGB Fan uses an interlocking mechanism with magnetic pin-to-pin connectors to create a fan cluster with a single power and signal line. The use of magnetic connections to connect fans significantly reduces the number of cables required, improving the overall aesthetic appeal and simplifying the assembling procedure. Additionally, daisy-chaining many fans ensures they stay together more firmly throughout and need fewer screws to fasten them.

The fluid dynamic bearing of the MagFlow fan is quiet and efficient, with low vibration and a long service expectancy. Its 9-blade design improves rotation stability, optimises airflow, boosts efficiency, and minimises noise.

The MagFlow Fan's ARGB lighting system is sure to impress, with each fan boasting 26 independent LEDs divided by two light rings. Available in Q1 2024, the MagFlow 120 ARGB 1-Fan Kit will cost $34.99/€33.90, while the MagFlow 120 ARGB 3-Fan Kit is priced at $99.99/€99.90.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Daisy-chain ARGB fans are growing in popularity. Will these ones from Seasonic make your shortlist for a 2024 build or upgrade? 

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Seasonic extends Vertex PSU warranty from 10 to 12 years https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/joao-silva/seasonic-extends-vertex-psu-warranty-from-10-to-12-years/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/joao-silva/seasonic-extends-vertex-psu-warranty-from-10-to-12-years/#respond Sun, 12 Nov 2023 10:00:50 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=637143 Seasonic has always set a high standard for power supply warranties, often offering ten years of coverage for customers. Seasonic is pushing the bar again this week, extending the warranty of all Vertex series power supplies to 12 years.  The Vertex line of power supplies is Seasonic's first ATX 3.0 model to hit the market, …

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Seasonic has always set a high standard for power supply warranties, often offering ten years of coverage for customers. Seasonic is pushing the bar again this week, extending the warranty of all Vertex series power supplies to 12 years. 

The Vertex line of power supplies is Seasonic's first ATX 3.0 model to hit the market, featuring total modularity, compatibility for PCIe 5.0 devices, and a 12VHPWR connection. With the extended guarantee, Seasonic is backing up its promises of long product life, maintaining its position as a reliable brand.

Seasonic's decision to extend the guarantee shows the company's dedication to quality and its confidence in the durability of its components, providing users with enhanced peace of mind and long-term value.

The new Vertex PSU series includes 750W, 850W, 1000W, and 1200W models with either 80+ Gold or Platinum certification.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you own a Seasonic Vertex PSU? How has your experience been with it?

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Seasonic Focus GX-1000 ATX 3.0 Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/seasonic-focus-gx-1000-atx-3-0-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/seasonic-focus-gx-1000-atx-3-0-review/#respond Fri, 22 Sep 2023 09:57:29 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=631411 A new high quality Gold rated power supply at a competitive price point. Is this the go to PSU in 2023?

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Seasonic have cemented their position in the market over the last decade as one of the world's leading power supply brands. Recently they launched a range of new Focus GX units, in 750W, 850W and 1000W capacities. These new 80 Plus Gold units target the mainstream enthusiast audience, offering competitive pricing and a list of features set to tick a long list of boxes.

These new GX power supplies are all fully modular, with a small 140mm physical footprint to fit in a variety of chassis designs. Seasonic have adopted high grade Japanese capacitors throughout, along with a Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan for long life. Seasonic back these units up with a 10 year warranty, for peace of mind.

The MSRP for the three power supplies in the range is:
FOCUS GX-750 ATX 3.0: 129.90€ / 119.99£.
FOCUS GX-850 ATX 3.0: 149.90€ / 149.99£.
FOCUS GX-1000 ATX: 3.0: 199.90€ / 179.99£.

Features overview:

  • ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 Cable (12VHPWR)
  • 80 PLUS® Gold certified
  • Compact Size – 140 mm deep
  • Top-Quality 135 mm FDB Fan
  • Digital Hybrid Fan Control
  • S3FC – Fanless until 30 % load
  • Cable-free Connection Design
  • Tight Voltage Regulation
  • Gold plated connectors
  • 10 years warranty

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Seasonic rolls out affordable Focus GX ATX 3.0 power supplies https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/seasonic-rolls-out-affordable-focus-gx-atx-3-0-power-supplies/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/seasonic-rolls-out-affordable-focus-gx-atx-3-0-power-supplies/#respond Tue, 12 Sep 2023 14:00:23 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=630175 Seasonic is well known for its top-quality power supplies and the company is looking to continue that trend in the ATX 3.0 generation. We've recently seen the Prime series ATX 3.0 power supplies in action and now, Seasonic is rolling out its more affordable Focus GX series.  These power supplies tick all the right boxes …

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Seasonic is well known for its top-quality power supplies and the company is looking to continue that trend in the ATX 3.0 generation. We've recently seen the Prime series ATX 3.0 power supplies in action and now, Seasonic is rolling out its more affordable Focus GX series. 

These power supplies tick all the right boxes for PC builders, with modular cables and support for the latest standards, like PCIe 5.0. Seasonic's power supplies also include a native PCIe 5.0 12VHPWR cable for those looking to make the jump to an RTX 40 series graphics card and it'll futureproof you for other GPU upgrades.

Other notable features of the Seasonic Prime ATX 3.0 power supplies include:

  • 105°C-rated Japanese electrolytic capacitors
  • 135 mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) fan for quiet operation
  • New Seasonic Digital Hybrid Silent Fan Control for optimal cooling
  • Fanless mode up to 30% load
  • Full modularity for the best cable management options
  • Individual black cables with braided pattern
  • Added 12VHPWR cable to support the newest graphic cards
  • Complete protection features: OPP / OVP / UVP /SCP / OCP / OTP
  • 10-year warranty

Seasonic's Focus FX-750 ATX 3.0 PSU will be available for $159.99, the 850W version is $179.99 and the 1000W version is $219.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are any of you looking to build a new PC soon? Will you be looking to go with a newer ATX 3.0 power supply? 

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Seasonic Prime TX-1600 ATX 3.0 Titanium Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/seasonic-prime-tx-1600-atx-3-0-titanium-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/seasonic-prime-tx-1600-atx-3-0-titanium-review/#respond Sun, 16 Jul 2023 11:00:45 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=622899 This is one of the best (and most expensive) power supplies we have tested. We explain why

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Seasonic have just released a new range of power supplies in the PRIME TX range, in both Platinum and Titanium efficiencies. While they sent us some other Platinum units, today we test the company's flagship 1600W Titanium model which is priced at a somewhat staggering 550 euros / 480 pounds.

The Seasonic PRIME Titanium range is certainly fully populated now, with 1600w ATX 3.0, 1300w ATX 3.0, 1000w, 850w, 750w and 650w units available, alongside both 700 and 600 Fanless options.

As we would expect this supply is a fully modular design, equipped with a large fluid dynamic bearing fan, gold plated high current terminals, and a full suite of OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP and SCP protections.

This unit is priced at an eye watering 549.90 euros or £480 of our King Charles pounds. Married men need not apply.

Watch Leo's unboxing of the Platinium unit on youtube!

Feature highlights:

  • High efficiency – 80 PLUS® Titanium and Platinum certified
  • Cybenetics ETA Titanium and Lambda A (TX-1600) and A- (PX-1600)
  • ATX 3.0 and 16-Pin PCIe Gen 5 Cable (12VHPWR)
  • MTLR (Micro Tolerance Load Regulation) @ 0.5 %
  • Premium Hybrid Fan Control – Fanless until 40 % system load
  • Top-Quality 135 mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) Fan
  • Super low ripple noise (25 mV)
  • Cable-free connection design
  • High end components and design
  • Gold-plated high current terminals
  • Highly reliable aluminum electrolytic solid capacitors
  • Protection features: OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
  • 12 years warranty (industry leading).

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Seasonic rolls out new Prime series ATX 3.0 power supplies https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/seasonic-rolls-out-new-prime-series-atx-3-0-power-supplies/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/seasonic-rolls-out-new-prime-series-atx-3-0-power-supplies/#respond Mon, 19 Jun 2023 14:00:17 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=620072 Seasonic is well known for its top-quality power supplies and the company is looking to continue that trend as we enter the ATX 3.0 generation with the new Prime RX and Prime PX PSUs. These power supplies tick all the right boxes for PC builders, with modular cables and support for the latest standards, like …

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Seasonic is well known for its top-quality power supplies and the company is looking to continue that trend as we enter the ATX 3.0 generation with the new Prime RX and Prime PX PSUs.

These power supplies tick all the right boxes for PC builders, with modular cables and support for the latest standards, like PCIe 5.0. Seasonic's power supplies also include a native PCIe 5.0 12VHPWR cable for those looking to make the jump to an RTX 40 series graphics card and it'll futureproof you for other GPU upgrades.

Other notable features of the Seasonic Prime ATX 3.0 power supplies include:

  • 105°C-rated Japanese electrolytic capacitors
  • 135 mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) fan for quiet operation
  • New Seasonic Digital Hybrid Silent Fan Control for optimal cooling
  • Fanless mode up to 50% load
  • Full modularity for the best cable management options
  • Individual black cables with braided pattern
  • Added 12VHPWR cable to support the newest graphic cards
  • Complete protection features: OPP / OVP / UVP /SCP / OCP / OTP
  • 12-year warranty

Seasonic's Prime TX-1600 and 1300W units will be available in July 2023, priced at $609.99 and $519.99 respectively. The Prime PX-1600 is available starting this month, priced at $509.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are any of you looking to build a new PC soon? Will you be looking to go with a newer ATX 3.0 power supply? 

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Computex 2023: Seasonic pushes towards new markets https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/computex-2023-seasonic-pushes-towards-new-markets/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/computex-2023-seasonic-pushes-towards-new-markets/#respond Tue, 30 May 2023 13:55:38 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=617369 At Computex 2023, we had the chance to catch up with Seasonic to see what's new from the world-renowned power supply maker.  Watch via YouTube below: Timestamps: 00:00 It is all about the PSU’s baby 02:46 No new Syncro cases sadly 03:00 Magflow fans 03:58 eBlaztr Case 04:59 Eicoen The first thing we noticed at …

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At Computex 2023, we had the chance to catch up with Seasonic to see what's new from the world-renowned power supply maker. 

Watch via YouTube below:

Timestamps:

The first thing we noticed at Seasonic's booth this year was the vast array of power supplies, mainly focusing on new ATX 3.0 units hitting Gold, Platinum and Titanium efficiency levels. However, Seasonic's biggest moves are happening behind the scenes. Recently, Seasonic has partnered with Nvidia to supply PSUs for new networking and datacenter hardware, an increasing area of focus for tech companies as the AI gold rush picks up steam. Seasonic is also exploring the medical-tech field and has begun supplying PSUs for medical machinery.

In recent years, Seasonic has made a push into the case market, but there are no new Syncro series cases to be found this year. However, we do see new Mag Flow fans, which would look very nice in any build. These fans can connect via magnets, making them easy to daisy chain and set up in a case. Some cheaper Seasonic case fans are also on the way for those who would rather save some money and skip over features like RGB lighting and magnets.

We see a guest appearance from a startup company known as eBlaztr at the Seasonic booth this year. Their new case ships with a Seasonic SFX power supply. Seasonic has also teamed up with a new company called Eicoen, which uses smart-home plug monitors that can track your electricity usage. Eicoen then takes that information and gives you the breakdown of your electricity usage. Given the rise in energy prices we've seen over the last year, eco-initiatives like this are bound to get more attention.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: We've got plenty more coverage to come so stay tuned for more videos and news directly from Computex 2023. 

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Seasonic Vertex GX-1200 PSU Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/seasonic-vertex-gx-1200-psu-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/seasonic-vertex-gx-1200-psu-review/#respond Wed, 08 Mar 2023 11:00:51 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=595685 A new quality design from Seasonic, but did you expect anything else?

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Today we check out one of the latest power supplies from Seasonic, the Vertex GX. The Vertex units fall just below the PRIME flagship range and the 1200W GX unit we are looking at today is rated at 80 Plus Gold efficiency. Seasonic are also making a Vertex PX range available in Q2 which will offer Platinum efficiency. While nothing is set in stone, Seasonic chatted with me recently to say the Focus V3 range, which is also ATX 3.0/PCIe5 compatible, will hopefully be available around May. Additionally, the new PRIME PCIe 5.0 range is said to be releasing soon. It certainly looks to be a busy year for Seasonic.

The Vertex GX and PX range were first announced in 2022, and its taken quite a bit of time since then for the samples to arrive. It hasn't helped that I haven't been very well lately, so our reviews have bene somewhat delayed after getting the first samples some time ago. There is still currently limited stock of these new power supplies in the United Kingdom, and they appear to be selling out quickly. Overclockers UK currently has this 1200W unit listed for £289.99 inc VAT (HERE) which was in stock at the time of writing, but is now only listed for pre-order.

This new Vertex GX range is offered in 750 watt, 750 Watt, 1000 watt and 1200 Watt capacities. We are looking at the flagship model today, offering support for both ATX 3.0 and PCIe Gen5 standards. This is a fully modular design to aid with a clean easy to route system and Seasonic are offering a 10 year warranty for peace of mind. As always, Seasonic are keen to highlight the use of high grade Japanese capacitors, but I will get a closer look at this later in our review today.

SEASONIC VERTEX GX AT A GLANCE

  • Added 12VHPWR cable to comply with the new graphic cards
  • 135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) fan for quiet operation
  • Seasonic Hybrid Silent Fan Control for optimal cooling
  • Complete protection features: OPP / OVP / UVP / SCP / OCP / OTP
  • 10 years warranty – our commitment to high quality
  • Gold Plated High Current Terminal (MB, CPU and PCIe)

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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KitGuru Advent Calendar 2022 Day 14 – Win a Seasonic Power Supply! (closed) https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/competitions/matthew-wilson/kitguru-advent-calendar-2022-day-14-win-a-seasonic-power-supply/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/competitions/matthew-wilson/kitguru-advent-calendar-2022-day-14-win-a-seasonic-power-supply/#respond Wed, 14 Dec 2022 11:02:10 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=586390 For day 14 on the KitGuru Advent Calendar, we have teamed up with the renowned PSU makers at Seasonic to give away THREE prizes! Three winners will get a Seasonic PSU today, with each one being fully modular and highly efficient. 

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Update: This competition is now CLOSED. Our winners today are Pasi Honkaniemi (850) Steve Faulkner (1000W) Richard Carruthers (1300W)! If you missed out this time then keep an eye out as we have a new giveaway each day up to Christmas. Today's competition can be found HERE

For day 14 on the KitGuru Advent Calendar, we have teamed up with the renowned PSU makers at Seasonic to give away THREE prizes! Three winners will get a Seasonic PSU today, with each one being fully modular and highly efficient. 

All of the PSUs we are giving away today are fully modular, so you only need to plug in the cables you need, allowing for better cable management and airflow in your system. Here are the three PSU's we're giving away today:

Prize 1 – Seasonic Prime TX-1300 80Plus Titanium PSU
Prize 2 – Seasonic Prime PX-1000 80Plus Platinum PSU
Prize 3 – Seasonic Prime GX-850 80Plus Gold PSU

Entering this giveaway is simple, all you need to do is head over to THIS POST on our Facebook page and leave a comment. We plan to have a new discussion topic each day, today we are asking you guys to tell us – what power supply are you currently using? This competition is open in the UK, EU and the USA.

The winners will be picked at random shortly after 11AM GMT December 15th, and a new competition will also be announced for Day 15. The chosen winner has 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, then the prize will be revoked and a new winner will be picked.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open in the UK, EU and USA starting at 11AM GMT on December 14th and ending at 10:59AM GMT on December 15th. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual and some prizes may not ship until January. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to everyone entering today’s competition! We’ll be back to announce the winner tomorrow morning and open the door for Advent Calendar Day 15! 

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Seasonic is giving free 12VHPWR cables to Prime and Focus PSU customers https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/seasonic-is-giving-free-12vhpwr-cables-to-prime-and-focus-psu-customers/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/seasonic-is-giving-free-12vhpwr-cables-to-prime-and-focus-psu-customers/#respond Tue, 04 Oct 2022 10:00:07 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=577042 Recently, Seasonic introduced its new ATX 3.0, PCIe 5.0-ready Vertex series power supplies, offering 12VHPWR out of the box to instantly prepare you for the next generation of graphics cards. You aren't out of luck if you have an older power supply unit though, as you can also get a 12VHPWR cable for older Prime …

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Recently, Seasonic introduced its new ATX 3.0, PCIe 5.0-ready Vertex series power supplies, offering 12VHPWR out of the box to instantly prepare you for the next generation of graphics cards. You aren't out of luck if you have an older power supply unit though, as you can also get a 12VHPWR cable for older Prime and Focus series power supplies.

The Seasonic 12VHPWR connector cable set freely claimable to owners of compatible power supplies, like the Prime 1300 and Prime 1000, as well the Focus 1000W power supplies.

These cables will give you an all-in-one cable solution for hooking up next-gen GPUs, like the RTX 4090 or RTX 4080, to older ATX 2.0 power supplies. The GPUs themselves come with adapters for older power supplies, but a full cable solution is always preferable.

For maximum efficiency, this 12VHPWR connector cable set is made with 16 AWG wires and high-current terminal connectors. Starting on October 12, 2022, customers who own a Seasonic Prime 1300, Prime 1000 or Focus 1000 PSU will be able to claim the cable set for free, but quantities are limited, so you'll want to get a claim in before supplies run out.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you using a Seasonic power supply in your rig? Are you planning on upgrading to a new RTX 40 series GPU? 

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Seasonic introduces new CEO Eric Lan https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/sea-sonic-introduces-new-ceo-eric-lan/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/sea-sonic-introduces-new-ceo-eric-lan/#respond Mon, 03 Oct 2022 14:30:35 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=576934 Sea Sonic is entering a new phase, as long-time CEO, Vincent Chang, is stepping down. He'll remain Chairman of the Board, but the CEO spot will now be filled by Eric Lan, who has previously held executive positions in Taiwan semiconductor and electronics companies.  According to the announcement, Lan brings “strong corporate and industrial management …

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Sea Sonic is entering a new phase, as long-time CEO, Vincent Chang, is stepping down. He'll remain Chairman of the Board, but the CEO spot will now be filled by Eric Lan, who has previously held executive positions in Taiwan semiconductor and electronics companies. 

According to the announcement, Lan brings “strong corporate and industrial management capabilities”, as well as extensive marketing experience, as well as experience in PSU research and development.

Previously Lan worked as the CEO of Leader Electronics, and acted as Vice President of Fairchild Semiconductor, also based in Taiwan.

This news follows on from Sea Sonic's ATX 3.0 power supply launch. The new Vertex series of modular PSUs offer everything you need to get started with next-gen GPUs like the RTX 4090 and RTX 4080, which use 12VHPWR instead of standard PCIe power connectors.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to Sea Sonic as it enters this next phase. We should see more PSUs from the company in the year ahead, as the industry begins to shift over to ATX 3.0. 

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Seasonic launches new ATX 3.0 power supplies just in time for new-gen graphics cards https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/seasonic-launches-new-atx-3-0-power-supplies-just-in-time-for-new-gen-graphics-cards/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/seasonic-launches-new-atx-3-0-power-supplies-just-in-time-for-new-gen-graphics-cards/#respond Mon, 26 Sep 2022 11:00:41 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=575819 The RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 graphics cards are launching soon, supporting the new ATX 3.0 power standard. As a result, these new GPUs require new power cables. Adapters will be available for users with older PSUs, but for those looking to make the jump to the new standard, Seasonic will have you covered with …

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The RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 graphics cards are launching soon, supporting the new ATX 3.0 power standard. As a result, these new GPUs require new power cables. Adapters will be available for users with older PSUs, but for those looking to make the jump to the new standard, Seasonic will have you covered with a new range of ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 compliant power supplies. 

The new Seasonic Vertex series of power supplies are built for ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 standards. The new power supplies ship with the 12VHPWR cable, which you can hook straight up to an RTX 4090 or RTX 4080 graphics card, as well as future GPUs that support the new standard.

Seasonic's Vertex power supplies, come in 1200W, 1000W, 850W and 750W models, in both 80+ Platinum and Gold efficiency options. All units are fully modular, so you only need to plug in the cables you need. They are cooled by a 135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan with Hybrid Silent Fan control to keep noise to a minimum, and they include a full suite of protection features, including OPP, OVP, UVP, SCP, OCP and OTP.

You can see the full list of Vertex power supplies below:

80+ Platinum:

  • VERTEX PX-1200: $259.99 / €309.00
  • VERTEX PX-1000: $219.99 / €259.00
  • VERTEX PX-850: $189.99 / €229.00
  • VERTEX PX-750: $169.99 / €199.00

80+ Gold:

  • VERTEX GX-1200: $229.99 / €269.00
  • VERTEX GX-1000: $199.99 / €239.00
  • VERTEX GX-850: $169.99 / €199.00
  • VERTEX GX-750: $149.99 / €179.00

Seasonic Vertex power supplies will be available starting in mid-December 2022.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on building a new rig with an RTX 40 GPU? Will you be spending extra to get an ATX 3.0 PSU? 

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Seasonic Prime TX-1600 Titanium Power Supply Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/seasonic-tx-1600-titanium-power-supply-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/seasonic-tx-1600-titanium-power-supply-review/#respond Thu, 01 Sep 2022 08:00:52 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=571720 One of the best power supplies we have tested from the market leader

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Today we take a look at a new power supply from Seasonic – a flagship Titanium unit firmly targeting the high end enthusiast sector. This fully modular 1600W PSU is priced at £479.99/€469.90/$419.99 and are the first Seasonic power supplies to ship with cables equipped with new 16-pin 600W Gen5 12VHPWR connectors. They are compliant with the ATX 2.53 standard and for a limited time Seasonic are also including a free GaN charger for EU and USA customers.

We were initially surprised to see that these newly released power supplies aren't fully ATX 3.0 compliant. Seasonic said that while they are working on an upcoming range of ATX 3.0 compliant power supplies, these are interim units.

On the next page of this review when we show images of the cables in the box – we will post verbatim the statement that Seasonic sent us about ATX 3.0 compliance.

MSRPs for the new units are as follows:

  • PRIME TX-1600: £479.99 / €469.90  / $419.99.
  • PRIME TX-1300: £409.99 / €389.90  / $349.99.
  • PRIME PX-1600: £429.95 / €379.90  / $339.99.

Seasonic Prime TX-1600 / TX-1300 / PX-1600 Overview:

  • High efficiency – 80 PLUS® Titanium and Platinum certified
  • MTLR (Micro Tolerance Load Regulation) @ 0.5 %
  • Premium Hybrid Fan Control – Fanless until 40 % system load
  • Top-Quality 135 mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) Fan
  • Super low ripple noise (25 mV)
  • Cable-free connection design
  • High end components and design
  • Gold-plated high current terminals
  • Highly reliable aluminum electrolytic solid capacitors
  • Protection features: OPP, OVP, UVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
  • 12 years warranty- industry-leading

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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AMD Radeon RX 7000 GPUs spotted on Seasonic Wattage Calculator https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/joao-silva/amd-radeon-rx-7000-gpus-spotted-on-seasonic-wattage-calculator/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/joao-silva/amd-radeon-rx-7000-gpus-spotted-on-seasonic-wattage-calculator/#respond Wed, 08 Jun 2022 09:59:15 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=563452 Seasonic's website features a helpful wattage calculator to check how much power you'll need for a given system. This type of tool usually lists available components, but users recently spotted a few unreleased GPUs listed on the calculator, including three RX 7000 series cards.  As first spotted by SkyJuice (via VideoCardz), the Seasonic wattage calculator has …

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Seasonic's website features a helpful wattage calculator to check how much power you'll need for a given system. This type of tool usually lists available components, but users recently spotted a few unreleased GPUs listed on the calculator, including three RX 7000 series cards. 

As first spotted by SkyJuice (via VideoCardz), the Seasonic wattage calculator has been updated with listings for the RX 7900 XT, RX 7800 XT and RX 7700 XT. However, it is worth noting that the source of the information is unclear – these listings could just be placeholders in anticipation for AMD's next-gen graphics launch, rather than listings based on early or privileged information.

Currently, the wattage calculator recommends a 650W PSU for the RX 7700 XT and a 750W+ PSU for the RX 7800 XT and the RX 7900 XT. If you are using a higher-TDP CPU with the RX 7900 XT, like a high-end Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 processor, then you'll want to bump up to an 850W PSU.

Strangely enough, the recommendations are very close to the current-gen RX 6000 GPUs, which could be another sign that these listings are indeed placeholders.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: AMD should confirm and launch the first RX 7000 series GPUs later this year. Not only that, but a new generation of Ryzen processors is also on the way. 

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Seasonic launches ARCH chassis with integrated power and cable management https://www.kitguru.net/components/matthew-wilson/seasonic-launches-arch-chassis-with-integrated-power-and-cable-management/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/matthew-wilson/seasonic-launches-arch-chassis-with-integrated-power-and-cable-management/#respond Mon, 09 May 2022 10:33:37 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=559813 Seasonic has made waves in the DIY PC building scene in recent years with its SYNCRO Q70 case and CONNECT power module, making cable management easier than ever. Now, Seasonic is launching the ARCH Series cases, combining both to create an excellent chassis for those looking for convenience, easy assembly and clean aesthetics...

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Seasonic has made waves in the DIY PC building scene in recent years with its SYNCRO Q70 case and CONNECT power module, making cable management easier than ever. Now, Seasonic is launching the ARCH Series cases, combining both to create an excellent chassis for those looking for convenience, easy assembly and clean aesthetics.

The Seasonic ARCH Q503 with the integrated CONNECT power supply is a mid-tower ATX chassis that features a sturdy steel body and tempered glass panels on both sides. The greatly simplifies system building and cable routing thanks to the mounted power module, allowing components to be connected directly to the cable management hub with shorter cable runs, thus reducing clutter.

The high-quality power supply is 80 PLUS Gold efficiency rated with the well-known, top-level Seasonic functions and features, and quiet operation. The fan control button at the back of the power supply allows users to customize their cooling needs by selecting between two modes: S2FC (fan control without Fanless Mode) and S3FC (fan control including Fanless Mode).

As far as cooling goes, there are three fans pre-installed in the front and back of the case, with room for up to eight 120mm fans total in the case, as well as liquid cooling radiators. For storage, you'll find three 3.5″ HDD and 2.5″ SSD bays.

The Seasonic Arch Q503 with CONNECT is available in two models, one with a 650W PSU ($239.99) and one with a 750W PSU ($259.99).

KitGuru Says: Are any of you planning a new PC build this year? Will you be considering a Seasonic Arch case? 

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Seasonic SGX-750 SFX Modular PSU Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/zardon/seasonic-sgx-750-sfx-modular-psu-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/zardon/seasonic-sgx-750-sfx-modular-psu-review/#respond Wed, 23 Feb 2022 12:00:45 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=550488 Today we take a look at a power supply from Seasonic's Focus range, new for 2022

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During the height of the Covid pandemic getting hands on a quality power supply proved problematic, but in recent weeks we have seen stock levels improving in the UK. With this in mind, Seasonic sent us a newly released power supplier – the SGX-750. This is a fully modular 80 Plus Gold unit targeting a wide audience of enthusiast user.

Seasonic told us there are a range of power supplies launching at the end of February 2022- The SPX 650, SPX 750 and SPX 750 in White, along with the SGX 550, SGX 650 and SGX 750 which we review today. Seasonic confirmed that the SGX 750 we are reviewing today will be priced around £145 inc. VAT in the United Kingdom.

Seasonic SGX Overview:

  • 80 PLUS® Gold efficiency
  • Available power output: 750, 650 and 550 W
  • FOCUS SGX- Fully modular
  • Compact SFX Size @ 100 mm deep
  • Ideal fit for smaller chassis
  • Smart and Silent Fan Control (S3FC)
  • Protection features: OPP, OVP, UVP, SCP, OCP, OTP
  • 10-year warranty

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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KitGuru Advent Calendar 2021 Day 24 – Win a Seasonic power supply! (closed) https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/competitions/matthew-wilson/kitguru-advent-calendar-2021-day-24-win-a-seasonic-power-supply/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/competitions/matthew-wilson/kitguru-advent-calendar-2021-day-24-win-a-seasonic-power-supply/#respond Fri, 24 Dec 2021 10:00:06 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=544770 For day 24 on the KitGuru Advent Calendar, we have teamed up with the renowned PSU makers at Seasonic to give away FOUR prizes! Three winners will get a Seasonic PSU, and a fourth and final winner will get a Seasonic Syncro Q704 and a 750W power supply. 

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Update: This competition is now CLOSED. Thanks to all who entered, our winners today are: Evan Barnes (Core GX-650), Jaskaran Bal (Focus PX-850), Kieran Williams (Prime TX-1000) and Darren Audley (Syncro Q704 + DGC-750 PSU). If you missed out this time then keep an eye out as we have a new competition each day through December. Today's giveaway can be found HERE

For day 24 on the KitGuru Advent Calendar, we have teamed up with the renowned PSU makers at Seasonic to give away FOUR prizes! Three winners will get a Seasonic PSU, and a fourth and final winner will get a Seasonic Syncro Q704 and a 750W power supply. 

All of the PSUs we are giving away today are fully modular, so you only need to plug in the cables you need, allowing for better cable management and airflow in your system. With the Syncro Q704 case and DGC-750 PSU, you can create one of the cleanest builds possible today thanks to the SYNCRO CONNECT Module, giving you a place to hook up all your cables to one cable management hub. Here's the full price list:

Entering this giveaway is simple, all you need to do is head over to THIS POST on our Facebook page and leave a comment. We plan to have a new discussion topic each day, today we are asking you guys to tell us – what power supply are you currently using? This competition is open in the UK, EU and North America.

The winner will be picked at random by 10am GMT December 25th, and a new competition will also be announced for Day 25. The chosen winner has 48 hours to respond, if we do not hear from them, then the prize will be revoked and a new winner will be picked.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open in the UK, EU and NA, starting at 10AM GMT on December 24th and ending at 9:59AM GMT on December 25th. Due to the busy Christmas season, prize deliveries could take longer than usual and some prizes may not ship until January 2022. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to everyone entering today’s competition! We’ll be back to announce the winner tomorrow morning and open the door for Advent Calendar Day 25! 

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MonsterLabo The Beast: Completely Passive System Cooling https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/monsterlabo-the-beast-completely-passive-system-cooling/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/monsterlabo-the-beast-completely-passive-system-cooling/#respond Thu, 23 Dec 2021 12:00:27 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=544552 It's a high-end PC with no moving parts!

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MonsterLabo launched their first passively cooled PC case a couple of years ago and are now back with an updated version that is bigger and better. The Beast features increased cooling capacity, a larger chassis to suit full-size ATX motherboards and high-end graphics cards, plus there's an option for assisted cooling by adding two 140mm fans… but is it any good? Let’s find out.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:15 MonsterLabo – The Beast, details and pricing
04:57 Two complete system options
06:00 what do you get for 790 euros?
10:00 powder coating concerns
11:09 It's not a normal rear I/O setup
12:05 3.5 and 2.5-inch drive install
12:58 Custom build – an overview
15:16 Passive mode and assisted airflow mode
16:08 Compare system that James built
16:33 Testing The Beast
23:17 Cinebench scores and analysis
24:44 Time Spy extreme benchmark test analysis
25:57 Time Spy extreme stress test analysis
29:54 88% result – not passed
30:37 Further analysis
31:55 System under CPU and GPU load
34:17 Temp analysis and discussion
36:12 Putting fans into the mix?
38:41 James closing thoughts

The First MonsterLabo case released in 2019 was a mini-ITX chassis featuring semi-passive cooling of the CPU and graphics. The company is now back with a new completely passive cooling solution squeezed into an ATX side case. Paired with a passive power supply such as the Seasonic Prime Titanium Fanless range, there will be no moving parts inside The Beast which means no fans… and complete silence.

MonsterLabo offers The Beast as a bare case/cooling solution for users to self build a system. There are also a couple of fully pre-built system options where MonsterLabo will source components and build the system for you. The case alone costs €790 (minus any optional extras), pre-built systems start from €2850 for the Extremely Fanless option and go up to €3600 for the Insane spec. A new top of the range Titan option is also coming soon.

This might sound like the perfect solution to the often irritating noise that comes from a PC, but can a high-end system really be fully passively cooled while offering the same performance as the equivalent spec in a traditionally cooled PC using an AIO or tower cooler and air-cooled graphics card? The Beast certainly looks like it will put up a good fight according to its specifications.   

MonsterLabo The Beast Features:

  • Equipped with two huge heatsinks weighing in at 3Kg each and featuring ten 6mm heat pipes per heatsink. Six copper thermal drains connect both heatsinks to the front and rear 6mm thick aluminium chassis panels for additional thermal spreading.
  • Total cooling power rated at 400W (150W CPU and 250W GPU) in passive configuration and almost 600W (250W CPU and 320W GPU) in active mode with two slow-moving 140mm fans assisting airflow.
  • A collaboration with EKWB provides additional cooling to graphics cards of over 220W TDP, via an EKWB VRM and VRAM heat spreader. Lower powered graphics cards use smaller MonsterLabo machined heatsinks for VRM and VRAM cooling inside The Beast.
  • The Beast is available as a standalone case/passive cooling solution as well as a complete pre-built system with two fixed spec options to choose from, with prices starting from €2850, as well as custom builds with spec chosen by the customer.
  • MonsterLabo also offers The Beast with a range of case customisations including a personalised laser etch engraving on the aluminium front panel for no additional cost and a special powder coated colour option that cost an additional €100.
  • On the floor of the chassis is a HDD caddy where the user can install up to four 3.5-inch or 2.5 inch HDD/SSD drives in a vertical orientation.
  • Front panel connectivity includes 2 x USB 2.0 Type-A ports, 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A, a single USB Type-C port and dual 3.5mm audio jacks. Power and reset buttons are also located on the front panel.
  • A special modular rear I/O panel uses extensions from the motherboard and GPU outputs. users can add or remove cables for more or less connectivity.

The Beast: A Closer Look

Inside The Beast are two giant heatsinks with ten 6mm heat pipes each, equipped with twenty large aluminium fins on the GPU side, one less on the CPU. The fins are spaced wider than you would expect from a normal CPU heatsink as this wider spacing is more suited to the airflow from the natural convection. Running through and connecting the heatsinks to the aluminium chassis panels are two large copper thermal drains that help spread the heat to the case.

Installing a system inside The Beast is very different to a conventional chassis. The motherboard is almost floating inside the case as the only mounting points are via the CPU cooler mounts, the usual standoff and screw approach isn’t used in The Beast, so the motherboard it simply hanging from the CPU cooler, but it is surprisingly firm. The downside for some will be that the motherboard components are not visible or easy to access.

The graphics card is installed at the opposite side of the chassis using a similar method. An RTX 3080 Ti was supplied in our sample and uses the EKWB VRM and VRAM heat spreader, the stock cooler is completely removed so the card is mounted directly to The Beast’s GPU heatsink through the stock mounting holes. An EKWB backplate can also be used.

Installing a system inside The Beast isn’t difficult, it's just different to a regular build. Everything must be inserted into the motherboard and all cables attached before mounting the board inside the chassis. The rear I/O port faces downwards so a cable system is used to extend the I/O to modular plates on the back of the chassis, the same system is used for the video outputs from the graphics card.

At the top of the chassis, there is a removable top cover, which is simply another 6mm aluminium plate bent into shape with a large cut out to allow air to escape. A piece of mesh is placed under the top cover to stop small pieces from falling into the system. The mesh isn’t a very good fit, it moves about and reminds me of something you might find on an outdoor grill or barbeque, it doesn't feel like premium quality. The top cover isn’t a great fit either and pressing on the mesh makes the panel pop off.

There are removable tempered glass panels on both the right and left-hand sides of the chassis, aluminium panels are also available as an option. These panels are held in place by four catches, two on each side of the panel. The solution is very fiddly and makes it difficult to line up and fit the glass panels. A hinge system with a magnetic catch or similar would be better. The catches are also very cheap quality.

Our sample came with a special colour coating in red. The powder coating finish is applied by MonsterLabo at their factory and like the top cover design, it's not of the high quality that you would expect from an almost €900 chassis (the colour coating costs an extra €100). Areas of the powder coating look ok and quite smooth and glossy, but other areas such as the front panel suffer from the ‘orange peel' effect which looks quite poor.

Areas of the chassis such where the top cover slots in place quickly start to look tired as removing the top cover chips and scuffs the powder coating, the top barbecue grill also arrived with paint flaking off. Overall, the build quality isn’t of a high standard I would expect from a chassis/cooling solution that costs as much as The Beast does, which is very disappointing.

Thermal Performance

To measure the thermal performance of The Beast we ran side by side tests of The Beast versus an equal spec system with traditional cooling via 360mm CPU all-in-one liquid cooler and stock graphics air cooling, the results of these tests can be seen in the video. We also ran an extended 60-minute thermal test on The Beast to see how it copes with thermal load for prolonged periods.

To measure the CPU thermal performance a 60-minute Cinebench R23 stress test is run on the system. A similar prolonged GPU stress test is performed by running the 3DMark Time Spy Extreme stress test for one hour. The CPU and GPU temperature is recorded by HWInfo and the average/peak temperature is plotted in the charts below.

A combined CPU and GPU stress test is also performed by running both the Cinebench R23 and Time Spy Extreme tests simultaneously to measure the CPU and GPU thermal performance with full load applied to the system for 60 minutes with the chassis in its fully passive cooling configuration.

The effect of running The Beast in active or assisted airflow mode is also tested by running the same tests again with two 140mm EK Vardar fans placed in the fan mounting locations at the top of the chassis. The fans are set to run at a constant 650RPM which means that the system is still almost silent and below the 36dBA noise floor in the test room.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average component temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO and then calculated to get the average. Peak Delta temperature is recorded too. Ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 23-25⁰C.

Test system Specification:

Thermal Performance Overview

 

Overall, thermal performance was a little disappointing. Even when taking into account that you must make a compromise between noise and thermal performance in a passively cooled system, still the thermals left me feeling underwhelmed. CPU temperature when stress-tested alone was ok, there wasn't a huge drop in the average frequency measured at just under 3.5GHz across all cores, which is approximately 300MHz down on what our comparison system measured in the video. During the combined stress test, CPU frequency dropped more but it was marginal.

GPU performance is quite heavily affected since the GPU had to be de-tuned to keep within the max 250W power limit that The Beast is rated at in passive mode. During the combined test the RTX 3080 Ti core frequency dropped as low as 1220MHz towards the end of the 60-minutes. This suggests that during prolonged gaming sessions a significant drop in frame rate could be expected.

There was a big improvement in thermals when running the case in the active configuration with assisted airflow. In some situations almost 10⁰C temperature reduction was witnessed which will no doubt help frequency and FPS stability. However, running a passive system with fans defeats the objective of zero noise, but even so, with the fans running at just over 600RPM the system is still extremely quiet.

Closing Thoughts

Taken as a whole, we can't help but feel disappointed by The Beast, we had high hopes that this would be a revolutionary chassis that puts passive cooling in the mainstream. However, with disappointing thermal performance in passive configuration and very poor build quality in certain areas, it’s a real let down. Maybe if your system isn’t of too high spec then thermal performance would be more than acceptable but in a high-end system, you are going to have to dial back performance.

That being said, CPU thermals were actually quite impressive when the CPU was stress-tested alone. The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a very high-performance desktop processor and The Beast seemed to cope with its heat output during a prolonged Cinebench R23 stability test. But when stress-tested simultaneously with the GPU, both the CPU and GPU temperature hit uncomfortable levels and frequency took a hit.

MonsterLabo sent us a pre-built system to test The Beast in passive cooling configuration, with an RTX 3080 Ti GPU. MonsterLabo doesn’t offer this configuration in either of their pre-built systems that customers can purchase which we thought was odd as the GPU had to be de-tuned so that it didn’t exceed the limits of the cooling solution. However, even in this reduced performance configuration, the GPU still throttled frequency further during our thermal stress tests.

This meant that a big compromise between thermals, noise and performance had to be made, which we saw during testing. In the 3DMark Time Spy Extreme test, The Beast failed to maintain a stable frame rate while our traditionally cooled comparison system of equal specification could achieve stable frames easily. This meant that during gaming sessions we would see the degradation in frame rate as time passes.

So thermal performance is just about adequate in a high-end system but the main issue we have with The Beast is the build quality of the chassis and the finishing touches. The special power coated colour finishes applied by MonsterLabo are sub-par for a high end, premium product that costs almost €900. Sections of the powder coating look smooth and glossy, but the front and rear panels suffer from large areas of ‘orange peel' effect which is unsightly and just simply not good enough for a premium product.

The same can be said for other things such as how the top panel fits, there are four ball catches that hold the top panel in place but one wasn’t making great contact which made the top panel very loose. Pressing the top mesh also kicked up one corner of the top panel. The top mesh almost seems like an afterthought, it is just placed between the top panel and heatsink with nothing technically holding it in position.

This means that it is free to move about which can leave it looking misaligned and just odd. The mesh just doesn’t look like it's part of a PC chassis, more like something you would find on an outdoor grill or barbecue. The paint was flaking off the mesh right from the start when The Beast arrived, which again isn’t a good sign of the quality, similar to the catches used on the side panels, these are also cheap catches you can pick up from any DIY hardware store, not what I expect from a premium product.

Adding fans to the system does boost thermal performance quite significantly. During some of our thermal tests, we saw improvements in temperature of up to 10°C which obviously helps boost frequency which in turn will improve performance. However, this defeats the object of passive cooling, running the fans at very low RPM means that the system still runs extremely quiet, but you can do this with an AIO or CPU tower cooler and get even better results.

So after using The Beast for a while, we agree that passive cooling is possible on high-end systems but you must be prepared to make a compromise on performance if you want a completely silent system. However, a traditionally cooled system with high-quality low noise fans will still easily outperform The Beast while being quiet enough for most situations. Unless you have a very specific reason for needing a completely silent system, the old ways are still the best in terms of performance and value for money.

The Beast can be purchased from MonsterLabo directly priced from €790 HERE. Pre-built fanless systems and custom configurations can also be ordered from the MonsterLabo store.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • Completely silent computing.
  • Pre-built systems configured by MonsterLabo are available.

Cons:

  • High-end systems need to be performance restricted.
  • GPU temperature is difficult to manage.
  • Build quality is poor.
  • Powder coating is uneven.
  • Low-quality parts are used in some areas.
  • The price is high.

KitGuru says: We had high hopes for The Beast from MonsterLabo, unfortunately it didn’t live up to our expectations with too much of a performance compromise needed to keep temperatures under control, while the build quality was a big let down too. What do you guys think of The Beast, would you buy one?

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Phanteks launches 850W and 1000W AMP 80Plus Gold power supplies https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/phanteks-launches-850w-and-1000w-amp-80plus-gold-power-supplies/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/phanteks-launches-850w-and-1000w-amp-80plus-gold-power-supplies/#respond Thu, 15 Jul 2021 14:01:10 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=523422 Phanteks is expanding its AMP series of power supplies with new 850W and 1000W 80Plus Gold rated units. Powered by Seasonic, the Phanteks AMP series power supplies aim to be the perfect companion for high-end systems with new-generation graphics cards.  The high efficiency and compact design of the AMP series provides up to 1000 watts …

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Phanteks is expanding its AMP series of power supplies with new 850W and 1000W 80Plus Gold rated units. Powered by Seasonic, the Phanteks AMP series power supplies aim to be the perfect companion for high-end systems with new-generation graphics cards. 

The high efficiency and compact design of the AMP series provides up to 1000 watts in 140mm housing and comes with modular, black, flat power cables to make installation easy and clean. The AMP series features a Hybrid Silent Fan, enabling optimal cooling under load and silent performance while idling.

Phanteks has also received Revolt Pro Link certification for its AMP series power supplies, so these can work directly with the Revolt Pro expandable PSU for additional power without any reliability or stability issues. As a sign of Phanteks' confidence in these power supplies, a 10-year warranty covers each unit.

The AMP 1000W and 850W 80Plus Gold modular power supplies will be available starting this month. The 850W model will cost £114.99 and the 1000W model will cost £132.99.

KitGuru Says: Are any of you planning out your next PC build? Will you be opting for a Phanteks power supply? 

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Seasonic showcases new power supplies and cases https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/seasonic-showcases-new-power-supplies-and-cases/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/seasonic-showcases-new-power-supplies-and-cases/#respond Wed, 02 Jun 2021 14:41:58 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=518139 Due to the global pandemic, Computex is staying virtual this year, with a number of companies announcing new tech through online events. Seasonic is now exception, with the company unveiling its own ‘virtual online web-show' and announcing new power supplies and even a new case.  The Seasonic PRIME series of power supplies is about to …

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Due to the global pandemic, Computex is staying virtual this year, with a number of companies announcing new tech through online events. Seasonic is now exception, with the company unveiling its own ‘virtual online web-show' and announcing new power supplies and even a new case. 

The Seasonic PRIME series of power supplies is about to expand, with Seasonic announcing the PRIME TX-1600, PRIME PX-1600 and the PRIME TX-1300. All three new power supplies are rated as 80Plus Platinum or Titanium, offering the best efficiency possible, as well as high wattage for powerful systems.

Seasonic has also announced the new Focus SPX and Focus SGX series of power supplies, focussing on those who need a smaller unit for a more compact PC build. Both units measure in at 125mm x 100mm x 63.5mm (LxWxH), and offer 80Plus Gold or Platinum efficiency. If you do end up switching to a larger ATX case, then an SFX to ATX mounting adapter and extra screws are included.

Seasonic is primarily known for its power supplies, but the company has also begun dabbling in PC cases in recent years. The Seasonic ARCH Q50 is the latest, designed to be compatible with the Seasonic CONNECT module for easy installation and wiring. You can explore a full 3D model of this case to get a closer look at it, HERE.

Finally, the Seasonic SYNCRO Q70, which we reviewed late last year, has gone on to win two major design awards – the Red Dot Design Award 2021 and the IF Design Award 2021.

The Seasonic Virtual Online web-show will be running through all of June. If you fancy taking a look for yourself, you can find it, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What do you all think of Seasonic's newly announced cases and power supplies? 

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Hydro Dipping the Seasonic SYNCRO Q704! https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/hydro-dipping-the-seasonic-syncro-q704/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/hydro-dipping-the-seasonic-syncro-q704/#respond Mon, 19 Apr 2021 11:00:55 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=511929 Seasonic's Q7 case gets dipped - we try hydro dipping at home!

The post Hydro Dipping the Seasonic SYNCRO Q704! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
If you are a regular to the KitGuru website or YouTube channel, you will have seen some of the custom builds and modding projects of ours over the past five or six months. Today, my task is to build a new system inside the Seasonic SYNCRO Q704 chassis – a unique case featuring an inverted internal layout that also comes bundled with a Seasonic power supply, as well as the CONNECT Module that functions as a cable management hub.

A process I have been interested in for a while but never found the time to try out is hydro dipping, so I’m going to take this opportunity during this build to practice this new modding technique. In the video, I walk through the process from start to finish to give you guys an idea of how to set up hydro dipping, see what is involved and understand how difficult (or easy) it is.

To begin hydro dipping, you will need to invest in some equipment, but none of it is expensive so don’t worry. Hydro dipping is quite an inexpensive hobby, the hydrographic film used in the process costs about £8 per meter but there are a few other things you will need to purchase to get going. You will also need some consumables that will have to be re-stocked regularly too.

To Hydro Dip at home you will need the following:

  • The parts you want to Hydro Dip – these can be plastic, metal, wood etc.
  • Hydrographic film.
  • Scotch Brite pads or fine sanding pads to rough up the surface of your part.
  • Spray primer.
  • Base coat spray paint.
  • Clear coat lacquer.
  • Activator for the film.
  • A tank or container for the water.
  • Water heater such as an aquarium heater.
  • Basic tools for dismantling parts if necessary.
  • Masking tape for masking off areas that you don’t want to be covered by the Hydro dip.
  • Respirator face mask.
  • Disposable nitrile gloves.

It is possible to hydro dip all kinds of solid materials such as plastic, metal, wood etc. The surface of ABS plastic can be directly hydro dipped, but metal and wood need to be painted first for optimal adhesion of the hydrographic film. Recently, during our Intel NUC 9 mod project, I covered spray painting techniques here, the same method applies for painting parts before hydro dipping.

Once you have your parts prepped and painted you are ready to start hydro dipping. To begin, cut the film to a size that will comfortably cover the part you are dipping or just a little smaller than the opening of your tank to allow for expansion fo the film. Very slowly and carefully lower the film into the water, just so that it floats on top, do not let the water go over the top of the film.

You can determine which way around the film should be placed on the water by pinching the film between two wet fingers, the film will stick to one finger, this side of the film should face the water. Leave the film in the water for about a minute to fully hydrate and then liberally spray activator over the film/tank opening until the film turns into a liquid.

Once the film is activated, very slowly lower the part down into the water at an angle of about 40⁰-45⁰ until fully submerged. Swish the part around under the water to disperse the remaining film, lift the part out and if everything has been done correctly, your part should have the image or pattern from the film transferred to its surface.

When you are happy that the dip has worked, rinse the part under cold water for about 5-10 minutes until all the slime (leftover PVA) has been removed from the surface. To protect the hydro dip print, dry the part fully and apply a clear coat lacquer. Let the lacquer dry and you are done, it really is that easy!

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Hydro dipping at home can be a success if you follow the steps in this video. Are you tempted to try it out? Make sure you come back for part two to see this build completed.

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KitGuru Advent Calendar 2020 Day 15: Win a Seasonic PSU upgrade! (closed) https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/competitions/matthew-wilson/kitguru-advent-calendar-2020-day-15-win-a-seasonic-psu-upgrade/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/competitions/matthew-wilson/kitguru-advent-calendar-2020-day-15-win-a-seasonic-psu-upgrade/#respond Tue, 15 Dec 2020 10:05:13 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=498168 For Day 15 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar 2020, we’re teaming up with SEASONIC to give away THREE prizes today. We have three excellent power supplies up for grabs - one 1000W model, one 850W model and a 650W model.

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Update (16/12/20): This competition is now CLOSED. Thanks to all who entered. Today our winners are: Joshua Minchin, Peter Batchelor and Lewis Macey. If you missed out this time, then keep an eye out as we have a new giveaway each day through Christmas. Today's giveaway can be found HERE

For Day 15 of the KitGuru Advent Calendar 2020, we’re teaming up with SEASONIC to give away THREE prizes today. We have three excellent power supplies up for grabs – one 1000W model, one 850W model and a 650W model.

The prize list begins with the Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 with 80+ Titanium efficiency. Next we have the Seasonic Focus PX-850 with 80+ Platinum efficiency and finally, we also have the Seasonic Focus GX-650 with 80+ Gold efficiency. Each power supply unit is fully modular and if you've been around KitGuru for long, you know that we think very highly of Seasonic power supplies overall.

Entering this giveaway is simple, all you need to do is head over to THIS POST on our Facebook page and leave a comment. We plan to have a new discussion topic each day, today we are asking you guys to tell us what power supply you are currently using. This competition is open worldwide.

A winner will be picked at random by 10am December 16th, and a new competition will also be announced for Day 16.

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open worldwide, starting at 10AM on December 15th and ending at 9:59AM on December 16th. Due to the busy Christmas season and the COVID-19 situation, prize deliveries could take longer than usual. In compliance with GDPR, we will not collect or store any personal information as part of this competition. Once the winner has been contacted and their prize received, personal details will be deleted from our email servers. Your details will not be shared, we respect your privacy.

KitGuru Says: Good luck to everyone entering today’s competition! We’ll be back to announce the winner tomorrow morning and open the door for Advent Calendar Day 16!

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Seasonic AURA MODDED Build (Part 2) https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/seasonic-aura-modded-build-part-2/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/seasonic-aura-modded-build-part-2/#respond Fri, 02 Oct 2020 11:15:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=488348 Let the mods begin! Today we strip down the Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO modules and mod out the heat spreaders...

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This week, in part two of the Seasonic Aura build project, we drop off the Fractal Define 7 XL side panels that we prepared in the previous episode, check out the laser cutting machine in action and then head back to our workshop to begin modding the heat spreaders on our Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO memory modules.

We kick off part two by dropping off parts of the Define 7 XL case at Specialised Laser Products in Rotherham, ready for our new panels to be designed and put into production. We expect these new panels will be manufactured within the next couple of weeks, so we will keep you guys up to date with progress, and hopefully we will capture some footage of the actual panels being made in upcoming episodes.

The laser cutting machine that will be cutting our parts is a Bystronic BySprint Fiber 4020, with a 4m x 2m bed and is capable of cutting through a huge range of metals including various grades of mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium, our panels should be easy work for such a machine. We expect high-quality parts to be produced since this is not a DIY machine that could be set up in your garage at home.

While the new case panels are being made, we find other jobs to start on back at our workshop. One of those jobs is modifying the heat spreaders of the Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO memory modules that we will be using in the build. Corsair offers these modules with a choice of heat spreader colours including black and white. While both stock options look good, we think a change of appearance will suit the Seasonic Aura theme better.

The plan is to mod the heat spreaders of the memory modules to fit in with the industrial theme of the system. This will mean either painting, polishing, hydro dipping or some other method to change the appearance from the stock black or white coating. First, we need to remove the heat spreaders which can sometimes be a troublesome job. Once the heat spreaders are removed, we can move on to modding the appearance.

We walk through the removal process in detail. The use of a heat gun is required to remove the heat spreaders, along with some careful prying using plastic pry tools. Trying to remove the heat spreaders too quickly or with too much force can lead to damage of the memory modules. After we successfully remove the Vengeance RGB Pro heat spreaders we test that they still operate as normal on our test bench.

Once the heat spreaders have been removed from the memory modules and the modules have been tested to ensure they still function correctly, we decide on the final appearance of the modules and show you guys how to achieve this finish on these heat spreaders. The processes used in this video will be similar to the removal of heat spreaders on other memory modules as they are generally bonded to the memory modules, so this guide should come in handy to any of you guys who are thinking about modding memory heat spreaders.

KitGuru says: Modding memory modules isn't for the faint-hearted, the use of heat and force needed to remove the heat spreaders from the memory can damage modules if it's carried out incorrectly. We hope this video helps you guys with modding your own memory modules in the future.

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Seasonic AURA MODDED Build (Part 1) https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/seasonic-aura-modded-build-part-1/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/seasonic-aura-modded-build-part-1/#respond Mon, 21 Sep 2020 07:59:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=486594 Today, KitGuru embarks on a new area of content by kicking off on a series of projects in which we work in partnership with manufacturers to create unique one-off PC systems and modding projects. We begin this new venture working together with Seasonic to create what we are calling the Seasonic AURA system, a fully customised and unique system with a Seasonic theme.

The post Seasonic AURA MODDED Build (Part 1) first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today, KitGuru embarks on a new area of content by kicking off on a series of projects in which we work in partnership with manufacturers to create unique one-off PC systems and modding projects. We begin this new venture working together with Seasonic to create what we are calling the Seasonic AURA system, a fully customised and unique system with a Seasonic theme.

The aim of this new section of KitGuru is to create unique systems, documenting the various modding processes along the way. We expect each project to take a month or more to complete and will present all the processes in multiple part videos published weekly. The Seasonic Aura aims to be a fully customised unique system created for Seasonic and will truly be one of a kind.

The various modding processes we will be aiming to cover over the coming weeks and months will include laser cutting, water transfer printing, electroplating, custom cables, cable sleeving, custom water cooling, painting, polishing, general cutting, chopping and many more. So, if you have always wanted to step into the world of PC modding, but never known where to start, hopefully, this new series of KitGuru videos will provide you with the knowledge and motivation to create your own unique PC builds in the future.

Seasonic Aura will be a subtly modded system in keeping with the Seasonic style, so no outlandish RGB lighting here. The system will use mostly stock parts such as a Fractal Define 7 XL case but heavily modified with Seasonic branding and logos laser-cut into various panels, new panels made from scratch, perfectly managed custom sleeved cables, customised lighting and much more.

Seasonic Aura hardware specification:

  • CPU – Intel Core i9-10850K
  • Motherboard – Gigabyte Z490 Vision D
  • Graphics card – Gigabyte RTX 2080 Super Gaming OC Waterforce
  • Memory – 32GB (2 x 16GB Modules) Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO DDR4-3200
  • 1st storage drive – 500GB WD Blue SN550 NVMe M.2 SSD
  • 2nd storage drive – 1TB WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD
  • 3rd storage drive – 1TB WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD
  • Power supply – Seasonic Prime TX-1000 100W 80+ Titanium
  • Case – Fractal Define 7 XL
  • System Fans – NZXT AER P120 120mm

As well as the unique modifications, the Seasonic Aura system will be cooled by a fully custom water-cooling solution provided by Alphacool. The overall theme of the Seasonic Aura project will be based around a black/blue appearance complemented by an industrial-looking mix of chrome and brushed metal parts. With this in mind, the custom liquid cooling loop will use brass chrome hard tubing and blue coolant.

Since the system is a Seasonic based project, custom length PSU cables will be made from scratch. The whole process of constructing the cables will be documented including crimping new terminals, re-applying the connector and sleeving the cables with black and blue PET sleeving. A bunch of other mods are planned too so make sure you stay tuned to see how this project turns out.

KitGuru says: Do you have an interest in modded PC systems? If you do then make sure you keep up to date with the progress of the KitGuru Seasonic Aura project and see how the final system turns out, this should be an interesting project to keep track of.

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Seasonic will give RTX 30 upgraders a free 12-pin GPU power cable https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/seasonic-will-give-rtx-30-upgraders-a-free-12-pin-gpu-power-cable/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/matthew-wilson/seasonic-will-give-rtx-30-upgraders-a-free-12-pin-gpu-power-cable/#respond Mon, 14 Sep 2020 17:07:45 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=485861 During Nvidia's GeForce RTX 30 series graphics card announcement, the company also unveiled a new 12-pin power connector for its higher-end GPUs. Seasonic is already prepared to support this new connection and has a plan in place to send out new 12-pin GPU cables to customers free of charge. The RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 …

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During Nvidia's GeForce RTX 30 series graphics card announcement, the company also unveiled a new 12-pin power connector for its higher-end GPUs. Seasonic is already prepared to support this new connection and has a plan in place to send out new 12-pin GPU cables to customers free of charge.

The RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 both feature a 12-pin power connector. While these graphics cards will ship with an adaptor, Seasonic wants to ensure its customers have a native 12-pin cable available to them in the form of the 12-pin Micro-Fit 3.0 connector cable set. The cable features 9 A high current, 16 AWG for high efficiency and come in at 750mm long with 2x 8-pin power connectors to fit PRIME, FOCUS and CORE power supply units.

 

Starting on the 16th of September, the Seasonic website will be updated with a page that current FOCUS, CORE or PRIME PSU owners can fill out to get their 12-pin power cable for Nvidia's new graphics cards. Customers will just need to provide a serial number and photo of their PSU, as well as proof of purchase of an Nvidia RTX 30 series graphics card.

Due to Nvidia's recommendation that RTX 3080 or RTX 3090 GPU owners use a 650W or above power supply, these cables are being reserved for those who own a 650W or higher PSU. If you don't have a PRIME, FOCUS or CORE series Seasonic PSU but instead use something a bit older, you will need to contact Seasonic support for details on compatibility with the new 12-pin cable.

These cables will be shipped to customers for free until the end of the year. After that, you may need to buy one, or just use the adaptor that ships with the RTX 30 series GPU.

KitGuru Says: It is great to see Seasonic looking out for its customers and current user-base like this. Do many of you use a Seasonic PSU? Will you be claiming one of these cables for an RTX 30 series GPU upgrade? 

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Seasonic to launch 12-pin connector for the Nvidia RTX 3000 series https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/joao-silva/seasonic-to-launch-12-pin-connector-for-the-nvidia-rtx-3000-series/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/joao-silva/seasonic-to-launch-12-pin-connector-for-the-nvidia-rtx-3000-series/#respond Mon, 24 Aug 2020 10:49:20 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=482805 We have previously covered the possibility of Nvidia introducing a new 12-pin connector with its upcoming next-gen graphics cards. Now, Seasonic has confirmed that the 12-pin connector will power the RTX 3000 series GPUs on Chinese social network Bilibili, showing the converter made by the company. The guys at HardwareLuxx have already received the Nvidia 12-pin …

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We have previously covered the possibility of Nvidia introducing a new 12-pin connector with its upcoming next-gen graphics cards. Now, Seasonic has confirmed that the 12-pin connector will power the RTX 3000 series GPUs on Chinese social network Bilibili, showing the converter made by the company.

The guys at HardwareLuxx have already received the Nvidia 12-pin PCIe Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 connector and shared some images of it. The connector is a converter of 2x PCIe 8-pin PSU connectors into a single 12-pin PCIe male connector, allowing users that already have a capable PSU on their systems to power an RTX 30xx graphics card. Seasonic claims that the connector has only been used for internal testing, despite looking like it's the final product.

It's not known if this 12-pin connector will be bundled with Seasonic PSUs or with Nvidia RTX 30xx graphics cards. Nonetheless, the cable will probably be sold individually at PC hardware stores.

 

Image Credit: HardwareLuxx

The Nvidia 12-pin PCIe Molex Micro-Fit 3.0 connector cable will be 750mm long. It's recommended to use it on an 850W or higher rated Seasonic PSU. Unfortunately, there's no information regarding how much power the 12-pin connector can deliver, but it's expected to be around the 300W mark (150W per 8-pin PCIe connector). Add the 75W delivered by the motherboard PCIe slot and it totals up to 375W of power to the graphics card.

The 12-pin connector is expected to be used on Nvidia Founders Edition graphics cards. There are no signs of its use on AiB partner graphics cards at this point in time, but that could change after Nvidia's big event on the 1st of September.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you interested in getting an Nvidia RTX 30XX graphics card? Is your PSU ready for the 12-pin connector for the Nvidia RTX 30XX series?

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Seasonic CONNECT Review – A New Kind of Power Supply! https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/seasonic-connect-review-a-new-kind-of-power-supply/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/seasonic-connect-review-a-new-kind-of-power-supply/#respond Wed, 01 Jul 2020 09:28:51 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=474516 It's a PSU like you've never seen before - introducing Seasonic CONNECT

The post Seasonic CONNECT Review – A New Kind of Power Supply! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Seasonic CONNECT is a PC power supply like nothing we have ever seen before. The main unit is a 750W Gold rated Prime power supply with a short, fixed main 12V cable that plugs into the CONNECT unit, and that's where things get interesting. CONNECT is a distribution panel that is attached to the mid-panel of your PC with the aim of tidying all those messy cables.

Key features

  • 80 Plus Gold certified
  • Micro Tolerance Load Regulation (0.5 %)
  • Cable-free Connection Design
  • Premium Hybrid Fan Control – Fanless until 40% load
  • Multi-GPU setup
  • Gold plated connectors
  • 10 years warranty

SSR-750FA Technical Specifications

  • 80PLUS Rating: Gold
  • Dimensions: 140 mm (L) x 150 mm (W) x 86 mm (H)
  • Fan Size: 135 mm
  • Fan Bearing: Fluid Dynamic Bearing
  • Life Expectancy: 50,000 hours at 40°C
  • Cable Information: Fully Modular
  • Cable type: Flat black cables
  • Warranty: 10 Years
  • Total continuous power: 750W

When you look at the specification of the CONNECT power supply it adds up to a conventional 750W Gold rated unit that is housed in two units. In time we hope that Seasonic will deliver other versions with different power ratings that perhaps stretch to Platinum or Titanium, but for now the CONNECT family has a single model called SSR-750FA.

The main power unit houses a 135mm FDB fan and outputs 12V power and 5V stand-by through the chunky fixed cable to the CONNECT unit that distributes 12V, 5V and 3.3V around your PC. This means the CONNECT unit is performing two distinct tasks as it houses the hardware that converts 12V to 5V and 3.3V, and it also acts as a connection point for the cables that power your CPU, motherboard, graphics card(s), storage drives and peripherals.

Working with a regular Seasonic Prime PSU

We built a test PC inside the popular Lian Li O11D case to try out a few scenarios, starting with a Seasonic Prime 850W Titanium power supply with standard cables. The Lian Li has tinted glass panels that conceal the innards of the build to a certain extent. With the glass removed you can clearly see inside the case and the aesthetics of the cables were reasonably OK with nothing too offensive on show. Around the back of the case the drive plate covers the cables, however when the plate was removed the PC still looked tidy enough.

Adding £40-£50 CableMod extensions to the stock Seasonic cables makes a notable difference to the look of the main compartment. Around the back of the PC we now have more cables to tuck away so it’s not a perfect situation but overall the build looks better than when we started.

Using £90-£100 CableMod replacements increases the cost significantly. Inside the main compartment we have the same appearance we saw with the extension cables, but round the back the PC now looks lovely and tidy.

Installing Seasonic CONNECT

Installing CONNECT doesn’t take much thought as the unit requires a space measuring at least 330mm by 65mm with 21mm of depth. When you consider the CONNECT is tethered by the 12V cable you are unlikely to have many options… so clear the necessary space, place the supplied magnets on your case and stick the CONNECT in place.

After that, you plug in the 24-pin cable and one or two EPS cables (as required) and then consider your options with the PCIe graphics cables. After that hook up your storage and peripherals and the job is done. The CONNECT unit transforms the looks of the back of the case but may potentially be problematic in terms of clearance.

In the main compartment you are faced with conventional flat black cables and as the whole point of CONNECT is to pretty up your PC we are confident you will want to upgrade to replacement cables ASAP.

Closing Thoughts

We know full well that Seasonic understands power supplies and there can be no argument that a Prime 750W Gold will work well as a PSU so that important aspect of Seasonic CONNECT is a given. The cable management side of things is a different matter as the finished build has to look good and, ideally, the building process should be easier than usual.

The fact we are unfamiliar with CONNECT means the build takes slightly longer than a conventional ATX PSU, but getting the big bits in place doesn’t present much difficulty. Connecting up the cables is easy enough but this also requires a small amount of thought as we have been doing this for quite some while and are somewhat set in our ways.

The cables coming from CONNECT were very close to the grommets in our O11D case so we fed them through as we brought the CONNECT into place until everything landed with a satisfying magnetic snick. It would be helpful if CONNECT was shorter in length and required less space, and if that means it supports fewer connection then so be it.

If we could change one thing on this CONNECT, it would be the locations of the connectors for the main 24-pin and the PCIe graphics on the CONNECT as we were forced to push the cables through grommets that would not have been our first choice.

The other point is the obvious one that the stock flat black cables detract from the looks. We aren’t too fussed about that with a conventional power supply but Seasonic CONNECT is all about the looks and we want both sides of the PC to look smart which includes the front as well as the back.

We don't yet have a buy link for the Seasonic CONNECT, but we have been told to expecting pricing at £161 inc VAT.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • High quality power supply at a reasonable price.
  • Installation is straightforward and the CONNECT unit looks radical and different.
  • The cables run horizontally and require less bending and wrestling into position.
  • Sufficient connectors for any enthusiast PC.

Cons:

  • You need to budget for a set of cables that will give a finished look to your PC build.
  • CONNECT requires plenty of space and will cause issues in some PC cases.
  • In most cases CONNECT will be hidden behind a solid panel (unless you get modding of course …)

KitGuru says: Seasonic CONNECT is different and hallelujah for that, however it still requires work. A set of smarter cables would go a long way towards making us happier.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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NZXT launch new C series power supplies and RGB fan controller https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/nzxt-launch-new-c-series-power-supplies-and-rgb-fan-controller/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/nzxt-launch-new-c-series-power-supplies-and-rgb-fan-controller/#respond Wed, 22 Jan 2020 10:00:46 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=448068 NZXT has kicked off its new product launches for 2020 with the announcement of a series of 80 Plus Gold rated ATX power supplies, as well as an RGB lighting and fan controller for all you RGB enthusiasts out there. NZXT has had a relatively quiet start to the year so far but today the …

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NZXT has kicked off its new product launches for 2020 with the announcement of a series of 80 Plus Gold rated ATX power supplies, as well as an RGB lighting and fan controller for all you RGB enthusiasts out there.

NZXT has had a relatively quiet start to the year so far but today the company begins its 2020 products campaign with the launch of a new series of ATX power supplies. The new range of C series power supplies from NZXT are manufactured in conjunction with Seasonic and will include the C650, C750 and C850 units, all are backed by a 10-year warranty for peace of mind.

As the model names suggest, the NZXT C series power supplies are available in 650w, 750w and 850w power ratings, all with 80 Plus Gold certification to provide system builders with various options to suit their requirements. The new C series is built from all-Japanese capacitors and includes protection against over/under voltage, over-current, temperature and short-circuits to ensure your hardware components are safe at all times.

The C series also includes a silent fan operation mode, with the push of a button a zero RPM fan mode kicks in which silences the fan under low-load conditions. NZXT’s C series power supplies are designed to fit any PC chassis of ATX form factor, the modular cable design makes system installation easy while providing a neat and tidy end product.

In addition to the new C series power supplies, NZXT has also launched a new RGB and Fan Controller powered by NZXT CAM. NZXT has created the new RGB and Fan Controller with system builders in mind and offers an affordable way to add a digital RGB lighting and fan controller into the system which is then controlled by NZXT CAM software.

The NZXT RGB and Fan Controller features two NZXT RGB Lighting channels for up to 40 addressable RGB LEDs per channel, each channel is capable of powering up to six addressable RGB strips or five Aer RGB fans. The controller also offers support for three fan channels with a maximum of 10W per channel output.

NZXT has made the C series power supplies available now in the U.S, with availability in other areas yet to be announced. Pricing of the C series power supplies starts from $109.99 for the C650, $119.999 for the C750 and the C850 is priced at £129.99. The NZXT RGB and Fan Controller is also available in the U.S, priced at $24.99, it is expected to be available worldwide in early February.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: The new power supply line from NZXT should be great quality since it is manufactured by Seasonic and coems with a 10-year warranty, which is excellent. Any of you guys interested in picking up one of these products soon?

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KitGuru Advent Calendar 2019 Day 10: Win one of three Seasonic PSUs, plus a Wooting Two keyboard! (closed) https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/competitions/dominic-moass/kitguru-advent-calendar-2019-day-10-win-one-of-three-seasonic-psus-plus-a-wooting-two-keyboard/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/competitions/dominic-moass/kitguru-advent-calendar-2019-day-10-win-one-of-three-seasonic-psus-plus-a-wooting-two-keyboard/#respond Tue, 10 Dec 2019 10:01:16 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=440769 The KitGuru Advent Calendar 2019 is back for day 10, where we give readers the chance to win prizes each day in the run up to Christmas. Today you have the chance to win one of THREE Seasonic PSUs, plus a Wooting Two analog keyboard!

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Update: This competition is now closed and we can announce the winners… Walther Goossens, Ben White and Ian Dacey!

If you missed out this time, then keep an eye out as we’ll have a new competition going live each day in the run up to Christmas. The next one is already live, where we are giving away an epic Arctic cooling bundle over HERE.

The KitGuru Advent Calendar 2019 is back for day 10, where we give readers the chance to win prizes each day in the run up to Christmas. Today you have the chance to win one of THREE Seasonic PSUs, plus a Wooting Two analog keyboard!

Here at KitGuru we have reviewed many Seasonic power supplies over the years, with the Focus PX-650 recent winning our ‘Must Have' award. For today's giveaway, there will be three winners with the following prizes:

  1. Prime TX-1000 and Wooting Two (with ‘red' switches')
  2. Focus GX-850
  3. Core GM-650

Entering this giveaway is simple, all you need to do is head over to THIS POST on our Facebook page and leave a comment. We plan to have a new discussion topic each day, today we are asking you to let us know whether your PSU is modular, semi-modular or has fixed cables. This competition is open to residents of the EU, USA and Canada.

Entries are open until 9.59am December 11th, and three winners will be announced on Wednesday 11th December.

KitGuru Says: We’ll be back tomorrow with another giveaway!

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