We have already been familiar with two
generations of Seasonic X Series power supply units; these products are 80 PLUS
Gold certified. But the manufacturers do not stop there, and today we are going
to mention about the most powerful products in this this series as well as two
power supply suits that are recharged with a slightly lower capacity.
We first noticed the return of Seasonic's
Gold-certified X series in 2010. A year later we tested their second
generation, the products stood out with a hardware platform that was
substantially modified. And currently, we have Seasonic’s new X series PSUs
with two platforms that we have never tested before. There are two product
samples in the same wattage range as in the previous range (they are called KM3
instead of KM) and one sample with higher-wattage XM range which goes from 1,000
watts or more.
The KM3 capacity range is expressed in the
review with the wattage levels of 650 and 850 watts while the XM subseries is
presented with the bases of two low-end product models that goes with a wattage
rating of 1,050 watts.
Testing methodology
The following article provides a detailed
description of the methodology we tested, equipment and a brief explanation of
what the technical specifications and tests that power supplies want to
definitely indicate: the gift of X -bit Labs: testing methodology of power
supply suits. If you feel overwhelmed with the numbers and the comments that
abound in this review, please refer to the methodology.
You are likely to search our Cases / PSU to
test our reviews of all other PSU models we have tested in our labs.
We are going to mark the practical power
consumption of three system configurations (discussed in the article PC Power
Consumption: How Many Watts Do We Need?) in the cross-load diagrams. This will
help you see whether the tested PSUs can meet the requirements of a practical
PC.
Testing participants
Seasonic
SS-650KM3 (X-650) and Seasonic SS-850KM3 (X-850)
We were a little confused when we first saw
these products. We thought that we already had such PSU resources checked...
Information
on the box
However, the names of the product models
differed from what we had tested and the image of the internal design was
unlike any product models that we had seen before.
The
product-packaging box
Even so, the overall design of the
packaging box has not changed since the product designs of the previous series.
The packing was previously separated for
each model, but is now unified for the entire series. The wattage and technical
specifications of the specific models are shown on stickers.
Supplied
accessories
Also, the accessories have not changed. We
are able to find a user manual, a set of private use and re-use, mounting
screws, a power cord, and a Seasonic sticker for your PC case.
The PSU is put into a velvety pouch as its
traditional style.
The
cable-containing bag
The modular cables are contained in a
two-compartment bag made of synthetic fabrics.
The exterior design
But there are few external differences we
are able to recognize in comparison with the previous models.
The
product image
One of the most notable points is the
cooling system switch you are able to find next to the modular connectors. We
have already seen it in Seasonic’s Platinum-certified PSUs.
We are also able to see that the modular
connectors occupy more space and the manufacturer had to get rid of all the air
vents from the panel.
The
image of the front product
There is no difference compared with the
predecessors in this review.
Circuit design
The SS-650KM3 (X-650) and SS-850KM3
(X-850), illustrated by the photos above and below, respectively, are almost
identical in their interior design, except for some differences in the
components ranking.
Circuit
design
It is easy to find that the lower-wattage
model has blue Hitachi AIC capacitors at the input whereas its higher-wattage
cousin has brown United Chemi-Con capacitors.
The overall circuit design has been
unchangeable: active PFC and DC-DC converters found on the card with modular
connectors. These PSU models are the same as their predecessors in the smaller
details.
However, the layouts of the components are
completely different. Even the card attached to the DC-DC converters and the
modular connectors is unlike what we have seen in the previous samples of this
product series, just because the connector configuration is different.
The
interior design
There is now a large aluminum heat sink
instead of small separate models on the field-effect transistors of the
synchronous rectifier. The design and location of the sub-cards have also
changed. The input capacitors located near the corner of the case and a long
heatsink is replaced by three smaller ones.
These PSUs use an SRC/LLC+SR controller
Champion Micro CM6901.
The
SRC/LLC+SR controller
The standby source’s operation is based on
an Infineon ICE2QR4765 chip.
United
Chemi-Con’s electrolytic capacitor
There are the electrolytic capacitors from
United Chemi-Con at the output port. This branding is quite an illustrious
reputation.
PSU
seen from above
Overall, the new latest features of
Seasonic's X series PSUs are compared with the products we've ever seen on the
transition from their first to second generation: the layout inside is purely
an overhaul though there are no basic innovations. We'll see soon whether these
changes have affected the voltage parameters or not.
Cables and connectors
All of the X-650 models are equipped with
the following connectors:
·
Connector for a mainboard power cable
·
Six connectors for CPU or PCIe power cables
·
Five connectors for peripheral power cables
Coming with the X-650
are:
·
One mainboard power cable with a 20+4-pin
connector (61 cm)
·
One CPU power cable with a 4+4-pin connector (65
cm)
·
One CPU power cable with an 8-pin connector (65
cm)
·
Two graphics card cables with two 6+2-pin
connectors on each (56+10 cm)
·
One cable with three PATA power connectors
(50+12+12 cm)
·
One cable with two PATA power connectors (30+12
cm)
·
Two cables with four SATA power connectors on
each (40+12+12+12 cm)
·
One cable with two SATA power connectors (30+12
cm)
·
One adapter from a PATA power connector to a
floppy-drive plug (10 cm)
The X-850 has the
same cable system, adding one extra cable with two 6+2-pin connectors for
graphics cards.
The selection of cables and connectors is
quite adequate and flexible. The unique graphics card cables of the new PSU
sources are more useful than the dual cables of their predecessors. The number
of electric PATA connectors that is often used has been decreased from eight to
five, while the number of SATA electric connectors has increased from eight of
ten (but the connectors are laid with smaller distances, this may be
inconvenient in some cases).
In general, the cable system is more
balanced and quite modern compared to the previous generation PSUs.