Seasonic Platinum Series Fanless 520 W

crmaris · Nov 8, 2012, 10:56 PM

To read this review go to: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Seasonic/SS-520FL/

LAN_deRf_HA · Nov 14, 2012, 12:13 PM

It's not digital right? Seems to match the regulation and efficiency numbers of the 760i/860i.

crmaris · Nov 14, 2012, 12:27 PM

nope this is old school, but still manages to register this level of performance.

Frick · Nov 14, 2012, 12:39 PM

Pretty nice price too!

Ikaruga · Nov 14, 2012, 01:37 PM

Amazing PSU, but I'm really curious how this thing ages tho.

Chaitanya · Nov 14, 2012, 03:31 PM

In cons you mentioned only 2 pci-e connectors. Most of the PSU in this power ratings(500-550W) have only 2 pci-e connectors. Also most people who plan to use this psu wont be using multi-CPU/GPU setup rather a PC with single mid-range graphics card and 2-3 hdds. So personally IMO that is not a con.

crmaris · Nov 14, 2012, 07:00 PM

the competition (Super Flower Golden Silent 500W and its rebranded versions) provide 4*PCIe

lZKoce · Nov 14, 2012, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaitanya

In cons you mentioned only 2 pci-e connectors. Most of the PSU in this power ratings(500-550W) have only 2 pci-e connectors. Also most people who plan to use this psu wont be using multi-CPU/GPU setup rather a PC with single mid-range graphics card and 2-3 hdds. So personally IMO that is not a con.

+1 to that. Highly improbable that someone going for a 500W will plug in 4 GPUs or something. I understand the comparison with the competition, but I don't find a con too. Man I want this one.

I have a CM Silent Pro 500W, and it really is almost inaudible, but fanless..............I'd take that any day.

Melvis · Nov 14, 2012, 08:11 PM

Im not sure if im a fan of that lol

blibba · Nov 14, 2012, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lZKoce

+1 to that. Highly improbable that someone going for a 500W will plug in 4 GPUs or something. I understand the comparison with the competition, but I don't find a con too. Man I want this one.

I have a CM Silent Pro 500W, and it really is almost inaudible, but fanless..............I'd take that any day.

A lot of cards use two connectors on their own.

Still, I think the market for passive PSUs for even dual-GPU rigs must be pretty small. It's difficult to make an SLI/CF setup silent. There were passive 6850s, but the 6850 only needs one connector.

scaminatrix · Nov 14, 2012, 11:45 PM

Way to raise the bar! Titanium efficiency PSU's

Nice review crmaris. I wonder what the extra 5 deg. C on the OTP would let you do?

crmaris · Nov 15, 2012, 06:39 AM

nothing special. It is just that some extra headroom would be nice. Since the PSU is fanless I expect its temperature to raise significantly in a system with not optimal airflow. And in this case a higher OTP would prevent unexpected restarts or shut downs (assuming that the PSU easily handles 45C internal temp). After all the normal ambient at the internals of a system according to ATX spec is 43C and this is why the latter recommends 50C as max operating temperature.

Rei86 · Nov 15, 2012, 08:25 PM

Oi...that price is just out of this world.

Picked up a X650 during a egg sale for around 69.99 and found that to be good value for the htpc, saw these fanless PSUs but couldn't justify the price of these things.

pokazene_maslo · Nov 16, 2012, 07:34 PM

Thanks for great review. I still wonder why there is no PSU manufacturer that makes PSUs with integrated UPS. Batteries could be stored in 5.25"drive bays. That way unnecessary power conversions could be avoided (UPS is converting 12VDC to 230VAC then power goes to power supply and power supply is converting it back to 12VDC)
Such solution could be cheaper than dedicated PSU + dedicated UPS. Simply because some unnecessary power conversions could be avoided so less electronics is needed.

And i have one suggestion, could you please add to reviews if output capacitors can be upgraded and if yes how? Many PSUs share the same PCBs and on lower models are some capacitors not present. By adding the missing capacitors you could cheaply extend hold-up time.

crmaris · Nov 16, 2012, 07:38 PM

adding caps in the APFC firstly will void your warranty and secondly can cause issues since different caps have also different ESR which will affect the whole design. The manufacturer has tuned the circuit accordingly and the balance can go off rail if you mess with different caps. The same applies to the secondary, too.

Coroner666 · Nov 17, 2012, 09:53 AM

Still Kingwin Absolute Platinum 550 W is both more efficient and cheaper

vc9966 · Nov 20, 2012, 03:34 PM

Only 12V and 5Vsb regulation at 2nd place (lose to AX 860i) all other performance surpass all test units (3.3V/5V regulation, low load/average efficiency, inrush current, acustics noise....)

I really want one!!

I feel 2 PCIe is good enough for a 520w unit!!

Liquid Cool · Dec 10, 2012, 11:11 AM

Definitely consider the 2 pci-e connectors to be a plus for this size unit. I've owned...or should I say tried to own several of these fanless units from Seasonic. I ended up returning them because of a high pitch hum/whine. About the 3rd unit I tried, I could only hear the high pitch whine from about a foot...but it bothered me that the unit wasn't silent.

I ended up just going with the 650w units. I've used quite a few of the 650's. The San Ace fans are very quiet when running and the units are virtually dead silent when the fan isn't running.

Best,

LC

Nov 8, 2012, 10:56 PM	#1
crmaris Reviewer Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Greece Posts: 313 (0.39/day) Thanks: 23 Thanked 303 Times in 118 Posts	Seasonic Platinum Series Fanless 520 W To read this review go to: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Seasonic/SS-520FL/ Last edited by crmaris; Feb 23, 2013 at 08:09 AM.

System Name:	Obelisc
Processor:	i7 2600k @ 4.5 GHz
Motherboard:	Asus P8Z77-V
Cooling:	H110
Memory:	16GB(4x8) @ 2133 MHz 9-11-10-28 2T
Video Card:	Galaxy GTX 660 Ti GC 3GB SLI
Hard Disk:	M4 256GB, 2x 3TB Seagate XT
Optical Drive:	Samsung 12x Bluray
CRT/LCD Model:	Crossover 27Q
Case:	Corsair 550D
Sound Card:	X-Fi Titanium HD with HD598
PSU:	Kingwin LZP-550
Software:	Win7 64bit SP1

Nov 14, 2012, 12:39 PM	#4
Frick Fishfaced Nincompoop Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 7,882 (2.98/day) Thanks: 1,076 Thanked 1,445 Times in 1,151 Posts System Specs	Pretty nice price too! __________________ Typemachine: Acer Aspire One D250 \| Atom N280 1.6 Ghz \| 1GB DDR2 \| 160GB SATA \| 10.1' 1024 x 600 \| Lubuntu 12.10 Oldbox: HP D530 \| Pentium 4 2.8 Ghz \| 1GB DDR \| 40GB \| Windows XP "The 'gentle biker' look is overdone. I'm going for 'psycho hillbilly.' "

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Optical Drive:	Yes
CRT/LCD Model:	19" 1280 x 1024
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Sound Card:	On board
PSU:	Wattchamacallit
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System Name:	PlanetCracker
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Nov 14, 2012, 12:13 PM	#2
LAN_deRf_HA Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 4,024 (2.15/day) Thanks: 290 Thanked 831 Times in 588 Posts System Specs	It's not digital right? Seems to match the regulation and efficiency numbers of the 760i/860i.

Nov 14, 2012, 12:27 PM	#3
crmaris Reviewer Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Greece Posts: 313 (0.39/day) Thanks: 23 Thanked 303 Times in 118 Posts	nope this is old school, but still manages to register this level of performance.

Nov 14, 2012, 01:37 PM	#5
Ikaruga Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 641 (0.78/day) Thanks: 387 Thanked 127 Times in 89 Posts	Amazing PSU, but I'm really curious how this thing ages tho.

Nov 14, 2012, 03:31 PM	#6
Chaitanya Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pune Posts: 287 (0.36/day) Thanks: 16 Thanked 29 Times in 20 Posts	In cons you mentioned only 2 pci-e connectors. Most of the PSU in this power ratings(500-550W) have only 2 pci-e connectors. Also most people who plan to use this psu wont be using multi-CPU/GPU setup rather a PC with single mid-range graphics card and 2-3 hdds. So personally IMO that is not a con.

Nov 14, 2012, 07:00 PM	#7
crmaris Reviewer Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Greece Posts: 313 (0.39/day) Thanks: 23 Thanked 303 Times in 118 Posts	the competition (Super Flower Golden Silent 500W and its rebranded versions) provide 4*PCIe

Nov 14, 2012, 08:11 PM	#9
Melvis Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,929 (1.55/day) Thanks: 602 Thanked 459 Times in 381 Posts System Specs	Im not sure if im a fan of that lol

System Name:	Night Rider \| Mini PC \| Transcoder
Processor:	AMD FX 8350 \| AMD Phenom II 955 \| Phenom II X6 1055T
Motherboard:	GA-990FXA-UD3 AM3+ \| GA-MA78LMT-S2 \| Gigabyte 880GM-UD2H AM3
Cooling:	All three systems have the AMD 4 Copper Pipe Heat Sink
Memory:	4x2GB DDR3 G.Skill 1600 6-8-6-24\| 2x4GB Ripgaws 1333 \| DDR3 Corsair 1600 Dominator
Video Card:	2 X HIS 7870's \| Gainward GTX 650 TI \| Onboard ATI 4250
Hard Disk:	300GB VRaptor /160 Raptor X/1TB WD Black \| Raptor/WD Black \| WD 320/WD BK 1TB
Optical Drive:	Pioneer x2 \| Sony DVD \| Sony DVD Burner
CRT/LCD Model:	Dell 2007FPS 20.5" LCD 16001200 \| Dell 20" LCD 16801050 \| 15" Dell LCD
Case:	Atrix 9001-C4 \| Mini ATX Case (custom) \| Coolermaster Elite 342
Sound Card:	Onboard \| Onbaord \| Onboard
PSU:	Corsair HX-850 \| Silverstone Mini 450W \| Corsair CX-400
Software:	Windows 7 Pro 64 \| Windows 7 Pro 64 \| Windows 7 Pro 64
Benchmarks:	3DMark 06 with SLi rig = 7964 8600GT's...

System Name:	The one under the desk / The one next to the table / The one in the corner
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Video Card:	GTX 460 (@800MHZ) with T'right HR-03 / HD2600XT IceQ Turbo 512MB / 8500GT
Hard Disk:	Kingston V200 128GB, WD6400AAKS, 2Maxtor Diamondmax 21 250GB / 4WD 80GB / Seagate 160GB
Optical Drive:	Sometimes.
CRT/LCD Model:	Samsung 2343BW / Acer P193W / Generic 17"
Case:	C'M' Silencio 550 / C'M' 330 Elite / Sometimes
Sound Card:	No.
PSU:	Thermaltake Toughpower XT 675W / Antec 430W / Dell 210W
Software:	Windows 7 Ult x64
Benchmarks:	Nah.

Nov 14, 2012, 11:45 PM	#11
scaminatrix Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: By the Channel Tunnel, Kent, England Posts: 2,432 (2.06/day) Thanks: 1,834 Thanked 802 Times in 672 Posts System Specs	Way to raise the bar! Titanium efficiency PSU's Nice review crmaris. I wonder what the extra 5 deg. C on the OTP would let you do? __________________ MKMods Tribute Rig - the Power of the Community HeatWare Did I make the 2,000,000th post? If an 8 Core can hit 6Ghz with an H100 i'll post pictures of my hot fiance - Pestilence Every day I come to this site, I am reminded why I come to this site every day!!! - Iggster

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PSU:	Corsair HX650W
Software:	Win7 Pro x64
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Nov 15, 2012, 06:39 AM	#12
crmaris Reviewer Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Greece Posts: 313 (0.39/day) Thanks: 23 Thanked 303 Times in 118 Posts	nothing special. It is just that some extra headroom would be nice. Since the PSU is fanless I expect its temperature to raise significantly in a system with not optimal airflow. And in this case a higher OTP would prevent unexpected restarts or shut downs (assuming that the PSU easily handles 45C internal temp). After all the normal ambient at the internals of a system according to ATX spec is 43C and this is why the latter recommends 50C as max operating temperature.

Nov 15, 2012, 08:25 PM	#13
Rei86 Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 158 (0.56/day) Thanks: 8 Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts System Specs	Oi...that price is just out of this world. Picked up a X650 during a egg sale for around 69.99 and found that to be good value for the htpc, saw these fanless PSUs but couldn't justify the price of these things.

System Name:	Main Rig \| HTPC
Processor:	intel i7-3770k \| AMD A8-5600k
Motherboard:	Asus Maximus V Formula \| ASRock FM2A75M-ITX
Cooling:	Corsair H100 \| Antec Kuhler H20 620
Memory:	Mushkin Blackline 16GB (8GBx2) \| GSkill Sniper 16GB (8GBx2)
Video Card:	EVGA GTX Titan SC Sig SLI \| AMD Radeon HD 7560D
Hard Disk:	intel 330 180GB + OCZ Vertex 4 256GB + 3TB Seagate \| OCZ Agility 4 128GB
Optical Drive:	Lite-On BR Burner + Asus DVD burner \|
CRT/LCD Model:	Crossover 27Q
Case:	Cooler Master Cosmos II \| BitFenix Prodigy
PSU:	Corsair AX1200i \| Seasonic X650

Nov 16, 2012, 07:34 PM	#14
pokazene_maslo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Slovakia Posts: 41 (0.02/day) Thanks: 3 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts System Specs	Thanks for great review. I still wonder why there is no PSU manufacturer that makes PSUs with integrated UPS. Batteries could be stored in 5.25"drive bays. That way unnecessary power conversions could be avoided (UPS is converting 12VDC to 230VAC then power goes to power supply and power supply is converting it back to 12VDC) Such solution could be cheaper than dedicated PSU + dedicated UPS. Simply because some unnecessary power conversions could be avoided so less electronics is needed. And i have one suggestion, could you please add to reviews if output capacitors can be upgraded and if yes how? Many PSUs share the same PCBs and on lower models are some capacitors not present. By adding the missing capacitors you could cheaply extend hold-up time.

Processor:	C2D E6300 1.86GHz@3.26 GHz
Motherboard:	Abit IP35 PRO with custom bios
Cooling:	Zalman Reserator 1, XSPC RX120, Koolance QDCs, Koolance MVR-40, EK Supreme HF, EK vga supreme HF
Memory:	A-Data DDR2 2x2GB 800+ vitesta
Video Card:	MSI Radeon HD6950 2GB biosmod to HD6970, undervolted (880MHz@1.080v)
Hard Disk:	Intel SSD 330 180GB, Samsung HD103UJ 1TB, Seagate ST31500341AS 1,5TB
Optical Drive:	Blu-Ray burner LG BH10LS38
CRT/LCD Model:	HP LP3065 30"
Case:	Silverstone Fortress FT02B
Sound Card:	ATI HDMI audio device -> Yamaha RX-V1600
PSU:	Corsair AX760 80plus platinum
Software:	Windows 7 prof. x64 eng retail.

Nov 16, 2012, 07:38 PM	#15
crmaris Reviewer Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Greece Posts: 313 (0.39/day) Thanks: 23 Thanked 303 Times in 118 Posts	adding caps in the APFC firstly will void your warranty and secondly can cause issues since different caps have also different ESR which will affect the whole design. The manufacturer has tuned the circuit accordingly and the balance can go off rail if you mess with different caps. The same applies to the secondary, too.

Nov 17, 2012, 09:53 AM	#16
Coroner666 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7 (0.01/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Still Kingwin Absolute Platinum 550 W is both more efficient and cheaper

Nov 20, 2012, 03:34 PM	#17
vc9966 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Taiwan Posts: 1 (0.01/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	#1 in performance Only 12V and 5Vsb regulation at 2nd place (lose to AX 860i) all other performance surpass all test units (3.3V/5V regulation, low load/average efficiency, inrush current, acustics noise....) I really want one!! I feel 2 PCIe is good enough for a 520w unit!!

Dec 10, 2012, 11:11 AM	#18
Liquid Cool Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 251 (0.31/day) Thanks: 87 Thanked 88 Times in 75 Posts System Specs	Definitely consider the 2 pci-e connectors to be a plus for this size unit. I've owned...or should I say tried to own several of these fanless units from Seasonic. I ended up returning them because of a high pitch hum/whine. About the 3rd unit I tried, I could only hear the high pitch whine from about a foot...but it bothered me that the unit wasn't silent. I ended up just going with the 650w units. I've used quite a few of the 650's. The San Ace fans are very quiet when running and the units are virtually dead silent when the fan isn't running. Best, LC

System Name:	My Idle is better than your Pi
Processor:	Core i3 - 2120
Motherboard:	Intel DH67CF
Cooling:	Xigmatek Praeton/100x12mm Scythe
Memory:	Mushkin RedLine 2x4GB - 996981
Video Card:	Sapphire HD 6570 LP
Hard Disk:	Samsung 830
Optical Drive:	none
CRT/LCD Model:	Dell P2412H
Case:	Wesena ITX5
Sound Card:	onboard
PSU:	PicoPSU 150XT/144w Adapter
Software:	Windows 7

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