Introduction

We would like to thank Fractal Design for supplying the review sample.

Fractal Design named their high-end PSU line after English physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton, the most influential scientist of the 17th-century. We already reviewed the strongest member of this series with 1000 W capacity and were left quite satisfied by its performance. Today, we will evaluate the middle member of the line with 800 W capacity. Like the other two Newton units, it is 80 Plus Platinum certified. Fractal Design also espouses their Newton series of PSUs to be the ultimate choice for demanding high-end gaming computers and ultra-quiet media PCs, and their appearance is clear proof of Fractal Design’s commitment to infusing innovative components with contemporary Scandinavian design—their products are of general, nice designs, and the white model of the Newton line, the Newton R3 1000W White, actually looks awesome.

The key features of the R3 800 W, which we will test today, include its 80 Plus Platinum efficiency we already mentioned, single +12V rail, semi-modular cabling design, the Japanese bulk capacitors its APFC converter utilizes, and the semi-passive operation for zero noise output at lower loads. The same PSU also delivers its fully rated wattage continuously at up to 50 °C intake temperature, and Fractal Design says its life expectancy to reach 100,000 hours because of its platform and ball-bearing fan. Combine the above with Fractal's five year warranty, and you can easily tell that this product will put your mind to rest for a long time if you decide to buy it. Most high-end PSUs may be expensive as hell, but are, on the other hand, supported by hefty warranties, so most are money well spent considering your PSU is one of the very few PC components in no need of frequent upgrades, and that for years on end.

Specifications

Efficiency is platinum and the unit can deliver its full power continuously at even up to 50°C while operating. It also exploits a semi-modular cabling design, and its modern platform makes it Haswell ready. Its protection features only include the very basic ones as OTP (Over Temperature Protection) is unfortunately missing; and OTP is, in our opinion, especially important in a semi-passive unit.

A double-bearing fan handles the PSU's cooling and doesn't spin up at lower loads—we then expect the R3 800 W to feature an overall silent operation. Despite its relatively high capacity, its dimensions are normal, at 16.5 cm length, and the same applies to the PSU's weight. The provided warranty is also long enough at five years, though some of the competition offers seven or ten, while its price is higher than we expected, putting the R3 800 W into the though high-end competition zone. Things would look much better for this PSU at 30-40 bucks less, so Fractal Design should look into its price to boost sales of this product.

The single +12V rail can provide up to 66 A of current, so it will support most high-end gaming systems, while the minor rails only have 100 W combined maximum capacity, which will, however, suffice for modern systems. We would like to see a slightly stronger 5VSB rail, though, with 0.5-1 A more current output, but Fractal Design didn't do us the favor.

Cables & Connectors, Power Distribution

The number of cables is adequate for the unit's capacity, since two EPS and six PCIe connectors are available at the same time, but we don't like its many native cables. Fractal Design could reduce the native PCIe cables to one instead of the two currently attached to the unit, or, even better, make all of them modular. All cables are, thankfully, long enough and the three SATA cables with different lengths, each, actually ensure every need is covered. Fractal Design, an experienced case maker, naturally thought out of the box here, and the competition should follow their example. Distances among connectors will also suffice in most cases. Finally, many wires of the ATX 24-pin connector are 16AWG for lower voltage drops. The native PCIe cables also use 16AWG gauges, while every other cable, modular and or not, uses standard 18AWG wires.

Since this PSU features a single +12V rail, we do not have anything to comment on about its power distribution.

Packaging

The package is large, and its front is covered in two photos of the unit showcasing top and bottom, along with both its sides. The 80 Plus Platinum badge is huge, while the ErP Lot 6 2013 and the 5-year warranty icons are smaller, but still easy noticeable. The model's description is given in white, medium-sized font, and right above it is Fractal Design's logo, which looks nice. The box also has a carrying handle to help you move it around easily.


On this side is a features description list in three different languages.


A description of the most crucial features in German, Chinese, and, most likely, Japanese.


The back of the box elaborates on the features of this unit and provides a graphical list of its available connectors, and a graph here also depicts this PSU's semi-passive operation. There is also a table with its power specifications and an efficiency graph.