Introduction

We would like to thank FSP for supplying the review sample.



More than two years have passed since our last FSP review, so we were eager to get our hands on the PT-1200FM when they asked us whether we could review their new PSU offering. FSP is one of the largest PSU OEMs today, and they have closely cooperated with such well-established companies as be quiet! and Silverstone. Their retail products portfolio includes six PSU lines, with their AURUM PT line their current flagship series. Up until now, the line only includes a 1.2 kW unit, but FSP will be adding two smaller AURUM PT units soon.

The PT-1200FM we will evaluate today plays ball in the high-end category, where the competition is tough and a buyer's demands are high, which makes sense given the money such users spend on these units. A quick look at this unit's specifications and it does include the most essential features for a PSU of its category, including Platinum efficiency, Japanese caps, and a fully modular cabling design. The PT-1200FM also follows FSP's unique external design, so it is an appealing product. The only feature it is missing is a semi-passive operation, a trend in highly efficient units I can't come to terms with, not over a fan running at constantly low speeds with light loads to abate increased internal temperatures. Even Japanese caps rated at 105°C are affected by constantly high temperatures over the long haul, so why not protect them at light loads where a proper fan profile will mask the PSU's operation just as well.

Specifications

Efficiency is Platinum, which, while not the 80 Plus organization's top certification anymore, still rocks since Titanium units are very rare and sorely overpriced. It would have been nice of FSP to also jump on the Titanium wagon, though, just to show the world what they are capable of. However, FSP isn't the only large OEM without a Titanium PSU yet. The unit's other characteristics are top-notch as well since they include a fully modular cabling design, high quality HDB fan, and a complete protections set. Only a semi-passive operation is missing, which doesn't bother us since we prefer the PSU's fan to rotate constantly, removing some of the heat at light loads. Yet many may crave a semi-passive operation option, which brands like Seasonic do offer. The unit's dimensions are normal for its capacity and the provided warranty is long, which is as it should be for such a premium product.

Powerful since it can deliver 100 A of current, the single +12V rail can provide the unit's full capacity alone. The minor rails are pretty strong too, while the 5VSB rail is a little weak for a 1.2 kW PSU. However, three amperes on this rail will suffice unless you need to recharge three iPads at the same time.

Cables & Connectors, Power Distribution

The number of provided connectors is sufficient, but some of you may want more PCIe connectors, and while some of the competition comes with up to ten PCIe connectors, eight are in our opinion usually more than enough. There are many SATA and peripheral connectors. Take a look at the table above and you will see that FSP equipped the unit with a SATA cable with several incredibly close connectors. All other cables with more than one have bigger gaps in-between connectors, while the main ATX and EPS cables should be longer to accommodate large full-tower cases. Such a high capacity PSU would also go into a large chassis, so its cables should definitely be longer to avoid extension cords, where a high load could melt low-quality connectors. The main ATX cable uses 16AWG gauges for lower voltage drops. All other connectors use standard 18AWG gauges.

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

Packaging

The unit comes in a large box with a nice graphics design. The front sports a large photograph of the PSU's rear, on a very dark backdrop. In the bottom-left corner are three badges for the Platinum efficiency, seven year warranty, and a five million dollars insurance policy, which probably covers any system component failures due to the PSU. In the middle of the bottom is the unit's model number and to the right of it is a list of the unit's most interesting features. We also found the PT-1200FM's maximum power output figure and a Haswell compatibility icon there.


A link to FSP's retail products page is given on this side.


There are several bits of interesting information on this side, including the unit's power specifications table, a features list, two graphs for efficiency and output noise, and a scheme of all cables. There are also a few icons with some text, each, for the unit's most important features.

Contents

Packing foam protects the unit well, and its bundle has been neatly arranged.


The PSU comes a pouch for all unused modular cables, a user's manual with a mention of two smaller members to the series, several zip ties, and a set of screws. Our bundle came with both a thick US and an EU AC cord. Thinner than those which usually come with 1.2 kW PSUs, the latter will still easily handle this unit at 230 VAC.