Introduction

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

Lately more and more OEMs are in a constant race against time to release the best, high wattage, 80 Plus Platinum unit. Some major players, like Enermax and SuperFlower, have already included high wattage Platinum units in their arsenal. Recent reviews were also unable to verify platinum efficiency in many real life scenarios. Achieving platinum efficiency in low capacity units may be a difficult task but doing so in a high capacity unit is much more difficult because as power climbs, energy dissipation increases too and even the smaller resistance in a conductor can lead to significant energy/efficiency losses when lots of current passes through. So Seasonic, even with their huge experience, had to study the Platinum efficiency subject extensively, something that led to their late entry in this club. Of course when you already have a very successful product like the X Series, then future plans are even harder, since you have to release something significantly improved.

Seasonic’s fresh Platinum series includes two units, with 860W and 1000W capacity. Both are fully modular, use only Japanese 105°C capacitors, have a single +12V rail and utilize a hybrid fan control which offers silent operation (more on this feature in the next pages). Today we will have the chance to test the 1000W unit (or SS-1000XP) and see how it scores against the competition.

Specifications

Besides the Platinum efficiency, this unit is equipped with a full set of protections since even the rare OTP (Over Temperature Protection) is included. The cooling fan features double ball bearings for extended lifetime so along with the Japanese capacitors and the seven year warranty you will have an absolute peace of mind. Its length is not small at 190mm but most mid-full towers will accommodate it without any problems. The weight is relatively low since we weighted it without any modular cables attached. On top of that in a platinum efficiency unit the heatsinks are not large since heat dissipation is kept low. Finally, the price Seasonic asks for the SS-1000XP looks a little bit high since the direct competitor, KINGWIN LZP-1000, costs $30 less.


There is one, powerful, +12V rail which can deliver the full power of the PSU. The minor rails are kept to only 125W max combined power but a modern system will not ask for more. On the contrary, since we are talking about a 1kW PSU here, we would like to see at least one Ampere more at 5VSB.

Cables & Connectors, Power Distribution

The available connectors are enough for the unit's capacity and their lengths are adequate so you won't meet any problems even in very large tower cases. Also the distance among the connectors is the right one, according to ATX spec.
As you can see in the table above there are six PCIe connectors which in pairs start from a common connector but immediately split into two separate cables. There are also two EPS connectors which can be used at the same time with the six PCIe ones. The EPS and PCIe connectors use thicker, 16AWG, wires while all other connectors, including the 24pin ATX, use 18AWG gauges. We would highly prefer the 24pin ATX to use 16AWG gauges too for smaller impedance, something that would lead to lower voltage drops on the minor rails, especially at high loads.

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

Packaging

The packaging makes heavy use of the platinum color in order to emphasize on the unit's efficiency rating. Overall we found the whole concept very stylish and we think it also exudes an air of luxury. On the face of the box the series description along with an angled photo of the unit catch the observer's eye. Also in the top right corner resides the Platinum badge while in the opposite corner we find Seasonic's logo. As usual, on the rear of the box there are enough details about the PSU's highlights along with an interesting shot of the internals. Finally, you will find more info about the unit's technical and power specifications on one of the packaging's sides.