Introduction

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



This year was definitely a very busy one for Seasonic since they revamped all of their high-end lines with new models. They essentially modified their already very good high-end platform in order to ensure even even better performance. It is admittedly very hard to improve on such good design, but their engineers apparently all work around the clock to somehow find ways to do so. We have said so in previous reviews, but are going to mention it again: Seasonic's platforms push the analog circuit to its limit for performance that is almost on par with that of digitally controlled PSUs. However, we would like to see them introduce a digital platform soon since delaying the introduction of digital units any further would give the competition a huge head-start, and truth be told, the fewer player there are for digital PSUs, the less likely it is for their prices to drop to more affordable levels.

We reviewed the SS-1250XM2 unit a while ago, and it left an excellent impression on us with its top-notch performance. Today, we will take a good look at the smaller model with 1050 W maximum power output, which is more than enough for a pretty demanding system. Like all high-end Seasonic units, the SS-1050XM2 is fully modular and comes equipped with a 120 mm fan of high-quality. We would prefer a larger fan for a quieter operation, but Seasonic has thus far insisted on using smaller fans than the competition. This unit is also 80 Plus Gold certified and offers a hybrid operation during which the fan doesn't spin at light loads. The hybrid fan option can be deactivated, which would cause the fan to spin throughout the PSU's entire load range, with its speed depending on the temperature inside.

Specifications

As has already been mentioned, the unit is 80 Plus Gold certified, and Seasonic says it to be equipped with all available protections, including the crucial Over Temperature Protection (OTP) feature. It is also fully modular and Haswell ready, and an albeit noisy but qualitatively high double ball-bearing fan handles its cooling. Thankfully, there is its optional semi-passive mode; however, our test results show it to only last for a very short period of time at normal operating temperatures. The unit is rather long, while its price looks very good given its features and the whopping seven-year warranty.

This unit uses a single +12V rail with the ability to deliver nearly the unit's full power alone. The minor rails are pretty strong for a contemporary system, and the 5VSB rail can deliver a little more than the minimum for today's PSUs.

Cables & Connectors, Power Distribution

As a high-end PSU, it offers eight PCIe and two EPS connectors of which all are available at the same time. The number of SATA connectors is also high, and there are enough peripheral connectors to meet the needs of most users. Cable length is good overall, and the distance between its SATA and PCIe connectors is spot on and sufficient for its peripheral connectors. To cover every possible scenario, Seasonic also made a point of including two short SATA and peripheral cables, each, for those of us with smaller cases. All connectors also mainly consist of 18AWG gauges, which is as the ATX spec recommends.

Since this PSU features a single +12V rail, we do not have anything to comment on when it comes time to talk about power distribution. We asked Seasonic whether the unit actually uses two +12V rails, and they informed us that it only has one since it makes use of the Over Power Protection function instead (set rather high at approximately 150% of its max-rated-power).

Packaging

The box is identical to that of the SS-1250XM2, with the only difference the capacity description in the top-right, which might pass by almost unnoticed because it is so small. The 80 Plus Gold badge resides in the bottom-right corner and Seasonic's logo can be found in the top-left. The dark colors make for a somewhat gloomy look overall.


The technical and power specification tables reside on this side.


You can take a glimpse at the fully modular panel here.


Several certification badges reside on this side, along with a QR code. There is also a link to this PSU's Polish manual. Our sample was probably for the Polish market.


On the back, Seasonic shares some useful information on the unit's features and its operation. There is also an image of the PSU's internals, which most companies don't bother with or simply avoid. A small graph here also depicts the fan's speed in normal and hybrid mode.

Contents

The cardboard that is hiding under the sleeve is very sturdy and will adequately protect its contents. Internally, the PSU is surrounded by packing foam, and as Seasonic tends to do with their high-end products, it has also been put into a velvet bag to keep dust and scratches away.


The bundle is rich and includes Velcro straps, some zip ties, a set of screws for mounting, an AC power cord (EU type in our case), a case badge with Seasonic's logo on it, and a large pouch for all unused modular cables.