Strong and Reasonably priced ATX 3.0

With the ATX 3.0 period now properly underway, we have been looking on the first era of ATX 3.0 energy provides to hit the market. Introducing the 16-pin 12VHPWR connector, which might provide as much as 600 Watts of energy to PCIe playing cards, ATX 3.0 marks the beginning of what is going to be a sluggish shift out there. As high-end video playing cards proceed to develop in energy consumption, energy provide producers are working to meet up with these developments with a brand new era of PSUs – not solely updating energy provides to satisfy the height vitality calls for of the newest playing cards, but in addition to higher deal with the big swings in energy consumption that these playing cards incur.

For our second ATX 3.0 energy provide, we’re a unit from FSP Group, the Hydro G Professional ATX 3.0. In contrast to a few of the different ATX 3.0 PSUs we have checked out (and will probably be ), FSP has taken a barely completely different method with their first ATX 3.0 unit: moderately than modifying its greatest platform or releasing a brand new top-tier platform, FSP went with an improve of its hottest platform, the unique Hydro G Professional. As such, the brand new Hydro G Professional ATX 3.0 1000W PSU does not have particularly spectacular specs on paper, however it boasts good all-around efficiency for an inexpensive price ticket ($199 MSRP). That makes FSP’s platform notable at a time when most ATX 3.0 include an early adopter tax, with FSP clearly aiming to entice mainstream customers who might not presently want an ATX 3.0 PSU however wish to personal one in case of future upgrades.

As a real Authentic Machine Producer (ODM) that designs, develops, and sells their very own PSUs, this type of iterative technique is one we have seen from FSP earlier than, and one which has historically served them properly. For instance, virtually 9 years glided by between our assessment of the Aurum PT series and the newer Hydro PTM series. As in that case case in addition to now with the Hydro Professional G, FSP likes to develop confirmed designs that they will supply to customers and downstream OEMs alike for a few years to come back. All of which implies that when FSP does replace or overhauls a platform, it is for an excellent motive – and usually warrants being attentive to.

Packaging and Bundle

We obtained the FSP Hydro G Professional ATX 3.0 1000W PSU in a hanging cardboard field, with an extra cardboard ribbon round it. The field may be very sturdy and, on the within, further packaging foam slabs and a nylon bag shield the unit from delivery injury. A wealth of details about the unit and its new PCIe 5.0 12WHPWR connector might be discovered on each aspect of the field, which goes to be very useful for brick-and-mortar clients specifically in order that they will keep away from complicated this PSU with the unique (non-ATX 3.0) Hydro G Professional.

Contained in the field we discovered a bare-bones equipment bundle, a notable selection contemplating that that is for a flagship-level PSU. The corporate provides solely a easy AC energy cable, 4 mounting screws, and a primary handbook. There are additionally two units of aspect stickers, one inexperienced, and one pink. The blue set is already glued to the unit. These stickers are everlasting and can’t be eliminated with out damaging them.

The FSP Hydro G Professional 1000W PSU is a completely modular design, permitting for the elimination of each DC energy cable, together with the 24-pin ATX connector. Practically all the cables are black, ribbon-like, with black connectors. The one exception lies with the PCIe 5.0 12WHPWR cable, which is also all-black, however it’s a traditional sleeved cable as a substitute.

FSP’s entrepreneurs have printed on the field that the 12WHPWR cable is rated for as much as “9.2 A per contact, with all 12 energy contacts”. Sadly, that finally ends up being deceptive selection of phrases, because it implies that every one 12 contacts can ship present to the cardboard. Every of the ability contacts of the 16-pin connector is certainly able to dealing with 9.2 A, however there are solely six voltage and 6 floor contacts. Which implies that the cable has a most steady present supply capability of 6 × 9.2 A, which totally conforms with Intel’s design necessities.

The FSP Hydro G Professional ATX 3.0 1000W PSU

Exterior Look

The FSP Hydro G Professional ATX 3.0 1000W is moderately compact for a 1 kW unit, with a chassis that’s simply 150 mm deep. It’s technically not totally compliant with the ATX normal dimensions, which restrict the depth of an ATX PSU to 140 mm, however 150 mm shouldn’t pose any issues in any trendy ATX case. FSP sprayed the chassis with textured paint, which is aesthetically interesting and virtually proof against fingerprints. The fan finger guard is a separate however customized half, with the corporate emblem adorning its heart.

The sticker with the unit’s electrical certifications and specs covers about half the highest aspect of the PSU. Ornamental blue-themed stickers are pre-applied on the perimeters of the unit, which might be changed with the pink or inexperienced stickers that FSP contains within the package deal. The draw back right here is that the stickers will probably be destroyed as soon as eliminated, making any selection technically everlasting.

A typical on/off change might be seen on the rear aspect of the unit, beside the ability connector. One other small change proper subsequent to it controls the “ECO Mode” of the cooling fan. When activated, the cooling fan will shut off whereas the load is underneath 300 Watts. The entrance aspect of the unit is dwelling to the quite a few connectors for the modular cables. A really refined legend is printed underneath every group of connectors, sprayed instantly onto the chassis.

Inner Design

FSP as soon as once more entrusted the cooling of their PSU to Protechnic Electrical, a model we often discover caring for the cooling wants of their PSUs. The MGA12012XF-O25 is a 120 mm fan with a fluid-dynamic bearing (FDB) engine and an especially excessive most rotational pace of 2700 RPM.

As we talked about above, there aren’t any hidden ODMs to find right here – FSP is each the designer and the producer of the Hydro G Professional 1000 Watt PSU. A swift take a look at it reveals that it’s primarily based on these days widespread topologies and tools, with the corporate clearly aiming for simplicity and reliability.

The filtering stage is textbook, with a complete of 4 Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two filtering inductors resulting in a twin enter rectifying bridge configuration. Each of the rectifying bridges have their very own heatsink sandwiched in between them. The passive APFC parts are a big 450V/680μF APFC capacitor by Nippon Chemi-Con and a big filtering coil wrapped inside a protecting foil. The lively APFC parts are on a protracted heatsink proper throughout the sting of the PCB.

Two transistors kind a typical half-bridge inversion topology on the major aspect of the unit, whereas six MOSFETs positioned on the underside of the PCB generate the 12V line on the secondary aspect of the transformer. The three.3V and 5V traces are being generated by way of the DC-to-DC conversion circuits. All in all, it is a very typical configuration for an 80Plus Gold licensed unit. The entire secondary capacitors, electrolytic and polymer alike, are supplied by Nippon Chemi-Con and Rubycon, each Japanese producers.