Overclockers Club » Seasonic X Series 760W Power Supply Review

Seasonic X Series 760W Power Supply Review

paulktreg - 2010-12-02 13:41:03 in Power Supplies

Category: Power Supplies
Reviewed by: paulktreg
Reviewed on: January 19, 2011
Price: $182.00

Introduction:

Sea Sonic Electronics started life back in 1975 as a manufacturer of electronic test equipment and entered the PC power supply market in 1980. It wasn’t until 2003 that Sea Sonic launched retail power supplies under their own brand name and currently offers a wide range of power supplies for the PC enthusiast, server and industrial market. Sea Sonic still offer bulk power supplies for the PC manufacturing market but it’s the retail units, Sea Sonic branded, that the PC enthusiasts will no doubt be more familiar. The retail ATX power supply product range isn’t extensive but Sea Sonic power supplies have, on the whole a great reputation, the M12D immediately springs to mind.

This is the first Sea Sonic, or more commonly Seasonic, power supply I have tested for OCC and it’s one of their latest, the X-Series 760W. According to the Seasonic website it’s the first full modular multi-output ATX, high wattage power supply that has obtained 80 Plus Gold certification so let’s have a look at it and see how well it performs.

Closer Look:

The Seasonic X-Series 760W power supply box is largely based on a black and gold theme with a splash of color used on some of the illustrations. The top of the box is satin black with a gloss honeycombed pattern watermark, mimicking the power supply exhaust grill no doubt, and carries a photograph of the power supply along with the Seasonic trademark, power supply wattage and an 80 Plus Gold logo. The bottom of the box is used to explain some of the technology and features of the Seasonic X-Series 760W power supply.

The front face of the box pretty much repeats the information on the top of the box with the addition of an Nvidia SLI Ready logo. The opposite face shows the main features, white text on a gold background, in several different languages.

The side panels show a photograph of the power supply modular cable connector panel, specification table, connector types and quantities, technical data and agency approval logos.

Lift the lid and the user manual sits on top of the power supply foam protection with the modular cable bag tucked neatly down the side. Remove the foam lid and the power supply sits underneath in a black felt drawstring bag.

Bagged power supply along with the full box contents which includes the modular cable bag, user manual, power cord, mounting screws and a selection of standard and Velcro cable ties.

The Seasonic X-Series 760W power supply is well packaged with a good set of accessories so let’s move on and have a closer look.

Closer Look:

The Seasonic X-Series 760W is nicely finished in a black, slightly textured, satin paint which is great at hiding fingerprints and scratches. (There is a cardboard sash around the power supply, not shown in the photograph, with a note reminding the user that the cooling fan will not run until approximately 20% of maximum rated power is attained).

The rear of the unit showing the hexagonal holed exhaust grill, IEC mains input connector, on/off switch and gold Seasonic logo. The front face showing the modular cable connector panel with all the connectors labeled. There is a little note on the bottom right of the panel to remind the user that the cooling fan is temperature controlled and will operate only when needed.

A comprehensive specification label occupies one side of the power supply with an X-Series “Go for Gold” logo on the other.

The black cooling fan is covered with a hexagonal holed grill that is pressed from the case body which does away with the need for a separate wire grill.

The Seasonic X-Series 760W is a fully modular unit with a comprehensive set of well made and fully braided modular cables.

The cooling fan is mounted to the lid of the power supply rather than the usual top and side panel type construction. The 120mm fan is a high quality San Ace 120 by Sanyo Denki, model 9S1212F404. The layout of the printed circuit board is neat and tidy but what immediately stands out is the heat sink size or lack off; a good indicator of high efficiency, we will see.

The transient filtering on the Seasonic X-Series 760W looks particularly good with the use of a filtered mains input connector in addition to the usual components on the printed circuit board. The modular cable connector board is used for the 3V3 and 5V regulators to improve efficiency, more on this later.

There’s little doubt that the Seasonic X-Series 760W power supply build quality is very high; it shouts quality as soon as you pick it up if you know what I mean. The electrolytic capacitors are a mixture of high quality Nippon Chemi-Con 105°C rated devices and solid aluminium capacitors but how well does it perform? It’s all very well having a great set of accessories, good build quality, great packaging but how does it perform? Let’s find out.

Specification:

Review Sample: Seasonic X-Series 760W Power Supply, Part Number: SS-760KM Active PFC F3 .

Ratings Table:

Seasonic X-Series 760W (SS-760KM Active PFC F3) Power Supply Specification Table
AC Input	90 - 264V 9 – 4.5A 50-60Hz
DC Output	+3V3	+5V	+12V	-12V	+5VSB
Maximum Load	25A	25A	63A	0.5A	3A
Maximum Combined Wattage	125W		756W	6W	15W
Maximum Combined Wattage	750W

System Protection:

OPP, OVP, UVP, SCP, OCP & OTP.

Safety & Agency Approvals:

cTUVus, TUV, CCC, Gost-R, UkrTEST, CB, BSMI, CE, FCC, C-Tick, WEEE & RoHS.

Power Supply Physical Characteristics:

Seasonic X-Series 760W Power Supply Physical Characteristics
Weight	Length	Width	Height
4.0lbs/1.8kg	6.3in/160mm	5.9in/150mm	3.4in/86mm

Power Supply Connectors:

Seasonic X-Series 760W (SS-760KM Active PFC F3) Power Supply Connectors
Connector Type	Qty
Motherboard 20/24 Pin	1
EPS12V 8 Pin	1
EPS12V/ATX12V 4+4 Pin	1
PCI-E 6+2 Pin	4
SATA Power 15 Pin	8
Peripheral 4 Pin	8
FDD 4 Pin	2

Power Supply Cable Lengths:

Seasonic X-Series 760W (SS-760KM Active PFC F3) Power Supply Cable Set
Cable Type	Cable Length/Connector Spacing’s	Qty
Modular	PSU > 23" > Motherboard 20/24 Pin	1
Modular	PSU > 25" > EPS12V 8 Pin	1
Modular	PSU > 25" > ATX12V/EPS12V 4+4 Pin	1
Modular	PSU > 25" > 2 x PCI-E 6+2 Pin	2
Modular	PSU > 22" > SATA > 6" > SATA > 6" > SATA	2
Modular	PSU > 18" > SATA > 6" > SATA	1
Modular	PSU > 22" > Peripheral > 6" > Peripheral > 6" > Peripheral	2
Modular	PSU > 18" > Peripheral > 6" > Peripheral	1
Adapter	Peripheral > 6" > 2 x FDD	1

Features:

Exactly as printed in the user manual.

X Ultra High Efficiency, 80 PLUS Gold Certified (www.80PLUS.org) - Sea Sonic's corporate slogan "Green Innovation Powers Your Life" defines our commitment to the design and production of the most eco-friendly power supply units on the market today. The 80 PLUS Gold certification defines efficiency rating of greater than 87%, 90%, 87% efficient at 20%, 50% and 100% operating loads, respectively. The X Series represents the highest level of technology and efficiency achieved by Sea Sonic to date through 35 years of commitment to engineering excellence.
Seasonic Patented DC Connector Panel With Integrated Voltage Regulation Module - Seasonic patented full modular design minimizes voltage drops and impedance and maximizes efficiency and cooling and enhances overall performance and reliability.

DC to DC Convertor Design - Provides superior dynamic response, greater system stability and maximizes the 12VDC rail output.
Seasonic Hybrid Silent Fan Control (For X-560, X-660, X-760, X-850, X-1000, X-1200) - An industry first, advanced 3 phase thermal control balances between silence and cooling. The Hybrid Silent Fan Control provides 3 operational stages: Fanless, Silent and Cooling Mode.

Sanyo Denki - San Ace Silent Fan (For X-560, X-660, X-760, X-850, X-1000, X-1200) - The world-renowned Sanyo Denki ball bearing fans are made of the highest quality components to ensure maximum quality and performance. The use of spoon shaped high-density plastic fan blades with smoothed leading edges, strict tolerance ball bearings and precision copper axel are just some features to ensure ultra low noise performance and quality. In addition, the fan uses 3 balancing points, instead of the industry standard of 2 points, to ensure perfect balance and rotation. The Sanyo Denki fan is a perfect match to the class leading Sea Sonic Hybrid Silent Fan control for the absolute top performance of the industry.
Conductive Polymer Aluminium Solid Electrolytic Capacitors - Ensures operation stability at extreme conditions.
High Reliability 105°C Grade A Capacitors - Built with top level Japan sourced components which translate to extended product life.
Tight Voltage Regulation [±3%] - Improves load regulation to reduce voltage variations to provide smooth and stable operations.
Active Power Factor Correction [99% PF Typical] - The "active" solution is the professional solution to power factor correction to reduce line loss and power distribution.
High +12V Output - Enhances +12V current capability increases utilization possibilities and ensures there is enough power to support the systems +12V hungry components.
High Current Gold Plated Terminals - Reduces current transmission resistance for increased efficiency.
Dual Sided PCB Layout - Optimizes PCB space utilization and strengthens solder joints to enhance quality, reliability and performance.
Ultra Ventilation [Honeycomb structure] - Honeycomb ventilation holes design to optimize airflow for improved cooling and reduced noise.
Full Modular Cabling - Easy to install and maintain provides maximum flexibility and forward compatibility.
Multi-GPU Technologies Supported (For X-460, X-560, X-660, X-760, X-850, X-1000 & X-1200) - 6Pin & 8Pin PCI-E connectors to support all GPU platforms.
All-In-One DC Cabling Design - Supports PC, IPC, workstation and server systems.
Easy Swap Connector - Unplug the connectors easily, quickly and safely.
Universal AC Input [Full Range] - Plug and run safely anywhere in the world.
5 Years Warranty - Our commitment to superior quality.

All information courtesy of Seasonic USA @ http://www.seasonicusa.com/NEW_X-series_560-660-760-850.htm

Testing:

For more information on how we test our power supplies, please browse our testing methodology.

Short Circuit Protection:

I short circuited the 3V3, 5V0 and the 12V rail(s) in turn. The power supply did shut down, and once the short was removed and the unit switched off for at least one second, resumed normal operation. Although listed here at the beginning of the testing section, I tend to leave this test until the very end, in case it doesn't quite go to plan.

DC Output Voltage Load Regulation:

Mains Input Voltage 110VAC

Seasonic X-Series 760W (SS-760KM Active PFC F3) DC Output Voltage Load Regulation
Supply = 110VAC/50Hz
PSU DC Rail	Measured Voltage(V)
3V3	3.40
5V0	5.05
+12V	12.24
-12V	11.89
5VSB	5.11
Total PSU DC Loading = 0W (0% of Rated Maximum Output Power)

Seasonic X-Series 760W (SS-760KM Active PFC F3) DC Output Voltage Load Regulation
Supply = 110VAC/50Hz
PSU DC Rail	Rail Loading Amps (A)	Rail Loading Watts (W)	Measured Voltage (V)	ATX12V V2.2 Limits (V)	Pass/Fail
+3V3	3.20	10.78	3.37	3.135 – 3.465	Pass
+5V	4.78	24.04	5.03	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
+12V	7.73	94.38	12.21	11. – 12.6	Pass
-12V	0.35	4.15	11.86	10.8 – 13.2	Pass
+5VSB	2.13	10.46	4.91	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
Total PSU DC Loading = 144W (19% of Rated Maximum Output Power)

Seasonic X-Series 760W (SS-760KM Active PFC F3) DC Output Voltage Load Regulation
Supply = 110VAC/50Hz
PSU DC Rail	Rail Loading Amps (A)	Rail Loading Watts (W)	Measured Voltage (V)	ATX12V V2.2 Limits (V)	Pass/Fail
+3V3	3.26	10.99	3.37	3.135 – 3.465	Pass
+5V	4.80	24.10	5.02	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
+12V	27.04	329.90	12.20	11. – 12.6	Pass
-12V	0.35	4.15	11.85	10.8 – 13.2	Pass
+5VSB	2.12	10.37	4.89	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
Total PSU DC Loading = 379W (50% of Rated Maximum Output Power)

Seasonic X-Series 760W (SS-760KM Active PFC F3) DC Output Voltage Load Regulation
Supply = 110VAC/50Hz
PSU DC Rail	Rail Loading Amps (A)	Rail Loading Watts (W)	Measured Voltage (V)	ATX12V V2.2 Limits (V)	Pass/Fail
+3V3	8.35	27.80	3.33	3.135 – 3.465	Pass
+5V	9.74	48.41	4.97	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
+12V	58.27	706.81	12.13	11. – 12.6	Pass
-12V	0.37	4.41	11.92	10.8 – 13.2	Pass
+5VSB	2.12	10.22	4.82	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
Total PSU DC Loading = 798W (105% of Rated Maximum Output Power)

Mains Input Voltage 230VAC

Seasonic X-Series 760W (SS-760KM Active PFC F3) DC Output Voltage Load Regulation
Supply = 230VAC/50Hz
PSU DC Rail	Measured Voltage(V)
3V3	3.40
5V0	5.08
+12V	12.24
-12V	11.89
5VSB	5.11
Total PSU DC Loading = 0W (0% of Rated Maximum Output Power)

Seasonic X-Series 760W (SS-760KM Active PFC F3) DC Output Voltage Load Regulation
Supply = 230VAC/50Hz
PSU DC Rail	Rail Loading Amps (A)	Rail Loading Watts (W)	Measured Voltage (V)	ATX12V V2.2 Limits (V)	Pass/Fail
+3V3	3.20	10.78	3.37	3.135 – 3.465	Pass
+5V	4.79	24.09	5.03	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
+12V	7.71	94.14	12.21	11. – 12.6	Pass
-12V	0.35	4.15	11.85	10.8 – 13.2	Pass
+5VSB	2.14	10.57	4.94	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
Total PSU DC Loading = 144W (19% of Rated Maximum Output Power)

Seasonic X-Series 760W (SS-760KM Active PFC F3) DC Output Voltage Load Regulation
Supply = 230VAC/50Hz
PSU DC Rail	Rail Loading Amps (A)	Rail Loading Watts (W)	Measured Voltage (V)	ATX12V V2.2 Limits (V)	Pass/Fail
+3V3	3.25	10.95	3.37	3.135 – 3.465	Pass
+5V	4.80	24.14	5.03	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
+12V	27.14	331.11	12.20	11. – 12.6	Pass
-12V	0.36	4.27	11.87	10.8 – 13.2	Pass
+5VSB	2.12	10.37	4.89	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
Total PSU DC Loading = 381W (50% of Rated Maximum Output Power)

Seasonic X-Series 760W (SS-760KM Active PFC F3) DC Output Voltage Load Regulation
Supply = 230VAC/50Hz
PSU DC Rail	Rail Loading Amps (A)	Rail Loading Watts (W)	Measured Voltage (V)	ATX12V V2.2 Limits (V)	Pass/Fail
+3V3	8.51	28.34	3.33	3.135 – 3.465	Pass
+5V	9.72	48.31	4.97	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
+12V	58.27	706.23	12.12	11. – 12.6	Pass
-12V	0.37	4.41	11.92	10.8 – 13.2	Pass
+5VSB	2.13	10.50	4.93	4.75 – 5.25	Pass
Total PSU DC Loading = 798W (105% of Rated Maximum Output Power)

The Seasonic X-Series 760W power supply produced a solid set of results in this section. The DC output voltage regulation is on a par with other power supplies in its class as shown by the virtually straight line graphs and drops of no more than 100mV on all the rails from zero to full load.

Testing:

Efficiency and Power Factor:

I think this is the first time a power supply as produced efficiency levels that meet its certified 80 Plus level following the OCC testing methodology. It’s not usually a defect in the power supply but more my inability to exactly follow the testing protocol used by the 80 Plus organisation which leads to lower, but not by much, measured efficiency levels. The Seasonic X-Series 760W produced efficiency levels of 87%, 90% and 87% whilst powered from 110VAC that exactly meet the 80 Plus Gold requirements. Power factor levels are fine but then again they usually are with a basic requirement of 0.9 or better at 50% loading.

The Seasonic X-Series 760W power supply excels even further when powered from 230VAC with efficiency levels of 89%, 92% and 89% with power factor levels once again proving to be well within the required levels.

The Seasonic X-Series 760W is one of the most efficient power supplies I’ve tested for OCC so let’s move on and have a look at the DC quality.

AC Ripple On DC Outputs:

I have consistently found the AC ripple levels on the DC rails to be more or less equal with an 110VAC or 230VAC mains supply. The results given below are for 230VAC only but I will continue to check the levels at 110VAC during testing and publish them below if there are any significant differences.