Looks like the EVGA G3 has some tough new competition...The Seasonic Focus+

[UsandThem]

Browsing through Newegg looking at some components, when I came across this:

https://seasonic.com/product/focus-plus-650-gold/

It looks like it is almost the exact dimensions of the reduced size EVGA G3, Japanese caps, and comes with a 10 year warranty. And in a very un-Seasonic like move, right now it is actually cheaper than the G3 at the various sizes. For example, the 650w is $79.99 (after $10 MIR), whereas the 650w G3 is $99 after MIR. I couldn't find any reviews on it, or product announcements, so it must have just launched.

 

[lehtv]

The 650W model could very well be my next PSU. The last one I had was G650 which was excellent, and this looks better in just about every way. Just waiting for a review

EDIT: Ended up going with EVGA 650GQ. It was cheaper and more quickly available than the Seasonic Focus, and to my pleasant surprise, unlike the Focus the CPU and PCIe cables are flat ribbon style, which helps with cable management. That (along with the price) made it worthwhile when losing half of the warranty length.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

It looks like all 3 FOCUS line power supplies are actually smaller than the G3 at 140mm depth (The 550 and 650 G3 units are 150mm).

A 140mm short 750 watt platinum is a fantastic idea.

 

[UsandThem]

It looks like all 3 FOCUS line power supplies are actually smaller than the G3 at 140mm depth (The 550 and 650 G3 units are 150mm).

A 140mm short 750 watt platinum is a fantastic idea.

The only downside is the fan being audible in the JonnyGuru review. However, he doesn't test the dB level so I will be watching out for another review and see if they experience the same thing. I pick my components for quietness, so that's a big one for me. Outside of that, this series looks amazing (both value and feature wise).

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story3&reid=524

Fanwise, it stayed off where the asterisks say it did. It hung back for a couple seconds in test four, then reluctantly spun up. I have no objection to that. I will say, however, that is does have a pronounced hum to it I was able to hear by test five, so this isn't the quietest unit ever.

 

[Torn Mind]

Smaller PSUs are a godsend for the MicroATX crowd. After all, that huge unit often means cables interfering with the optical drive cables in a MicroATX case.

 

[EXCellR8]

9.6 nice!

Will definitely keep it on the radar if I need a new unit

 

[lehtv]

Smaller PSUs are a godsend for the MicroATX crowd. After all, that huge unit often means cables interfering with the optical drive cables in a MicroATX case.

Not that smaller PSU's aren't nice and needed (more so for ITX than microATX)... but this post makes no sense to me. How exactly do PSU cables interfere with optical drive cables...? In a typical microATX tower, the optical drive is as far from the PSU as it could be. And the optical drive uses a SATA power cable and a SATA data cable, both of which are relatively flat and easy to route without interfering with anything. And even if they did, what does that matter given how irrelevant optical drives are today?

 

[lehtv]

The only downside is the fan being audible in the JonnyGuru review. However, he doesn't test the dB level so I will be watching out for another review and see if they experience the same thing. I pick my components for quietness, so that's a big one for me. Outside of that, this series looks amazing (both value and feature wise).

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story3&reid=524

https://www.pcper.com/reviews/Cases...50W-PSU-Review/Efficiency-Differential-Temper

Sound pressure level readings were taken 3’ away from the rear of the case in an otherwise quiet room. The ambient noise level was ~27 dBA. The Hybrid Mode was engaged to enable fanless operation at the lower power levels.

*Fan not spinning

The FOCUS PLUS 650W Gold PSU started out dead-quiet and stayed that way up through the 50% load mark. Above 50% load the cooling fan gradually increased in speed and the noise eventually became very noticeable at full load as the fan did its job but never did become subjectively loud.

 

[Torn Mind]

Not that smaller PSU's aren't nice and needed (more so for ITX than microATX)... but this post makes no sense to me. How exactly do PSU cables interfere with optical drive cables...? In a typical microATX tower, the optical drive is as far from the PSU as it could be. And the optical drive uses a SATA power cable and a SATA data cable, both of which are relatively flat and easy to route without interfering with anything. And even if they did, what does that matter given how irrelevant optical drives are today?

Old fashioned microATX cases with top-mounted PSUs are still around. Some folks are on a budget looking for a cheap case or are replacing an OEM unit.
The larger dimensions of units such as a Seasonic X650 can indeed get in the way if a card reader or optical drive is on the very top

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

I'll say, I just bought a G3 550 earlier this month before I knew about the Seasonic Focus + line. I built a system in a Define Mini C, and I am using the hard drive cage in the bottom.

I really could have used the extra 1cm of clearance to get the cables routed safely with the drive cage there, and it's a Micro ATX case.

 

[EXCellR8]

almost bought one of these recently, to replace a X-series 750. does anyone have one to provide personal feedback?

 

[Yahya]

I recently Purchased the 550 watt Version
I have to say It's very quiet and it seems to have high Hold Up Time as Electricity in my house Is as bad as you would imagine
I see The office fan stops spinning, lights blink but not The PC it never restarted related to electricity problems at all unlike my previous PSU (ANTEC)

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

 

[UsandThem]

Well, Amazon was back-ordered on the 550w version, the 650w version that could only ship via ground shipment (5 days) for whatever reason, and the 750w version was way too much for my needs, and I would never run it anywhere near peak efficiency.

So I noticed they had the Focus Plus Platinum versions in stock (SSR-550PX) with same day delivery, so I ordered one of those. After I get it in and tested, I'll report back with my experience.

https://www.pcper.com/category/tags/ssr-550px

EDIT:

Well, it looks like I won't have a chance to review the Seasonic. Amazon told me the unit would be a same-day delivery, but after waiting all day, it still is in another state. So I cancelled it and ordered a EVGA 550w G3 instead because it's price was too good to pass up ($59 after MIR). However, the downsides are the G3 has a shorter warranty, and is a little bigger (150mm vs 140mm). I would have liked having the extra space, but I can make the G3 work.

 

[UsandThem]

Well, I changed my mind. Today when I woke up, I saw a box on my doorstep, so Amazon must have delivered it first thing this morning. I was initially going to contact them to return it, but my curiosity got the best of me

My thoughts on the Focus Plus Platinum 550w PSU:

-Very well built. You can tell this is a top-shelf Seasonic. The fan is extremely quiet, and I can not hear it all while it runs.

-The 550w unit has two PCIe connectors, but they only give you one cable. If you need more, you will have to buy one (or buy a larger unit that comes with more).

-I hate the capacitors they put in some of the cables (CPU and 24 pin main ATX). They make it difficult to plug them into the motherboard, because they capacitors are bundled together and held by a rubber sleeve. This makes them quite inflexible. Even though the unit is only 140mm deep, the capacitor cables really cancel out that benefit, although the cables might become more flexible over time. The SATA/peripheral ones are not bad at all.

-If you care about cable management, the 24 pin ATX cord is very heavy duty and thick. It took up the whole clearance I have on my Fractal Design R5 (which has ample room behind the motherboard to begin with).

-The voltage regulation is about as good as it gets, as pointed out in the professional reviews.

-Which one is better between the EVGA G3 and the Focus Plus? Too close too call outside of the warranty (10 year warranty on all the Focus Plus lineup vs. 7 year on the EVGA 550w and 650w versions, 10 years on 750w and up). I'd personally go with whichever one you could get cheaper/on sale.

And the thing that amazed me the most is how little power my system draws. When I was "testing" the PSU (playing a match of Civ 5), my LED monitor and my tower only pulled 97w with the occasional spike up to 115w. At my desktop, I only pull 48w.