Introduction

80Plus-Gold, SEASONIC quality, passive and then should be the X-400FL based on the facts a true dream power supply in the long time required 400-Watt class – for many readers. The 80Plus-Gold-Zertifikat in the rather low power range is priced yet absolute luxury and passive devices were always luxury – 125 EUR, the power supply has therefore a proud price.

As in many high-efficiency power supplies will not get the price premium compared to less efficient equipment alone probably never again come in by the power savings, a 400-Watt device thanks to the generally low loss power only quite. In terms of volume, although slightly higher lies the significance of X-400FL, but are likely to be the most brand power supplies with 400 Watts at low and medium load also not from the PC out to hear.

For people who are looking for the best price / performance range, is the latest addition from the House of SEASONIC so nothing. The X-400FL is rather a prestige project and pioneer. It can be assumed that in the future (if 80Plus-Gold in small classes is affordable) other manufacturers SEASONIC follow and introduce highly efficient, passive power supplies at low power. At the moment, it will be the competitors too expensive, too unprofitable and/or too technically complex. All the more encouraging that SEASONIC had the courage to bring the future into the dealer shelves already.

Scope of delivery

After opening of a high-quality looking box, the PSU expected us well protected and covered with velvet. In addition, two bags, which accommodate the modular cables are located. The typical delivery consists of four mounting screws, a manual, four cable ties, and a cold device cable. In addition, SEASONIC powered four Velcro cable ties, as well as a sticker the buyer. A total a deliverable that is reasonable for the price.

Technical key points

• 80Plus-Zertifikat: Gold
• Dimensions: 150 x 86 x 160 mm (W x H x D)
• Warranty: 5 years

More gratifying way the X 400FL can provide its almost entire power on + 12V (+ 12 V total power: 396 W). This is a single + 12 V rail use, which may be charged with A 33. As explained in our basic article, are to enjoy such single-rail design always with caution. Thanks to the rather low performance of X-400FL, one moves in this case but still in more or less moderate hazardous areas.

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In terms of protection circuits are no nakedness is the model of the House of SEASONIC and offers everything the heart desires. There is even a protection against lastfreiem operation.

• Low-voltage protection (EIA)
• Over-voltage protection (OVP)
• Short-circuit protection (SCP)
• Overload protection (OPP)
• Over-current protection (OCP)
• Over-temperature protection (OTP)
• Protection against lastfreiem operation (NLP)

Power supply in detail

In contrast to previous passive power supplies, the X-400FL not in a closed metal housing with an external radiator comes along. Instead, the manufacturer on ventilation openings on all sides of the unit has included. When unpacking SEASONIC points several times to correct installation: the X 400FL must above be installed with the large honeycomb grille to. Heat congestion could otherwise arise.

As usual, the reverse is dominated by Sockets for connecting the modular cables. This should be mentioned that the X-400FL is a fully modular power supply, so the normally solid ATX and strands of EPS are removable. This may be although practical, one should not forget however, that the this necessary additional joints represent a new potential source of error.

Cable equipment

In the number of cable, there is nothing to gripe. Five SATA and Molex connectors are more than sufficient for a 400 W power supply. In addition, the manufacturer has more positive thought manner to a floppy adapter for slightly aging systems. A second PCIe plug would have done well the overall picture, is in this class but not necessarily negative.

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Interior

The first view in the device presents a very clean image, which is not least because SEASONIC uses two special techniques, which we still will dwell on this section. As a basis, as it might otherwise have, a beneficial fiber Board.

Directly on the cold device cable SEASONIC has powered a high-quality line filter the X 400FL, which combines multiple filter modules in itself and is otherwise mainly in server power supplies to be found. In addition, a first X condenser and two Y capacitors show. A MOV as passive surge was thought of.

Two GBJ1506 rectifier bridges take the conversion of the AC voltage in DC. Behind it, with a further X-capacitor filtering continues. In the field of PFC waits a very expensive heat sink with a large fan-out and small grooves to increase the surface on us, where a diode and three transistors are attached. The latter serve regulating the flow of cargo to the PFC coil.

As a primary capacitor SEASONIC relies on a model of Nippon Chemicon from Japan up to 105 ° C is specified. The capacity is 390 Microfarad in a dielectric strength of 420 volts.

To losses at the subsequent switching transistors which hack the voltage on a higher frequency level, to minimize and increase the efficiency, SEASONIC employs the now quite well known technique of LLC resonant converter. A CM6901 controller of champion micro takes control this process.

The transistors to the final rectification of the + 12 V voltage are placed in a special way: they are located on the bottom of the Board. This fact explains why in the middle of the unit several silver heatsink seemingly pointless plug into the Board.

The LLC resonant converter leads another significant advantage with in addition to increasing efficiency: reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). Thus, for example, the coils in the secondary area may be omitted. There, some high-quality fixed material capacitors have paired with a few traditional models of Nippon Chemicon (temperature specification: 105 ° C) the task of smoothing of power.

Now we come to a very clever and elaborate idea of SEASONIC engineers, that probably many envious will look. There is talk of a placement of the DC/DC converters on the cable management board. This results in only a single cable (with + 12 V) through the device. The remaining strands + 3.3 V or + 5V released because no distance must be bridged between the DC voltage converters that generate these voltages of + 12 V, and the sockets for the modular cables. This technique allows a cleaner image of the power pack also an increased efficiency through the now lower resistance.

To better cool the transistors on the side facing to the inside of the power supply cable management / DC-DC Board and controllers have powered a copper plate have.

Chroma test station

Our power supply testing, we rely on a fully automatic “chroma 6000 ATS”-test station. This must only be programmed and then tests the PSU with the entered settings and desired procedure without further operation. Thus, we can produce a 100% comparability between the individual parts of the network because each test subject performs each measurement to the exact same time and in exactly the same length. Measurement errors are excluded by human error. The test station can generate a load of total 3000 W and thus deplete each currently on the market power supply.

Because such a load must be cooled to loudly, a volume measurement of the power supply is not possible. As a replacement, we therefore measure the speed of rotation of the fan with a meter of Shimpo.

Usually the chroma would go through a complete test pass depending on the amount in about 50 seconds. Because we had this time but no chance, to measure the speed of rotation of the fan and the fan not even comes in these few seconds up to speed, we run the loads under 230 VAC for each 15 minutes and start at the end of this period with the measurement.

The chroma 6000 ATS contains five main blocks that are controlled via PC and are synchronized:

• Ten switcher Analyzer 650 is a programmable dynamic load of each 300 W DC loads.
• Since our local network is subject to many fluctuations, a programmable AC power source to the 100% comparability of power supplies with each other and exact measurement of the efficiency is essential. For this the test station of a 6500 uses AC source (see figure). This represents the current top model of voltage sources and can simulate a wide range of normal/abnormal voltage conditions. Thus, we can test the power supplies at exactly off 115,00 or 230.00 VAC, the appropriate frequency and under a perfect sine wave.
• A combination of all standard instruments provides the power Analyzer.
• For the measurement of ripple & noise and other special things is one Messeinheit extend responsible, which is why there is no need for an external oscilloscope and we present no usual ripple-& noise graphics.
• A DC voltage source is implemented to simulate over voltage and under voltage test.

Overall, we can automatically test 41 different elements in different versions with the test station. It should be mentioned that we measure at room temperature.

But where does it several ten thousand euro expensive chroma? Please note at this point open, that is the chroma test station at Listán (be quiet!) and we test as a guest on it. We are aware of the explosiveness of the situation, but can assure that Listán enjoys our full confidence and thanks to following points simply no influence on the results of the measurements can be taken: 1. we travel with our own test specimens and not, as quite usual, “testing remotely”. 2. The calculation of the load, entering the expense and any other preparatory work is done completely by ourselves. 3. If the used chroma to a fully automatic model, manipulations are simply not possible.
Should we have only the slightest doubt, the test station can not absolutely independent results, we will waive immediately further tests with the chroma.

Test results

Efficiency

The 80Plus-Initiative tests on the American network of 115 VAC, which is why we also perform our efficiency tests, the comparability for this input. In addition, we test with our domestic input voltage 230 VAC. At this point, we wish to stress that the results will differ always something of the original results of the 80Plus-Initiative, efficiency is affected by many factors such as room temperature, the power supply temperature etc.

With an average efficiency of 88,90 percent the X 400FL at 115 VAC overtaken even the AX1200 in our rating and must settle with a second place only among 230 VAC. A small Downer still: at 20 percent load the 80Plus-Gold-Vorgabe if not reached 87,0% 86,536 percent.

PFC

The non sinusoidal power consumption of the components raises complications with the electricity supplier and gives a reactive power, which is an unnecessary load on the electricity network. The power factor correction (PFC), with a value of 1.0 reflects the omission of the reactive power acts as countermeasure.

Of power factor correction we have us a little more hoped for small. A maximum of 0,960 under 230 VAC is mediocre, and also the measurements at low load can see more for less.

Voltage regulation

All the following pages measurements now with an input voltage 230 VAC.

The voltage regulation is absolutely satisfactory if not even very good. In particular the two 12 V lines shine with a minimal voltage drop: for example, + 12 V even at full load under the optimum value of 12.0 V decreases.

Ripple & noise

The ripple & noise measurements show the quality of the output voltage, visible in the not completely smooth AC shares in spikes and covered are. The distance between the lower and upper point of the glitch (peak-to-peak) at 12 V must be no higher than 120 mV. The remaining tensions must present values among 50 mV.

We need to call the ripple & noise values as excellent. + 12 V and -12 V are located at 110 percent load under 30 mV, + 3.3 V and + 5 V exceed just the 10 mV brand. Of such ‘ filtering should cut some manufacturers are still a slices. “Very good job, Seasonic!”

To a direct comparison in terms of ripple & produce noise between the test subject and competitors, we have designed a rating such as efficiency and power factor correction. This is calculated, what percentage of the ripple & noise values (of all lines in the average) reach under full load from the limit. For the SEASONIC must therefore: on average, the ripple & noise values reach 20,71% of the limit value under full load. To note is that V-12 thanks to the low relevance is not included.

CrossLoad

CrossLoad tests that are + 12-V lines maximum burdened, while there is only a minimal power on + 5V, and + 3.3 V. This is to simulate an extreme situation which should not be neglected in modern PCs, relating her performance mainly per + 12V.

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To expect such as from a DC-DC power supply, was, the X-400FL has no problems with our CrossLoad test, and shows a very good result with 12,009 V.

Other measurements

Hold-up time
In the power grid, it comes again and again to fluctuations and short-term power outages, which need to bypass the power supplies for some time. As a minimum, the ATX standard provides 16 milliseconds.

Unlike many competitors, surpasses the Scion of the House of SEASONIC the minimum time of 16 ms quite significantly and should be suitable for countries with a problematic power supply.

Inrush current
When you turn on the PC system is a very strong current, which charged the entire domestic mains supply in the short term. The ATX specification provides for a such inrush current of maximum 100 A at our 230 V mains.

Power Good Signal
When you turn on a PSU needs some fractions of a second, until the tension on all lines reach their nominal value. The process takes too long or too quickly will expire, this can lead to problems at the start of the system.

Conclusion

The X 400FL SEASONIC launched a technical top product on the market. The quality of the Interior leaves almost no reason for criticism, which is not least on some technical innovations such as for example the placement of the DC/DC converters on the cable management board. In addition, we must pay attention to the exceptional layout with transistors on the far side of the Board, as well as the very well equipped network filtering.

The strength of network filtering shows more than clearly in our ripple-& noise tests, presenting an excellent result. The voltage regulation ranks at almost the same high level, it surpasses even the recently tested AX 1200 from Corsair in this respect. Also our Crossloading test does not change because, even at full load at + 12 V decreases the tension under 12.0 V. The measurements of the hold-up time can also be no reason for criticism: on average the support time is good 19-20 milliseconds.

But there are also not-so-good values of X 400FL. Here the narrow failure of 80Plus-Gold-Zertifikats less than 20 percent is load (which as mentioned but on minimal fluctuations in production or slight variations of the power supply temperature compared to 80Plus may be) and on the other hand the only moderate for a high end power supply power factor correction on the one hand to name a few. In terms of efficiency you should however consider in the calculus, that the X 400FL under 115 VAC still leads our Hall of Fame and is at 230 VAC 1200 beaten must give just the AX.

Of course the behavior in a warm computer cases interested why we five hours (approximately 800 rpm with a 120 mm large CPU, as well as rear fan) have tortured there under heavy load in a Lian Li A09 with moderate ventilation us this passive device particularly. The result: no problem. This is not least because that the X 400FL to 750 Watts strong brother is based, has therefore very generously dimensioned components and in addition is equipped with a very lush and complex heat sinks. Not to mention the many perforated ventilation openings in the sidewalls of the device.

In summary, that SEASONIC has done the homework. Many readings are among the best, what we were able to see so far. Because the two small criticisms can hardly spoil the picture, they however show that also SEASONIC is still not perfect.

Because the X 400FL stands currently without direct competition, has a pioneering role and more than convinced by the quality, we see the high price of about €125 in addition as a point of criticism. In the light of the total, we therefore give our recommendation the X 400FL and hope that other manufacturers will follow the trend of the passive and highly efficient power supplies with low power.