Build Quality
As we already know the FOCUS GM-650 features a single 120mm fan design like many other offerings on the market that has come to be the preferred standard for quiet cooling environments due to the ability to move a larger volume of air at slower speeds than a smaller diameter fan. While great for quiet computing environments the key criteria in our evaluation are whether or not the cooling solution is sufficient, not necessarily its sound level or form factor.
External Build Quality
The exterior of the FOCUS GM-650 is similar to what Seasonic has been doing with their FOCUS line all along. The layout is traditional for a partially modular unit with an overhead fan in the ATX12v/EPS form factor. Cosmetically, the unit carries the FOCUS branding in a mixture of grey/silver text accents and embossed accent designs. The branding is nice and a bit more subtle than we see with some other units. The modular interface is well labeled in the manner we see from many Seasonic units. Rounding things out, the unit has a durable black finish that is slightly textured.
The FOCUS GM-650 comes in at a total length of ~5.5 inches while the cables come in at a length of ~17″ to 25″ to the first, or only, connector. Additionally, the cables are a mix of standard wire loom and FlexForce style cables which is excellent.
Internal Build Quality
Once we open the top of the FOCUS GM-650, we see a familiar Seasonic platform. The topology has a full-bridge resonant LLC primary with a synchronous rectification secondary and DC-DC VRM’s for the minor rails. The fan cooling this unit today is a FDB fan. The fan is manufactured by Hong Hua and rated at 0.58A at 12v. It is paired with six different heatsinks. This breaks down to one large and one small(ish) heatsink on the primary side proper, two heatsinks on the main switchers, and two tiny heatsinks on the secondary side (which also uses the housing as part of the thermal solution here). Lastly, the soldering is excellent on the main PCB.
The FOCUS GM-650 input filtering begins up on the housing itself where we find a PCB with some X capacitors and Y capacitors. The balance of the input filtering is found on the back edge of the main PCB. There are then a pair of bridge rectifiers next in the line attached to a rather large heatsink. The APFC coil is next and it is followed by the APFC power components attached to the other substantial heatsink on the primary side. Speaking of this heatsink, the main input capacitor is right next to it and it is provided by Nippon Chemi-con with a rating of 400v 470uF 105C. The main switching transistors receive their own heatsinks as well and they are right next to the main input capacitor.
The secondary side of this unit looks a bit more crowded than expected largely due to a change we see the edge of the PCB with how the wiring attaches. Through the middle to the edge of the PCB, on the secondary side, we find the transformers with the main transformer being all the way to the edge of the PCB. In between these transformers and the DC-DC VRM PCB, we find a pair of small heatsinks. These heatsinks are for cooling the 12v MOSFETS which were visible earlier on the solder side of the PCB.
Next to this, we find the DC-DC VRMs housed on their own PCB (populated by Nippon Chemi-con solid capacitors) up against the modular PCB and edge of the main PCB. Around these PCBs, we find a few standard electrolytics provided by Nippon Chemi-con as well. The modular PCB construction looks very nice and there are more Nippon Chemi-con solid capacitors here as well. Interestingly, all of the spots marked for capacitors are populated.
Build Quality Summary
Today’s Seasonic FOCUS GM-650 is the first power supply we have seen from Seasonic proper and it starts things off on the right foot. Overall, the build quality looks excellent. The exterior is well done with attention paid to the branding of this unit even though it is not their top-tier offering. The cables are a mix of standard wire loom and FlexForce style cables. The integration is excellent and the component selection is excellent as we see Nippon Chemi-con standard and solid capacitors throughout. On top of that, we see an FDB fan cooling this unit. All in all, the FOCUS GM-650 looks like an extremely competent unit for its market position. Let’s move on now to the load tests and see how this unit performs!