Seasonic PRIME PX-1600 ATX 3.0 1600W Platinum Power Supply Review

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DC Output Quality

For those of you that are curious as to some of the reasoning and equipment behind our PSU testing program here at TheFPSReview, we have put together an introduction for you that shares a lot of the behind the scenes of the program. This program is based on what the author developed at [H]ardOCP and utilizes the equipment bequeathed to the author by Kyle Bennett. The testing we are conducting today is exactly as described in that document and will continue with our examination of the DC Output Quality.

Control Test Graphing

Seasonic PX-1600 control output graph

This image is the blank background control test on an unused connector from our SM-8800 during the testing of the Seasonic PRIME PX-1600 ATX3.0. This lets us determine what the background noise looks like during testing.

120v Input

100v Input

Test #1 is equal to approximately 25% of the rated capacity of the Seasonic PRIME PX-1600 ATX3.0 at 45c. This makes Test #1 equal to 405W by loading the 12v rail to 30a, the 5v rail to 4a, the 3.3v rail to 2a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. The PRIME PX-1600 ATX3.0 is starting off in a bit mixed shape. The 12v rail is peaking at ~15mV of ripple/noise and the minor rails are peaking at less than ~10mV of ripple/noise.

120v Input

100v Input

Test #2 is equal to approximately 50% of the rated capacity of the Seasonic PRIME PX-1600 ATX3.0 at 45c. This makes Test #2 equal to 806W by loading the 12v rail to 60a, the 5v rail to 9a, the 3.3v rail to 5a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. Test #2 sees only minor changes as the 12v rail is coming in at ~25mV of ripple/noise and the minor rails are coming in at less than ~10mV of ripple/noise.

120v Input

100v Input

Test #3 is equal to approximately 75% of the rated capacity of Seasonic PRIME PX-1600 ATX3.0 at 45c. This makes Test #3 equal to 1226W by loading the 12v rail to 90a, the 5v rail to 15a, the 3.3v rail to 10a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. Test #3 sees the 12v rail peaking at ~25mV of ripple/noise while the minor rails are coming in at ~10mV of ripple/noise.

120v Input

100v Input

Test #4 is equal to approximately 100% of the rated capacity of the Seasonic PRIME PX-1600 ATX3.0 at 45c. This makes Test #4 equal to 1626W by loading the 12v rail to 124a, the 5v rail to 13a, the 3.3v rail to 9a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. In the final regular test, we see the 12v rail peaking at ~25mV of ripple/noise while the minor rails are peaking at ~10mV of ripple/noise.

Torture Test

The Torture Test is equal to approximately 80% of the rated capacity of the Seasonic PRIME PX-1600 ATX3.0 at 45C. This makes the Torture Test equal to 1286W by loading the 12v rail to 72a, the 5v rail to 11a, the 3.3v rail to 6a, the +5vsb to 2a, and the -12v to 0.3a. At the end of the Torture Test, we see the 12v rail peaking at ~20mV of ripple/noise while the minor rails are peaking at ~10mV of ripple/noise.

DC Output Quality Summary

The overall DC Output Quality of the Seasonic PRIME PX-1600 ATX3.0 is excellent! The PRIME PX-1600 ATX3.0 ended up posting a peak trace amplitude on the 12v rail of ~25mV followed by ~10mV on the 5v rail and ~10mV on the 3.3v rail during our normal tests. The worst relative value among these hit well below ~40% of the ATX12v specification limit and this was on the 12v rail. The minor rails did even better! So, while we do not have other 1600W units to compare to, it seems based on raw numbers that this unit is going to be among the best 1600W units on the market! Let’s move on now and see how all of this wraps up!

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REVIEW OVERVIEW

Voltage Regulation
9.5
DC Output Quality
9.25
Efficiency
9.5
Noise
9.25

SUMMARY

The Seasonic PRIME PX-1600 ATX3.0 is the latest and greatest power supply we have seen from Seasonic. Wait, scratch that. This is the best power supply we have seen from any brand to date. Thus, the only thing you have to ask yourself when looking at this power supply is do you want the best overall unit we have seen while featuring excellent Voltage Regulation. DC Output Quality, Efficiency, and Noise profile? If yes, then are you ready to pay to play in this kind of performance land!
Paul Johnson
Paul is a long time PC hobbyist and tech enthusiast having gotten his start when he broke his first C64 quickly followed by breaking his first IBM XT. Most notably however, for 12 years, he served as the Power Supply Editor for one of the truly early, groundbreaking, and INDPENDENT PC enthusiast sites ([H]ardOCP) until its mothballing in April of 2019. Paul now brings the same flair and style of his power supply reviews to The FPS Review.

Recent News

The Seasonic PRIME PX-1600 ATX3.0 is the latest and greatest power supply we have seen from Seasonic. Wait, scratch that. This is the best power supply we have seen from any brand to date. Thus, the only thing you have to ask yourself when looking at this power supply is do you want the best overall unit we have seen while featuring excellent Voltage Regulation. DC Output Quality, Efficiency, and Noise profile? If yes, then are you ready to pay to play in this kind of performance land!Seasonic PRIME PX-1600 ATX 3.0 1600W Platinum Power Supply Review