FSP Aurum PT 1200W Power Supply Review
by E. Fylladitakis on October 16, 2014 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- 1200W
- 80 Plus Platinum
- FSP
Introduction
As most technology enthusiasts already know, the number of the actual power supply unit (PSU) manufacturers is far smaller than the number of the companies that ship PSUs. Most companies use their own engineering teams to improve/modify an existing platform originally developed by the Original Design Manufacturer (ODM). A few examples from our recent reviews are Antec's EDGE 550W and Corsair's RM1000, which are based on Seasonic and CWT designs, respectively. The modifications that such companies perform on the original platform can be significant but the changes are frequently limited to aesthetic adjustments, essentially copying the original unit in everything but form (or even just color).
Most ODMs have their own retail divisions as well. Perhaps the best examples of such companies would be Seasonic and FSP Group. We reviewed two of Seasonic's newest designs recently, the sensible S12G 650W and the potent Platinum SS-1200XP3, but we have not had a look at a PSU from FSP since the Xilenser, well over two years ago.
Today we are going to look at their most recent and advanced unit, the Aurum PT 1200W power supply. It is an 80 Plus Platinum certified PSU designed with enthusiasts in mind, and it appears to be a direct competitor to products such as Seasonic's Platinum SS-1200XP3, Cooler Master's V1200, and Corsair's AX1200i. Can it hold its own against the very best units that the industry has to offer? We'll find out in this review.
| Power specifications ( Rated @ 50 °C ) | |||||
| AC INPUT | 100 - 240 VAC, 50 - 60 Hz | ||||
| RAIL | +3.3V | +5V | +12V | +5Vsb | -12V |
| MAX OUTPUT | 25A | 25A | 100A | 3A | 0.8A |
| 160W | 1200W | 15W | 9.6W | ||
| TOTAL | 1200W | ||||
Packaging and Bundle
FSP supplies the Aurum PT 1200W in a relatively small cardboard box with a simple, elegant artwork theme. The key features are noted on the front of the box, with full specifications and additional details on the sides and rear.
Inside the box, we find a very minimalist bundle for what is supposed to be a top tier product. FSP includes only the necessary AC power cord, four black thumbscrews (note: normal screws are not included), a few zip-ties, a very basic manual, and a bag with the cables.
There are four bundles of modular cables inside the nylon bag, each held together with a reusable velcro cable strap. FSP made an odd selection regarding the cables of the Aurum PT 1200W unit, supplying flat black cables for the SATA/Molex connectors and typical cables with color-coded wires and black sleeving for everything else.
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Hrel - Thursday, October 16, 2014 - link
Starts at 30db? Not interested.kmmatney - Thursday, October 16, 2014 - link
"The unit is actually almost entirely silent up to 60% load, at which point the fan starts to speed up and becomes audible. "Death666Angel - Thursday, October 16, 2014 - link
Pretty sure they don't have a sound proof room to test, so 30dB is their noise floor.bsim500 - Saturday, October 18, 2014 - link
"Pretty sure they don't have a sound proof room to test, so 30dB is their noise floor."^ This. The only "quiet sound testing" which is useful these days is from SPCR (SilentPCReview) who built their own anechoic chamber with a single digit noise floor, and are very nitpickety over the quality of the sound too (clicking, buzzing, coil whine, turbulence, etc).
just4U - Thursday, October 16, 2014 - link
It seems a bit silly that they'd make the chassis look so nice only to slack off with the cables.. I expect that (but don't like seeing it..) in cheap units.. but not in higher end products that try to hit all the key points. FSP you can do better.wetwareinterface - Thursday, October 16, 2014 - link
this supply is a quality unit, gives 1200 watts, and is only $240. fancy cables means you up the price to $300 plus. and the market for sleeved cables is really small and served best by the custom choices out there.after you spend an extra $100 on sleeved cables you want them in a color to match your build not whatever color fsp decided to give everyone.
Gigaplex - Thursday, October 16, 2014 - link
Simply using all-black wiring would be sufficient in most cases and not cost any extra. The multicoloured wiring doesn't look good in any build.just4U - Friday, October 17, 2014 - link
exactly.eek2121 - Friday, October 17, 2014 - link
Take it from someone who works for a company that owns a large portion of the (braided) sleeving market. If you are charging your customers a markup for what amounts to $0.25 worth of sleeving...you are doing it wrong.just4U - Friday, October 17, 2014 - link
A lot of people who build computers want a nice clean uniform look to it all... it's not really even a plus anymore but rather a requirement. It doesn't necessarily add to the cost either and if it does it's certainly not by the amount your suggesting. That's not to say you can't spend that much with aftermarket items and/or certain themed products but it's not normally something that adds a ton to the overall pricing.