UPS compatibility
The SSR-550RM showed better compatibility
with UPSes than its low-end cousins. Operating with our APC SmartUPS SC 620, it
was stable at loads up to 382 watts when charged from the mainboards and could
change to using the UPS’s power source at loads up of 325 watts.
Voltage stability
The
voltage stability
Similar to the low-end model, the +12V
voltage varies in the range of about 2% at the lowest level of loads. It's more
stable than in the SSR-360GP Seasonic at higher loads, keeping about 1% loads
as a required level.
The
voltage stability
The +5V voltage is in the range of 1%
according to most of requested levels in the charge. Contrary to the Seasonic
SSR-360GP, about 2% on the chart is in the area of lower load levels but are
higher loads on with all power strips.
The
voltage stability
The +3.3V voltage is the least stable level
of all. When in very low load level on each power strip, it even exceeds the
promised limit of 3%. However, it's not a big problem.
Overall, we are unable to find any
discrepancies in the maintenance of the stability of SSR-550RM.
Output voltage ripples
The
graph describes the output voltage
Compared to the low-end models, the voltage
ripples fluctuate with the greater frequency than in the range of +12V voltage
but a little weaker than in the other strips.
The
graph describes the output voltage
However, there are hardly any voltage
ripples on the range of +12V rail at the doubled grid frequency.
Therefore, the ripple that describes the
output voltage of the SSR-550RM is higher than with Seasonic’s much more
improved PSUs but still meets the requirements of industry standards.
Temperature and noise
The
PSU’s fan
The SSR-550RM is cooled by A70GL AD1212MB
ADDA 2050RPM fan.
The
graph depicts the noise level and temperature.
The fan is adjusted in the similar way to
the previous model except that it accelerates quickly and smoothly. Only the
device is at 350 watts, the fan gets at 1000 RPM and starts making noise, which
is uncomfortable. In the SSR-360GP, the fan speed is high as 1800 RPM.
The SSR-550RM gradually makes its fan
operate at 1800 RPM but only at 500 watts or higher.
Therefore, the SSR-550RM is better than
SSR-360GP in terms of sounds. It runs smoothly when at 300 watts, still very
quiet when at up to 350 watts and only starts to become noisy, uncomfortable at
loads of 400 watts or more.
Efficiency and power factor
The
graph of efficiency and power factor
The SSR-550RM had efficiency of 88.5%,
92.3% and 90.8% respectively with a 20%, 50% and 100%. The maximum efficiency
of 92.4% was observed at a load of 309 watts.
The power factor was 99% when the input
voltage reached to 50% and the maximum was 99.8%.
Standby source
Standby
source
The standby source does its job well
without any problems at all.
Conclusion
The low-level models of Seasonic’s new
Gold-certified PSUs, SSR-360GP, does not seem to have any alternative products
if you need an ATX power supply with high efficiency which has a wattage index
below 400 watts. We cannot recall any other Gold-certified PSU with the same
technical specifications whereas the fanless product models of such watts have
the price that has almost doubled. We must say that the 360W PSU is enough for
a more advanced PC configuration with a high-end CPU, a little faster graphics
card and a few HDDs.
The higher-wattage models of the series are
priced comparably to the Cooler Master’s Silent Pro Gold PSUs with the same
consumed watts; these products are based on the Enhance platform. The
Seasonic’s PSUs are louder when charging at high loads and quieter than the low
and medium ones. They are also better at in terms of input voltage fluctuation.
Compared with other Gold-certified
products, the Seasonic G series is only slightly more expensive than the FSP
Aurum (Aurum-based PSUs of the other brands, like the Thermaltake’s Toughpower
GOLD). However, FSP Aurum is lower in a few parameters such as input voltage
fluctuation, the sound level (at any level of electrical loads) and voltage
stability.
Therefore, the Seasonic has released with a
very good series of Gold-certified PSU products that are affordable. With the
combination of price and technical specs, they have only one competitor, the
Cooler Master’s Silent Pro Gold. However, the two product series overlap but
partially (the Silent Pro Gold starts at 550 watts while the Seasonic G ends at
650 watts), so the Seasonic G has no real alternative at the lower consumed
watts.
Advantages
·
Ability to compare to the X-line counterparts in
voltage stability and efficiency
·
Low input voltage fluctuation
·
Fairly quiet at the low and medium power loads.
·
The good connectors and cables.
·
Ability to load full power strips.
·
low price (for an 80 PLUS Gold product)
Disadvantages
·
The fan noise while charging at high loads.
·
Slightly short CPU power cable
