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It has been a while since I last looked at an FSP power supply, so I jumped at the chance when they offered me their latest Hydro Ti Pro unit, in 1000W capacity. They also make a 850W model which they didn't send us. FSP, like Seasonic, are an OEM that many companies will partner with when they want to release a PSU to market. We have reviewed FSP designs in be quiet! products before and, like Seasonic, they also release their own brand of units directly to the public.
This new platform is exclusive to FSP right now and as far as we know none of their partners have access to it (yet). They sent us a special edition model which has a slightly different colour. Technically it will be the same as the model people can buy from retail stores. FSP are backing these units up with a 10 year warranty.
FSP say the unit incorporates 105C capacitors
Product overview:
- Complies with ATX12V V3.0 &EPS12V V2.92
- Efficiency ≧ 94% @ typical load
- Active PFC ≧ 0.9
- 450V, 105°C Japanese bulk capacitors
- Japanese electrolytic capacitors
- Industrial-grade design with conformal coating application
- +12V single-rail design
- +5V & 3.3V DC to DC module design
- Eco semi-fanless fan control switch
- 135mm fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) fan
- Fully modular cabling design
- Black flat cables
- Complete protection: OCP/OVP/OPP/SCP/OTP
- 10 Year warranty.
FPS sent us a special edition unit which has a full colour outer sleeve with some details on the product. We don't think FSP are actually selling this version to the public. So clearly this is just a ‘reviewer's special.' The plain black one released to the public is identical internally.
When we remove the outer ‘special edition cover', underneath we see a much more sedate brown box with line art graphics.
FSP supply stickers with this special edition bundle along with literature and a user manual for the power supply.
FSP supply a plethora of cables and connectors with the supply – two EPS connectors, a single 12+4 PCIe 5.0 connector, three 6+2 pin PCIe individual cables. The ATX cable uses in-cable capacitors to help ripple filtering. Cable lengths are fine.
FPS sent us a special edition unit which is coated in a very unusual, almost gunmetal finish. The standard model is black, the actual chassis itself is identical between models. FSP didn't indicate if this special edition would be available at retail, but we assume its a ‘reviewer's special'. The power supply measures 150x150x86mm.
The fan is hidden behind a fancy cut out grille – we will take a look at this later when we open the unit.
The modular bay is segmented into sections and clearly labelled for ease of use during the routing phase of the build.
The other side of the PSU chassis has the power connector, power button, ECO switch and venting to aid with cooling. The text ‘power never ends' is showcased under the power socket. Doesn't make a lot of sense, but some Asian manufacturers seem to love these non-sensical slogans on their products.
This 1000W unit can deliver 83.3A on the +12V rail. and 20A on both +3.3V and 5V rails.
FSP are using a 135mm fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) Protechnic Electric fan. Model MGA13512XF-A25, it's rated 12V, 0.38A.
This new FSP platform adopts a bridgeless APFC design to increase efficiency levels. A full bridge topology ensures the platform will have reduced energy losses. The Secondary side adopts a synchronous rectification system for the 12V rails with a pair of DC-DC converters generate the minor rails.
There are a handful of vertical boards slotted into the main PCB which are home to some important components. Soldering quality is high throughout. Due to the extremely high efficiency of a Titanium power supply, there is also no need to populate the PCB with a lot of heatsinks.
FSP are using two high grade 105C rated Japanese capacitors from Nippon Chemi Con. The two caps are 450V : 330uF (KMR series) and 680uF (KMZ) rated for a total of 1010uF.
FSP are keen to highlight their ‘Off-Wet, Off-Dust, and Off Stain' features. They say the Hydro Ti PRO unit is covered with a conformal coating which protects it from dust, stains and humidity. They say its guaranteed to offer better and more reliable performance in harsh environments and is tested to work in environments with up to 95% humidity.
Correctly testing power supplies is a complex procedure and KitGuru have configured a test bench which can deliver up to a 2,000 watt DC load.
We test ambient temperatures at 35c in our environment to greater reflect warmer internal chassis conditions.
We use combinations of the following hardware:
• SunMoon SM-268
• CSI3710A Programmable DC load (+3.3V and +5V outputs)
• CSI3711A Programmable DC load (+12V1, +12V2, +12V3, and +12V4)
• Extech Power Analyzer
• Extech MultiMaster MM570 digital multimeter
• SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa)
• Digital oscilloscope (20M S/s with 12 Bit ADC)
• Variable Autotransformer, 1.4 KVA
We test in a single +12V configuration.
|
DC Output Load Regulation
|
||||||||||
|
Combined DC Load |
+3.3V
|
+5V
|
+12V
|
+5VSB
|
-12V | |||||
|
A
|
V
|
A
|
V
|
A
|
V
|
A
|
V
|
A | V | |
|
100W
|
0.90
|
3.34
|
0.90
|
5.15
|
7.35
|
12.15
|
0.50
|
5.01
|
0.20
|
-12.04
|
|
200W
|
1.60
|
3.34
|
1.64
|
5.14
|
15.13
|
12.13
|
1.00
|
5.01
|
0.20
|
-12.04
|
|
500W
|
3.20
|
3.34
|
3.25
|
5.14
|
38.60
|
12.13
|
1.50
|
5.02
|
0.20
|
-12.05
|
| 750W |
4.03
|
3.34
|
4.16
|
5.14
|
58.53
|
12.11
|
2.00
|
5.01
|
0.30
|
-12.04
|
|
1000W
|
5.45
|
3.34
|
5.51
|
5.14
|
78.13
|
12.11
|
2.50
|
5.02
|
0.30
|
-12.03
|
The load regulation of this power supply is really good, especially on the +12V rail. Class leading, really.
| FSP Hydro Ti Pro 1000W Titanium | Maximum Load |
| 1205 |
The power supply managed to deliver 1205W, before safely shutting down.
Next we want to try Cross Loading. This basically means loads which are not balanced. If a PC for instance needs 500W on the +12V outputs but something like 30W via the combined 3.3V and +5V outputs then the voltage regulation can fluctuate badly.
| Cross Load Testing | +3.3V | +5V | +12V | -12V | +5VSB | |||||
| A | V | A | V | A | V | A | V | A | V | |
| 885W | 2.0 | 3.34 | 2.0 | 5.14 | 72.0 | 12.10 | 0.2 | -12.03 | 0.50 | 5.03 |
| 240W | 20.0 | 3.33 | 23.0 | 5.12 | 2.0 | 12.13 | 0.2 | -12.02 | 0.50 | 5.02 |
The FSP power supply delivered very strong results when dealing with our cross load testing. Rock solid under all conditions.
We then used an oscilloscope to measure AC ripple and noise present on the DC outputs. We set the oscilloscope time base to check for AC ripple at both high and low ends of the spectrum. ATX12V V2.2 specification for DC output ripple and noise is defined in the ATX 12V power supply design guide.
|
ATX12V Ver 2.2 Noise/Ripple Tolerance
|
|
|
Output
|
Ripple (mV p-p)
|
|
+3.3V
|
50
|
|
+5V
|
50
|
|
+12V1
|
120
|
|
+12V2
|
120
|
|
-12V
|
120
|
|
+5VSB
|
50
|
Obviously when measuring AC noise and ripple on the DC outputs, the cleaner (less recorded) means we have a better end result. We measured this AC signal amplitude to see how closely the unit complied with the ATX standard.
| AC Ripple (mV p-p) | ||||
| DC Load | +3.3V | +5V | +12V | 5VSB |
| 100W | 15 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 250W | 15 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 500W | 15 | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| 750W | 20 | 10 | 15 | 15 |
| 1000W | 20 | 10 | 20 | 15 |
Ripple noise suppression from this new FSP design is excellent, peaking at 20mV on the +12V Rail, and 20mV and 10mV on the +3.3V and +5V rails respectively. Well within industry rated parameters.
|
Efficiency (%)
|
|
|
100W
|
93.4
|
|
250W
|
94.6
|
|
500W
|
96.7
|
|
750W
|
95.6
|
|
1000W
|
94.8
|
The efficiency results are class leading, peaking at 96.7% between 45% and 55% load.
We take the issue of noise very seriously at KitGuru and this is why we have built a special home brew system as a reference point when we test noise levels of various components. Why do this? Well this means we can eliminate secondary noise pollution in the test room and concentrate on components we are testing. It also brings us slightly closer to industry standards, such as DIN 45635.
Today to test the Power Supply we have taken it into our acoustics room environment and have set our SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa) one meter away from the unit. We have no other fans running so we can effectively measure just the noise from the unit itself.
As this can be a little confusing for people, here are various dBa ratings in with real world situations to help describe the various levels.
KitGuru noise guide
10dBA – Normal Breathing/Rustling Leaves
20-25dBA – Whisper
30dBA – High Quality Computer fan
40dBA – A Bubbling Brook, or a Refrigerator
50dBA – Normal Conversation
60dBA – Laughter
70dBA – Vacuum Cleaner or Hairdryer
80dBA – City Traffic or a Garbage Disposal
90dBA – Motorcycle or Lawnmower
100dBA – MP3 Player at maximum output
110dBA – Orchestra
120dBA – Front row rock concert/Jet Engine
130dBA – Threshold of Pain
140dBA – Military Jet takeoff/Gunshot (close range)
160dBA – Instant Perforation of eardrum
|
Noise (dBA)
|
|
|
100W
|
<28.0
|
|
250W
|
<28.0
|
|
500W
|
29.4
|
|
750W
|
30.6
|
| 1000W | 34.3 |
FSP have opted for a very relaxed fan profile. This is one of the benefits of having a unit with such high levels of efficiency, you can afford to run the fan slower as less heat is being pumped into the chassis. Even at full load, the fan, while audible is never intrusive.
|
Temperature (c)
|
||
|
Intake
|
Exhaust
|
|
|
100W
|
37
|
38
|
|
250W
|
38
|
41
|
|
500W
|
40
|
44
|
|
750W
|
45
|
51
|
|
1000W
|
46
|
55
|
No problems maintaining great temperatures inside the chassis. The very high levels of efficiency ensure that the fan never has to work too hard to maintain great ambient results. If you live in a hot and humid climate, this PSU should surely be on your shortlist.
|
Maximum load
|
Efficiency
|
|
1205W
|
93.8%
|
Pushing the PSU above its rated limits generates an efficiency level of close to 94%
Until today, I always considered FSP to be a company who made power supplies to hit a specific audience interested in a decent, good value for money power supply. They have had their share of successes, and unfortunately some failures as well. The Hydro Ti Pro 1000W, remarkably, is one of the finest power supplies I have ever reviewed. i was not expecting this new platform to be this good.
The overall performance of this power supply is class leading. Ripple suppression is fantastic, with the +12V rail holding at reference results throughout all loads. The efficiency levels are also remarkable, with the unit achieving 96.7% efficiency in our testing – one of the best results we have ever seen. It exhibited no weaknesses in any of our extensive testing over the last week.
These high levels of efficiency mean that the fan is never operating at close to full speed, and the unit remains quiet even when loaded with 1000 watts of power. We actually managed to get just over 1200 watts of power from the supply before it safely shut down.
FSP have not cut corners with this new platform. The bridgeless APFC design with full bridge topology is stellar, and the adoption of the highest grade Japanese 105C rated Nippon Chemi Con capacitors will ensure long life and reliability.
Again, the only real issue for me will be the emails I will get from readers now asking where they can buy this unit. You will likely never see it in the United Kingdom and even readers in some parts of Europe have struggled to get their power supplies in the past. Availability has always been the major issue for FSP – and it has been how I usually end an FSP review. If you can find one, make sure to grab it.
I can't get confirmed UK pricing and FSP haven't even confirmed availability at all, however they are quoting an asking price of $349. So it is an expensive power supply, but worth the asking price – if you want the highest quality power that money can buy. It takes a serious product to justify a $349 asking price, but the Hydro Ti Pro is worth it.
Pros:
- Class leading power supply. One of the best we have tested.
- Fully modular.
- Incredible efficiency levels.
- Very quiet.
- Runs cool.
- High build quality.
- ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 ready.
- FDB fan runs quiet
- 10 year warranty.
- Small 15cm footprint.
Cons:
- Expensive.
- FSP ongoing problems with lack of availability.
KitGuru says: The FSP Hydro Ti Pro 1000W Titanium power supply has blown me away. It is one of the best power supplies we have ever seen. If you are lucky enough to find one available in your region, it deserves some serious consideration.
