Introduction



Today we'll be testing a Small Form factor Power Supply. Seasonic was so kind to send us their newly introduced SS-250SVP Active PFC, a 250-watt mini power supply. There is another model Super Versatile 200, rated at 200-watt.

Seasonic you say? Seasonic has been in the business for over 30 years, a veteran in power supply manufacturing serving the OEM markets. Its channel of distribution expanded to mass market a few years ago using its own brand name allowing the PC enthusiasts the same quality products once enjoyed only by OEMs. . Here is a little history overview from their site:



Impressive history, I may add. While Seasonic is new to me, it is certainly not for other MAD reviewers, we have had tasted their excellent S-12 500 in the past; and their Power Angel just a few days ago.

Features:

Active Power Factor Correction (99% PFC)

Super High Efficiency (up to 80%): Save 15% more energy than regular Power Supply.

Smart & Silent Fan Control: Reduce noise without increasing temperature, silent enthusiast’s best choice.

Full three years warranty

All-in-one Bracket: Upgrade or replace your brand name PC’s power supply. (e-Machine, HP& Compaq)

The last item certainly sounds interesting, as this might replace the aging power supply in an older computer, which may otherwise cost a lot more from the friendly OEM hard part department.

Let's take a look at the package and the unit itself. In the box we found:

SS-250SVP

Power cable

Screws

Short manual

Dr. Cable and cable tie for cable management

For 250-watt unit, this power supply packs quit a lot of connectors. Except for the normal ATX connections (20 and 4 pins) there are four (4) molex connectors, two (2) SATA and two (2) floppy drive connections. The last connection is a fan header with two leads for monitoring the fan speed in the power supply.







Size wise this unit is dwarfed by a conventional ATX power supply; in the photo’s below you can see it compared to a Zalman PSU.




Installation:

The installation is plain and simple, but there are some extra's that need to be addressed. First the back plate which makes the PSU multifunctional in either a small or large case: Secondly, the Dr. Cable to wrap over the main and 4-pin cables or however neat the user likes to make it in optimizing case airflow.

Dr. Cable comes in two sizes; a large one for the main and the smaller for SATA, Molex and however the user sees fit to work on. For the finishing touch there are tie wraps provided.



Time for some testing ->

Test Setup

To test this power supply, I use a system that will likely be found in OEM setting in terms of power consumption relative to processor requirement and number of optical drive that would match the rated output.

Piotke's Test Setup
CPU	AMD sempron 64 2600+ @ 2 Ghz
Cooler	Zalman 7000Cu - Fan @ 5 Volt
Mainboard	Albatron K8 Ultra
HDD	Maxtor 250 gig
VGA	Albatron GF4 MX480
Memory	2*512 Mb A-Data Vitesta DDR600
Optical	Nec 2500 DVD writer

The Sempron 2600+ @ 2000 Mhz and 1.6 vcore is putting out close to 100 Watt according to this online calculator. Measured with a power meter we found following power usage:

Idle: 99 Watt

Stressed: 151 Watt

Noise level was recorded with SmartSensor SL4001A. The lowest dBA reading in the test room was 35.7dBA

Performance

A couple of days ago I reviewed a Global Win mini Case which came with a 200 watt Mini PSU I will included it here for comparison.



Both PSU's have stable voltage lines. The graph shows Seaonic's advantage over Global Win, I assume the 50 extra watts might have played a role here. Or, it could be the experience behind Seasonic's long history in producing what they do best and nothing else. ISO9001 and 9002 certifications with the use of SPC (Statistic Process Control) in manufacturing are paying off.

Sound measurements

Two words explain it all: "Super silent".

With an ambient noise level of 35.7 dBA we got a reading of 37.9 dBA at ~60cm. That's almost inaudible. Stressing the PSU for a longer time makes the fan run faster, but only slightly louder.

Conclusion

This little PSU isn't a power beast and it is not meant to be. With only 250-watt it won't be able to pull a 3GHz + Intel Prescott and a high performance VGA card. This isn't the main goal of this PSU. The box states: "Best for upgrading your OEM power supplies" is not an over statement.

Older OEM built computers, such as Compaq and Dell were using smaller PSU's. Now, a couple of years later, the PSU's are completely dust ridden and become unreliable. This is the perfect PSU for the needed upgrade. And at the other hand, if you intend to build a low power system, such as a Sempron based system and you are aiming towards silence, this one will catch you attention.

Featuring 4 Molex connectors and 2 SATA connectors, it will feed all your optical and hard disk drive hunger?

With a price tag of ~$US39 isn't a low price unit, but a quality power supply at a reasonable price. And, you can always rely on the excellent warranty coverage in case something does go wrong from a manufacturer who has been in business for over 30 years.

PRO
Very Silent
More than sufficient connections for a 250 watt PSU
Dr. Cable and tie wraps for cable management

CON
"Only" 250 watts model available

I like to thank Celia from Seasonic for providing us the test unit.



Question/Comments: forum thread