The Fractal Design Ion+ 760P 80Plus Platinum PSU Review: A High-End PSU For the Mainstream Builder
by E. Fylladitakis on August 6, 2019 9:00 AM ESTCold Test Results
For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts. For a thorough explanation of our testing methodology and more details on our equipment, please refer to our How We Test PSUs - 2014 Pipeline post.
The energy conversion efficiency of the new Ion+ 760P at room temperature is excellent, even for an 80Plus Platinum certified product. Considering the 80Plus Platinum certification requirements for either 230 VAC or 115 VAC input, the Ion+ 760P significantly surpasses the minimum required efficiency at any given load. It reaches up to 94.4% efficiency at 50% load with an input voltage of 230 VAC, which drops to 92.6% if the input voltage is 115 VAC. The average nominal load (20%-100%) efficiency is 93.1% and 91.3% with an input voltage of 230 VAC and 115 VAC respectively. Considering that 80Plus certification testing takes place at temperatures lower than the current ambient temperature of our testing environment (room temperature is defined as 25 °C and that is used for 80Plus certification tests, while our room temperature was over 27 °C at the time of our testing), the efficiency of the Ion+ 760P is well above the minimum 80Plus Platinum requirements.
We tested the Ion+ 760P with the semi-fanless mode activated, where the fan is programmed not to start until necessary. Despite the relatively high room temperature, the fan of the PSU did not start before the load exceeded 300 Watts, which is comparatively speaking a very high tripping point for semi-fanless designs. After that point, the fan started and continued to increase its speed alongside with the load and yet barely reached up to 40% of its maximum speed at full load, with our instruments reading 38 dB(A). The operating temperature of the Ion+ 760P is very low for a unit with this kind of output, barely reaching over 55 °C under maximum load.
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mat9v - Tuesday, August 6, 2019 - link
I wonder, did they not get the memo, that "Warranty void if seal is broken" stickers are illegal now?PeachNCream - Tuesday, August 6, 2019 - link
They're not illegal. It's just that voiding a warranty based solely on breaking a factory seal (unless that seal is critical to the operation of the item in question like say opening a helium filled HDD casing) is no longer legally enforceable in the United States when it is reasonably possible for the owner to perform self-service or upgrades. In something like a desktop PC case filled with components that can be swapped or can accept new hardware it's an obvious thing that you can't void something out by adding RAM. A PSU that lacks user serviceable parts is an arguably different critter though so that sticker might actually pass muster in court.notashill - Tuesday, August 6, 2019 - link
Those stickers have been unenforceable since before PCs even existed, the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act was passed in 1975.PeachNCream - Tuesday, August 6, 2019 - link
Courts had to later decide whether or not the law applied to PC hardware and there was subsequent litigation regarding the matter that verified the voiding a warranty was not something that could be enforced for computing equipment. I'd be reluctant to say the decision was broad enough to encompass component-level items like power supplies though as there are no parts inside that are designed with end user modular upgrade capabilities in mind which circles back to my prior post. Where the is obvious user upgrade and replacement capabilities inside a PC, the lack inside a power supply gives the PSU manufacturer a lot more leverage to legitimately void a warranty if tampering is evident.mickulty - Tuesday, August 6, 2019 - link
It's a PSU, not a laptop - you're not going to upgrade it with third-party components.The provision that made the stickers a problem on *laptops and games consoles* is that "No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name".
In the context of games consoles this was decided to be relevant as people should be able to have a third-party technician upgrade their hard drive, or do it themselves - rather than being restricted to "PlayBox authorised technicians". However it is not relevant to a power supply.
It should also be noted that this law does not prevent the use of tamper seals, even in laptops and games consoles - it just requires that they not mislead consumers about their rights.
It's also worth mentioning that some GPU manufacturers who have been criticised for the stickers, such as XFX, will install a third-party cooler for *free* and so are completely entitled to condition the warranty on you not installing the cooler yourself (even though they'll usually be happy to authorise you to do so and make a note that your warranty remians intact if you make contact).
Ultimately it's complicated and '"Warranty void if seal is broken" stickers are illegal now' is at best a serious oversimplification.
kyuu - Tuesday, August 6, 2019 - link
While the stickers aren't "illegal", they aren't enforceable. There's nothing complicated about it. The law is that a company cannot void a warranty simply because a user breaks a seal. A warranty can only be legally voided if the company can prove that the user's actions actually resulted in the damage the user is attempting to make a warranty claim for. Otherwise, the company must honor their warranty. An arbitrary determination of what is "user-serviceable" or not by a company does not matter.TheUnhandledException - Wednesday, August 7, 2019 - link
Those stickers are unenforceable period. Unlike the prior posters claim they aren't "illegal" they are just a lie and totally unenforceable. To void a warranty requires that the manufacturer prove the user damaged the device. PERIOD. That is true for consoles, that is true for power supplies, hell that is true for lightbulbs.zepi - Wednesday, August 7, 2019 - link
Over 95% of world population doesn't live in US and therefore US legislation is mostly irrelevant for them.MobiusPizza - Thursday, August 8, 2019 - link
Exactly, I know Anandtech is a US site, but a lot of readers are international.I am surprised how narrow minded most Americans are about globalization, it's like they live in a bubble, no offense, just find it funny that's all. Surely that sticker is there not because they are targeting US customers and it may well be unenforceable in the US, but for majority of the population in the world the legislation is different. This should be the first thing that spring into the mind for those commenting.
Skeptical123 - Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - link
MobiusPizza come on man, I thought people on this site were better than that -"I am surprised how narrow minded most Americans are about globalization," that could be said about almost any other country on the planet. Brexit being the comically obvious example. We just have the largest English speaking population and trashing on "americas" is like trashing on one age demographic for the media. While not necessarily wrong there just doing it for the clicks/views. Also while globalization is very much increasing make no mistake we are still about a quarter of the GLOBAL GDP. Almost any product on the market at any reasonable scale is made for the US market and adapted for other countries. (I’m not saying this is a or bad thing) Do some research into standards body and that will become apparent. Phones, planes etc. Those warranty stickers are very much to deter US customers from opening up devices.