PSUs

Seasonic Focus GX-850 V4 ATX v3.1 PSU Review

crmaris

The Seasonic Focus GX line got an upgrade to meet the strict ATX v3.1 and PCIe 5.1 requirements, and in today’s review I will look at the model with 850W max power.

The Seasonic Focus GX-850 V4 ATX v3.1 is (or will be) included in my best ATX v3.x & PCIe 5.x PSU picks article.

Seasonic recently updated its popular Focus GX line, making it compatible with the ATX v3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards. The line consists of three models with capacities ranging from 750W to 1000W. All have compact dimensions, with 140mm depth. Despite the small dimensions, Seasonic fit a 135mm diameter fan to keep noise output low. Seasonic also talks about the OptiSink design, which brings a new PCB layout to the Focus V4 units, aiming to increase reliability by improving heat dissipation and airflow. According to Seasonic’s claims, the latest PCB design offers an eightfold increase in heat dissipation, keeping the operating temperatures low and increasing the PSU’s reliability.

 

The prices of the Focus GX V4 units are the following

  • Focus GX-750: $ 129.99 (USA) / 119.90€ (Europe) / $119.99 (ROW)
  • Focus GX-850: $149.99 (USA) / 139.90€ (Europe) / $139.99 (ROW)
  • Focus GX-1000: $189.99 (USA) / 169.90€ (Europe) / $169.99 (ROW)
  • Focus GX-750 White: $139.99 (USA) / 129.90€ (Europe) / $129.99 (ROW)
  • Focus  GX-850 White: $159.99 (USA) / 149.90€ (Europe) / $149.99 (ROW)
  • Focus  GX-1000 White: $199.99 (USA) / 179.90€ (Europe) / $179.99 (ROW)

 

ATX v3.1 850W PSU Reviews:

Cybenetics PSU Test Database
Best ATX v3.x PSUs
Technical Specifications:
  • Manufacturer (OEM): Seasonic
  • Max Power: 850W
  • Cybenetics Efficiency: [115V] Cybenetics Platinum (89-91%), [230V] Cybenetics Platinum (91-93%)
  • Noise: Cybenetics A- (25-30 dB[A])
  • Compliance: ATX v3.1, EPS 2.92
  • Operating Temperature (Continuous Full Load): 0 – 50 °C
  • Alternative Low Power Mode support: Yes
  • Power 12V combined: 850W
  • Number of 12V rails: 1
  • Power 5V + 3.3v: 100W
  • Power 5VSB: 15W
  • Cooling: 135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan (HA13525H12F-Z)
  • Semi-Passive Operation: ✓ (Selectable)
  • Modular Design: Yes (Fully)
  • High Power Connectors: 2x EPS (2x cables), 3x PCIe 6+2 pin (3x cables), 1x PCIe 12+4 pin (600W)
  • Peripheral Connectors: 8x SATA (2x cables), 3x 4-pin Molex (1x cable)
  • ATX Cable Length: 610mm
  • EPS Cable Length: 750mm
  • 12+4 pin PCIe Cable Length: 700mm
  • 6+2 pin PCIe Cable Length: 750mm
  • Distance between SATA / 4-pin Molex: 150/120mm
  • In-cable capacitors: No
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): 150 mm x 85 mm x 140mm
  • Weight: 1.60 kg (3.5 lb)
  • Warranty: 10-years
  • MSRP (excluding VAT): $140

Power Specifications

Rail 3.3V 5V 12V 5VSB -12V
Max. Power Amps 20 20 70 3 0.3
Watts 100 840 15 3.6
Total Max. Power (W) 850
Pages:
  1. Prologue & Technical specifications
  2. Box & Bundle, Product Photos & Cables
  3. Part Analysis
  4. Load Regulation & Ripple Suppression
  5. Transient Response
  6. Hold-Up time, Inrush Current & PSU Timings
  1. Efficiency, Power Factor, 5VSB & Vampire Power
  2. Protection Features
  3. Noise Output
  4. Overall Performance
  5. Epilogue
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
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6 thoughts on “Seasonic Focus GX-850 V4 ATX v3.1 PSU Review”

    1. I can confirm the fan in GX-850 V4 is way too loud (I have the PSU here). Indeed it starts spinning at too high RPM. The fan curve is absolutely terrible. Even at 360 Watts load during gaming the PSU fan in the GX-850 V4 is by far the loudest component in my PC. I compared the GX-850 V4 ATX PSU against my Seasonic Focus SPX 2021 SPX-750 750W SFX PSU with a 92 mm fan (vs 135 mm fan inside the GX-850 V4) and the small SFX PSU is significantly more quiet, it is almost inaudible below 400 Watts load. The small SPX-750 is absolutely compatible with Silent PC bulds, while the GX-850 V4 is absolutely unacceptable for Silent PC builds. Also the fan curve for the GX-850 V4 is absolutely trash. After closing a video game and going from around 400 Watts down to 80 Watts idle- it takes the fan like 2-3 minutes to stop spinning meanwhile the 92mm fan inside the small SPX-750 SFX psu stops spinning after like 10-15 seconds when closing the game and going from high load back to idle. I suspect it is the “new Seasonic OptiSink Design” that requires much more cooling. While it might have a bigger surface area for cooling in total, it lacks actual physical mass of bigger metal cooling heatsinks. Because of that it needs constant and active cooling compared to solutions with big aluminium heatsinks. All the marketing talk seems to be a bunch of bull, Quote:

      “The eightfold increase in heat dissipation keeps the internals of the power supply cooler, eventually leading to improved product quality, long-term reliability, and more efficient operation.

      The redesigned layout of the power supply components and its improved thermal performance creates versatility and allows the power supply to be safely installed in any orientation.

      The OptiSink design is an eco-friendly solution that not only lowers the costs of material usage and production but also leads to energy savings in the long run.”

      What it really means is- it is way cheaper for Seasonic to manufacture and because of that, they make more profit with the new OptiSink design. The downside is that it needs constant active air cooling due to lack of mass from big metal heatsinks, which are way more effective at cooling.

      Needless to say I’ve returned the GX-850 V4, it’s absolutely terrible and unacceptable in terms of noise, I kid you not- the small SPX-750 is significantly more quiet. I made video comparisons as well, might upload them to YT later.

      Reply

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