Seasonic Prime TX-1300 ATX v3.0 PSU Review

Epilogue

The Seasonic TX-1300 ATX 3.0 is a super expensive and top-performing PSU, featuring equally high build quality and an extra-long warranty period, reaching twelve years, supporting it. When you buy such an expensive PSU, you don’t spend money. You invest them in something that will last for many system builds, passing unnoticed since it won’t bother you. With a good PSU, you make sure that power delivery is smooth, and in the majority of PC problems, power is usually the main culprit, so having that out of the equation will make your life easy in case you face a problem. 

Besides top transient response at 12V, the most important rail, sky-high efficiency, low ripple, and high power levels, the TX-1300 is also super quiet! It is one of the quietest high-power units I have tested. The use of large heatsinks and the Titanium efficiency help in that. Moreover, regarding its efficiency certification, I noticed this unit is close to the Cybenetics Diamond rating at 115V. So far, after more than six years since the Diamond level’s requirements were introduced, no manufacturer has met them. I would love to see someone finally introducing a Diamond PSU since Titanium has been around for too long, and we need to step up the game!

Although the 5VSB rail’s efficiency is among the highest I have measured so far, and 115V standby power is dead low, at 230V, the standby power is a bit above 0.1W. I want to see it below that threshold. In such an expensive and high-end product, I am super picky! Also, the APFC converter needs tuning for higher performance, especially at 230V. Since 230V ratings are not as popular as 115V ones, manufacturers don’t pay great attention to the APFC converter’s performance at 230V, resulting in not-high PF readings. I will keep emphasizing that until PF gets higher at this voltage level. Power factor affects power consumption, so it needs to be as high as possible. Lastly, I know that the 3.3V rail won’t see much action, especially at high loads, but still, I don’t want to see below 3.2V levels once I hit it with a transient load.

I noticed a voltage drop at 12V during one of the turn-on transient response tests. I should note that I don’t include all tests I conduct in my reviews, or else the reviews would reach 30 pages, but once I spot a problem, I mention it, including the relevant screenshots. As you can see in the above scope shots, the waveforms in the first and third tests are good, but there is an evident problem in the second. Applying a full load the moment you switch one of the PSUs through its power switch is not the most realistic scenario, but from the moment the ATX spec requires it, I have to do it, and the PSU has to comply, too. The same issue was present in the TX-1600 unit and less severe in the PX-1600.

Overall, the Seasonic TX-1300 is a great performing PSU, worthy of a recommendation. 

To check all alternative PSU offerings, read my Best ATX v3.x PSUs article before investing in a new power supply. You help me a lot by using my affiliate links, which don’t increase the product’s price. I get a commission from Amazon every time you do it, which can make a difference for me, especially now that I am on my own, working exclusively for my media and not for someone else.