I also got the new S12-500W from pcalchemy and it has the 7-blade fan and the better capacitors. I haven't tested it yet because the rest of my computer parts aren't here.

I order the s12 500 but ...

Is that mean that I can't use one or two y molex cable , I need at least 7 or 8 molex but there are only 6 provided , I don't need the sata connector , so is it better to mod two sata connector and convert them in molex ?

thanks for advice.

I don't know how you could possibly need 7 to 8 molex connectors. All of your fans have pass-through molex, right?

my fans are connected to my rheobus but my sata hdd has his sata power connector off (after I have connected both sata and molex togheter, I know little stupid, at least no data corrupted )

1 for rheobus
3 for hdd
1 for 9800 pro
1 for cd-rw
1 for dvd rom

7 in the count

I'm still wonder if I will take the s12 with 6 molex + one y adaptater or the enermax noistaker with his 7 molex.

Found this site about a week ago and now I'm addicted. Don't know of any other site that's all about running it cooler, quieter, and more efficiently.

Anyhow, in checking out the reviews for a PSU for my next system, I came across the Seasonic 400/500/600HT's. Checked out the Plus 80 verification articles and decided this was the way to go. But the 400watter isn't available. Just got off the phone with a gentlman from Seasonic and what he told me was:
The above mentioned units are not available for retail, only industrial. I mentioned that some online stores have the 500 & 600 for sale. He told me that these aren't the same as the ones that got the Plus 80 verification - same model number but actually not the same. Also, that none of their PSU's available for retail are Plus 80's. He went on to say that they may release all these models as retail in the next 3-6 months.

My question to SPCR - the 500 and 600 models you tested - are they the retail or the unavailable 80 Plus industrial models?

They were the retail versions, those are:

S12-330(SS-330HB Active PFC)
S12-380(SS-380HB Active PFC)
S12-430(SS-430HB Active PFC)

S12-500(SS-500HT Active PFC)
S12-600(SS-600HT Active PFC)

And as you could see from the review, they had +80% efficiency, so I don't know what he was talking about .

Keep in mind that the Plus 80 requirements are more stringent and controlled than our tests can be. Just because a power supply manages to hit 80% efficiency under our test conditions doesn't necessarily mean it will do likewise in the Plus 80 test. Efficiency is load and temperature dependent, so it can vary depending on how it is used. Our efficiency measurements should be comprable to each other (because they're done the same way for every power supply), but the exact numbers aren't necessarily what Plus 80 will get.

If the OEM SS-500HT and SS-600HT got a 80 PLUS certificate I don't see how the retail versions aren't as capable.

There seems to be some misunderstanding, probably on my part, so let me attempt to clarify.
The gentleman I talked to at Seasonic said that the 3 PSU's that got the 80 Plus verification were not versions available to the public. Even though they have the same model numbers, the ones that got verification are different from the ones available to the public. This seemed odd to me - why use the same model numbers if they are actually different models - and I asked him that question. Didn't really get an answer. But he stressed that the verified models are not the same as those available to us end users. And that there are currently no Plus 80 verified models available to end users. BUT that he would note my call as a vote to get those models to us and that this might happen in a 3- 6 month time frame. Althought he DID NOT sound like someone who was in a decision making position.
I do not know his name. A lady answered and she forwarded me to him when I mentioned I was inquiring about a model that 80 Plus showed as verified but that I couldn't find listed at any retailer (the 400w version).

He did say that the verified models were "industrial versions". Since he also said that they weren't available to end users, I take that to mean that they are being used in some application that we'd never see, even as OEMs.
Hope this helps. As for me, I think I'm more confused now than before.

gbaustin is correct, and we've been wrong all along: The S12-500/600 are NOT 80 Plus approved. Only special tweaked OEM variants of the SS-xxxHT series are 80 Plus approved. The 80 Plus rebate program only applies to system integrators, so this makes sense.

My apology for this error; it was certainly unintentional, and does not change our opinion of the S12-500/600 in any other way.

An errata notice has also been posted in the review:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article247-page1.html

Mike and Devon,

Do you know if the new S12-500 and S12-600 are already available in Canada?

Anitec in Vancouver seems to have them in stock but I have no idea if it is the new version.

They've been in circulation at least a 2-3 months... I don't see why not.

Is the ADDA fan with open or closed corners?

-Edit-
Open corners according to a pic from SS-400HT review.

I'd hate to get the wrong one and then to have to ship it back at my expense and pay a restocking fee.
I tried emailing Anitec and got an "engrish" reply that doesn't tell me much

I have to offer an efficiency test at full load of the S12-500 at 240V. It reads 83% which contrasts a bit to the 86% of the SPCR review. Was done by the german printed magazine C't in the issue 18/05. But it proofed itself to be the most silent PSU among 19 other high powered.

Was the "Be-Quiet" included on that comparative?

A moot point IMO. As Devonavar mentioned earlier in this thread, efficiency of a power supply depends on many factors: Ambient temperature, input voltage, input frequency, variations in quality between samples, etc. This makes it impossible to say that model X power supply is xx% efficient. Even when comparing against other SPCR's reviews, one must look at the results scrutinously, as ambient conditions will vary slightly from day to day.

The new Seasonics have some compatibility issue with DFI motherboards.
Film at 11.

I'm not experiencing this problem with my S12-600 and DFI LAN Party nF4 SLI-DR, but I have one of the original S12-600s.

-Ed

I wonder what are the differences - internally - between the 500 and the 600. If the fan is the same, and I suppose the base design and heatsinks are also the same, then the actual electronic parts may differ a bit. My point is: does Seasonic sort the PSUs after testing them, like CPU manufacturers do and give them different ratings?
Even if one doesn't really need the 600, would it be a better buy than the 500 (money not taken into account), for reasons of reliability, voltage stability, etc?

How do the two 12V rails work?
Are certain connectors take power from one and others from the other?

One rail is for the CPU and the other rail is for the rest of the system components, however, read this sticky: Confused about Dual 12V lines? Here's the FAQ!.

So which connectors draw power from the "CPU" rail?

The 2x2 'P4' connector and possibly motherboard connectors, however the aforementioned article suggests that they share power anyway.

Most current motherboards provide power for the CPU only via 12V2. 12V1 provides 12V for all of the rest of the system -- the board, all the 4-pin peripheral connectors, the 6-pin PCIe connectors. This is one of the problems with the current ATX12V v2.xx standard -- it doesn't really take into account the high 12V demands of two PCIe VGA cards plus all the rest. It's possible that there will be three 12V rails in the next version of ATX12V -- or a relaxation of the 240VA limit per line.

Sorry for the late reply. Yes, the be quiet! BQT P5-470W S1.3 2 fan version was tested as well. It scored an unimpressive 71% at full power. The noise at 20% and 50% load was among the second best. Full power is double as noisy as the Seasonic (sone is linar).

Some more information about the best PSU can be found here:
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewto ... 814#210814

Cool thanks I read a german review online with both of them and they said the Be-Quiet was more quiet than the S12 so I was curious to know

I don't read German but I'd still like to have a look at the results.
I could not find it online.

Does this apply to the 430W version as well? I have a 430 that I bought last April but ended up not needing it until now. It doesn't have any stickers on the box, but it does have a 7 blade fan. I know the 430 uses a different fan than the 500 and 600 to begin with so I suspect that rule doesn't apply.

Also, is it safe to assume that the old versions of all the S12's are pretty much cleared out of the retail channel by now? Most online vendors don't mention which version they have in their ads.

1) no. both the original yateloon sleeve bearing fan and the later adda ball bearing fan have 7 blades.
2) yes. It was at least 6 mos ago now. no retailer stocks enough for more than a month, really.