A Look Inside & Component Analysis

Before reading this page, we strongly suggest a look at this article, which will help you understand the internal components of a PSU much better. Our main tool for the disassembly of the PSU is a Thermaltronics TMT-9000S soldering and rework station. It is of extreme quality and is equipped with a matching de-soldering gun. With such equipment in hand, breaking apart every PSU is like a walk in the park!




Antec has, once again, teamed up with Seasonic—this time for the EDGE series. Just like the XFX XTR-650 we reviewed a while ago, these units are based on Seasonic's latest G-series platform. The unit uses catchy golden heatsinks and an LLC resonant converter to increase efficiency in its primary side and two DC-DC converters with a semi-synchronous design for the rectification of the main rails in its secondary side. All electrolytic caps are also by a Japanese manufacturer, Chemi-Con, and Antec and Seasonic have also made a point of including enough polymer filtering caps.


Behind the AC receptacle is a small PCB with four Y caps, an X cap, and a CM choke. The transient filter continues on the main PCB with two more CM chokes, two Y caps, an X cap, and an MOV. The EMI filter is thus complete.


The single bridge rectifier, a GBU10V08, is bolted to a dedicated heatsink.


In the APFC, two Infineon IPP50R250CP fets and an STTH8S06D boost diode are used. The hold-up cap is by Rubycon (420V, 390uF , 105°C, MXG series). Right in front of it is the thermistor responsible for inrush current protection. There is unfortunately no relay to bypass the aforementioned thermistor once the start-up phase finishes, which would have increased efficiency slightly while allowing the thermistor to cool down faster in order to regain its nominal resistance over a shorter period of time.


This daughter-board houses an ICE2HS01G resonant controller (large IC on the left) and an ICE3PCS01 PFC controller (small IC on the right). The resonant controller operates in Pulse-Frequency-Modulation (PFM) where, unlike with PWM, the frequency of fixed-duration pulses varies. PWM varies the square pulses but uses a constant frequency. In order to avoid high frequency switching, the aforementioned controller employs Missing Cycle Mode with light loads and Burst Mode with no load.


Two Infineon IPP50R250CP fets are used as primary switchers. The latter are arranged into a half-bridge topology.


A semi-synchronous rectification scheme with two PSMN2R6-40YS fets and two SBR10U45 Schottky diodes which rectify the +12V rail is used in the secondary side. Antec avoided using nothing but mosfets in an attempt to lower the production cost; however, doing so had an impact on efficiency. These components are installed onto the solder side of the main PCB, and a heatsink on the component side helps lower their operational temperatures. The minor rails are generated by two DC-DC converters.


On the main PCB are several Enesol polymer and a few electrolytic Chemi-Con caps. All rated at 105°C, these are used for ripple-suppression purposes. Quite satisfactory for such a PSU, this is also a typical caps choice by Seasonic.


An Infineon ICE2QR4765 IC is the standby PWM controller. The Schottky diode responsible for 5VSB rectification is an SBR10U45, and it can be found on the solder side of the main PCB.


The supervisor IC is a SITI PS223 on a daughter-board. This IC is among the few supporting OTP (Over Temperature Protection).


A single Enesol polymer cap and four Chemi-Con (KY series) and a Rubycon electrolytic cap on the modular PCB provide for some extra ripple filtering.


Soldering quality is top-notch!


The cooling fan is by Hong Hua, and its model number is HA13525H12F-Z (135 mm, 12 V, 0.5 A, 2000 RPM max). Although its model number is the same as for the fan in the XFX XTR-650, this one's maximum is 300 RPM lower, making it significantly quieter. However, we believe that Antec could have used an even quieter fan or a more relaxed fan profile (or, even better, a combination of both).