While the FSP Hydro PTM Pro 1200 uses a platform with high-quality parts, it fails to deliver performance much higher than the considerably older platform used in the Aurum PT 1200, which I reviewed almost six years ago. As such, this unit also isn't truly competitive—a threat of any sort—to PSUs from Corsair, Seasonic, Antec, and Thermaltake.

A vital asset of the Hydro PTM Pro 1200 is its quiet operation under even severe operating conditions. That said, the ASUS ROG Thor 1200 W is notably quieter as it uses beefy heatsinks to lower fan speed. While it does well in terms of efficiency, it also doesn't manage to impress there since other Platinum units are very efficient as well. Transient response at +12 V, the rail that will be tasked with handling the heaviest loads in real-life scenarios, is also good, increasing stability and making higher boost frequencies a possibility. Transient response on the minor rails, while not as good, is not as crucial since these two rails only have to deal with considerably lower loads. That said, they still have to keep their voltage drops under control.

Despite the relatively long list of positives, there are several areas FSP needs to focus on for improvements. For starters, having two EPS connectors on the same cable isn't wise. Two of these connectors combined can draw more power than the single PSU socket or gauges can handle, which will have either or both melt eventually. This is, after all, a single +12 V rail PSU—the cable with two EPS connectors is not tied to a virtual +12 V rail. This means you should be very careful with the cable and connector configuration—do not leave your end users with any room to misinterpret how to connect anything.

Since this is a fresh platform, it not being fully compatible with the newest ATX specifications (v2.52) by increasing efficiency with very light loads and ensuring the PWR_OK time stays below 150 ms is odd. This PSU comes with a hefty ten-year warranty, which will have it feed several systems over the years if bought, so it has to be as future-proof as it gets. The only negative I am not troubled by is the large footprint, though it may be an issue if installed into a smaller chassis. Everything tends to get smaller nowadays, including PSUs, but this is not necessarily good since thermal loads do not get much lower—cooling fans in smaller PSUs with high power output have to work harder to remove the heat. This is not a problem for this FSP unit as the PCB isn't overcrowded, quite the contrary—its clean design with plenty of space between components allows for easier heat removal.

All in all, the FSP Hydro PTM Pro 1200 W will have a hard time competing with other PSUs of similar capacity that cost about the same. It operates quietly, though, and efficiency is satisfactory, while transient response at +12 V is also very good.