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!


The platform doesn't look to share too many similarities with that of a Golden King unit with a similar capacity. Although a newer model, it looks to be a downgrade rather than upgrade since Super Flower's goal was to lower the cost of production by as much as possible. Unfortunately, many users don't prioritize their PSU purchase by investing most of their budget into other parts instead of the one that interacts with all others, which has many OEMs restrict their production cost in an effort to bring more affordable PSUs to market.

On the primary side is a half-bridge topology with an LLC resonant converter, and the secondary side consists of a synchronous design that handles the +12V rail's regulation, while two DC-DC converters generate the minor rails. The capacitors are of poor quality - we are not big fans of CapXon caps. We would have preferred it had Super Flower at least picked quality Teapo caps because more expensive Japanese electrolytic caps aren't an option.


The small PCB behind the AC receptacle doesn't hold any EMI filtering parts. The EMI filter is installed on the main PCB and consists of three X caps, four Y caps, two CM chokes, and an MOV.


An NTC thermistor, backed by a bypass relay, protects this unit against large inrush currents.


The single bridge rectifier is a GBU1506 that is bolted to the primary heatsink and cooled by an additional, smaller heatsink. We had to remove the latter in order to identify the rectifier's model number.


The APFC converter uses a single Infineon IPW50R140CP FET, while the boost diode is a CREE C3D06060A. We didn't expect to find a single FET APFC converter in a 650 W PSU. The APFC's controller is a 29603 IC, installed on a small vertical board. There is no information available on this controller since it is made exclusively by/for Super Flower.


The primary FETs are two Infineon IPA50R199CP that are arranged into a half-bridge topology. The LLC resonant controller is a part of the secondary side and is a SFAA9013 IC that most likely also handles the PSU's protections, along with the help of an LM324ADG operational amplifier (Op-Amp).


Four Infineon IPP041N04N G FETs on the secondary side regulate the +12V rail. They look to be arranged into a half-bridge topology.


The filtering caps are mostly CapXon electrolytics. We don't feel too happy about this choice, but understand that Super Flower meant to keep the cost of production low in order to offer this PSU up at an affordable price. They could have at least used Teapo caps, though, which have a better reputation than CapXons. While there are electrolytic caps, there are also a couple CapXon polymer caps on the main PCB.


Both DC-DC converters are installed on the same daughter-board. In total, four Infineon 060N03L G FETs are used, and ripple filtering is handled by polymer caps provided by Chemi-Con.


The standby PWM controller is an Infineon ICE3B0565 IC, while a MOSPEC S10C60 SBR rectifies the 5VSB rail. A Chemi-Con electrolytic cap filters this rail. Since the 5VSB rail is going to operate with the PSU is in standby, while the cooling fan isn't spinning, it'll requires quality filtering caps, and Super Flower has gone with Chemi-Con instead CapXon caps here. This is, after all, just a cap, which keeps its impact on overall cost low.


Soldering quality is bad and actually reminded us of this OEM's early days when its manufacturing lines couldn't compete with those of other OEMs, like Seasonic and CWT. Given Super Flower's current manufacturing lines, it is hard to believe that its main factory made this PSU, unless Super Flower also has a separate low-cost, low quality manufacturing line, along with its high-end one(s). Without visiting Super Flower's factory, we can only make assumptions, unfortunately.


The cooling fan has a diameter of 120 mm and is made by Globe Fan. Its model number is S1202512L, and it uses a Duro Bearing, which is essentially an enhanced version of the sleeve bearing for better longevity.


Here's a graphical scheme of a Duro Bearing. It seals the lubricant in order to avoid leaks, which increases its lifetime notably compared to a sleeve bearing. Globe Fan speaks of a lifetime of 60,000 h, which is twice that of a quality sleeve bearing.