FSP Aurum Gold 700 Power Supply Review

Introduction

FSP is a traditional OEM manufacturer that is also offering some retail products. One of their latest offerings is the Aurum Gold series, with 400 W, 500 W, 600 W, and 700 W models featuring 80 Plus Gold certification. Let’s see if the 700 W model is a good buy.

Like most OEM manufacturers, FSP is plagued with an identity crisis: they have four different websites, https://www.fsp-group.com.tw, https://www.fspgroupusa.com, https://www.fsplifestyle.com and https://www.fspgroup.com, which only causes confusion. Not to mention the brand Sparkle (SPI), that belongs to FSP and has a separate website at https://www.sparklepower.com and no one at FSP could explain us exactly why they maintain this separate brand. Like what happens with other manufacturers trying to move from being an OEM manufacturer to a retail brand, they try (without success) separate each branch of business in a different website, but this only causes confusion with consumers. After all, the company is only one. It would be easier for everybody if they only had one website.

Figure 1: FSP Aurum Gold 700 power supply

Figure 2: FSP Aurum Gold 700 power supply

The Aurum Gold 700 is only 5.5” (140 mm) deep, with a 120 mm fluid dynamic bearing fan (Protechnic Electric MGA12012HF-A25, 2,400 rpm, 84.8 cfm, 37 dBA) on its bottom part.

The new FSP Aurum Gold 700 doesn’t have a modular cabling system. All cables are protected with nylon sleeves. The power supply comes with the following cables:

• Main motherboard cable with a 20/24-pin connector, 22” (56 cm) long
• One cable with two ATX12V connectors that together form an EPS12V connector and one EPS12V connector, 22.4” (57 cm) to the first set of connectors, 5.9” (15 cm) between connectors
• Two cables, each with two six/eight-pin connectors for video cards, 22.8” (58 cm) to the first connector, 3.9” (10 cm) between connectors
• One cable with four SATA power connectors, 21.6” (55 cm) to the first connector, 5.9” (15 cm) between connectors
• One cable with two SATA power connectors and two standard peripheral power connectors, 21.6” (55 cm) to the first connector, 5.9” (15 cm) between connectors
• One cable with one SATA power connector, two standard peripheral power connectors and one floppy disk drive power connector, 21.6” (55 cm) to the first connector, 5.9” (15 cm) between connectors

All wires are 18 AWG, which is the minimum recommended gauge.

The number of connectors available is adequate for a 700 W unit, but we found it strange the use of a cable with two ATX12V connectors and an EPS12V connector, since the two ATX12V connectors already provide an EPS12V connector when placed together, and with motherboards that have two EPS12V connectors it is better to have the EPS12V connectors on separate cables. We also prefer to see the video card power connectors on separate cables.

Figure 3: Cables

Let’s now take an in-depth look inside this power supply.