[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The Aurum Xilenser is the latest power supply series from FSP, using a fanless design and featuring the 80 Plus Gold certification. So far, there are two wattage options available, 400 W and 500 W, with or without a modular cabling system. We will review the 500 W without a modular cabling system, dubbed the 500FLD.
By the way, we believe the proper name for this series should be “Xilencer” and not “Xilenser” since the correct spelling for the word it is derived from is “silencer.”
The Aurum Xilenser is based on a new platform.
Figure 1: FSP Aurum Xilenser 500FLD power supply
Figure 2: FSP Aurum Xilenser 500FLD power supply
The FSP Aurum Xilenser 500FLD is 6.3” (160 mm) deep; it doesn’t have a fan.
The reviewed power supply doesn’t have a modular cabling system. All cables are protected with nylon sleeves, but the sleeves don’t come from inside the unit. This power supply comes with the following cables:
- Main motherboard cable with a 24-pin connector, 21.6” (55 cm) long
- One cable with two ATX12V connectors that together form an EPS12V connector, 25.6” (65 cm) long
- Two cables, each with one six/eight-pin connector for video cards, 22.8” (58 cm) long
- One cable with three SATA power connectors, 21.6” (55 cm) to the first connector and 5.9” (15 cm) between connectors
- Two cables, each with one SATA power connector and two standard peripheral power connectors, 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, except the +12 V (yellow) wires on the main motherboard cable, which are thicker (16 AWG). The cable configuration is adequate for a 500 W product.
Figure 3: Cables
Let’s now take an in-depth look inside this power supply.[nextpage title=”A Look Inside the FSP Aurum Xilenser 500FLD”]
We decided to disassemble this power supply to see what it looks like inside, how it is designed, and what components are used. Please read our “Anatomy of Switching Power Supplies” tutorial to understand how a power supply works and to compare this power supply to others.
On this page we will have an overall look, and then in the following pages we will discuss in detail the quality and ratings of the components used.
Figure 4: Top view
Figure 5: Front quarter view
Figure 6: Rear quarter view
Figure 7: The printed circuit board
[nextpage title=”Transient Filtering Stage”]
As we have mentioned in other articles and reviews, the first place we look when opening a power supply for a hint about its quality, is its filtering stage. The recommended components for this stage are two ferrite coils, two ceramic capacitors (Y capacitors, usually blue), one metalized polyester capacitor (X capacitor), and one MOV (Metal-Oxide Varistor). Very low-end power supplies use fewer components, usually removing the MOV and the first coil.
In the transient filtering stage, this power supply has two Y capacitors and one X capacitor more than the minimum required.
Figure 8: Transient filtering stage (part 1)
Figure 9: Transient filtering stage (part 2)
On the next page, we will have a more detailed discussion about the components used in the FSP Aurum Xilenser 500FLD.
[nextpage title=”Primary Analysis”]
On this page, we will take an in-depth look at the primary stage of the FSP Aurum Xilenser 500FLD. For a better understanding, please read our “Anatomy of Switching Power Supplies” tutorial.
This power supply uses one GBJ25L06 rectifying bridge, which is attached to an individual heatsink. This bridge supports up to 25 A at 115° C. So, in theory, you would be able to pull up to 2,875 W from a 115 V power grid. Assuming 80% efficiency, this bridge would allow this unit to deliver up to 2,300 W without burning itself out (or 2,588 W at 90% efficiency). Of course, we are only talking about this particular component. The real limit will depend on all the components combined in this power supply.
Figure 10: Rectifying bridge
The active PFC circuit uses three STF22NM60N MOSFETs, each supporting up to 16 A at 25° C or 10 A at 100° C in continuous mode (see the difference temperature makes) or 64 A at 25° C in pulse mode. These transistors present a maximum 220 mΩ resistance when turned on, a characteristic called RDS(on). The lower the number the better, meaning that the transistor will waste less power, and the power supply will have a h
igher efficiency.
Figure 11: Active PFC diode and transistors
The active PFC circuit is controlled by an ICE2PCS02 integrated circuit.
Figure 12: Active PFC controller
The output of the active PFC circuit is filtered by two 220 µF x 450 V Japanese electrolytic capacitors, from Matsushita (Panasonic), labeled at 105° C. They are connected in parallel and, therefore, the equivalent of one 440 µF x 450 V capacitor.
Figure 13: Capacitors
In the switching section, another two STF22NM60N MOSFETs are used in a resonant configuration. The specifications for these transistors were already discussed above.
Figure 14: Switching transistors
The switching transistors are controlled by a CM6901 integrated circuit.
Figure 15: Resonant controller
Another interesting feature present in the primary of this power supply that is worth mentioning is the presence of a SENZero chip (SEN013DG), which reduces the amount of energy the power supply consumes when in standby mode.
Figure 16: The SENZero chip
Let’s now take a look at the secondary of this power supply.
[nextpage title=”Secondary Analysis”]
The FSP Aurum Xilenser 500FLD uses a synchronous design, meaning that the rectifiers were replaced with MOSFETs. Also, this power supply uses a DC-DC design, meaning that it is basically a +12 V power supply, with the +5 V and +3.3 V outputs being generated through two smaller switching power supplies connected to the +12 V rail. Both designs are used to increase efficiency.
The +12 V output uses four IPD036N04L G MOSFETs, each supporting up to 90 A at 25° C or 87 A at 100° C in continuous mode or up to 400 A at 25° C in pulse mode, with a maximum RDS(on) of 3.6 mΩ. These transistors are located on the solder side of the printed circuit board, and the power supply case is used as a heatsink for them.
Figure 17: The +12 V transistors
The DC-DC converters are located on a daughterboard and are controlled by an APW7159 integrated circuit. Each converter uses four IRLR8729PBF MOSFETs, each supporting up to 58 A at 25° C or 41 A at 100° C in continuous mode or up to 260 A at 25° C in pulse mode, with a maximum RDS(on) of 8.9 mΩ.
Figure 18: The DC-DC converters
Figure 19: The DC-DC converters
The outputs of this power supply are monitored by a GR8323 integrated circuit. This chip supports over voltage (OVP), under voltage (UVP), and overcurrent (OCP) protections. There are two +12 V over current protection channels, correctly matching the number of +12 V rails advertised by the manufacturer.
Figure 20: Monitoring circuit
The electrolytic capacitors from the secondary are also Japanese, from Rubycon and Chemi-Con, and labeled at 105° C, as usual.
Figure 21: Capacitors
[nextpage title=”Power Distribution”]
In Figure 22, you can see the power supply label containing all the power specs.
Figure 22: Power supply label
The manufacturer advertises this unit as having two +12 V rails, which is correct, since the monitoring integrated circuit has two +12 V over current channels. The two rails are distributed as follows:
- +12V1 (yellow/black wires): The main motherboard connector, the ATX12V connector, the SATA connectors, and the peripheral connectors
- +12V2 (solid yellow wires): The video card power connectors and the second half of the EPS12V connector
How much power can this unit really deliver? Let’s find out.
[nextpage title=”Load Tests”]
We conducted several tests with this power supply, as described in the article, “Hardware Secrets Power Supply Test Methodology.”
First, we tested this power supply with five different load patterns, trying to pull
around 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of its labeled maximum capacity (actual percentage used listed under “% Max Load”), watching the behavior of the reviewed unit under each load. In the table below, we list the load patterns we used and the results for each load.
If you add all the powers listed for each test, you may find a different value than what is posted under “Total” below. Since each output can have a slight variation (e.g., the +5 V output working at 5.10 V), the actual total amount of power being delivered is slightly different than the calculated value. In the “Total” row, we are using the real amount of power being delivered, as measured by our load tester.
The +12VA and +12VB inputs listed below are the two +12 V independent inputs from our load tester. During this test, the +12VA input was connected to the +12V1 and +12V2 rails, while the +12VB input was also connected to the +12V1 and +12V2 rails.
| Input | Test 1 | Test 2 | Test 3 | Test 4 | Test 5 |
| +12VA | 3.5 A (42 W) | 7 A (10.5 W) | 10.5 A (126 W) | 14 A (168 W) | 17.5 A (210 W) |
| +12VB | 3.5 A (42 W) | 7 A (10.5 W) | 10.5 A (126 W) | 14 A (168 W) | 17 A (204 W) |
| +5 V | 1 A (5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 4 A (20 W) | 6 A (30 W) | 8 A (40 W) |
| +3.3 V | 1 A (3.3 W) | 2 A (6.6 W) | 4 A (13.2 W) | 6 A (19.8 W) | 8 A (26.4 W) |
| +5VSB | 1 A (5 W) | 1.5 A (7.5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 2.5 A (12.5 W) | 3 A (15 W) |
| -12 V | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) |
| Total | 104.1 W | 197.0 W | 300.1 W | 402.4 W | 503.4 W |
| % Max Load | 20.8% | 39.4% | 60.0% | 80.5% | 100.7% |
| Room Temp. | 46.1° C | 44.5° C | 44.3° C | 44.8° C | 46.1° C |
| PSU Temp. | 51.1° C | 51.4° C | 55.7° C | 56.4° C | 58.0° C |
| Voltage Regulation | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Ripple and Noise | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| AC Power | 117.4 W | 217.0 W | 331.1 W | 448.5 W | 569.5 W |
| Efficiency | 88.7% | 90.8% | 90.6% | 89.7% | 88.4% |
| AC Voltage | 114.0 V | 112.5 V | 111.5 V | 110.4 V | 109.1 V |
| Power Factor | 0.991 | 0.996 | 0.997 | 0.997 | 0.998 |
| Final Result | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
The 80 Plus Gold certification guarantees minimum efficiencies of 87% at 20% load, 90% at 50% load, and 87% at 100% load. In our tests, the FSP Aurum Xilenser 500FLD surpassed these numbers, which is outstanding.
Voltage regulation for the positive voltages was excellent, closer to their nominal values (3% regulation) during all tests. The -12 V output went outside this tighter regulation during tests one (at -11.38 V), two (at -11.47 V), and three (at -11.63 V), but was still inside the proper range. The same thing happened with the +5VSB output during test five, at +4.78 V. The ATX12V specification states that positive voltages must be within 5% of their nominal values, and negative voltages must be within 10% of their nominal values.
Let’s discuss the ripple and noise levels on the next page.
[nextpage title=”Ripple and Noise Tests”]
Voltages at the power supply outputs must be as “clean” as possible, with no noise or oscillation (also known as “ripple”). The maximum ripple and noise levels allowed are 120 mV for +12 V and -12 V outputs; and 50 mV for +5 V, +3.3 V and +5VSB outputs. All values are peak-to-peak figures. We consider a power supply as being top-notch if it can produce half or less of the maximum allowed ripple and noise levels.
The FSP Aurum Xilenser 500FLD provided relatively low ripple and noise levels. See results below.
| Input | Test 1 | Test 2 | Test 3 | Test 4 | Test 5 |
| +12VA | 40.0 mV | 38.8 mV | 44.2 mV | 52.8 mV | 55.8 mV |
| +12VB | 38.6 mV | 37.4 mV | 41.6 mV | 48.2 mV | 51.0 mV |
| +5 V | 11.8 mV | 18.4 mV | 24.0 mV | 30.4 mV | 36.6 mV |
| +3.3 V | 7.8 mV | 9.0 mV | 11.2 mV | 11.2 mV | 12.8 mV |
| +5VSB | 12.0 mV | 11.4 mV | 16.4 mV | 21.2 mV | 27.4 mV |
| -12 V | 41.4 mV | 45.4 mV | 55.6 mV | 65.4 mV | 73.6 mV |
Below you can see the waveforms of the outputs during test five.
Figure 23: +12VA input from load tester during test five at 503.4 W (55.8 mV)
Figure 24: +12VB input from load tester during test five at 503.4 W (51 mV)
Figure 25: +5V rail during test five at 503.4 W (36.6 mV)
Figure 26: +3.3 V rail during test five at 503.4 W (12.8 mV)
[nextpage title=”Overload Tests”]
Below you can see the maximum we could pull from this power supply. The objective of this test is to see if the power supply has its protection circuits working properly. This unit passed this test, as it shut down when we tried to pull more than what is listed in the table below. During this test, noise and ripple levels were still below the maximum allowed and voltages were within 3% of their nominal values, except for the +5VSB output, which dropped below the minimum allowed, at +4.64 V.
| Input | Overload Test |
| +12VA | 22 A (264 W) |
| +12VB | 22 A (264 W) |
| +5 V | 12 A (60 W) |
| +3.3 V | 12 A (39.6 W) |
| +5VSB | 3 A (15 W) |
| -12 V | 0.5 A (6 W) |
| Total | 644.4 W |
| % Max Load | 128.9% |
| Room Temp. | 46.6° C |
| PSU Temp. | 59.4° C |
| AC Power | 744 W |
| Efficiency | 86.6% |
| AC Voltage | 108.4 V |
| Power Factor | 0.998 |
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