Seasonic Connect - The future of cable management or a weird feature?

[LukeSavenije]

Source: https://seasonic.com/connect

 

Seasonic has announced it's Seasonic Connect PSU, first introduced as "SCMD" at Computex 2018. The idea is to make cable management in cases easier by moving the connection points from the PSU itself to a dedicated board that you put further inside the case. 

 

For now the PSU itself will only come in a 750w model, and is expected to release this month in Europe and USA, together with more content like reviews coming with it. It's for now unknown who's going to review it.

 

The idea is that the "Connect" device goes into the case like this:

 

from there you have a cable going between the PSU and the device, and connect your 24 pin, 8 pin eps and so on to the connect device itself.

 

The PSU used here is a modified Prime Gold 750w, as the PSU itself only provides 12v, -12v and 5vsb, while the connect device converts 12v to 3.3v and 5v with the dc-dc modules seen here:

 

As it has a 5vsb and not a 12vsb, this PSU won't qualify for the ATX 12VO specification found here.

 

The PSU itself will ship like this:

 

and will not work with the current Seasonic PSUs, as they regulate the 3.3v and 5v internally. with that the product will for now only be sold as a complete package.

 

internals can be seen here:

 

Otherwise it'll take all features from prime, with a configurable semi-fanless mode, it's protections, rail configuration, temperature rating and so on. Seasonic ships it with a warranty of 10 years, and none of the cables on the connect device will be fixed, making it practically fully modular.

 

I personally find this an interesting idea, but would love to see this in two other ways in the future as well

• a standalone device, usable with any PSU
• a smaller version, allowing it to be used in smaller cases, as this looks like it's only going to fit inside ATX midtowers or bigger. 

 

If you still have any questions or just want to discuss it, feel free to do so below.

 

Disclaimer: this is volunteered coverage and is in no way sponsored or asked by Seasonic 

[BobVonBob]

Wacky, but modular and even semi modular power supplies offer easy enough cable management for my tastes. Although I expect an absolute nightmare trying to figure out compatibility for this thing.

[TempestCatto]

Seems pointless at first, but I guarantee someone like JayzTwoCents will make a custom hardline PC with this and it will be badass.

[Sir0Tek]

Not that bad, but I hope they put more force on getting the psu's tiny, with sfx as a maximum.

[LukeSavenije]

1 minute ago, Sir0Tek said:

Not that bad, but I hope they put more force on getting the psu's tiny, with sfx as a maximum.

currently the smallest they go are SFX-L with the SGX and they have some flex or TFX psus on the side.

 

but who knows... for now they don't have anything

[rcmaehl]

Seasonic connect pitch meeting:

Spoiler

 

[LukeSavenije]

Just now, rcmaehl said:

Seasonic connect pitch meeting:

[paddy-stone]

I'd like to see manufacturers come up with a new standard, where all the power connectors are on the reverse of the board - maybe where the CPU cut-outs are on cases, would make things a lot easier for cable management. you could even have a GPU pass-through or something.

[Eschew]

3 hours ago, LukeSavenije said:

I personally find this an interesting idea, but would love to see this in two other ways in the future as well

• a standalone device, usable with any PSU
• a smaller version, allowing it to be used in smaller cases, as this looks like it's only going to fit inside ATX midtowers or bigger.

Yes, seconded!

 

Any idea if the CONNECT MODULE (why did Seasonic write it in all caps?) would work with dual PSU setups, or if Seasonic would be planning to do a 2-PSU-1-Module thingy? It could make cable management cleaner/more streamlined in that kinda situation, methinks.

[RejZoR]

I guess it's a neat way for custom builds that need to be as clean as possible. Though other makers have modular cables beyond what comes with the PSU.

 

For example, BeQuiet Dark Power Pro that I have came with daisy chained SATA connectors that were attached to cable under weird angles and really ruined my config for ATA fan hub, SSD and HDD. Then I noticed they have sleeved single SATA cables with straight connector arrangement. I now have 3x individual SATA cables leading directly to 1 device. A lot of cables, but at perfect angles, much more flexible and still better looking. They should just standardize all PSU cables and just offer tons of cable variants to be purchased separately. So you'd just pick and choose exactly what you need. And since it would be standardized between all PSU's (at least from one vendor), there would be no waste.

[silberdrachi]

Weird feature, but i like the fact they are trying to innovate. This could be really cool if it was a part of something like the H1 case where it comes with the PSU and already has specific length cables. Cant say it would be super useful everywhere but i like that they are trying more than most companies.

[SpaceGhostC2C]

I'm not sure I like the idea of moving part of the voltage regulation elsewhere. If it was just a PSU with all voltages coming out in a single "hose" to this device, and the device just re-routed as necessary to the separate connections... I guess I still wouldn't see how it helps me Although I guess fashion creates its own needs: all this adding PSU covers and stuffing drive cages right in front of it has made our otherwise perfectly comfortable modular PSUs harder to access again, so we need a new device to bring back the accessibility we gave up on purpose...

[LukeSavenije]

1 hour ago, Eschew said:

Any idea if the CONNECT MODULE (why did Seasonic write it in all caps?) would work with dual PSU setups, or if Seasonic would be planning to do a 2-PSU-1-Module thingy?

by the looks of it, no

 

but it might be an idea to do in a future version, does sound interesting

 

even if seasonic has something kinda like this with Phanteks's revolt line

21 minutes ago, silberdrachi said:

This could be really cool if it was a part of something like the H1 case where it comes with the PSU and already has specific length cables.

C-series, E-series and the psu used in H1 all are Seasonic... so it shouldn't be a wide gap to do

 

3 minutes ago, SpaceGhostC2C said:

I'm not sure I like the idea of moving part of the voltage regulation elsewhere. If it was just a PSU with all voltages coming out in a single "hose" to this device, and the device just re-routed as necessary to the separate connections...

something like this would actually be done with the new Intel 12vo spec already, just on the motherboard rather than the connect module here. So in theory it shouldn't be a problem, but we'll see in reviews if it impacts anything

[TetraSky]

Cool. Not sure how I'd feel about introducing another point of possible power failure in my computer, but cool nonetheless.

[Orangeator]

Definitely an interesting idea. I appreciate Seasonic for trying to innovate in what is largely a stagnate segment of the market. I just feel like this will have too many compatibility issues, due to the vast differences among PC cases. I am sure some YouTuber will make a wild build with this though... Looking forward to that. 

[Touch My Hamm]

Love the idea...Hate if it caught on how big of a nightmare it would be for compatible cabling and could cause confusion if you are using something like cablemod cables or making your own. 

[Jurrunio]

Guess they change out the SCMD name due to some NSFW acronym they never thought about?

 

4 hours ago, LukeSavenije said:

As it has a 5vsb and not a 12vsb, this PSU won't qualify for the ATX 12VO specification found here.

It's a step closer though isn't it? After changing the standby rail, it's a 12VO PSU that could still work with old boards that need the lower voltage rails supplied into it.

[LukeSavenije]

2 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

It's a step closer though isn't it? After changing the standby rail, it's a 12VO PSU that could still work with old boards that need the lower voltage rails supplied into it.

except that 12vo uses different connectors for molex (removing the 5v pins) and atx (24 to i recall 12 pins), have a different standby rail which would have to be converted

 

it is a step closer, but FSP has already made a true 12vo psu, but it's probably not widespread yet because of the lack of boards

[TrigrH]

2 hours ago, TetraSky said:

Cool. Not sure how I'd feel about introducing another point of possible power failure in my computer, but cool nonetheless.

Not quite true, the way this unit is designed is that half the PSU is in that strip, I wouldnt say spreading the components over a larger area adds another point of failure? If anything it probably has an opposite effect, reducing power supply temperature and shorter cable runs should result in a better life span and tighter regulation.

[LukeSavenije]

2 hours ago, comander said:

You only need to manage one cable. 

false, 12vo still uses eps, pcie and other standards

[Dabombinable]

TBH I'd be better off trying to get a PSU shroud built for my case.

[TetraSky]

1 minute ago, TrigrH said:

I wouldnt say spreading the components over a larger area adds another point of failure?

I think about it this way:
A PSU has a single point of failure, itself as a whole. If it fails, it's easy troubleshooting if there's any power issue on your system. You take it out and test a new one.

 

This thing has the primary PSU box, the Connect device, the connector that links the Connect device to the PSU and the primary power cable itself... If any of these fails by itself, how will you know which to replace? Just take it all out regardless? What a waste.

 

I could be wrong in my way of thinking and I might be nitpicking as well. But to me, the more points of possible failure you add, the more likely it will fail. And like you've said, yes it takes out some components out of the PSU to spread them out, resulting in a cooler operation... But by separating it instead of having it all in the same place, it still adds extra links in the chain.

[TrigrH]

3 minutes ago, TetraSky said:

I think about it this way:
A PSU has a single point of failure, itself as a whole. If it fails, it's easy troubleshooting if there's any power issue on your system. You take it out and test a new one.

 

This thing has the primary PSU box, the Connect device, the connector that links the Connect device to the PSU and the primary power cable itself... If any of these fails by itself, how will you know which to replace? Just take it all out regardless? What a waste.

 

I could be wrong in my way of thinking and I might be nitpicking as well. But to me, the more points of possible failure you add, the more likely it will fail. And like you've said, yes it takes out some components out of the PSU to spread them out, resulting in a cooler operation... But by separating it instead of having it all in the same place, it still adds extra links in the chain.

The seasonic connect is two peices. Which when connected form the power supply as a whole.

 

With your logic you better not have a modular power supply, wouldnt want to add 15 additional points of failure lol.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I like the concept but I'm not enthused with the implementation. In many ways, it seems too limiting.

 

7 hours ago, paddy-stone said:

I'd like to see manufacturers come up with a new standard, where all the power connectors are on the reverse of the board - maybe where the CPU cut-outs are on cases, would make things a lot easier for cable management. you could even have a GPU pass-through or something.

Now that would be something! Get rid of all of the power cables on the front side of the MOBO.

[LukeSavenije]

33 minutes ago, comander said:

Depends on your set up.  You could conceivably have only one cable. 

then i suggest you look at the specification... with a relatively low power system this would work, but no further