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Seasonic’s Quiet Giant
Review Summary
The Seasonic Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition is a beast of a power supply, built to handle the most demanding setups with ease. It combines Seasonic’s proven reliability with Noctua’s whisper-quiet fan for a premium experience. The PSU delivers excellent voltage regulation, top-notch efficiency, and impressive ripple control, making it ideal for power-hungry GPUs and next-gen builds. However, it’s clear this is overkill for most users, especially gamers, and the extra cost for Noctua branding might not appeal to everyone. If you need serious power with unmatched reliability, this PSU won’t let you down.
Hours Tested: 11
Overall
-
Performance - 9.8/10
9.8/10
-
Build Quality - 9.8/10
9.8/10
-
Efficiency - 9.8/10
9.8/10
-
Value - 8.5/10
8.5/10
Pros
- Extremely Silent
- Super efficient
- Massive future proofing
Cons
- Expensive
- Same as similar variant (without Noctua fan)
- Large form factor
There are very few “reputable” brands in the PSU market who actually make their own PSUs. One of the biggest advantages of in-house design/production is you can better engineer and tweak your platform with more flexible options that are going to give you the desired results.
Many OEMs (e.g. CWT, Great Wall, HEC etc) that offer their PSU platforms to different brands tend to utilize the exact same platform throughout and then those brands have very little say for even a few minor changes. This has been a major key advantage for Seasonic over many years but the competitors have now finally caught up with their latest ATX 3.0/3.1 PSU platforms and they do come with the most up-to-date tech and innovations.
In this review, I will be testing the Seasonic TX-1600W Noctua Edition Titanium to see whether Seasonic’s legacy will remain unbeaten or the new players’ prodigy will snatch the victory crown.
Key Takeaways
- The Seasonic Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition is a powerhouse PSU that delivers quiet, reliable, and efficient performance for high-demand systems.
- You should buy the Seasonic Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition if you are a fan of Noctua and want a high-performance, reliable PSU.
- You should skip the Seasonic Prime TX-1600 Noctua Edition if it is overkill for you and you’re not really interested in paying extra for the Noctua fan.
Here are the specifications:
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| 80 PLUS Efficiency | Titanium |
| Modular | Fully |
| Total Power | 1600W |
| Cybenetics Efficiency Level | Titanium |
| Cybenetics Noise Level | Lambda A++ |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Protection | OPP, OVP, OPP, OTP, SCP, UVP |
| Dimension (D x W x H) | 210 × 150 × 86 mm |
Packaging & Unboxing
The PSU comes in a cardboard box with Noctua-themed brown and black colors.
There is styrofoam packing to protect the PSU. Accessories, cables, and the PSU itself, everything comes in good-quality pouches.
Design
We get to see Noctua branding on top, on a separate shroud that also makes up a unique spiral-shaped fan grill, along with their distinctive coloring scheme which matches well with the black color of the PSU.
It’s sad that almost every user will be installing this PSU in a traditional (and recommended) way where this top shroud will remain hidden. But at least you will still be able to see a slight glimpse of this shroud with “Prime Noctua Edition” markings.
The only major advancement we have seen happening for the fan inside the PSU is the Hybrid fan mode where the fan only starts spinning when the system pulls an adequate amount of load out of it. Even this Hybrid mode can be quite annoying because the continuous loop of fan starting and pausing then starting again can make the noise pretty much audible and considering the fact that almost every PSU use HBD/ FDB (Hydro/Fluid Dynamic Bearing) fans that have a tendency to produce slightly higher noise levels during the startup, this simply makes this Hybrid fan mode a curse to many!
Noctua on the other hand uses a slightly different bearing mechanism which they call SSO-Bearing (Self-Stabilizing Oil-pressure Bearing) which is more of an HBD/FDB variant but with an addition of a small magnet that stabilizes the rotor. During the startup of the fan, the magnet already helps keep the rotor to its precise axis, causing no grind while the lubricant inside the rotor spreads properly. This also significantly improves the longevity of the fan and this can easily last
Cable & Connectors
The PSU comes with plenty of accessories and cables. There is even a PSU tester if you want to check the power supply before putting it in your PC. The cables are individually braided for a very premium feel, and of course, they have the brown/black combination to match the overall theme.
| Connector | Quantity and Length |
|---|---|
| Mainboard (24/20 pins) | 1x 610mm |
| CPU (8/4 pins) | 3x 700mm |
| PCI-E (8/6 pins) | 6x 750mm |
| 12V-2×6 (12+4 Pins to 12+4 Pins) | 2x 700mm |
| SATA | 4x 950mm |
| SATA 3.3V | 1x 550m |
| Molex | 1x 690mm |
Seasonic Prime TX-1600W Noctua Edition is among very few PSUs that have included dual native 12V-2×6 GPU power connectors. I highly appreciate and respect Seasonic and its marketing team for not jumping on the “AI” naming scheme’s hype train like almost every other brand these days and for leaving the use case and capabilities of 12V-2×6 power connectors to the common sense of the users.
Teardown & Component Analysis
The latest ATX 3.0/3.1 PSU specs from Intel forced PSU OEMs to finally revise the age-old PSU designs and where many renowned OEMs were quick to adopt these new changes and even improved their design further, Seasonic took way too long to revise their design. This is due to the fact that Seasonic had very few PSU model lineups and almost all of them were based on very similar platforms, making it harder for Seasonic to make their existing platforms’ design compatible with newer ATX 3.0/3.1 spec.
Seasonic’s PSUs have always had a very distinctive look, due to their green mask PCB layer (which is very traditional in PCB manufacturing) and their bare aluminum heatsinks, which I have always liked.
With their new PSU lineups, Seasonic seemed to have gotten a bit of influence from current design trends and now we see a black PCB mask layer along with black aluminum heatsinks (maybe their previous old-school design wasn’t appealing to the..cough cough…Gen-Z)
Seasonic Prime TX-1600W Noctua Edition is no different than their previously launched Prime TX-1600W (non-Noctua Edition). We find exactly the same platform utilizing Interleaved Bridgeless PFC for improved efficiency over traditionally used APFC design. Where a few OEMs now adapting to a much higher efficiency design by incorporating Totem-Pole Bridgeless topology (as we saw in XPG Fusion 1600W Titanium) consisting of GaN MODFETs, I would have loved seeing similar advancement in Seasonic Prime TX-1600W Noctua Edition’s design at this point.
Even being a massive and densely populated platform, the distribution of the power delivery components is done quite well which is surely going to help in an adequate airflow. We get to see a decently sized heatsink for the Primary MOSFETs acting as a bridge rectifier converting AC to DC. The same goes for the Interleaved PFC as well as for the Full-Bridge MOSFETs that feed power to the main transformers.
Seasonic is using a dual Transformer design for generating all the required output voltage rails. For a 1600W of massive power output, using a single transformer is very challenging especially when it’s being driven by traditional MOSFETs & LLC resonant converters. The higher switching capability of GaN MODFETs can significantly reduce the size of the main transformer as well as it can add up to an improved voltage ripple performance.
12V rail MOSFETs are all soldered on the back of the PCB and top-mounted aluminum heatsinks are there to cool them off properly.
Seasonic has been using the same design aluminum heatsinks for 12V rail MOSFETs for well over a decade and I really gotta give it to their design engineers for designing something so effective that they still use it to this day! These top-mounted heatsinks allow proper mounting space for Polymer capacitors and keep the heat away from them, as a result significantly increasing capacitors’ lifespan.
Seasonic has rightfully earned its reputation with the absolute “Zero Compromises” approach when it comes to the selection of components inside its PSUs. The same goes for Seasonic TX-1600W Noctua Edition PSU which uses exceptional quality components as well as 100% Japanese Electrolytic and Polymer capacitors throughout.
Seasonic TX-1600W Noctua Edition uses Noctua NF-A12x25 HS-PWM 2400 RPM SSO Bearing (Self-Stabilizing Oil-pressure Bearing) fan which is unique to this PSU only as it offers slightly higher RPM than Noctua’s traditional fans. Not that this PSU (or any other that I know of) will be pumping the fan to its maximum RPM, so this is a bit strange to me. Regardless, this PSU will surely be the quietest peripheral in your PC.
PSU Load Testing
Let’s go over the test results.
Voltage Regulation
| Load in % | 12V Rail | 5V | 3.3V |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | 11.88V | 5.07V | 3.33V |
| 50% | 11.84V | 5.07V | 3.33V |
| 70% | 11.84V | 5.06V | 3.32V |
| 90% | 11.82V | 5.05V | 3.32V |
| 100% | 11.81V | 5.06V | 3.32V |
We see impressive voltage regulation performance throughout our different load variations. This PSU will have no trouble feeding power to multiple power-hungry GPUs.
PSU Efficiency
| Load in % | Efficiency | Power Factor |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | 94.84% | 0.919 |
| 50% | 95.90% | 0.957 |
| 70% | 95.31% | 0.966 |
| 90% | 94.48% | 0.975 |
| 100% | 94.11% | 0.978 |
Seasonic TX-1600W Noctua Edition didn’t have to struggle much in this test as it clearly delivers very impressive performance in this test. I think this is the most efficient PSU I have tested that is using Interleaved PFC and analog controllers and still performing this good. Power Factor readings though require better tuning but this has no effect on the end-user.
Voltage Ripple Performance
| Load in % | 12V Ripple |
|---|---|
| 20% | 10.4mV |
| 50% | 12.0mV |
| 70% | 14.0mV |
| 90% | 16.8mV |
| 100% | 20.0mV |
This is the test where Seasonic & Corsair used to rule due to their extremely well-designed circuit layouts and carefully crafted and shielded transformers, but not anymore! Other OEMs have well caught up to making their platforms perform equally better these days.
Though the voltage ripple performance is still excellent, we have been seeing many competitive numbers these days like what we saw in Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W PSU in our review.
Temperature
Temperature on the back went as high as 54C and that’s because the 12V rail MOSFETs dumped in their heat on the back of the shroud via thick thermal pads.
Though Seasonic Prime TX-1600W Noctua Edition is the quietest PSU I have tested yet (thanks to Noctua’s NF-A12x25 HS-PWM 2400 RPM SSO Bearing fan), I still believe Seasonic could have tuned down the fan profile even more.
Should You Buy it?
Buy It If
✅You want reliability over anything: A well-proven design by a well-reputed brand backed by 12 years of peaceful and long-lasting relationships.
✅Your build centers around AI/ML with high GPU usage: Dual native 12V-2×6 GPU power connectors are going to easily handle the most power-hungry next-gen graphics processing monsters.
✅You prefer a quiet PSU: Along with the Hybrid fan mode, you still get the best and quietest fan inside.
Don’t Buy It If
❌You don’t want to overkill: Even many high-end gamers who are going to be using the latest spec systems will be better off with any 1200W Platinum-rated PSU with a single 12V-2×6 GPU power connector. If you’re not sure about your PC’s required wattage, we have developed a PSU Wattage Calculator tool to will help you figure it out.
❌You are not interested in Noctua: Even the Seasonic Prime TX-1600W PSU without a Noctua fan was already pretty impressive in performance as it’s the exact same PSU from the inside. So you will only be paying extra for the Noctua branding design and for its slightly quieter fan than Hong Hua’s FDB fan used in the aforementioned variant.
My Final Thoughts
The Seasonic Prime TX-1600W Noctua Edition lives up to Seasonic’s reputation for making reliable, high-performance power supplies. It combines a tried-and-true design with smart upgrades, like the ultra-quiet and durable Noctua fan, giving it a unique edge. However, this PSU isn’t for everyone. Its massive 1600W capacity is more than most gamers or even high-end PC builders will ever need—especially when a more affordable 1200W option could do the job. Plus, the premium price for the Noctua fan and branding might not make sense for those who don’t prioritize those features.
In short, this PSU delivers where it counts: reliability, efficiency, and top-notch performance. If you’re building a high-powered PC and want something quiet and rock-solid, the Noctua Edition is a fantastic choice. But if you’re after value and don’t need the extras, a lower-wattage model or the standard version might suit you better.
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[Errors Troubleshooting Expert]
Arsalan Shakil (aka GuyThatDoesEverything on YouTube) is a PC Tech Enthusiast and Electronic Geek. With over 10+ years of experience in Electronics, he then decided to explore Software Engineering to design embedded products and automate existing hardware solutions.
When he started tearing down old cameras to understand how they worked, he was shocked (literally, when he got zapped by a flash discharge capacitor), giving him the power (debatable) to fall in love with videography/photography. He also started making some fun videos that later became YouTube tech reviews.
Skills:
- 10+ years of experience in Electronics design, embedded solutions, and prototyping
- Majored in Software Engineering
- Research paper publication in IEEE for Embedded Military Uniform & LoRa WAN wireless technology
- Specialized in IoT Solutions
- PC Enthusiast & PC Modder
In his local region, he’s known to expose cheap PSU brands, often claiming fake certification or false claims on the box. He’s a true nerd and needed some friends in his life. Then he met some guys who work at Tech4Gamers, and they also came out to be equal nerds who suggested he join Tech4Gamers as a Hardware Expert.
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