By: Jonathan Kwan
October 8, 2021
A few years ago in my QNAP TS-251B review, I talked about how I purchased a used 2008 Acura TL with the criteria that the "deal must be so good that I would regret not buying it". It was a great car, and I ended up selling it to a close friend after owning it for eight months having decided I have had enough fun for an entire season. Fast forward a few years and I was chatting with a coworker friend for a business trip when he mentioned he needed to get rid of his 2008 Acura TL Type-S, given he has five cars. I asked him how much he wanted and, with the price being very reasonable, I just told him on the spot I will take it when we get back home. This is probably one of the strangest impulse buys I have made so far -- after all, I own a newer car I do not intend to replace, and I already had a TL -- but I really could not pass up a stock third-generation TL Type-S owned by a real car enthusiast. Now that I have owned the car for a few weeks now, I have to say this is quite different compared to the non-Type-S TL that I bought in October 2018. It looks pretty much the same and the relatively modest engine and suspension upgrades in the Type-S may not seem like much on paper, but once you drive it, it feels like a different car. Recently, Fractal Design sent us their Ion+ 2 Platinum 860W PSU. Compared to the original Ion+ Platinum I reviewed in 2019, it looks mostly the same outside and is mostly the same inside as well. What it does add is ATX 2.52 support, inclusion of two 8-pin ATX/EPS connector cables across all wattage variants, and stricter over-current protection. Like the Acura TL Type-S compared to the vanilla model, how significant are the upgrades? Well, we took one apart to find out.
Our review unit of the Fractal Design Ion+ 2 Platinum 860W arrived in a medium-sized brown corrugated cardboard box from the company's American headquarters in Plano, Texas, USA. Plano is a city within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Using FedEx Ground, our Ion+ 2 Platinum 860W arrived in very good condition to us here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for our review today.
Inside the shipping box is the Fractal Design Ion+ 2 Platinum 860W's retail box. This is the second time I am reviewing a power supply from the company, and the box design has been updated to fit the company's latest design theme. The front is very clean in an Apple-like manner, featuring a black background and a photo of the power supply occupying a prominent spot. At the top is Fractal Design's logo, product name, and description. An 80 Plus Platinum badge can be found at the bottom right corner. The remaining sides of the box have feature highlights and specifications.
Speaking of which, before we move on, let us take a look at the specifications of the Fractal Design Ion+ 2 Platinum 860W, as obtained from the manufacturer's website:
80PLUS certification: Platinum
Modular cables: Fully modular
Fan type: 140 mm FDB bearing Fractal Design Dynamic series fan
Maximum operating temperature (full load): 50°C
Semi-passive operation: Yes, user selectable (Zero RPM)
Capacitors: Japanese
Life expectancy: 100,000 hours
PSU specification compliance: ATX12V 2.52; EPS12V 2.92
Cable type: Modular 24-pin cable: Black UltraFlex wires in braided sleeve Other modular cables: Flat black UltraFlex wires
Input voltage: 100-240V C
Input frequency: 50-60 Hz
Input current: 10A/5A
Protection features: Over voltage protection, Under voltage protection, Overpower protection, Short circuit protection, Over current protection, Over temperature protection
Standby efficiency: ErP 2013 (<0.45W @230. VAC, 45 mA load on +5Vsb)
Sleep state compliance: C6/C7
Approvals & certifications: CE, FCC, TUV, cTUVus, EAC, RCM, CCC, BSMI, CB, KC+KCC
Warranty: 10 Years
The Fractal Design Ion+ 2 Platinum 860W's retail packaging can be opened by a flap attached at the bottom. Upon opening the box, you will find everything is neatly organized. The power supply is placed inside a nylon bag and securely clipped in by two foam brackets. Cables are located inside a nylon zipper bag that looks like a big pencil case. A plastic resealable bag contains everything else. Out of the box, you will receive the Ion+ 2 Platinum 860W power supply itself, modular cables, AC power cable, four screws, user guide, and three Velcro straps. The bundle is simple and reasonable.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Minor Tests and Conclusion
