Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
As a power supply, the exterior design of the FSP Vita GM 1000W does not surprise me at all. It looks like my favorite snack, which is stinky tofu. I really do not think there is any point to use different shapes other than a cuboid for power supply unit design. Therefore, the challenge of designing a good looking power supply unit is really about how to place things like the power plug, switch, grille, ventilation holes, output sockets, and even stickers. When it comes to measurements, this product is 14.0 cm in length, 15.0 cm in width, and 8.5 cm in height. This is about as small as it can get for a modular ATX PSU. For most ATX or eATX chassis, length should not be much of a problem, if at all. However, if you have a mATX or mITX case that takes standard power supplies, the shorter length will definitely serve as an advantage, especially considering the fact the Vita GM is fully modular.
The above photo shows three sides of the FSP Vita GM 1000W; namely the bottom, back, and left sides. On the bottom, there is a grille above the cooling fan. The grille has thick bars, so expect a little more air resistance. The details of the cooling fan will be investigated later. The top side of the power supply unit is not shown in the photo, but there are still important items there, as we will see soon enough. You can see on the fan side of the PSU, there is a slight convex indent on the edge. I would say it is a nice touch to add some flavor to the rather boring PSU design, but I am not sure if this feature will be visible when it is installed in a system.
Now, let us move on to the back of the power supply unit. In the photo, we can see the power input socket and power switch, both of which are essential components for operation. The power input plug follows a standard design, meaning users can conveniently reuse a compatible power cord from other equipment if needed. This adds flexibility and eliminates the hassle of finding a specialized cable. Some space was reserved for the slogan, "Power Never Ends", even though there is nothing using the space behind it on the other side. The FSP Vita GM 1000W has an automatic full range 100V to 240V AC line voltage selection like all active PFC power supplies, so the user does not Thave to worry about manually selecting input voltage.
The remainder of the back panel features a large honeycomb ventilation grille, which plays a crucial role in cooling. Cool air is drawn in through the grille at the bottom of the PSU, allowing internal components to stay at optimal temperatures. Once the heat is dissipated from the components, the hot air is expelled through the rear grille, ensuring efficient airflow and preventing overheating. This cooling system is especially important for maintaining stability and longevity, particularly in high-performance systems. Additionally, for secure installation inside a computer case, the PSU’s back panel includes four mounting screw holes, allowing users to properly fasten it into place. These mounting points follow the ATX standard, ensuring compatibility with most modern cases. This simple but effective design makes installation straightforward and helps keep the power supply unit firmly secured during operation.
The FSP Vita GM 1000W is a fully modular power supply unit, which means that every cable can be connected or removed as needed. One of the key benefits of this design is that only the necessary cables are used, helping to reduce cable clutter and improve airflow inside the case. This results in a cleaner, more organized build, making it easier to manage cables, especially in smaller or more complex PC setups. However, the trade-off is that users must manually connect all the required cables, which may take extra time during installation compared to non-modular or semi-modular PSUs. That said, the ATX 24-pin connector is an essential requirement for almost all desktop computers, so it is one of the first cables that needs to be plugged in. Overall, the flexibility of a fully modular PSU is a major advantage, as it allows users to swap out cable kits if needed, whether for customization, replacements, or compatibility with different setups.
The power sockets on this PSU are well-labeled and easy to identify, ensuring a smooth and intuitive installation process. The layout follows a familiar two-row pattern, making it easy for users to find the correct slots for each cable. On the bottom row, there is a 20+4-pin connector for the motherboard power, which is a universal requirement for all ATX motherboards. Directly above the motherboard socket, there are two PCIe 6+2 pin connectors and one 16-pin 12V-2x6 PCIe 5.0 header capable of delivering up to 600W, making it ideal for high-end GPUs. To the left of the motherboard connector, we have two 8-pin EPS outputs, which are required for modern CPUs and enthusiast motherboards. Additionally, there are three peripheral sockets, allowing connection of up to three SATA cables for storage devices and peripherals, along with two Molex connectors for legacy components. The thoughtful design of these sockets prevents incorrect connections, ensuring that each cable only fits in its intended slot. For example, even though the ATX 4+4 pin and PCIe 8-pin connectors have similar layouts, they cannot be mistakenly interchanged, reducing the risk of damage during installation.
The FSP Vita GM 1000W also boasts a solid exterior build quality, giving it a premium and durable feel. The surface finish is smooth and resistant to fingerprints, meaning it maintains a clean and professional look even after handling. The panel connections are tight and well-aligned, with minimal gaps between the seams, demonstrating good attention to detail in manufacturing. Most importantly, there are no sharp edges anywhere on the PSU, which ensures safe handling during installation and reduces the risk of accidentally damaging cables or components. The robust external construction inspires confidence in the product’s overall durability, and with such a well-built exterior, we can only hope that the internal components meet the same high standard, which is something we will be examining in the next section.
The voltage specification label for the FSP Vita GM 1000W can be found on the top panel. There are two main virtual rails. Up to 20A can be delivered via the +3.3V rail for a total of 66W. The +5V rail can also deliver 20A, which is 100W. The total combined output for the +3.3V and +5V rail is 100W. In other words, your power allocation combination must fall within the limits of the listed specifications. Meanwhile, a single powerful +12 V rail delivers up to 83.3A, or 1000W, to reduce operating overhead compared to multiple +12V rails. Overall, the combined power output for the whole FSP Vita GM 1000W is 1000W. The power distribution of this product is within the norm for a 1000W power supply unit.
The FSP Vita GM 1000W is 80 Plus Gold and Cybenetics ETA Platinum certified. The 80 Plus Gold certification means it is at least 87%, 90%, 87% efficient at 20%, 50%, and 100% load, respectively. Cybenetics ETA Platinum means at 115V input, it is certified to be between 89% and 91% overall efficiency, power factor above 0.975, greater than 76% 5VSB efficiency, and less than 0.16W vampire power. Higher certifications available for power supplies of this type include 80 Plus Platinum, 80 Plus Titanium, Cybenetics ETA Titanium, and Cybenetics ETA Diamond at press time.
Out of box, we have nine black modular cables and one power cable with the FSP Vita GM 1000W. The flat cables are flexible enough to allow easy cable management in a desktop computer. It is worth mentioning for the motherboard and PCIe cables, nylon sleeves are provided to accommodate its thickness. Unfortunately, there are some in-cable capacitors that can make routing and cabling a bit trickier due to the stiffer wires. As for current handling, most of the wires are 16 or 18 AWG, with 16 AWG found on the high current cables, which are high enough for a 1000W PSU. For the ATX 20+4 pin connector cable, there are some wires are rated as 18 to 22 AWG.
The following modular cables are included out of the box:
- 1x ATX 20+4 pin, 60.0cm
- 2x ATX/EPS 4+4 pin, 70.0cm
- 1x 12V-2x6 PCIe 12+4 pin, 70cm
- 2x PCIe 6+2 pin, 2 connectors each, 65.0cm to first connector, 15.0cm spacing thereafter
- 1x SATA, 4 connectors each, 50.0cm to first connector, 15.0cm spacing thereafter
- 2x SATA/Molex, 4 connectors each, 50.0cm to first SATA connector, 15.0cm spacing to the next SATA connector, 15.5cm spacing to the first Molex connector, 10.0cm spacing to the second Molex connector
These are measurements from the manufacturer. Most users should have no problems with installing FSP Vita GM 1000W even if your case has a bottom power supply mount. 50cm is the general standard for an ATX PSU, and these cables have exceeded it on all counts.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Minor Tests and Conclusion
