Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
The P-series is SAMA's flagship lineup, and the P1200 1200W we are reviewing today is the highest wattage variant of the collection. Its market positioning appears to be a mainstream performance unit. The P-series have two lower wattage models at 850W and 1000W, and all models are available in either black or white. We have the white color version. From our view above, the same design is implemented on both the left and right side, where the P1200 model name is subtly displayed via a clear decal, and in the corner is SAMA's logo. To make sure you will see the text right side up at all times, the orientation of it is different on both sides, so whatever side facing the user after installation will always be correct. The SAMA P1200 1200W uses standard SECC construction.
The SAMA P1200 1200W has a depth of only 15.0cm, which is impressive for a kilowatt-spec unit and is one of the shortest power supplies we have reviewed here at APH Networks. The only other 1200W model we have reviewed with the same length is the FSP Hydro G Pro 1200W, but the SAMA P1200 is Platinum rather than Gold certified. Most modular power supplies are longer than non-modular units by a centimeter or two, as the extra length is needed to accommodate its connector board at the back. We will take a look inside the PSU on the next page. For most ATX or eATX chassis, this length should not be too much of a problem. 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 P1200 is fully modular.
At the top, a fixed parallelogram pattern fan grille guards the primary and only cooling fan installed. The parallelogram pattern mesh looks great, and air resistance should be reasonable. The 140mm fan generates airflow by drawing air from the bottom of the power supply over its internal components to keep the temperatures in check. Exhaust heat is allowed to leave at the back of the power supply through the secondary parallelogram pattern opening. Meanwhile, four screws secure the power supply case together. One edge has a warranty seal over it, but this one is easy to get around, so you can probably open the SAMA P1200 1200W without voiding its 10-year warranty.
Starting from the back part of the power supply, it is ventilated as most PSUs with a bottom mounted fan. The low resistance diamond pattern mesh design is implemented to maximize airflow and minimize air resistance. This is done as heat needs to leave the power supply as easily and efficiently as possible, because the P1200 1200W incorporates only one 140mm fan at the bottom.
As always, there is a vertically aligned C13 male connector for power input on the western edge along with an on/off switch next to it. It is implemented in an efficient manner, as the power input block takes up only the minimum necessary amount of room physically required. The SAMA P1200 1200W has automatic full range 100V to 240V AC line voltage selection as with all active PFC power supplies, so the user does not have to worry about manually selecting input voltage.
Like many power supplies we cover here at APH Networks, the P1200 1200W is a fully modular power supply. This means all cables are completely detachable from the main unit. While it is somewhat questionable with regards to why this is necessary, since cables such as the ATX 24-pin and ATX 4-pin/EPS 8-pin have practically an 100% chance of being always connected, it may prove to be beneficial to an extent when building your computer initially.
The rear cable connection panel is done nicely. SAMA has also made the labels right side up in standard orientation. To ensure you know what is going on, they are all clearly labeled for minimal ambiguity. Starting from the left, we have five peripherals outputs for SATA and Molex devices. The Motherboard section that supports an ATX 24-pin connector has two separate blocks next to each other. This is followed by two 16-pin 12V-2x6 PCIe 5.1 600W headers. Next to the second row peripherals outputs are two 8-pin connectors for ATX/EPS cables. Lastly, there are three 8-pin connectors for traditional PCIe headers. Incompatible outputs will not physically fit into each other, so SAMA has done a great job in this regard. This is a reasonable array of outputs in correspondence number of connectors on each modular cable, which should be sufficient for casual users and power enthusiasts alike.
The external build quality of SAMA's P1200 1200W power supply is excellent at first glance; a good indication the company is serious about the product they are selling. We will take it apart in just a moment. Fit is done well with minimal panel gaps, and all edges are nicely finished off. The level of refinement with regards to the external build quality is right up there with all the other high-quality PSUs I have used in the past. As aforementioned, we will crack open the power supply to see what components are inside in the following section.
The voltage specification label is located on the top of the SAMA P1200 1200W. There are two main virtual rails. Up to 20A can be delivered via the +3.3V rail for a total of 66W, while the 20A on the +5V rail brings the output to 100W in this area. 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 +12V rail delivers up to 100A -- 1200W -- to maximize power delivery flexibility compared to multiple rails. Overall, the combined power output for the whole SAMA P1200 1200W is 1200W, as its name suggests. It does sound a bit confusing to understand how this works at first, but generally speaking, this configuration allows sufficiently flexible power demands and should be sufficient to accommodate most users. The power outputs in the +3.3V and 5V rails are within the norm, as most PSUs in this wattage range released in the last few years usually have them between 20A and 22A. This is because modern systems do not have a lot of need in this area.
The SAMA P1200 1200W is 80 Plus Platinum certified, but does not have a Cybenetics ETA certification. The 80 Plus Platinum certification means that it is at least 90%, 92%, 89% efficient at 20%, 50%, and 100% load, respectively. Higher certifications available for power supplies of this type include 80 Plus Titanium at press time.
A total of twelve modular power cables are included out of the box. All modular cables are flat or sleeved and easy to bend, making them extremely easy to work with. 16 AWG wires are found on the ATX 20+4 pin and 12V-2x6 PCIe 12+4 pin bundles, while the rest are typically 18 AWG. Manufacturers often will fatten high current cables to 16 AWG, so this is common practice.
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
- 2x 12V-2x6 PCIe 12+4 pin, 60.0cm
- 3x PCIe 6+2 pin, 60.0cm
- 3x SATA, 4 connectors each, 45.0cm to first connector, 15.0cm spacing thereafter
- 3x Molex, 4 connectors each, 45.0cm to first connector, 15.0cm spacing thereafter
These figures are provided by the manufacturer. Most users should have no problems with SAMA's P1200 1200W in modern cases. 50cm is the general standard, and the included cables met or exceeded this recommendation on all measurements except for the peripheral cables. Peripheral cables with a shorter length to the first connector may be advantageous for cable routing and management.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Minor Tests and Conclusion
