As a veteran power supply brand,SuperFlower has an excellent reputation for its products,which are highly favored by seasoned DIY enthusiasts.Due to its English name,many players humorously refer to it as "Super Flower." SuperFlower has a variety of classic product models under its belt,such as Copper Emperor,Iceberg Gold Butterfly,LEADEX,and more.Among them,the LEADEX series is SuperFlower's high-end line,with different generations like Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and Ⅶ.Models like the previously released LEADEX HG and LEADEX ARGB are representative of the SuperFlower LEADEX Ⅲ series.Not long ago,SuperFlower introduced a brand-new LEADEX series power supply: the LEADEX Ⅲ 1000W.This power supply is built based on the Intel ATX3.1 specification,offering higher safety and capable of meeting the power supply needs of top-tier graphics cards.

Product Specifications:

- Rated Power: 1000W (with options for 650W/750W/850W/1300W)

- Fan Size: 140mm

- PFC Type: Active

- Efficiency Certification: 80PLUS Gold

- Input Voltage: 100V~240V

- Input Current: 10A

- Power Cord Length: 1.5m

- Size: 150mm × 150mm × 86mmWarranty period: 10 years

Reference price: 859 yuan

What are the differences between ATX3.1 and ATX3.0 specifications?

Before diving into the experience of the Super Flower LEADEX III 1000W power supply,let's briefly explore the differences between the ATX3.1 power supply specification and the ATX3.0.We are aware that since Intel released the ATX3.0 specification,all mid-to-high-end power supplies adopting this specification have been equipped with a 12VHPWR connector.It is precisely because of the 12VHPWR connector that there have been multiple instances of connector burnout globally,leading to no small amount of discord between power supply manufacturers and graphics card manufacturers.Later,after investigation and confirmation by NVIDIA,it was found that indeed,issues with the power line could occur if the 12VHPWR power connector was not inserted correctly.To avoid such connector burnout issues due to incorrect insertion,Intel introduced the updated ATX3.1 specification.

The first item on the ATX3.1 update list is the renaming of 12VHPWR to 12V-2x6.As for why Intel changed the connector's name,it might be because the 12VHPWR name was considered inauspicious,or perhaps Intel wanted to deliberately forget that unpleasant past.Do not assume that the 12V-2x6 connector is a completely new connector; in fact,it is almost identical in appearance to the 12VHPWR,thus they are compatible with each other.

To prevent poor contact due to incomplete plug insertion,the 12V-2x6 connector of the ATX3.1 power supply has undergone internal changes.This means that when the plug is not fully inserted,the internal pins of the plug will not make contact,thereby limiting the power output and preventing burnout issues.The specific design specifications include increasing the pin responsible for the 12V power supply by 0.25mm and shortening the sideband signal (4pin) pin by 1.5mm.At the same time,the opening of the small 4pin sideband signal connector pin has been increased from 1.6mm x 9.3mm to 1.75mm x 9.4mm.Additionally,the length of the internal pins of the power connector has been increased from 4.2mm to 4.45mm (6.6mm - 2.15mm),and the length of the sense pin has been shortened from 4mm to 2.5mm.This ensures that after insertion,the pins for the 12V power supply are more likely to make full contact,avoiding poor contact issues.Even if the plug is not fully inserted,the sideband signal pins will not make contact,thus disconnecting or limiting the power output of the corresponding pins,ultimately achieving the purpose of protection.

The ATX 3.0 specification requires the dynamic peak power of the power supply to reach three times its rated power.For example,the 600W power of 12VHPWR needs to achieve a dynamic peak power of 1800W within 100μs.At the same time,as time progresses,it returns to 1x load (continuous output) after more than 1s.Compared to the previous ATX2.x specification,ATX 3.0 has detailed overload requirements corresponding to μS-mS,which actually corresponds to Intel's PL1-PL4 power consumption.For protection purposes,ATX3.1 has reduced the requirement for the dynamic peak power of PCIe from three times to 2.5 times.That is,for a 600W power,now only a peak power of 1500W is required within 100μs.

ATX 3.1 holding time above 11ms is sufficient.

In Intel's power supply design specification guide,there are seven stages of power supply holding time,from T0 to T6.For example,from the power-on signal to the power supply outputting energy,then to stable power supply,and finally achieving power-on.T0 to T1 is the power-on time,T2 to T4 is the power supply output time,and T5 to T6 is the power supply holding time.In the ATX3.0 power supply specification,the output holding time at T5 timing must be above 16ms (under 100% load),and the holding time at T6 timing should be above 1ms,meaning that the combined holding time of T5+T6 timing must be above 17ms under 100% load.The ATX 3.1 specification only requires the power supply holding time to be above 11ms,which is a reduction of 5ms compared to ATX3.0,and it is only "recommended" to be above 16ms.When the standard is lowered,the corresponding technical requirements for power supply manufacturers will also be more relaxed,making it easier to achieve the "qualified" level.Full Modular Design with Native 12V-2x6 Interface

The Super Flower LEADEX III 1000W,as a standard ATX power supply,shares the same length as the Antec PlatiGemini 1200W power supply we have previously experienced,with dimensions of 150mm (width) x 150mm (length) x 86mm (height).Its compact size allows it to fit into mainstream cases.The LEADEX III 1000W power supply features a 140mm FDB bearing fan from "ZETA," model "ZFF142512D," which is the same brand as the fans used in the Antec PlatiGemini 1200W and Antec REVOLUTION D.F.12 we have previously experienced,and it is identical to the fan in the LEADEX VII 1300W.This fan has 9 blades and operates at a maximum speed of around 2000RPM.The fan blades also have irregular small notches of varying sizes,which help to optimize airflow,reduce resistance,and increase efficiency to some extent.This power supply supports smart temperature control,remaining in a stopped rotation state under low load or low temperature conditions.

Additionally,to enhance user experience and meet higher cooling demands,the LEADEX III 1000W also supports ECO and AUTO temperature control functions.The design of this power supply takes into account the practical needs and convenience of use for the user.In addition to a standard power switch,a "Hybrid" hardware switch is specially set next to the power interface.When users turn on this switch,the fan will be in a completely stopped state at low temperatures and low loads.As the load and temperature increase,the fan will automatically enter an active cooling state.When the ECO mode is turned off,the power supply will intelligently monitor the load of the PC.It can sense changes in load in real-time and automatically adjust the fan speed according to the load level.Once it detects that the PC is under high load,the fan will enter a high-speed state,and when under low load,it will maintain a low-speed operation without completely stopping.In AUTO mode,it ensures sufficient cooling effect when running under high load,while effectively reducing the noise generated by fan operation under low load,achieving a balance between cooling and silence.

The power supply has high requirements for its own cooling design under passive cooling conditions.Therefore,the LEADEX III 1000W has large areas of ventilation openings on both the fan position and the side,effectively improving air circulation and ensuring that the power supply can maintain stable performance even under passive cooling conditions.

As a mid-to-high-end power supply,the LEADEX III 1000W naturally comes with a full modular interface,providing users with more flexible usage options.This power supply is equipped with a total of 13 sets of interfaces,including 6 sets of CPU power and PCIe power supply interfaces,which are interchangeable to prevent incorrect insertion.In addition,there are 4 sets of SATA interfaces,2 sets of motherboard power supply interfaces,and 1 set of native 12V-2x6 interface.It should be noted that only the LEADEX III 1000W and 1300W power supplies have native 12V-2x6 interfaces,while the 650W,750W,and 850W models use dual 8Pin to 12V-2x6 interfaces.

In addition to the number of interfaces,the LEADEX III 1000W has also put effort into the selection of cables.Unlike some other power supplies that use nylon material to wrap the PCIe 5.1 CEM cables separately,its cables adopt a flat type,which not only facilitates cable management for users but also makes the interior of the computer case more neat and aesthetically pleasing.Additionally,the power supply's cables are quite abundant.It comes with 1x 20+4pin mainboard power cable (600mm),2x 4+4pin CPU power cables (700mm),4x 6+2pin PCIe power cables (700mm),1x 12+4pin 12V-2x6 PCIe power cable (700mm),2x SATA power cables (550mm+130mm+130mm+130mm),and 1x 4pin peripheral device connector power cable (550mm+150mm+150mm+150mm).The LEADEX III 1000W's cables are both longer and more numerous than the Tt Steel Series ToughPower GF A3 Snow 1050W we have previously experienced.The longer cables facilitate the need for cable management in various ATX and E-ATX cases.

80PLUS Gold Certification

10-year warranty with 1-year replacement

From the power supply's nameplate,we can glean some information about the LEADEX III 1000W: it supports a wide range voltage of 100V~240V,with a maximum input current of 15A (10A domestically).The power supply uses a single +12V rail output,capable of delivering up to 83.3A of current,which translates to 999.6W of power.The +3.3V and +5V rails can output 20A of current each,combining for 100W of power.Additionally,the -12V rail can output 0.5A of current,and the +5VSB can output 3A of current,providing 6W and 15W of power,respectively.

On the nameplate of the LEADEX III 1000W,there is a row of certification logos at the bottom,like badges of honor,indicating that this power supply has passed compliance with numerous countries,regions,or organizations.Moreover,there is a prominent 80PLUS Gold certification logo in the top right corner of the power supply's nameplate.This signifies that the power supply has excellent power conversion efficiency: with an input voltage of 115V,the conversion efficiency is not less than 87% at 20% load,not less than 90% at 50% load,and not less than 87% at 100% load.

In practice,the LEADEX III 1000W has achieved conversion efficiencies of 90.04%,91.43%,and 88.77% at 20%,50%,and 100% loads,respectively,with an average conversion efficiency of 90.08%,which is close to the 80PLUS Platinum standard.A power supply that passes the 80PLUS Gold certification indicates high efficiency and energy savings,and it also indirectly proves that the power supply uses high-quality components,as only superior materials can easily pass the 80PLUS Gold certification.

It is worth mentioning that the LEADEX III 1000W also supports an extended warranty period of up to 10 years.This demonstrates Super Flower's confidence in the quality of its power supplies and provides users with peace of mind during the purchase and usage process.The specific warranty policy for this power supply is: free replacement within the first year,followed by free repair for the next 9 years,totaling 10 years of free quality assurance.Power Supply with Precise and Fluctuation-Free Voltage

We have tested the various input voltages of the LEADEX III 1000W using specialized equipment.Upon testing,its -12V voltage is at 11.9V,+12V is at 12.1V,+5V is at 5.0V,5VSB voltage is at 5.0V,+3.3V voltage is at 3.3V,and the PG time is 80ms.All voltage values are within the normal range.These test results indicate that the LEADEX III 1000W has accurate and error-free voltages.

In addition to the accuracy of the power supply voltage,we also observed that there was no fluctuation in the voltage values during the testing process.This demonstrates that the input voltage of the LEADEX III 1000W is very stable.A stable input voltage is crucial for the normal operation of devices such as the motherboard,processor,graphics card,and memory.If the voltage fluctuates significantly,it may lead to device instability or even cause failures.This is especially true for key components like the motherboard and processor,which are very sensitive to stable voltage.Fluctuating voltage can lead to computer system crashes,freezes,or unpredictable errors.

We further tested the fan noise of the power supply under different load conditions.The results show that regardless of the load level,the noise from the power supply fan remains at a low level.Particularly under high load conditions,the subtle sound of the power supply fan is completely overshadowed by the graphics card fan.This is especially true when the power supply is installed in a case,where the increased distance makes the fan noise inaudible.It is also worth mentioning that during the operation of the power supply,there were no abnormal conditions such as coil whining,and the overall performance is stable and reliable.

Mainstream Circuit Design and High Reliability of Components

As a mid-to-high-end ATX 3.1 power supply,what is the internal component quality and circuit design of the LEADEX III 1000W?Upon disassembly,we can see a general design of its interior,which includes an active PFC + LLC resonant + DC to DC + synchronous rectification scheme.This circuit design is very common and has become very mature,with most mainstream power supplies adopting this approach.Additionally,the internal structure and components of the LEADEX III 1000W are very similar to those of the LEADEX VII 1300W power supply.

The LEADEX III 1000W has a complete set of first and second-level EMI filtering circuits.Its first-level EMI filtering circuit is located at the AC input end,where there are two Y capacitors and one X capacitor soldered onto an independent sub-board at the back of the AC interface,with the sub-board being insulated and isolated externally.The first-level EMI filtering circuit is primarily used to filter out transient voltages and high-frequency interference from the mains,while also preventing high-frequency interference generated by the switching transistors from being transmitted back into the mains,which could affect other electrical appliances.Beneath the primary EMI filter circuit on the main PCB lies its secondary EMI filter circuit,which includes one relay and one fuse for protecting the downstream circuits.Adjacent to it are two Y capacitors configured together; their function is to filter high-frequency noise by connecting capacitors between the ground and power lines.Additionally,on either side of these two Y capacitors,there are two common-mode inductors,one X capacitor,and one MOV varistor.This MOV varistor provides overvoltage protection; when there is a transient high voltage in the circuit (such as lightning strikes,electrostatic discharge,etc.),the varistor can absorb a large amount of energy in a short time,which is crucial for preventing damage caused by overvoltage.When the varistor conducts,it converts the energy of the overvoltage into thermal energy and dissipates this energy through its own heat dissipation.

Next to the secondary EMI filter circuit,we can see a power supply equipped with a large main capacitor.This main capacitor is from the first-tier brand NIPPON CHEMI-CON (NCC Japan),with specifications of 450V/680μF/105°C,translating to approximately 0.68μF per watt of capacitance.The capacitor can withstand high temperatures up to 105°C and has an exceptionally long service life.The high-temperature resistance of the main capacitor is very important; during power supply operation,due to the flow of current,the capacitor will generate heat,and a high-temperature environment may cause irreversible damage to the capacitor.

On one side close to the main capacitor and the secondary EMI filter circuit is the LEADEX III 1000W PFC circuit and rectification circuit,which is equipped with two PFC switch tubes with the silk-screen model number "SRC60R090BS" from Shenzhen Sunrise.Additionally,it also features one PFC diode from STMicroelectronics,with the model number "STTH12R06D".These two PFC switch tubes and the PFC diode share a common heat dissipation module.The LEADEX III 1000W uses a coil-type PFC inductor,with a solid volume and coil winding density.Below the edge on the other side of the heat sink is the power supply's two GBU15J bridge rectifiers from Leshan Hill Electronic,with data showing a peak voltage of 600V/15A and an average rectification current reaching 15A,operating in a temperature range of -55°C to 150°C.Assuming the minimum voltage is 100V,the rectification power is 1500W.Based on a 90% efficiency calculation,the rectification power can also reach 1350W,still exceeding the power supply's rated power.If the rectification power of the rectifier bridge is lower than the power supply's rated power,it indirectly indicates that the power supply's rated power is falsely marked.It is clear that the LEADEX III 1000W is quite solid and reliable in terms of materials.Additionally,next to the heat sink,there is also one NTC and one relay from Yuanze.

On the outermost side,there are two vertical daughterboards,one is the PFC circuit controller,and the other is the fan start-stop function controller.The fan start-stop controller is from ON Semiconductor's "LM324ADG",and it enables the power supply to achieve temperature sensing,control the start-stop and automatic speed adjustment of the fan under different loads.

As we mentioned earlier,the LEADEX III 1000W uses a DC to DC architecture.It does not use a separate DC to DC daughterboard but integrates it on the main PCB,responsible for the conversion of +5V and +3.3V voltages.It is equipped with four DC chips from Alpha & Omega (AON6516),supporting 30V/25A@100°C/6.4mΩ.At the same time,it also has two control chips from Montage Electronics,with each control chip corresponding to two AON6516 chips.Additionally,it is paired with two coil inductors and multiple Capxon (Fengbin) solid capacitors and electrolytic capacitors for filtering and output.The LEADEX III 1000W's +12V synchronous rectifier employs eight SRT04N016L (40V/77A/1.6mΩ) from Shenzhen Sunytone,with four rectifiers and four freewheeling diodes.Similarly,in the synchronous rectification circuit area,the power supply is also equipped with solid-state capacitors and electrolytic capacitors from Capxon for filtering.

In the final output module section,a large number of capacitors are also arranged for the last stage of output filtering.From its materials,it can be seen that the LEADEX III 1000W maintains a high standard in terms of circuit design and material selection,with component suppliers from well-known domestic and international brands,high-quality materials and specifications,providing the power supply with excellent electrical performance.

In conclusion,as a veteran power supply manufacturer,Super Flower demonstrates its effort in the ATX3.1 power supply through the LEADEX III series.The series is also priced reasonably,offering strong competitiveness against many competitors in the market.After experiencing it,the LEADEX III 1000W has stable and accurate voltages across all rails.It also features a dual-mode temperature control system,which can better cope with various complex load scenarios faced by users,thus possessing excellent thermal performance.Additionally,upon disassembly,the internal materials of the power supply are quite impressive,with solid and reliable components,complete protection circuits,and support for overvoltage,overcurrent,overpower,short circuit,undervoltage,overtemperature,and surge protection functions.These are the foundations that ensure the power supply can run stably for a long time.For users looking to purchase a high-quality,well-built,and affordable ATX 3.1 kilowatt-level power supply from a reputable brand,the LEADEX III 1000W is worth considering.