500W to 550W: 12 Power Supplies Compared

Seasonic M12II SS-500GM - Overview

Seasonic didn't make a lot of noise about their second M12 series when it launched a few years ago. It was a follow-up to the original M12, which included a second small fan to help with cooling. The latest M12II uses a single 120mm fan, which is good since it reduces the acoustical noise and limits the number of points of failure. We're not sure why Seasonic didn't advertise this series more, though it might have something to do with the lawsuit by Ultra against anyone with the cable management system.

This power supply has been in the market for some time now, so it uses a Hitachi capacitor in the primary with Nippon Chemi-Con secondary capacitors. Hitachi capacitors are seldom seen these days, as they tend to be more expensive. The heatsinks consist of metal plates stamped into the appropriate shapes, and as always Seasonic uses an Adda fan for cooling.