Rosewill has a rich power supply portfolio that includes a wide range of families covering every market segment. The company is trying hard to establish a good name in the competitive PSU business, which is a good thing not only for Rosewill but for its customers as well, since competition typically lowers prices.

Specs

Price: $169.99
Maximum. DC Output: 1200W
PFC: Active PFC
Proficiency: 80 PLUS Gold
Modular: Yes (Fully-Modular)
Intel Haswell Ready: Yes
Operating Temperature: 0 – 40°C
Protections: Over Voltage, Under Voltage, Over Power, Short Circuit
Cooling: 135mm Double Ball-Bearing Fan (RL4Z B1352512HH)
Semi Passive Operation: No
Dimensions: 3.39″ x 5.91″ x 7.09″ (WxHxD)
Weight: 2.0 kg (3.97lb)
Form Factor: ATX12V v2.31, EPS 2.92
Warranty: 5 Years

The Photon-1200 PSU is compatible with the sleep states of Intel’s Haswell-based CPUs (C6 and C7), where power consumption on the +12V rail is minimal. According to Rosewill, the maximum temperature at which it can deliver full power continuously is 40 degrees Celsius, even though the ATX spec says 50 °C. In addition, the minor rails’ maximum combined power is high for a contemporary system that uses them only lightly, while the 5VSB rail is significantly stronger than average.

The box also includes an 80 PLUS Gold badge and an icon that indicates the unit’s five-year warranty. On the back of the package, there is a power specs table, along with a graphical list describing the available connectors. Nonetheless, the information does not specify cable length. Eventually, the back of the box contains a brief list of product characteristics.

The back of the modular panel includes many sockets, which could have been arranged better in order to have more space between them, making them easier to attach and detach. Eventually, the PSU is compact considering its 1.2kW capacity.  On the front, there is a classic, honeycomb-style mesh, and the on/off switch is installed next to the AC receptacle. The power specs label is placed on the bottom of the unit, and there are decals with the series name on the sides.

Determination

The major drawbacks of the Photon-1200 PSU are ripple suppression at high ambient temperatures and the unit’s noisy operation, even at normal ambient temperatures. If you care about noise, then you should spend some more and get a quieter and more efficient 1.2kW unit.