Fractal Design has finally expanded its power supply portfolio to include the latest available power standard (ATX 3.1) at the time of writing. This means graphics cards with the 16-pin 12V‑2×6 connector can be powered directly—without an adapter—and the electrical characteristics are claimed to be more attractive too. You can now examine the most powerful, 1000-watt variant, in detail.
In this article, we will go through the design features of the Fractal Design Ion 3 power supply with a rated output of 1000 W. This is the variant also labeled (for more precise searching) as FD-P-IA3G-100. The following text will not reflect performance tests, for which we lack the equipment, but will focus on what is possible. Namely, what characterizes this power supply, both externally and internally.
From the outside…
The PSU casing is simple, black (or white – FD-P-IA3G-100), but features an embossed Fractal logo, for example. Otherwise, the shell is quite inconspicuous, meaning without elements that would immediately catch the eye.
The intake vent, through which air is drawn into the PSU by the fan, is filled with a wire mesh. This type of mesh offers relatively attractive aerodynamic properties compared to typical PSU meshes (which are usually punched from sheet metal). This means the fan maintains very high airflow, and the noise level also changes very little due to the mesh structure. This is because the wires have a circular, “non-destructive” cross-section.
This is a power supply in the physical ATX format, and the case length is 150 mm, which also applies to the 1000 W variant. Besides this one, 850 W and 750 W variants with identical cases also exist. Compatibility with computer cases is therefore decent, and the PSU will even fit into many smaller (SFF) models that don’t have as much vertical space.
Looking from all sides, you can see panels with connectors or with perforation for the exhaust of the PSU. Here, in these places, also notice the button for passive, or semi-passive, fan regulation. How you choose to cool the PSU is your decision. Passive operation is possible up to approximately 30% load, or the fan can be active continuously. It depends on your setting. Of course, it always holds true that higher operating temperatures mean a shorter lifespan for critical components.
And now for the details that will interest especially owners of graphics cards with the 16-pin (12V‑2×6) connector for external power. It is, of course, present here. Its presence is also determined by the ATX 3.1 electrical standard. Associated with this are, for example, requirements for higher efficiency at lower loads, within the scope of the certification. In the case of the FD Ion 3, this corresponds to 80 Plus Gold.
The 12V‑2×6 connector is marked “600 W”. Besides the construction properties of the cable (with a sufficiently high wire gauge—e.g., AWG16), this is also determined by the total power of the unit (1000 W). The cables are otherwise flat, with the wire insulations stacked side-by-side, allowing for convenient routing, typically between the motherboard tray and the side panel of the PC case. The cables are also quite flexible and pliable, so everything is fine in this regard too.
On the PSU, on the label, there is also information about the possible loads on the individual rails. For the strongest, +12V rail, it’s 83 A. This naturally changes depending on the performance variant (a lower PSU wattage means lower possible current load), but for the available 1000-watt variant, it is as stated.
The +12V rail also powers the 8-pin connectors, whether PCIe (6+2) for graphics card power (there are three of these, with cable lengths of 650 mm) or CPU (4+4-pin). There are two of the latter (for the CPU)—700 mm long. Ten SATA connectors (applies only to the 1000 W variant, others have “only” six connectors) or two 4-pin Molex connectors are powered from the weaker +5V rail. The +3.3V rail is included, for example, within the 24-pin ATX connector.
… and from the inside
For active cooling, a 140 mm Momentum 14 fan, which you might know from our tests, is used. A plastic deflector is placed behind the fan to guide air to the areas requiring the most intensive cooling.
Below is a photograph showing all the components on the printed circuit boards.
The electrolytic capacitors are “105°C-rated”. A large Rubycon capacitor (with a capacity of 820 µF) is used on the primary side, and the secondary side is populated primarily with Nippon Chemi-Con (KZE) capacitors.
The suggested price (MSRP) for the 1000 W Fractal Design Ion 3 power supply is 155 EUR, for both the black and the white variant. For the lower-wattage units, it is 125 EUR (850 W) and 115 EUR (750 W).
English translation and edit by Jozef Dudáš
