So, my first issue with this list is the blanket inclusion of multiple capacity/model for a given series all being lumped together. IMO, that can't happen.
this is the major reason we split platforms in the sheet, but things would get messy if we did this inside the list, unless that specific wattage comes out higher or lower (example would be CV)
Yes, I realize that it's a lot more work to differentiate between the 550, 650, 750, 850 models, etc., for each series, (Which is why MANY people have begun then quit, working up a list of their own. Including you Jon) but I think that's something you have to do especially since we already KNOW that in many if not most cases, there can be major differences from model to model within the same series.
stupid idea maybe... but wouldn't this mean the exact same for any other idea? even outside of these tier lists, this would literally make every psu recommendation outside of the reviewed wattages completely irrele
Seasonic M12II for example. The 520w and 620w models are group regulated and are an entirely different platform than the 750w and 850w models, which are DC-DC and couldn't reasonably be included on the same tier or considered to be the same type of product as those group regulated parts.
ever looked up what these are named? they're called S12ii evo and M12ii (evo) x50, placed in a higher tier than the rest of S12ii/m12ii, since we're aware of this platform change
EVGA as well. Several of the B3 units Aris tested blew up in testing. One capacity model did not and actually tested out well. There are a variety of examples out there of MANY series from different companies where entirely different platforms are used within the same series, so I think any series that has multiple models at different capacities needs to be considered a unique entry per capacity if any sort of accuracy is to be maintained.
and this is actually where I saw some people completely turn against RSY for some reason, expecting this being a regular screw-up, while they do production for Kolink, Cooler Master, Xilence, Seasonic and Superflower right now... they're certainly not up there with some of the bigger OEMs, but they're well at doing things at low costs.
The fact that the only difference between this unit and the Seasonic SSR-850x it is based off of, is the addition of a digital controller, which by the way Aris says does not improve performance, while the Seasonic SSR-850x itself is entirely missing from the Tier A, suggests the bias against Seasonic that has been pretty evident on this list since it's inception.
now this is just misreading as a whole, for the first part these units
are there, marked as Focus FM/FX/GM/GX, and there is one more change you've missed. the E-series uses that digital capacity in it's advantage to be set to a 3-rail mode in CAM software, making it qualified to be set as a switch-able multirail... it's in no way a higher tier, just set in the right sub-category... I don't see anything wrong with that. and there's nothing NZXT E wouldn't meet according to guilding standards, so I don't really see the problem here, even if I've spoken with Aris directly about the unit, coincidentally, and he did say he would prefer C-series (GX rebrand) over it, but we have discussed some more things around this before.
and keep in mind, this is a baseline, this doesn't replace reviews, it even makes use of them to create said baseline from a methodology. of course a project like this has it's flaws, but so would anything be simply because you only have so much info, and we can't ask a small group of reviewers to test a huge amount of units, even testing a modern range from one company would be heavy enough, let alone doing it with many of the modern units.
How does the Kolink Continuum C-PL 1500w land on Tier A, when the JG review said it didn't have outstanding voltage regulation (And ANY Tier A unit SHOULD have great voltage regulation) and Aris said:
I'll refer you to the methodology again... there's nothing that much wrong with the unit that it justifies tiering it down...
and with the "anti-seasonic" bias... I still do work with them on things, I still have a rep walking around and they only got mad at me once, there's not much to worry about in that regard, and I'll threat Seasonic as any other... just keep in mind they're just a small tier 3 manufacturer and don't deserve a godly status for everything they do, they're just another company, and so is CWT, HEC, Superflower or whoever else you have in mind as an OEM.