With gallium nitride (GaN) as a new technology for power semiconductors, new power supply concepts with very high power densities are made possible. For example, Corsair for the AX1600i or USB-C power supply manufacturers such as Anker are already successfully using these components for their power converters.
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Hdplex 250W GaN Passive AIO 
Hdplex 250W GaN Passive AIO 
Hdplex 250W GaN Passive AIO 
Hdplex 250W GaN Passive AIO 
Hdplex 250W GaN Passive> AIO /figure>
For the 250W GaN Passive AIO, Hdplex uses a very flat housing with external dimensions of 170 x 50 x 25 mm, which, together with the aluminum plates, also serves as a heat sink for the power supply. With AIO (“All in one”), the manufacturer describes the power supply as a self-contained, independent component, since it does not require an external power supply compared to converter boards such as the 400W HiFi DC-ATX.
Automotive components for extended temperature range
Technologically, well-known circuit concepts are used with an active (boost) PFC and an LLC half-bridge resonant converter, which are upgraded using GaN-FETs with their low switching losses. For this purpose, two GaNext G1N65R150PB-N are connected in parallel in the PFC stage and two GaNext G1N65R240PB are connected in an LLC half-bridge configuration. A high power density is also favored by a planar transformer and synchronous rectification on the secondary side. Instead of standard printed circuit boards with a copper thickness of 35 µm on just one or two layers, Hdplex uses a four-layer 70 µm structure. Many of the power semiconductors used should be automotive-certified and can therefore cover a higher temperature range, which is why Hdplex specifies a very large operating temperature range of -10 to +75 degrees Celsius. The manufacturer also places a lot of trust in the intermediate circuit electrolytic capacitors used (although “only” with a 105 degree Celsius rating) and solid electrolytic capacitors.
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Hdplex 250W GaN Passive AIO (Image: Hdplex)
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Hdplex 250W GaN Passive AIO 
Hdplex 250W GaN Passive AIO Power-density record-breaking
In the low-power range, the Hdplex 250W GaN Passive AIO is currently unrivaled with its power density of 1.2 kW/l. The footprint is comparable to that of an iPhone. In comparison, the EVGA Supernova 1000 G6 with a depth of 140 mm in ATX format achieves a power density of 0.6 kW/l. In the SFX-L format, the Cooler Master SFX-L Platinum V1300 fights for the crown of the highest power density, which is said to be 1.2 – 1.3 kW/l.
Up to 500 W in parallel network
Hdplex 250W GaN Passive AIO (Picture: Hdplex) Hdplex specifies the efficiency as 94%, although it is not clear which operating point is meant. There is a modular cable management for the outputs. The 250-watt power supply even has two 6+2-pin PCIe connectors that, according to the specification, should output up to 300 watts. The protective circuits are specified in full, with the exception of the individual overcurrent protection for each voltage rail, which is why the power supply unit should at least be protected against thermal overload. With the included “sync cable”, two power supplies can be operated in parallel, which means that the available output power can be doubled. Hdplex announces availability of the power supply for June in its own web shop at a price of 142.10 euros.