Silverstone SX600-G: SFX 80+ Gold

[MikeC]

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Silversto ... -G_SFX_PSU

[quest_for_silence]

Thanks Mike, a nice add to the SPCR reviews collection!

[bastiaan]

Nice review. I can't imagine there are many people are busy building compact systems with this sort of power requirement, but there may be a few customers in the "higher output = better" segment. Even so, I am disappointed with the efficiency of this PSU at low loads, which I think is important to many people building small systems.

[MikeC]

Nice review. I can't imagine there are many people are busy building compact systems with this sort of power requirement, but there may be a few customers in the "higher output = better" segment. Even so, I am disappointed with the efficiency of this PSU at low loads, which I think is important to many people building small systems.

Yeah, it's not the best, but it's hard to blame the unit for its power curve, as it's not much different from typical 600W ATX Gold PSUs. I've said this repeatedly -- the only way to get super high efficiency at very low load is to choose a high efficiency PSU rated for low power. But the incentive to make such devices is not high, and the benefits aren't big because the base power is small.

The 450W Gold version of this PSU got a short test in the Silverstone ML05 review, and it lost 8.7W at 20W load, compared to 11.8W for the 600W Gold. About a 3W improvement (30W vs 33W AC) if your idle is that low. But it's unlikely to be that low if your peak power is >500W, which would be why you'd choose the 600W, and the 450W model wouldn't even be in the running.

[matt_garman]

Seems like this power supply would also be particularly compelling for Silverstone's DS380 NAS Chassis (SPCR review).

[MikeC]

Seems like this power supply would also be particularly compelling for Silverstone's DS380 NAS Chassis (SPCR review).

Yes, but this PSU would be overkill for a NAS with 8 drives. If you use 24W as the peak spinup power for the drives, the total would only be 200W. Silverstone does have SFX models of 300W and 450W, which are more apropos.

[dunemssiah]

Users have indicated that the semi-passive feature only works from boot-up, and once the fan spins on, it won't ever turn off. Can you guys confirm this?

[MikeC]

Users have indicated that the semi-passive feature only works from boot-up, and once the fan spins on, it won't ever turn off. Can you guys confirm this?

From the review (p4):
The fan started spinning at a much lower power load and external temperature than expected, as detailed in section 7. Once the fan began spinning, it did not stop at any time during testing, even after switching on/off; presumably the internal sensor to which the fan operation is tied never had a chance to cool off below 45°C.

[edh]

The fan started spinning at a much lower power load and external temperature than expected, as detailed in section 7. Once the fan began spinning, it did not stop at any time during testing, even after switching on/off; presumably the internal sensor to which the fan operation is tied never had a chance to cool off below 45°C.

That doesn't sound good. Did they really intend it to work that way? It would seem that would be the case as a thermistor connected to a fan is far easier to build and would also ramp down once it cools down. Could be a possible mod to improve it.

I believe the Silverstone 300W non-modular SFX PSU also has the same semi-passive fan control logic and probably better suits most small systems.

[dunemssiah]

Users have indicated that the semi-passive feature only works from boot-up, and once the fan spins on, it won't ever turn off. Can you guys confirm this?

From the review (p4):
The fan started spinning at a much lower power load and external temperature than expected, as detailed in section 7. Once the fan began spinning, it did not stop at any time during testing, even after switching on/off; presumably the internal sensor to which the fan operation is tied never had a chance to cool off below 45°C.

Oops missed that!

Doesn't that defeat the semi-passive purpose? If the PSU isn't able to cool itself back down to passive?

[MikeC]

Oops missed that!

Doesn't that defeat the semi-passive purpose? If the PSU isn't able to cool itself back down to passive?

Not unusual -- this happens with other semi-passive PSUs, but I think the difference is how tightly packed an SFX PSU is, esp. one with components for 600W output, so it takes a lot more airflow (or longer time) for enough cooling to occur w/ a low profile 80mm fan. Besides, 15 dBA@1m isn't exactly a nasty racket. Almost any normal room has a higher ambient. iirc, our very quiet ground floor rooms are no better that 18~20 dBA most of the time.

[sgtspiff]

Thanks for the review.

This PSU has been highly anticipated in the SFF comunity as it will allow Geforce Titan in micro cases.

I do wonder though on which temperature the fans starts working harder?
As the exhaust air seems pretty cool at anything below 200W.

Also I would love to see a 250W result as that is the max load for my upcoming intended build. And I would like to use this PSU to get lower noise (compared to other SFX).

[quest_for_silence]

it will allow Geforce Titan in micro cases.

A Titan draw less than 250w at most, the Black just an handful or two over that, so no need for a 600w unit.

As the exhaust air seems pretty cool at anything below 200W.

It's likely the highest power draw for somehow quiet operation.

[quest_for_silence]

A nice, performance oriented review by Oklahoma Wolf/Tazz at JonnyGuru.com: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?na ... t&reid=395

[quest_for_silence]

Herr Philip Pfab at ComputerBase.de (the online arm of PCGH) reviewed the smaller 300W Bronze unit (already well known to several co-forumers, like ggumdol IIRC).

Well, it seems dramatically quieter than the more efficient 600W unit and more probably that not the most quiet SFX unit in the market.