beating the S12: Silverstone ST50EF Plus

jojo4u · Post by **jojo4u** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:20 am

recent issue (24/06) of the german printed magazine c't tested the following PSUs:

Straight Power BQT E5-500W,FSP Bluestorm II 500W (FSP500-60GLN),Seasonic S12-500 (SS-500HT),Tagan TG500-U25 (500W),Arena chieftec CFT-500A-12S (500W),Ultron UN-550PFC (550W),Enermax EG565AX-VE(G) FMA (535W),Sharkoon SilentStorm 120 500W (SHA500-12A),AcBel ATX-500CA-AB8FM (API4PC23-Y4DG),Amacrox AX500-60GLN (500W),Silverstone SST-ST50EF Plus (500W),Xilence XP480,Hiper HPU-4K530-MU V2,Levicom Polar Power 500W (SPS-LV500.W),Inter-Tech NitroX 500W (IT-7500SG)

Only the Silverstone 80+ certified ST50EF Plus was more efficient AND more silent than the Seasonic S12-500.
ATX cable length seems to be quite short at 30 cm compared to 53 cm at the Seasonic.

Code: Select all

noise at load level in sone:
            20% 50% 100%
S12-500     0.1 0.1 0.6
ST50EF Plus 0.1 0.1 0.3

efficiency at load level:
            20% 50% 100%
S12-500     78% 82% 80%
ST50EF Plus 83% 86% 82%

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:51 am

It's also slightly cheaper than the S12-500 (in the UK). Looks like a strong contender for an SPCR Recommendation.

kogi · Post by **kogi** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:17 am

Link please.

So Quieter across the board, or at certain load levels?

kogi

ps. F me. IT's $120 aussie. $70 cheaper than the 550w S12 .

klankymen · Post by **klankymen** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:57 am

kogi wrote:Link please.

link to a magazine might be hard.... does SPCR's policies allow scans to be posted?

Sendorm · Post by **Sendorm** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 7:48 am

I've been reading reviews about the SilverStone ELEMENT ST50EF model, without the plus. This model also offers +80 efficiency.

In my country Seasonic S12 500W is sold for $140.37 + tax, while ST50EF is $110 + tax.

Seems like a good alternative. A spcr review would be great, might even alter the recommended psu list.

Post by **MikeC** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 7:52 am

We reviewed the Silverstone. It was found to be slightly louder across the board, but with a very flat curve -- stayed at 23dBA/1m to past 200W, reached 25 dBA at 250W, then jumped some dBA between there and 300W. It's an intelligent acoustic fan-speed-to-temperature/load curve.

Sendorm · Post by **Sendorm** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 8:03 am

Glad to hear that and I should look more carefully. I must have missed it.

jojo4u · Post by **jojo4u** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 8:10 am

MikeC wrote:[url=http://www.silentpcreview.com/article670-page1.html]We reviewed the Silverstone.

Ooops...

Only searched in the PSU forum for the name.

jojo4u · Post by **jojo4u** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 8:46 am

Well the efficiency performance of the Silverstone was expected when one looks at the graph at the Silverstone homepage. The S12-500 fares worse than at SPCR, and this with 220 V. Of course, there are more models available from Seasonic (80 plus, M12 ...).

slikk · Post by **slikk** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:59 pm

Withe similarity in performance between the S12-500 and the ST50EF-Plus, and ST50EF being lower in price. I'm tempted to buy the Silverstone for my next build.

I've been hearing quite a bit about Seasonic, how is Silverstone? Should I buy the ST50EF-Plus over the S12-500?

I want a PSU that's both quiet and efficient.

jojo4u · Post by **jojo4u** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 3:07 pm

slikk wrote:I want a PSU that's both quiet and efficient.

dirkvader.de reviewed the ST40EF (plus).

power consumption:

noise:

So at 220 V it's much more efficient and a tad louder than the S12-380.

EDIT:
load means Prime95 und 3DMark2003 with this system:

Mainboard: Asus A8V Deluxe Rev. 2 (passiv)
Prozessor: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Winchester
Arbeitsspeicher: 2 x 512MB Geil DDR400 PC-3200 CL2.5
Grafikkarte: Hercules Prophet Radeon 9700 Pro (passiv @ Aerocool VM-101)
Festplatte: Samsung SV0802N

SPCR review of S12-380

Sendorm · Post by **Sendorm** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:41 am

ok, I've just bought Silverstone ST50EF. I must say it's no where silent, not even quite. Download the mp3 sounds from the spcr review for this particular product and that sound will be exactly what you get when you turn the device on. Also spcr mentioned of a loud buzz when no load is connected to 5V line. That is completely true too. This happens when the power supply is not connected to the motherboard, luckily the sound dissappears when connected.

I just need to make some modifications to the fan (maybe connect a diode to lower the voltage to the fan by another 0.7 volts). Also there is a slight buzzing coming from the psu maybe in the 18khz-20khz range, which is directional but enough to annoy me.

I just miss my tagan 330watt psu, which I destroyed 2 nights before. It was the most quite thing I've ever seen. I've found the failing part, which is a capacitor and blew up right in front of my eyes. I might try to replace that.

halcyon · Post by **halcyon** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:37 am

Did you buy the plus model, as in 'ST50EF Plus'?

If so, there seems to be quite a lot of unit-to-unit variance?

Sendorm · Post by **Sendorm** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:40 am

No it's not the plus model. I've googled for differences between the plus and normal version. Both says above %80 efficiency and 21dba minimum noise.

But the normal version I have, acts just as described in the spcr review of the plus model. (the minimum noise sounds just like the recorded mp3, the weird buzz, all are here)

The "plus", might just be a naming scheme, I dont know.

edit: yeah the pcb of the plus and normal versions are different. Also the producer are different, but they both seem to have the same characteristics.

edit2: I've just done a fan swap to the psu. The new fan is connected to the motherboard and controlled via speedfan. Without the fan noise, the st50ef is still somewhat noisy. I can characterize the sound as a low frequency whoosh type noise.
It is not dead silent.

halcyon · Post by **halcyon** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:19 pm

Thanks for the report Sendorm!

It's always good to have confirmation on reviews. Looks like SPCR was right on the money again on this.

I wonder how the c't unit was so much different? Unit-to-unit variance? Faulty measurements? Something else?

halcyon · Post by **halcyon** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:23 pm

Thanks for the report Sendorm!

It's always good to have confirmation on reviews. Looks like SPCR was right on the money again on this.

I wonder how the c't unit was so much different? Unit-to-unit variance? Faulty measurements? Something else?

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 2:30 am

ok, I've just bought Silverstone ST50EF. I must say it's no where silent, not even quite.

LOL, Seasonic for the win. Maybe we should just give up reviewing PSUs and become a Seasonic reseller?

Bar81 · Post by **Bar81** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 8:21 am

Sendorm wrote: I just miss my tagan 330watt psu, which I destroyed 2 nights before. It was the most quite thing I've ever seen. I've found the failing part, which is a capacitor and blew up right in front of my eyes. I might try to replace that.

If the Tagan was fine, a better choice would have been the 300W fanless from Silverstone

Sendorm · Post by **Sendorm** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:50 am

fanless psu's are hard to find in my country, besides I dont want to spend that much money.

I've changed the failing part, which turned up to be a current limiter. No go, the tagan psu is still broke. I think I am gonna salvage the fans and the fan controller. Seems to do a decent job.

hulubei · Post by **hulubei** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 1:40 pm

I've just swaped my NeoHE 430W with de Silverstone Element-Plus and, there is a big disappointment. It's louder than the NeoHE, now I can really hear my computer louder. The fan seems to spin to fast.
I'll try to test if my system really needs all that power in overclocked mode or not and the NeoHE is just fine. I'm also a bit scared about NeoHE because I RMAed it for 2 times allready (and it's just 2 months old).
I could also try to mount a fan with less RPM or just to undervolt the one mounted in the PSU even a think that the fan is at it's the lowest voltaje allready because if I stop it mechanically it won't start alone at it's voltage (only helped by me).

wwenze · Post by **wwenze** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 8:37 pm

One argument that I always tell myself for Seasonic, is that while there are more efficient PSUs out there, and as efficient ones that are much cheaper,

Seasonic is the only one that can do it with minimal cooling.

jojo4u · Post by **jojo4u** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:44 am

Ok guys, next time I will restrict my usage of catchphrase subjects. Sorry ...

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:05 am

jojo4u wrote:Ok guys, next time I will restrict my usage of catchphrase subjects. Sorry ...

No, that's OK, the ST50EF does beat the S12 in some respects; but it is weird how only Seasonic can do high-efficiency and quiet, you would think that the two things go hand in hand.

hulubei · Post by **hulubei** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:20 am

Elemnt Plus is higher eficiency than S12. There is probably something wrong with the fan or just the model (Elemnt use HighSpeed and S12 LowSpeed ADDA).

Azazel · Post by **Azazel** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:37 pm

Sendorm wrote:No it's not the plus model. I've googled for differences between the plus and normal version. Both says above %80 efficiency and 21dba minimum noise.

edit2: I've just done a fan swap to the psu. The new fan is connected to the motherboard and controlled via speedfan. Without the fan noise, the st50ef is still somewhat noisy. I can characterize the sound as a low frequency whoosh type noise.
It is not dead silent.

The plus model is certified as 80+ compliant, the normal is not. They are not the same.

How exactly is the wooshing of your fan you've swapped in place the fault of the PSU? I have one of the plus models with a nexus fan in there (controlled with the onboard controller) and I couldn't be happier. The stock fan, on the other hand, is NOT up to SPCR standards.

Sendorm · Post by **Sendorm** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:23 am

lol, the whossing sound is not coming from the fan. It is coming from the psu. I've turned the fan down to a inaudible range and verified that it wasn't the fan (turned it of completely)

I've never heard a whoosh type electrical noise before, so it was a surprise for me too.