Introduction and Features
The new ST45SF-G is a high-quality small form factor PSU that is all modular and rated 80Plus Gold.
SilverStone has a long-standing reputation among PC enthusiasts for providing a full line of high quality enclosures, power supplies, cooling components, and accessories. SilverStone recently updated their original ST45SF small form factor power supply to 80Plus Gold status. The new ST45SF-G is rated for up to 450W and comes with fully modular cables. The SFX form factor is frequently found in Micro ATX Media Center PCs and Home Theater PCs.
SilverStone ST45SF-G 450W PSU
Here is what SilverStone has to say about the ST45SF-G: "After successfully expanding and leading SFF (Small Form Factor) cases and SFX PSU into the DIY market, SilverStone engineers have continued their push for advancement in these categories by releasing a true upgrade-worthy small form factor power supply, the ST45SF-G. Despite being half the size of regular ATX power supply, the ST45SF-G can still produce continuous power output of 450W. Its 80 Plus Gold level efficiency is a great leap from the previous SFX best of 80 Plus Bronze and the full modular cables are also the first of its kind for this form factor. To enable users to easily take advantage of this excellent SFX power supply, an adapter is included to convert the ST45SF-G to mount in any ATX case in addition to ones designed for only SFX. For SFF users and for SilverStone, the ST45SF-G is more than just an upgrade, it is an important milestone for DIY desktop computer users."
SilverStone ST45SF-G Main Features:
• Supports standard SFX form factor and ATX (via included bracket)
• 450W continuous power output at 40°C and rated for 24/7 operation
• 80 PLUS Gold level efficiency (87%~90% efficiency at 20%-100% load)
• 100% Modular cables
• Class-leading single +12V rail with 37A capacity
• Strict ±3% voltage regulation with low ripple & noise
• Silent running 80mm fan (18dBA minimum)
• Single PCI-E 8-pin and dual PCI-E 6-pin connectors
• Universal AC input (90-260 VAC) and Active PFC
PSU Testing Methodology
Establishing an accurate load is critical to testing and evaluating a PC power supply. PCPerspective’s power supply test bench can place a precise DC load on the PSU under test. Each power supply is tested under controlled, real-world conditions up to its maximum rated load, using both 115 VAC and 240 VAC line voltage. Our current suite of tests includes:
• DC Load Regulation
• DC Line Regulation
• DC Cross-load (unbalanced load)
• AC Ripple and Noise
• Power Factor
• Efficiency
• Differential Temperature
• Noise
The SilverStone ST45SF-G power supply was evaluated on both features and performance. A full range of equipment was used to test the power supply under controlled load conditions.
• (2) CSI3710A Programmable DC load (+3.3V and +5V outputs)
• (4) CSI3711A Programmable DC load (+12V1, +12V2, +12V3, and +12V4)
• (2) 200W Precision resistor load bank (+12V5 and +12V6)
• Switchable precision resistor load bank (-12V and +5VSB)
• Extech MultiMaster MM570 digital multimeter (Accuracy ±0.02%)
• Extech 380803 Power Analyzer (Accuracy ±0.5% of full scale)
• DS1M12 "StingRay" digital oscilloscope (20M S/s with 12 Bit ADC)
• Powerstat Variable Autotransformer, 1.4 KVA, 0-140 VAC
• Extech Model 407738 digital sound level meter (Accuracy ±1.5 dB)
I bought a Silverstone
I bought a Silverstone Strider ST50F-P psu about 2 years ago for a home server build. I bought it specifically to fit into a Lian Li PC-V354 case which has the psu standing on end over the mobo while looking at it from the side. I wanted a nice short psu that wasn’t going to be tasked with high demand of power and it fit the bill. If I were to do it all over again, I am not sure I would go with this unit that was reviewed. While it is 40mm shorter overall and would give me a little bit more room to work in that particular case, it also has a 40mm smaller fan. I use that fan to pull air from the inside to the outside and the size trade off would be pretty steep. I guess this would be nice for a mini ITX build where space is at a super premium but otherwise I would still grab something with more air flow.
I think the noise is the main
I think the noise is the main issue here. Seems very well designed.
If you are not pulling more than 150W on load then a pico-psu is probably a better option. Even at 225W the Silverstone seems pretty quiet but from there upwards the noise seems to increase pretty rapidly.
If needing 300W + and have the space there are better options
Perfect upgrade for the sg05
Perfect upgrade for the sg05 & 06. esp if you have the older 300w versions.
Be careful!. I have SG06, and
Be careful!. I have SG06, and this Power supply modular need some depth extra mm, because the connector is big than normal version.
It can be fit, but you need to make a lot of force, and curve a lot the wires, isn’t god the modular version because need more space.
Other part is that the sound is horrible!, make a lot of plus sound than the standard version, even at 60-90W only of consumption!.
If you need more than 140W is horrible loud!
I open the power supply, and first I try to mount the fan outside the power supply chassis, and decrease some little db, because the little grid on intake increase loud, and the grid on outside pard not increase as intake. This decrease a little, but not to much, but you need 15mm extra of space, and be care of obstruction fan, and lost warranty of you new power supply…..
Today I will go to buy a fan for replace, I check this models that can be well (3000rpm models):
http://www.sunon.com/pro.php?c1=16
http://www.rexususa.com/fans/25816.html
http://www.rexususa.com/25816-1.html
http://www.nmbtc.com/fans/part-numbers/search/3106KL-05W-B50/5099
The stock fan reach 3500rpm at 42db, but I don’t know cfm. I not remember the trademark, I thinbk was similar than rfl, but I remember has 4 letters not three. Personality, for some around 4€ extra Silverstone can be put a better fan, and better control of speed, I not trust never more on Silverstone specifications…. they can be crazy when was putting silent on your specifications!
Other part is the rpm control have fails, bacause when increase the power consumption increase the rpm (and loud), but when you recover a low consumptions the rpm not decrease at the initial levels, and was more louder than the same consumption of before…
I made another easy mod that not need broke anything, I put a 60x60x25 silent fan rear the power supply extracting the air, I attached with prolimatech magnetic supports.
Because I think is better always that the pressure need to be positive, I put this extracting fan at low rpm, then the intake fan capabilities are better than this outtake fan capabilities.
For better dissipation the fresh air need to stay some seconds or miliseconds and arrive to all deepth of power supply. This is thinked normally for a good heat dissipation on cars, and I think is ok also for computer or all that need heat disipation.
If you not need more than 300W, the standard version is better. I have i7-3770T(80W), and also plus GTX 660(140W) the standard 300W Power supply is suficient, with plus margin for sata devices.
I buyed only for gold plus certification and for better quietness sound of the standard version, and I think a was make big mistake for this caprice….
If i know all this before, I never buyed, because is truth that I not need….