Efficiency, Differential Temperature and Noise
Efficiency
Efficiency is defined by the power output divided by the power input and is usually expressed as a percentage. If a PSU were a 100% efficient (which none are) 1000 watts of AC power going in would result in 1000 watts of DC power coming out (with no waste heat to dissipate). In the real world there are always inefficiencies and power is lost in the form of heat during the conversion process. Newer revisions to the ATX12V Power Supply Design Guide V 2.2 have continued to increase the efficiency recommendations for PC switching mode power supplies and now lists both required and recommended minimum efficiencies.
We measured the AC power input to the ST1000-PT with an Extech power analyzer while the total DC load was found by adding all the individual +3.3V, +5V, +12V, -12V and +5VSB loads together.
The SilverStone 1000W Platinum Series power supply produced excellent efficiency, easily exceeding the 80 Plus Organization Platinum criteria, even when operating on 120VAC and at elevated temperatures. Still looking very good!
80 Plus Program
Note: Tests conducted at room temperature (25°C)
Differential Temperature and Noise Levels
To simulate a demanding environment, some of the warm exhaust air from the PSU under test is recirculated back to the intake through a passive air duct, which allows the PSU air inlet temperature to increase with load, up to 40°C.
The differential temperature across the power supply was calculated by subtracting the internal case air temperature (T in) from the temperature of the warm exhaust air flowing out the back of the power supply (T out).
Thermocouples were placed at the air inlet and exhaust outlet. The ambient room air temperature was 23ºC (74ºF) +/- 0.5ºC during testing.
T out = temperature of air exhausting from power supply
T in = temperature of air entering power supply
Delta T = T out – T in
Sound pressure level readings were taken 3’ away from the rear of the case in an otherwise quiet room. The ambient noise level was ~27 dBA.
*Fan not spinning
The ST1000-PT Platinum Series power supply starts out silent, in fanless mode. The fan started spinning as soon as we entered test #3 at the 50% load mark but stays relatively quiet through the mid-power range. At full load with an elevated ambient temperature, the cooling fan did speed up and the noise became very noticeable but I was not able to take SPL readings because of all the DC load cooling fans cycling on and off in the background.
SilverStone ST1000-PT Platinum Series Fan Speed
(Courtesy of SilverStone)
Silverstone is pretty
Silverstone is pretty quality. I buy their PSUs exclusively and recommend them to my friends.
Decent review but could be
Decent review but could be better.
Just “eyeballing” the modular connectors using the Hi-Res pictures on Silverstone’s own web site suggests some of the modular cables can be plugged into connectors they are not meant to be connnected to.
Why would anyone do this? Hey! It happens. People get rushed to play with “the new toy” or they don’t look carefully at the power supply in a dark PC case or “tightly packed Pc case” and end up forcing the cable into the wrong connector while cursing out the “bleeping computer”.
Next, this power unit has cables with “those obsolete connectors” on them. What do I mean? Those obsolete 4-pin floppy power connectors. It is hard to tell from the pictures here and on Silverstone’s web site if “those obsolete connectors” are on their own modular cable or attached to the end of some other cable.
Finally, like another commenter once pointed out here a few weeks ago. “Is it Haswell certified?”
Hey Lee! Step up your product reviewing game. This review seemed like too much of a “softball” that was tossed at Silverstone. Maybe some “investigative journalist” shhould look into the potential relationship between Silverstone, PCP and Lee? Just sayin….
ATX or peripheral power
ATX or peripheral power cannot be plugged into PCIe power (which is blue) due to the connecter being different and its color coded anyway. Cables on the end of the psu are hardly the only thing that can be plugged into something wrong if you are stupid and force it so its really a non issue.
If you looked at the pictures on the review its obvious that 4 pin floppy is attached to each of the molex harnesses.
Almost all of silverstones PSUs were stated as haswell certified back when that news ware relevent. It would be incredibly stupid if they were to go backwards. If you actually read the review and looked at the voltage charts provided and were aware of the of the conditions of haswell compatability (No 12V rail running out of spec) which this PSU is well within you might realise that this isnt even as issue.
In answer to your question
In answer to your question about the possibility of accidentally plugging one of the modular cables into a connector it was not intended for, please see the edits I added to page 3 and page 6. Thanks for pointing this out.