The SilverStone SX700-LPT SFX 700W PSU Review
by E. Fylladitakis on September 30, 2016 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- PSUs
- SilverStone
- SFX
Hot Test Results
We do not usually have great expectations regarding the power output quality of SFX PSUs, as the few we have reviewed to this date displayed poor power quality figures. The SX700-LPT pleasantly surprised us by delivering both good voltage regulation and ripple suppression. Voltage regulation on the 3.3V/5V lines is at about 2.5% and the 12V line is even stronger, maintaining a regulation of 2% within the nominal load range. Filtering is good as well, with our instruments recording a maximum voltage ripple of 52 mV on the 12V line. The 3.3V and 5V lines both recorded a maximum ripple of 24 mV, for a design limit of 50 mV.
| Main Output | ||||||||
| Load (Watts) | 142.28 W | 354.78 W | 525.05 W | 697.39 W | ||||
| Load (Percent) | 20.33% | 50.68% | 75.01% | 99.63% | ||||
| Amperes | Volts | Amperes | Volts | Amperes | Volts | Amperes | Volts | |
| 3.3 V | 1.94 | 3.41 | 4.86 | 3.39 | 7.29 | 3.36 | 9.72 | 3.33 |
| 5 V | 1.94 | 5.14 | 4.86 | 5.11 | 7.29 | 5.05 | 9.72 | 5.02 |
| 12 V | 10.32 | 12.18 | 25.8 | 12.15 | 38.71 | 11.98 | 51.61 | 11.94 |
| Line | Regulation (20% to 100% load) |
Voltage Ripple (mV) | |||||
| 20% Load | 50% Load | 75% Load | 100% Load | CL1 12V |
CL2 3.3V + 5V |
||
| 3.3V | 2.6% | 12 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 16 | 0 |
| 5V | 2.4% | 16 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 18 | 0 |
| 12V | 2% | 26 | 30 | 46 | 52 | 60 | 0 |
Although we performed our first cross-loading test without any issues, we could not complete the second cross-loading test that is meant to test the 3.3V and 5V rails - or any test with a load below 200 Watts for that matter. The reason is simple: the fan of the SX700-LPT is programmed to start only at loads above 150 Watts, regardless of the ambient temperature. We could not maintain operating temperatures with a load between 120 and 150 Watts inside our hotbox, the PSU was shutting down to protect itself. Therefore, we only performed tests with a load greater than 200 Watts.
We need to stress that this is a PSU rated at 40°C and we perform our testing at temperatures higher than 45°C - we could reduce the ambient temperature of our hotbox testing but we chose not to do so as the results would then not be comparable to those of our previous reviews.
The energy conversion efficiency of the SX700-LPT takes a significant drop inside our hotbox, especially under heavy loads, indicating that the internal temperatures of the PSU are uncomfortably high. The average efficiency reduction is 1.4%, with a high drop of 2.1% at 100% load. The active parts of the PSU are good and such an efficiency loss cannot be attributed solely to them, as they have to cope with very high internal temperatures that reduce the efficiency of even the best of parts.
As we started testing the PSU with a load of 210 Watts (30% of the unit’s capacity), the fan started right away. Noise levels were relatively comfortable until the load reached 400 Watts, at which point the fan started speeding up sharply, essentially reaching its maximum speed within a further load increase of only 120 Watts. The maximum noise output of the SX700-LPT is nearly 57 dB(A), which would be unbearable for the vast majority of consumers. Even with such a high noise output, the fan can barely keep the internal temperatures of the PSU at reasonable levels, clearly indicating that the SX700-LPT is not supposed to be operating under such harsh conditions.
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JoeyJoJo123 - Monday, October 3, 2016 - link
I don't believe you realize that the FTZ01, ML07, and RVZ01 cases are all designed to have one intake case fan over the CPU and two in the GPU compartment. It's a 13 liter case, half of which is sectioned off to the GPU. The GPU takes up some volume and the fans take up some volume of that 6.5 liters of GPU compartment air. With an open air cooler, it's not unreasonable for it to be suffocating of fresh air when the compartment probably has less than 2 liters of open space.Ej24 - Friday, September 30, 2016 - link
Agreed. Also take in to account increasing efficiencies. My gtx 1080 at 180w demolishes top cards from previous generations that used to be in the 250-300w range. And my cpu is a 65w i7. Going by tdp, while not the best, that's less than 250w at full load. Power supply requirements will only continue to drop.ImSpartacus - Friday, September 30, 2016 - link
I think the bigger issue is that a cramped case that demands an sfx psu quite possibly won't have the extra space for this non-standard "sfx-l" design.That starts to defeat the purpose of having a compact psu in the first place...
But I suppose if Silverstone made a case or two that used the sfx-l standard, then it might be worth it to them.
JoeyJoJo123 - Friday, September 30, 2016 - link
They have plenty of SFX-L compatible cases.ML07: http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=503
ML08: http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=607
RVZ01: http://www.silverstonetek.com/raven/products/index...
RVZ01-E: www.silverstonetek.com/raven/products/index.php?model=RVZ01-E
RVZ02: http://www.silverstonetek.com/raven/products/index...
FTZ01: http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=533
Samus - Friday, September 30, 2016 - link
Don't forget the legendary FT03-Mini. Liquid cooling, 3 drives, 10.5" videocard, X99 ITX, optical drive, integrated cable management, in less than 18 liters.ImSpartacus - Friday, September 30, 2016 - link
Really? The FT03 Mini supports it?Ok, that, alone, justifies the existence of this psu.
Honestly, while writing my comment, I was literally thinking, "if it doesn't fit in something like the ft03 mini, then why bother?"
Velocialume - Friday, September 30, 2016 - link
Hmm. I've always been under the impression that case didn't support SFX-L .. I just got that 600w corsair to power my new 1080.Samus - Saturday, October 1, 2016 - link
I just checked the clearances, and it will fit only because it's modular. Most of the space behind my PSU in the FT03-mini is taken for cable management of the PSU sources.However, it's going to be hell running the "bottom row" of power from this PSU without losing the DVD cage, something I refuse to do with my case. I mean, there are hacks to get a full ATX PSU to fit if you are willing to sacrifice the DVD tray and the 3.5"\2.5" bay (leaving you a single 2.5" tray at the bottom) and at that point the case is ruined for functionality.
Again, not impossible, but let's just say you will need to install the PSU with cables already installed and routed, there is no way to manage/add/remove them once it's mounted and they are smashed against the DVD tray.
It has never been a user friendly case to work inside. It isn't like my hands get cut up or anything but simple tasks like removing the video card requires removing the PSU, DVD, 2.5" SSD, 3.5" HDD, memory DIMMS and depending on where the PCIe connectors go on the video card (such as out the rear instead of the top) you may even have to remove the radiator. Shorter 10" or less video cards are a cinch in comparison to twist and pull but when you are running an out of spec 10.85" card like I am, you go to hell to make it work.
Wouldn't give the case up for anything else though.
piroroadkill - Saturday, October 1, 2016 - link
Even the smallest case that can fit decent hardware (Dan Case A4-SFX) can fit an SFX-L PSU.TheinsanegamerN - Monday, October 3, 2016 - link
There are many SFX class cases that cant take SFX-L.