14 DAY TRIAL // SFX power supplies are almost identical to ATX PSUs in specification, being usable interchangeably, but they are physically smaller. SilverStone was mostly fine with this, but it decided that even a well-established form factor would do with a change.
SilverStone took issue with one particular limitation of SFX PSUs: the size of the fans. They are limited to 80 mm spinners, since their depth is of 100 mm and some of it is taken up by other hardware.
Thus, while standard-size ATX PSUs can hold fans of 100, 120 or 140 mm, SFX ones can only use 80 mm, which puts a limit on their wattage.
After all, you can't give a PSU too much output power because the cooling won't keep up with the heat generation.
The SilverStone SX500-LG, however, has a 120 mm fan
This is owed to the extra 30 mm of added depth, enough for SilverStone to claim that it has essentially created a new PSU form factor. It calls it SFX-L and we can understand the reasoning.
The SX500-LG is just the start, so the company figured it may as well make it as promising and grand as possible.
So while it did leave aside the 80 Plus Titanium and 80 Plus Platinum specifications, it did ensure that the newcomer met the guidelines for 80 Plus Gold.
The first two would have added unnecessary cost to something that only mini PC makers would buy, not gaming system builders.
80 Plus Gold, however, is a good level to aim for, since it's not overkill but still ensures that only very little of the output power is lost. No sense in wasting more than required when you only have 500W to play with.
The PSU is also quiet, as the 120 mm fan can adjust speed according to load, as has come to be expected from all active coolers today.
The noise is lower not only in intensity but also in pitch, which is always good (larger fans are lower in noise pitch and vice versa).
Other specs include a fully modular cable system, flexible flat arrays for those cables, support for two PCI Express 8/6-pin ports, a single +12 V rail, and active PFC (power factor correction).
Sales will begin in a week's time
The SilverStone SX500-LG SFX-L power supply will start shipping on January 28, 2015 for $89.11 / €77 - €81.
