Conclusion
The SilverStone SX700-G is the first SilverStone SFX power supply we have seen here at TheFPSReview and it is just the second SFX unit we have seen overall. However, SilverStone has been a major player in this segment for a very long time and has produced some of the high quality SFX units over the years. This means that we will expect a lot from SilverStone today and their 700W SFX entry. So, is this unit a big surprise or just a tiny performer? Let’s see.
Build Quality
Today’s SilverStone SX700-G starts things off with a build quality that is very good for what it is. While the exterior lacks a real “wow” factor due to the units limited real estate, the interior seems to be very well done. The integration is remarkably clean for how small and crowded this unit is. The component selection features Nippon Chemi-con, Nichicon, and Rubycon standard electrolytics paired with FPCAP solid capacitors. There is also a FDB fan today which will be of interest to our quiet cooling enthusiasts out there and that is another nice touch given the normal usage cases for SFX sized units. The documentation with this unit is excellent but the 3 year warranty is a bit less than excellent.
Load Testing
Today’s SilverStone SX700-G started off in very nice shape. We saw voltage regulation of up to 0.16v on the 12v rail, 0.04v on the 5v rail, and 0.04v on the 3.3v rail. In addition to that, we saw efficiency that ranged from 88.73% to 91.29% efficient at 120v AC input, 86.73% to 89.78% at 100v AC input, and 86.41%-92.22%-90.05% in the 80 Plus tests. These numbers would be very good for any unit, but this is not just any unit it is a 700W SFX unit. We have only seen one other SFX unit to date, the FSP Dagger 600W, and that unit was 100W smaller in capacity than this unit and this unit was still competitive with that unit which is excellent in a relative sense.
When we look at the Transient Load Tests results for the SilverStone SX700-G today, we see that the results are very good just like our regular load test results. When directly loaded, the 12v rail showed a peak change of ~400mV and the 5v rail had a peak change of ~60mV. During the 12v load, the unloaded 5v rail saw a peak change of ~55mV. In absolute terms, these results are very good but in relative terms the only other SFX unit we have seen did do better than this unit in this aspect.
DC Output Quality
The DC Output Quality results for the SilverStone SX700-G were very good. Which is about par for the course today with this unit. We saw peak ripple/noise values of just ~20mV of ripple/noise on the 12v rail, ~10mV on the 5v rail, and ~20mV on the 3.3v rail. These values are well within specification limits and that means at a minimum very good in absolute terms. In relative terms, these results put this unit ahead of the FSP Dagger 600W while also putting out 100W more than that unit. That is very impressive and gives this unit a nice little bump in this test.
Noise
Today’s SilverStone SX700-G is not a tiny capacity unit, but it is trapped in a tiny enclosure which means that quiet operation might be a bit of a challenge. On top of that, SFX units are often used in situations where noise is a real concern so people are going to cast a very suspicious eye on this unit. The good news is that even without a hybrid fan mode the fan controller and FDB fan in this unit did a good job today. It was not until the Torture Test and Test # 4 when this unit was working very hard, that it began to contribute to our load testing environment. This was very similar to the FSP Dagger 600W we saw or, maybe, just a touch louder. However, it is 100W larger in capacity so that makes a difference and up to 600W output in this unit, you aren’t going to be able to tell the two apart. So, this unit seems to be very nicely behaved and should be a very good option for folks looking for a SFX unit.
Final Points
The SilverStone SX700-G is very good unit that is squeezing a lot of power out of a very small package. The SX700-G gave us very good build quality, very good voltage regulation, very good DC Output Quality, and very good Transient Load results while also being very quiet. Certainly, this unit could do better in some respects but, most of the time, when we see better values than what this unit is putting up it is from an ATX12v/EPS form factor unit and even then, it is not a certainty. So, what is very good ATX12v/EPS results in a SFX formfactor unit going to cost us? Today, we find that the SX700-G can be had for around $164.00. That is a bit of a tough price to swallow if you just look at the number. However, if you look at the market of 650W to 750W SFX power supplies it becomes clear that this unit is indeed priced very competitively. So, while this unit is expensive and not for everyone, for those people looking for a large capacity SFX unit, this unit is a very good performer and priced right. All in all, that makes this unit a good choice.
