Conclusion
The SilverStone SX700-PT is the second SilverStone SFX power supply we have seen here at TheFPSReview and it is just the third 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. On top of that, this unit is a revision to their earlier SX700-G that we reviewed. This means that not only do we will expect a lot from SilverStone today, and their 700W SFX entry, but that we have a very firm basis for comparison. So, does this unit stack up to the high marks of the previous SX700-G, or does it shrink away as just a small fish in a big pond? Let’s see.
Build Quality
Today’s SilverStone SX700-PT starts things off with a build quality that is very good for what it is. The exterior represents one of the first times we have seen SilverStone put much effort into their SFX unit’s appearance. Indeed, today, instead of just getting the usual huge (relatively speaking) power label we get actual branding on this unit in addition to the good cables and a nice finish. The integration is remarkably clean for how small and crowded this unit is (just like we saw with the SX700-G). The component selection features Nippon Chemi-con, Nichicon, and Rubycon standard electrolytics paired with FPCAP solid capacitors. There is also an 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 still.
Load Testing
Today’s SilverStone SX700-PT started off testing in very nice shape. We saw voltage regulation of up to 0.18v on the 12v rail, 0.06v on the 5v rail, and 0.04v on the 3.3v rail. In addition to that, we saw efficiency that ranged from 90.82% to 92.61% efficient at 120v AC input and 89.93% to 91.18% at 100v AC input. These numbers would be very good for any unit, but this is not just any unit it is a 700W SFX unit. On top of that, this unit does better in this aspect than the previous SX700-G of which this unit is a revision of. Given the marketing, we expected as much but it is nice to see the marketing come through in the testing today.
When we look at the Transient Load Tests results for the SilverStone SX700-PT, we see that the results are good. When directly loaded, the 12v rail showed a peak change of ~400mV, and the 5v rail had a peak change of ~80mV. During the 12v load, the unloaded 5v rail saw a peak change of ~70mV. In absolute terms, these results are very good, but in relative terms, these numbers do trail the SX700-G by a small amount in this aspect.
DC Output Quality
The DC Output Quality results for the SilverStone SX700-PT were good. Which is about par for the course today with this unit so far. We saw peak ripple/noise values of just ~35mV of ripple/noise on the 12v rail, ~15mV on the 5v rail, and ~25mV on the 3.3v rail. These values are well within specification limits and that means, at a minimum, good in absolute terms. In relative terms, these results put this unit a bit behind the SX700-G, which is a bit of a letdown. That said, the unit did pass so there is no substantial concern here today.
Noise
Today’s SilverStone SX700-PT 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 in the fan controller the 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 essentially what we saw from the SX700-G. However, this unit does have a leg up on that unit when it comes to efficiency numbers and 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 an SFX unit.
Final Points
The SilverStone SX700-PT is a very good unit that is squeezing a lot of power out of a very small package like the SX700-G before it. The SX700-PT gave us very good/excellent build quality, very good voltage regulation, good DC Output Quality, and good Transient Load results while also being very quiet. Certainly, this unit could do better in some respects as it was mixed with the previous SX700-G in an overall sense. However, most of the time, this unit was holding its own and doing so more efficiently (as advertised). Thus, this unit could be used in the same comparison as the SX700-G in that, 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 an SFX form factor unit going to cost us?
Today, we find that the SX700-PT can be had for around $175.39. It was available at Amazon prior to the publishing of this review. 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. In fact, this is essentially the same price as what the SX700-G was priced at when it was released. So, while this unit is expensive, and not for everyone, for those people looking for a large capacity SFX unit, this unit is a good replacement for the SX700-G as our go-to recommendation. Plus, for the market currently, it is priced right. All in all, that makes this unit a good choice.
Discussion
