Conclusion
The SilverStone SX750 is the third SilverStone SFX power supply we have seen here at TheFPSReview (SX700-G and SX700-PT being reviewed previously). However, SilverStone has been a major player in this segment for a very long time and has produced some of the highest-quality SFX units over the years. On top of that, this unit is a departure from the platform used in the last two 700W SFX units we have seen from SilverStone which should make things a bit more interesting today. This also means that not only do we will expect a lot from SilverStone today, and their 750W SFX entry, but we have something new to play with. So, does this unit stack up to the high marks of the previous SFX units from SilverStone, or does it come up a bit short? Let’s see.
Build Quality
Today’s SilverStone SX750 starts things off with a build quality that is very good for what it is. The exterior represents a clear link to the most recent SX700-PT from SilverStone when it comes to the 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 previous SilverStone SFX units SX700-G and SX700-PT). The component selection includes Rubycon standard electrolytics paired with FPCAP and Nichicon solid capacitors. There is also a dual ball bearing today which will be of interest to our quiet cooling enthusiasts out there since this is not one of their favorite types, but it is rugged. The documentation with this unit is excellent.
Load Testing
Today’s SilverStone SX750 started off testing in excellent shape. We saw voltage regulation of up to 0.04v on the 12v rail, 0.04v on the 5v rail, and 0.05v on the 3.3v rail. These values are better than we have seen on previous SFX units and would still be excellent even with a full-sized ATX12/EPS unit! In addition to that, we saw efficiency that ranged from 88.47% to 93.93% efficient at 120v AC input and 87.04% to 93.21% efficient at 100v AC input. These numbers would be very good for any unit, but this is not just any unit it is a 750W SFX unit. On the flip side, this unit did totally bugger up its 80 Plus testing and was nowhere near 80 Plus Platinum levels. More like 80 Plus Gold, barely.
When we look at the Transient Load Tests results for the SilverStone SX750, we see that the results are outstanding. When directly loaded, the 12v rail showed a peak change of ~300mV, and the 5v rail had a peak change of ~20mV. During the 12v load, the unloaded 5v rail saw a peak change of ~20mV. In absolute terms, these results are outstanding, but in relative terms, these numbers are even more so as this unit is better than previous SFX offerings and most ATX12v/EPS units.
DC Output Quality
The DC Output Quality results for the SilverStone SX750 were good. We saw peak ripple/noise values of just ~55mV of ripple/noise on the 12v rail, 20mV on the 5v rail, and ~20mV 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 mixed with previous SilverStone SFX units (SX700-G and SX700-PT). That said, the unit did pass so there is no substantial concern here today.
Noise
Today’s SilverStone SX750 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. Compounding things even further today is the fact that the hybrid fan mode in the fan controller is paired with a dual ball-bearing fan instead of a FDB fan.
However, while quiet cooling enthusiasts will poo-poo this unit for its fan, the SX750 did a nice job in our testing. It was not until Test #4 when this unit was working very hard, that it began to contribute to our load testing environment. This was a little better than what we saw from previous SilverStone SFX units even though they were equipped with FDB fans. 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 SX750 is a very good unit that, like SX700-G and SX700-PT units before it, is squeezing a lot of power out of a very small package. The SX750 gave us very good/excellent build quality, excellent voltage regulation, good DC Output Quality, and excellent Transient Load results while also being very quiet. That said, there was one big miss with this unit today and that was its efficiency. While the unit did fine in testing in a general sense, it was mixed with previous SilverStone SFX units and missed its 80 Plus mark entirely. Also important to note is that the unit we have tested here is the revised v1.1 unit and not the original v1.0. From our experience, the results do vary between the revisions. So, what are mostly excellent ATX12v/EPS results in an SFX form factor unit going to cost us?
Today, we find that the SX750 can be had for around $179.37. As we have said with other SilverStone SFX units in the 700W range, that is a bit of a tough price to swallow if you just look at the number. However, if you look at the market for 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 and SX700-PT were priced at when they were released. While this unit is expensive, and not for everyone, for those people looking for a large capacity SFX unit this unit is a slight step up from the SX700-G/SX700-PT 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
