Build Quality
As we already know the SilverStone DA850 Gold is a 120mm fan design that can provide for quiet cooling environments due to the ability to move a larger volume of air at slower speeds than a smaller diameter fan. While great for quiet computing environments the key criteria in our evaluation is whether or not the cooling solution is sufficient, not necessarily its sound output level or form factor, although we certainly listen for offending units.
External Build Quality
The exterior of the SilverStone DA850 Gold is similar in design to many previous SilverStone units but does have a few of its own unique attributes. Cosmetically, the side of this unit features the most recent SilverStone, and unit-specific, branding. The modular interface is well labeled as we typically see from SilverStone. Where this unit starts differing is the fan guard over the 120mm fan with its unique shape. It has a compact design cover designed to effectively dissipate the residual heat. Rounding things out, the unit has a durable black finish.
The SilverStone DA850 Gold comes in at a total length of ~5 1/2 inches while the cables come in at a length of ~23″ to 30″ to the first or only connector. Additionally, the cables are all FlexForce style cables which is excellent and this unit is fully modular.
Internal Build Quality
Once we open the top of the SilverStone DA850 Gold, we see a rather open layout that is a SilverStone specific spin of the CWT GPU series-based GPX model. The topology features a full bridge resonant LLC primary with a synchronous rectification secondary and DC-DC VRM’s for the minor rails. The fan cooling this unit today is claimed to be an FDB fan by SilverStone but listed as a sleeve bearing fan by Yate Loon. The fan is rated at 0.30A at 12v and it is paired with five heatsinks of varying size and design. Lastly, the soldering is very neatly done.
The DA850 Gold input filtering begins upon the housing itself where we find some X and Y capacitors. The balance of the input filtering is found on the back edge of the main PCB. There is then a single bridge rectifier next in the line attached to a large slab-like heatsink. The APFC power components are next and they too are attached to a larger slab-like heatsink and they are followed by the APFC coil. Behind these, up against the DC-DC VRM module, we find the main switchers attached to another substantial heatsink that is fingered this time as opposed to being a monolithic slab. Speaking of this heatsink, the main input capacitor is right next to it and it is provided by Nichicon with a beefy rating of 400v 560uF 105C.
The secondary side of this unit looks rather open once more. In the middle of this area, we find all of the transformers. Moving on, the MOSFETs are on the back of the main PCB but we see the two small silver heatsinks here which are used for cooling them. Next to this, we find the DC-DC VRMs housed on their own PCB (populated by Elite solid capacitors) up against the modular PCB and edge of the main PCB. In front of these PCBs, we find a few solid electrolytics provided by Elite as well while the standard electrolytics courtesy of Nippon Chemi-con. The modular PCB construction looks very nice and there are APAQ solid capacitors found here.
Build Quality Summary
Today’s SilverStone DA850 Gold is the first ATX12v/EPS form factor power supply we have seen from SilverStone in a good while. The build quality looks very nice, but there are a few places where some of the details may have been missed. The exterior is very similar to what we have seen from SilverStone over the last couple of years. However, SilverStone has taken a shot at putting some unique branding in place today with the modified fan grille along with the FlexForce style cables.
The integration seems to be very well done. However, the component selection is a bit mixed as we see Nichicon and Nippon Chemi-con standard capacitors. The solid capacitors have both good (APAQ) and not-so-good (Elite) representatives today leading our way to the mixed category. We also see a sleeve bearing (or maybe an FDB fan…I did not dissect the fan to verify the bearing) Yate Loon Fan fan used in this unit which will likely be quiet but not so durable. All in all, the SilverStone DA850 Gold build quality has more positives than negatives, but there are certainly some negatives in play today. Let’s move on now to the load tests and see how this unit performs!