Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
SilverStone's power supplies are typically conservative and understated in appearance, and the HELA 1300R Platinum 1300W is no exception. The latest 1300W model in the HELA Platinum lineup has a depth of only 14.0cm. This is one of the shortest kilowatt-spec unit we have ever reviewed here at APH Networks, matched only by the company's own SilverStone Strider Platinum ST1000-PTS 1000W my colleague Hai reviewed in 2019, but that has a whole 300W less rated power output. With a power density of 720W per liter, this is impressive for a fully modular Platinum-grade PSU. Most modular power supplies are longer than non-modular units by a centimeter or two, as the extra length is needed to accommodate its connector board at the back. We will take a look inside the PSU on the next page. For most ATX or eATX chassis, this length should not be too much of a problem. However, if you have a mATX or mITX case that takes standard power supplies, the shorter length will definitely serve as an advantage, especially considering the fact the HELA 1300R Platinum is fully modular.
From our view above, SilverStone's logo is located dead center on the integrated fan grille, which has a unique pattern itself and is also placed in the middle of the enclosure. The sticker with the same design is implemented on both the left and right side, where you can spot SilverStone's logo, the HELA 1300R Platinum branding, and a Cybenetics ETA Platinum badge prominently placed. Like the front of the box, the sticker has the same wildly inconsistent and interesting font selection. To make sure you will see the text right side up at all times, the orientation of it is different on both sides, so whatever side facing the user after installation will always be correct. Its SECC construction comes with a fixed grille guarding the primary and only cooling fan installed. The 120mm fan generates airflow by drawing air from the bottom of the power supply over its internal components to keep the temperatures in check. Exhaust heat is allowed to leave at the back of the power supply through the large secondary honeycomb mesh opening. Meanwhile, four hex screws secure the power supply case together. One screw has a seal over it that says "electrocution risk if opened". It technically does not say opening it will void the SilverStone HELA 1300R Platinum 1300W's 5-year warranty, but if you try this at home, do not come after me if your warranty claim gets denied, haha.
Starting from the back part of the power supply, we have the same familiar honeycomb mesh design as most PSUs with a bottom mounted fan. What you will find here is a vertically aligned male connector for power input on the western edge along with an on/off switch and another rocker switch to toggle semi-fanless mode under it. I find having the semi-fanless toggle switch here to be convenient, since some older power supplies have it on the inside rather than the outside. However, I do not see a reason why you will disable semi-fanless operation. Semi-fanless mode keeps the fan off until it exceeds about 20% of the load threshold, or 260W. 260W seems to be a pretty low number in 2023, considering there are models that can do over 500W with the fan off. Disabling semi-fanless mode ensures the fan stays on at all times, but the SilverStone HELA 1300R Platinum 1300W is intelligently designed to keep it from overheating regardless of what the active setting is.
The low resistance honeycomb mesh design is implemented to maximize airflow and minimize air resistance. This is done as heat needs to leave the power supply as easily and efficiently as possible, because the HELA 1300R Platinum 1300W incorporates only one 120mm fan at the bottom. It is implemented in an efficient manner, as the power input block takes up only the minimum necessary amount of room physically required. As with all active PFC power supplies, the SilverStone HELA 1300R Platinum 1300W has an automatic full range 100V to 240V AC line voltage selection, so the user does not have to worry about manually selecting input voltage.
Like many power supplies we cover here at APH Networks, the HELA 1300R Platinum 1300W is a fully modular power supply. This means all cables are completely detachable from the main unit. While it is somewhat questionable with regards to why this is necessary for other manufacturers, since cables such as the ATX 24-pin and ATX 4-pin/EPS 8-pin have practically an 100% chance of being connected at all times, SilverStone actually has a case to argue for this design choice. If you have a tight-fitting case, you can opt for the optional PP05-E short cable kit for better airflow and better cabling jobs. Additionally, with fully detachable cables, it may prove to be beneficial to an extent when building your computer initially.
The rear cable connection panel is done nicely. SilverStone has made the labels correct side up in standard orientation. Similar connectors are grouped together and are laid out in a very logical manner. To ensure you know what is going on, they are all grouped and clearly labeled for minimal ambiguity. Starting from the left, we have the Motherboard section that supports an ATX 24-pin connector by two separate blocks next to each other. Next, there are three 8-pin connectors for EPS or PCIe cables. In the SATA/Peripherals section, there are four outputs. This is followed by another group of three EPS/PCIe headers. Lastly, there is a 16-pin 12VHPWR PCIe 5.0 header. Incompatible outputs will not physically fit into each other, so SilverStone has done a great job in this regard. This generous array of available connectors should be more than sufficient for casual users and enthusiasts alike.
The external build quality of SilverStone's HELA 1300R Platinum 1300W power supply is excellent as always; a good indication the company is serious about the product they are selling. We will take it apart in just a moment. Fit is done well with minimal panel gaps and all edges are nicely finished off. The level of refinement with regards to the external build quality is right up there with all the other high-quality PSUs I have used in the past. As aforementioned, we will crack open the power supply to see what components are inside in the following section.
The voltage specification label is located on the top panel of the HELA 1300R Platinum 1300W. There are two main virtual rails. Up to 24A can be delivered via the +3.3V rail for a total of 79.2W, while the 24A on the +5V rail brings the output to 120W in this area. The total combined output for the +3.3V and +5V rail is 120W. In other words, your power allocation combination must fall within the limits of the listed specifications. Meanwhile, a single powerful +12V rail delivers up to 108.3A -- 1300W -- to maximize power delivery flexibility compared to multiple rails. Overall, the combined power output for the whole SilverStone HELA 1300R Platinum 1300W is 1300W, as its name suggests. It does sound a bit confusing to understand how this works at first, but generally speaking, this configuration allows sufficiently flexible power demands and should be sufficient to accommodate most users. I have seen the similar power output in the +3.3V and 5V rails for lower rated units, but the overall distribution is still reasonable for a 1300W power supply.
The SilverStone HELA 1300R Platinum 1300W skips the 80 Plus certification altogether. Instead, it is Cybenetics ETA Platinum certified, which means at 115V input, it is certified to be between 89% and 91% overall efficiency, power factor above 0.975, greater than 76% 5VSB efficiency, and less than 0.16W vampire power. Higher certifications available for power supplies of this type include Cybenetics ETA Titanium and Cybenetics ETA Diamond at press time.
A total of twelve modular cables are included out of the box. All modular cables are flat and easy to bend, making them extremely easy to work with. 16 AWG wires are found on the ATX 20+4-pin, ATX/EPS 4+4-pin, and 12VHPWR cables. Everything else is 18 AWG. Manufacturers often will fatten high current cables to 16 AWG, so this is common practice.
The following modular cables are included out of the box:
- 1x ATX 20+4 pin, 60.0cm
- 2x ATX/EPS 4+4 pin, 75.0cm
- 1x 12VHPWR PCIe 12+4 pin, 55.0cm
- 4x PCIe 6+2 pin, 2 connectors each, 55.0cm to first connector, 15.0cm spacing thereafter
- 2x SATA, 4 connectors each, 60.0cm to first connector, 15.0cm spacing thereafter
- 2x Molex/Floppy, 4 connectors each, 60.0cm to first connector, 15.0cm spacing thereafter
I am surprised they still include a floppy power connector, since it cannot think of a single device in more than a decade that still uses it. That aside, these are specified measurements from the manufacturer. Most users should have no problems with SilverStone's HELA 1300R Platinum 1300W in modern cases. 50cm is the general standard, but the peripheral cables with a shorter length to the first connector may be advantageous for cable routing and management.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Minor Tests and Conclusion
