Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
If you thought the SilverStone SX700-LPT 700W was small, then you can feast your eyes upon this. The SilverStone ST45SF V3.0 450W is not an SFX-L unit, but rather a smaller SFX size power supply. Chopping off the L means this is shorter than the aforementioned unit. With actual numbers, the ST45SF measures at 10.0cm in length, which is another three centimeters shorter than the SFX-L sizing. Otherwise, it shares the same width and height specifications of 12.5cm and 6.35cm, respectively. This is pretty impressive, even if it does come at a lower rating of 450W and a lesser 80 Plus Bronze certification. In addition, this is not a modular power supply as you can tell by the bundle of cables, and all of the cables are fixed to this unit. Thankfully, with this small unit and the included bracket, the SilverStone ST45SF V3.0 can be put into any case, whether it fits SFX or ATX PSUs.
From this top view, you can see the SilverStone ST45SF V3.0 450W has a pretty standard look, though it is a bit different compared to previous SilverStone units. The circular grille where air is drawn into the power supply is punched out of the metal enclosure rather than being a separate piece of metal. Underneath the circular grille is the first difference between this ST45SF and previous generations. As you can tell by the name, this is the third version, which includes a larger 92mm fan rather than the 80mm included previously. Otherwise, the entire enclosure is covered in black matte paint. Around the edges are serial numbers, internal quality test certifications, and warranty void stickers. At the back, we have a honeycomb pattern to allow for air to exhaust out this side. Otherwise, the external casing is held together with four screws on the sides, with two screws covered by the SilverStone specification label, and one more covered by a warranty sticker for good measure. Getting access to this screw will void the three year manufacturer warranty, though we will do so later on.
At the back, we have a pretty normal honeycomb look. The hexagonal pattern has been used in many power supplies, and is found on other ventilation holes, as it maximizes airflow while minimizing air resistance. This ventilation area plays a crucial role to allowing heat to flow out the back. Most modern power supplies have an automatic full range (100V-240V) AC line voltage selection, so there is no need for a manual switch as seen on some older units. Therefore, the back only has a power switch and a standard power input. Thankfully, SilverStone has avoided the C20 plug found on some other units, so any standard cable will work with the ST45SF V3.0 450W.
As we have already mentioned, the SilverStone ST45SF V3.0 450W is a non-modular power supply. The five cable lead out location is as seen above and each of the cables are wrapped in their own mesh sleeves. Even so, the multiple colors leak through, showing the mustard and ketchup colored cables inside. While non-modular power supplies may make for a messy cabling job, especially if not all the connectors are utilized, it does mean that there is no reduced electrical contact loss at the connectors. Even so, this is not a huge issue for modular power supplies, and personally I much prefer working with a modular one. External build quality of the SilverStone ST45SF V3.0 450W is decent, but it is really nothing special – not that we have expected so. Edges are polished off so they do not feel sharp on the fingers. Otherwise, the only other thing to note is the underside of the ST45SF V3.0 450W, where a large SilverStone logo is engraved into the box.
The voltage specification label for the SilverStone ST45SF V3.0 450W is on the side panel. There are two main virtual rails. Up to 20A can be delivered via the +3.3V rail for a total of 66W. The +5V rail can deliver 20A too, bringing the output to 100W in this area. The total combined output for the +3.3V and +5V rail is 110W. 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 37.5A (450W) to reduce operating overhead compared to multiple +12V rails. Overall, the combined power output for the whole ST45SF V3.0 450W is an unsurprising 450W. Again, your power distribution in your system must fall within the limits provided -- it must not exceed 66W on the +3.3V rail, 100W on the +5V rail and 110W combined for both, 450W on the +12V rail, and 450W combined between the positive rails. All these confusing numbers aside, this configuration allows for flexible power demands. It should be sufficient to accommodate most users, and the overall distribution is reasonable for a 450W power supply. It should be noted the +3.3V and +5V rails are slightly lower on this third version compared to V2.0, which allowed for an extra ten watts on these two rails combined. The drawback is the fact the +12V rail was reduced.
The SilverStone ST45SF V3.0 450W is 80 Plus Bronze certified, which means it is certified to be at least 82%, 85%, 82% efficient at 20%, 50%, and 100% load, respectively. There are definitely higher certifications for other PSU, especially when you look at larger units, but for SFX power supplies, only up to 80 Plus Gold exists. In addition to the standard over current, over voltage, and short circuit protection, the third iteration also adds over power and under voltage protection.
As aforementioned, as the SilverStone ST45SF V3.0 450W is a non-modular power supply, and all five cables are permanently attached to the unit. Thankfully, all of these cables are sleeved to hide as much mustard yellow and ketchup red as possible. The five included cables are as is:
- 1x ATX 20+4pin, 30.0cm
- 1x ATX/EPS 4+4 pin, 40.0cm
- 1x PCIe 6+2 pin/6 pin, 40.0cm to first connector, 15.0cm spacing thereafter
- 1x SATA, 3 connectors, 30.0cm to first connector, 20.0cm to the second connector, 10.0cm to the third connector
- 1x Molex/Floppy, 2 Molex, 1 Floppy, 30.0cm to first connector, 20.0cm spacing thereafter
All these measurements are approximate, but should be accurate measured from end to end. Most users should find no issues with these lengths if used in appropriate situations, though it is pretty understandable these cables may be a bit short for mid-tower and full-tower ATX cases. After observing all the external features and specifications, I decided to whip out the Phillips-head screwdriver and delve deeper into the power supply.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Minor Tests and Conclusion
