The SFX power supply units are one of the most compact forms of power supply units available for desktop cabinets that allow you to build a powerful desktop computer within a compact cabinet. These power supplies are highly popular amongst gamers who want a silent and compact machine on their desks. It also comes with shorter cables that make the internal cable management much more efficient. If you are looking for a new SFX power supply, make sure you check out the following factors carefully:
Wattage: As the power supply can only provide the rated power to the system, you need to figure out exactly how much power you will be needing to power your components. It is always beneficial to have at least 100 watts of extra power on the power supply for future upgrades.
Efficiency: The efficiency of the power supply also plays an important role in the overall usage of the desktop computer. The power supplies convert AC power into DC and work at a certain efficiency. The efficiency of a unit is suggested in terms of bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and titanium from the 80 plus certification program.
Form Factor: There are mainly 3 form factors available for power supplies that are ATX, SFX, and SFX-L. Out of these, the SFX form factor is perfectly suitable for smaller cabinets such as Mini ITX. You should always make sure that the form factor of your PSU is compatible with your cabinet and vice versa.
To help you with your purchase, we will also bring you a “Buying Guide” dedicated to SFX power supplies later in the article. Hence, we will insist you stick around until the end to get the perfect SFX power supply for your upcoming desktop build.
Best SFX Power Supply 2023
Best SFX Power Supply Reviews
1. Corsair SF Series Power Supply
Best Outdoor Low Voltage Transformers Best Pedal Power Supplies Best voltage converter transformer Best voltage testers
Check Price On eBay Corsair must be a familiar name for most of our readers as this brand and its products are highly recognized by a lot of reviewers, content creators, and enthusiasts. Corsair is bringing the most power-efficient SFX power supply unit on our list so you must check it out. There should not be any compromise with the energy efficiency if you want your system to last for at least a decade and maintain the running cost in an affordable range. The Corsair SF Series SF750 makes that possible because its 750 watts power capacity is backed by a platinum rating from the 80 plus certification program. All this power is available under a fully modular SFX form factor which is similar to most other options in terms of size. Even with the high energy output, Corsair SF Series SF750 manages an affordable running cost as well as avoids excess heat generation which is necessary for compact systems. The included flexible paracord cables for this unit are sleeved which makes the routing much easier. Also, you will barely hear any sound from this power supply thanks to its low noise operation powered by a rifle bearing cooling fan. You will be getting a 7 year long warranty period with the Corsair SF Series SF750. Key Features:
750 watts power capacity Platinum 80 plus rating Fully modular SFX form factor Affordable running cost Avoids excess heat generation Flexible paracord cables Low noise operation Rifle bearing cooling fan 7-year warranty
Pros:
The warranty period is quite long Efficient performance and reliability High power capacity
Cons:
Very expensive price range
2. EVGA SuperNOVA Power Supply
Check Price On Walmart We have reserved yet another popular brand for the 2nd position on our list. EVGA deals with both hardware as well as software for desktop computers. Thus, you should take a look at their SFX power supply. Our last pick from EVGA features 650 watts power capacity that is comparatively better than most other options available around this price point. The EVGA SuperNOVA 650 GM also features a gold certification from 80 plus that ensures around 90% to 92% efficiency on typical usage. Also, it is available with an SFX form factor that includes its 92 mm double ball-bearing fan for proper cooling. As we all know, EVGA products are generally more heavy duty than their competitors. Thus, the EVGA SuperNOVA 650 GM has a 7 year long warranty period which should cover any internal damage without any additional cost. For better protection, it includes a number of safety measures such as OVP, OCP, OPP, SCP, and UVP. You will also find an ECO mode on this power supply unit that will ensure noise-free operation when you are using the computer under low to medium loads. Key Features:
650 watts power capacity Gold 80 plus rating 90% to 92% efficiency on average load 92 mm double ball-bearing fan Heavy-duty construction Multiple safety measures ECO mode for power saving 7-year warranty
Pros:
Great power capacity Highly power-efficient Safer in comparison
Cons:
The warranty period should have been longer
3. SilverStone SX700-PT Power Supply
Check Price On eBay 3rd product of our list is one of the powerful options coming from a comparatively lesser-known brand called SilverStone. While the brand may be unfamiliar for many users, it is certainly one of the most efficient products on our list. The SilverStone Technology Silverstone SX700-PT SFX power supply is our 1st pick for today’s list as it offers a massive 700 watts power capacity in the standard SFX form factor which is quite a rare sight. It is packed with silent 92 mm FDB running fans with a minimum noise level of 18 dBA. All of the capacitors used for this fully modular power supply are Japanese. Hence, you will be getting a platinum 80 plus certification of efficiency on this product. It has the industry-standard single 12 volts rail OCP circuit that allows 3% voltage regulation and minimal noise level while the power supply is running under full load. Due to the modular design of the PSU, you will be able to install only the necessary cables in your unit and you can also select custom cables for aesthetics. On top of that, the default cables have flexible flat arrays that make cable management even easier. It has a 5 year long warranty period which is great for its price. Key Features:
700 watts power capacity Standard SFX form factor Silent 92 mm FDB fan 18 dBA noise level Japanese capacitors Platinum 80 plus certification 3% voltage regulation 5-year warranty
Pros:
Great power capacity The noise levels are very low Heavy-duty construction
Cons:
The warranty period is short for the price
4. Seasonic Focus SGX-650 Power Supply
Check Price On eBay You must have heard about Seasonic in the past if you have ever assembled or looked for a power supply unit for your desktop unit. It is one of the highest-rated brands from our picks and you will surely find its SFX power supply suitable for your needs. Next place, we have a 650 watts power supply coming from SeaSonic. The Seasonic Focus SGX-650 650W is also one of the highly efficient options from our picks as it carries an 80 plus gold certification that makes it almost 90% efficient at 50% load capacity. While this power supply falls under the SFX form factor, it is perfectly suitable for both SFX as well as ATX form factor cabinets. Similar to our previous pick, it also keeps a tight voltage regulation of 3% over 12 volts, 5 volts, and 3.3 volts rails. Choosing the Seasonic Focus SGX-650 650W will be a great option for your case if you want to get rid of cable clutter and maintain decent airflow in the system. It has a fully modular design that allows you to precisely select the power cables required for your components. For the cooling of the unit itself, it has a built-in 120 mm FDB fan with advanced SeaSonic fan control that turns off the fan under 30% load. It also has a 5 year long warranty period. Key Features:
650 watts power capacity Standard SFX form factor 80 plus gold certification 90% efficient at 50% load capacity Suitable for both SFX/ATX cabinets Fully modular design 120 mm FDB fan 5-year warranty
Pros:
Power capacity is suitable for gaming computers Highly efficient operation Suitable for multiple types of cabinets
Cons:
Comparatively expensive option for the power rating
5. Fractal Design Ion+ SFX 560W Power Supply
Check Price On Walmart Fractal also offers a great choice for intermediate desktop systems that contain a high-end CPU and graphics card. Although, you will find this SFX power supply at a similar price tag compared to other models. This Fractal Design Ion+ 560W comes with ultra-flex DC wires/cables having excellent flexibility that will twist or bend easily in any direction for easy cable routing or installation. These cables won’t break easily and are suitable for compact cable management. This one carries 80-plus platinum certification for its 560 watts power capacity which will optimize your performance and minimize heat generation. Its 860W full modular ATX power supply design will maximize the ease of installation and reduce clutter. Its ATX-140 mm silent fan with FDB bearings provides minimum speed, whereas its Zero RPM mode let it switch to either passive silent mode in less load (or) constant low speed for extra cooling. Thus, you can use your computer for casual tasks or heavy gaming tasks, as it reduces the fan noise efficiently. Overall, it offers a stable electrical output to the components and manages strict voltage regulation with low variation in the DC current. The Japanese capacitors (105°C) offer enhanced durability and reliability. Even though this brand is comparatively less familiar, you can trust its reliability due to its 10 years long warranty period. Key Features:
560 watts power capacity Ultra-flex yet durable cables Premium Japanese 105°C capacitors 80 plus platinum certification Semi-passive zero RPM silent mode Easy cable management 10 years warranty
Pros:
Automatic power-saving mode Highly reliable option Good cable quality Compact 150mm depth fits compact spaces.
Cons:
Build quality is not as good as other options.
6. FSP 450W Mini ITX Solution Power Supply
Check Price On Walmart There are a lot of users that are looking for a budget-oriented desktop build with a limited power requirement. If you are also looking for such a setup, take a look at FSP’s entry-level SFX modular power supply. If you are going to install an entry-level CPU or GPU on your system, then the FSP 450W Mini ITX power supply will be an ideal choice for your needs. This power supply falls under the mini ITX category so that it is perfect for the most compact cabinets available in the market. On top of that, it supplies 450 watts of power which should be enough to power your system easily. It has a bronze 80 plus efficiency certification which is decent for its minimal price point. You can expect up to 85% efficiency from this power supply unit on average load. This includes casual gaming and regular productivity-based tasks. It houses an 80 mm cooling fan inside the unit that helps to keep its size compact. It operates on an intelligent fan speed control system that automatically adjusts the fan speed and noise according to the user’s requirement. It is also a fully modular PSU and comes with black ribbon cables in the package. You will also find a PS2 bracket with the unit that will allow you to install this unit in an ATX case. Key Features:
450 watts power capacity Mini ATX form factor Perfect for compact cabinets 85% efficiency on average load 80 mm cooling fan Bronze 80 Plus certification Intelligent fan speed control Black ribbon cables 2-year warranty
Pros:
The best option for entry-level builds Available under an affordable price tag Compact form factor
Cons:
Power capacity might be too low for upgrades
7. Cooler Master V750 SFX Power Supply
Check Price On eBay In this part of our article, we will talk about one of the most popular SFX power supply brands with high capacity options that are suitable for heavy-duty machines. Cooler Master is one such name and offers a highly powerful SFX power supply. If you have been looking for a highly reliable yet powerful SFX power supply, your search ends here. The Cooler Master V750 SFX Gold Full Modular is one of the most reliable options in the market and also the most powerful pick from our list today. It offers a massive 750 watts power capacity that should be more than enough for the latest generation of CPUs as well as GPUs. On top of that, it has an 80 plus gold rating that ensures the safety of your components on full load. Even with such powerful specs, the Cooler Master V750 SFX Gold is available in a compact SFX form factor and compatible with SFX as well as mini ITX cabinets. You will also get an SFX to ATX bracket included with the PSU if you want to install this unit in an ATX case. The efficiency of this unit ranges up to 90% for average operating conditions. The cables for these units are also safer and efficient thanks to the 16 AWG thick cable type. It is backed by a long 10 years warranty period from Cooler Master which is probably the entire lifespan of the desktop system. Key Features:
750 watts power capacity 80 plus gold rating Compact SFX form factor Compatible with SFX/mini ITX cabinets SFX to ATX bracket included 90% efficiency for an average load 16 AWG cables 10-year warranty
Pros:
Highly reliable SFX power supply One of the most powerful options Cable quality is very good
Cons:
Gold rating is not ideal for heavy load
Buying Guide For The Best SFX Power Supply
After going through our list, you must have noticed that all of the power supplies mentioned on our list are advanced options with fully modular power supply. Thus, selecting any of the above mentioned SFX power supplies will be beneficial for you as these units can easily fit under most common cabinets. Apart from the basic factors such as dimensions and supply type, you should also take a look at many individual properties of each unit such as the wattage rating, cable system, efficiency rating, etc. to select the perfect option in your budget. In this buying guide, we will walk you through the essential properties of an SFX power supply and explain their importance regarding casual as well as heavy applications. This will surely help you finalize your choice and buy it right away.
Wattage Rating
Before choosing a power supply, it is essential to calculate the power requirement of your system. To do that, you’ll have to calculate the power requirement for every individual component installed on the motherboard. This includes the CPU, GPU, RAM, and other essential parts of the PC. Once you get a rough figure for the required wattage, you should purchase a PSU that has at least 30% to 40% higher power rating just to be on the safer side. Although, an unnecessarily high power supply will not be useful for your computer and will impact your electrical charges due to high power draw.
Efficiency Certification
All power supply units are certified by a particular certification program called the 80 plus certification. This certification body allows a certain level of rating to each unit that is bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and titanium. In this range, the bronze rated power supply units are the least efficient power supply units whereas the titanium rated power supply units are the most efficient. Even if you’re buying a low capacity power supply unit, you should go for a higher 80 plus rating as it refers to a better product that will be suitable for long term use. Generally, the bronze rated PSUs are up to 80% efficient on 50% load whereas the titanium ones can be around 96% efficient for the same.
Brand
The manufacturer or the brand of the power supply is quite important while selecting one from the bunch. In most cases, you will find a higher power rating mentioned on the product that is not capable of providing enough power to the system. This usually happens with 3rd party and generic PSUs. To avoid such a problem, you need to select the PSU from a trustworthy brand that has already served a large number of users globally. In our list, you will find all of the trustworthy brands available in the market so that you do not have to doubt the compatibility of the SFX power supply.
Cables
The cables also play a very important role in your system as they carry the power from the power supply unit to the motherboard and many other components of your system. This needs to be taken into consideration before finalizing your SFX power supply to ensure the long term durability of the unit. The cables need to be thoroughly checked while buying the unit and also before installing the unit in the cabinet so that it does not cause issues once the build is complete.
Conclusion
Most novice pc builders make the mistake of buying an incompatible power supply for their desktop system. If the power supply unit incurs a problem in the fitting, you can make a handful of adjustments to get the PC running. But it is not advised as it can cause severe problems such as overheating and noise issues later on. Furthermore, if your PSU wattage is not compatible with your system requirement, you will face lag and unusual behavior of your system. To avoid these problems, we have brought you the best SFX power supply units that are perfectly capable of most applications. If you are facing problems in selecting one option out of our picks, you can refer to our buying guide for the SFX power supplies given above. Or, you can go with one of our favorite picks which are as follows.
Our first recommendation is the Cooler Master V750 SFX Gold Full Modular because this is the most compatible unit on our list. With this 750 watts power supply, you will feel the need to upgrade your PSU anytime soon. It also has a 10 year warranty period that ensures its reliability. The Fractal Design Ion+ SFX Power Supply is yet another highly reliable option from our picks that will serve you for at least 10 years of its warranty period. It has gold certified 560 watts wattage capacity which is great for heavier applications. Buying a high power capacity for an entry-level system does not make any sense as you will not be needing that much power. Thus, our last recommendation is the FSP 450W Mini ITX Solution for all budget-oriented desktop builds. It is also a fully modular power supply with 450 watts wattage capacity and bronze certification.
Comment * Name * Email * Website
Δ
