XS Official PSU Of The Month: November 2006

[perkam]

November is the month of SUPER Releases...and not to dissapoint those with G80 and Quad Core rigs that want stable and efficient power...I'm honoured to introduce the Official XS November PSU Of the Month:

Silverstone ST56ZF Zeus Series 560W Power Supply


(Pictures Courtesy of Micutzu)

Yup...XS's first official no-nonsense PSU recommendation to those that love unbridled power for an AMAZING PRICE !!!

The Silverstone ST56ZF uses high quality etasis-based server components to deliver 38A on the 12V Rail that can handle far more than just 560W. Besides the fact that the 40A/38A on the 5V/3.3V respectively are indicative of its server heritage as seen on some Zippy PSUs, the Silverstone is perhaps best compared to the one and only PC Power & Cooling 510...with multiple review sites comparing the two on the same level and finding that it isn't far behind at all

http://www.pcmoddingmy.com/e107_plug...?content.335.5

If thats not enough...perhaps the fact that the PSU DOES have a pot able to adjust its 12V and 5V rails might win you over No the PSU doesn't have quad rails...or 4 pci-e connectors, or that modular cabling...and it isn't silent...and in the face of some of the seasonic based PSUs...one would consider why would anyone even consider such an old school PSU...

Therein, however, lies its greatest strength With efficiency that never falls below 75-85% range !! despite the more modest official estimate of 78% in the official numbers, the Silverstone can handle the best of today's SLI systems with the exception of the oncoming DX10 GFX in SLI...as this psu is really reminiscent of a time when amps made or destroyed power supplies, and single rail PSUs rules the power landscape.

But wait !!! How much does JonnyGuru like it ?!?!?!

Much to my surprise, the voltages did not drop AT ALL! That just proves that this power supply was rated at 50°C and has no de-rating curve, at least none up to 47°C! So the ST56ZF gets a 10 in these tests! And because the power supply handled the 34A load flawlessly without ever dropping out of spec, it scores perfectly here too!

I also wanted to see how the power supply handled being put under a maximum load on the 12V rails while the 3.3V and 5V were relatively low. To do this, I put 19A on each of the 12V rails, but reduced the 3.3V rail to only 3A and the 5V rail to only 4A. Even though the Silverstone manual clearly states that stable voltages can only be guaranteed if there is a minimum 10A capacitive load on the 3.3V and 5V rails, my ST56ZF was still putting out 11.56V on that 12V rail. Fantastic!

The o-scope screenshots (courtesy of USB-Instrument's Stingray's EasyScope II) show a nearly flawless output voltage on all rails during all tests. That's going to count towards an even higher performance score.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/PSU/ST56ZF/

To sum up, the Silverstone ST56ZF offers the power of the PCP&C 510 SLI in simple neat and affordable package for those who don't mind giving up a little bit of silence for zippy level stability

Check it out:

$107 at Case-Mod.com (well known site): http://www.case-mod.com/store/silver...73.html?src=fr
$109 at East Luna (Very Well known site ): http://www.eastluna.com/hardware/details.php?id=1127

Get ready to oc that QX6700, Single G80 Rig TO THE MAX with this psu

Perkam

[MaxxxRacer]

very impressed but by the looks of it, it would be pretty hard to get it quiet... you would need to design the case so that the psu is the exit point for all of the air and just remove the denki.

[Elfear]

Looks like a sweet unit Perkam. Very solid PSU for ~$100.

How would that PSU compare to the Enhance ENS-0560G? It does have a split 12V rail design but it has slightly more amps (38A vs 42A) and it's modular. jonnyguru seemed to really like it too. http://www.jonnyguru.com/PSU/ST60F/ Maybe he can jump in and comment since they are priced very close.

[perkam]

very impressed but by the looks of it, it would be pretty hard to get it quiet... you would need to design the case so that the psu is the exit point for all of the air and just remove the denki.

Opinions on how quiet it is vary from reviewer to reviewer and most have stated that its as audible as the stock amd cooler on light load...

Shouldn't be an issue for a psu of this caliber and of this value

Elfear, the psu you have there is the silverstone st56f strider and has lower quality components than the st56zf. Think st75zf vs st75f.

Perkam

[WeStSiDePLaYa]

You might want to check jonnyGurus review again, since your quoting it....

effeciency max is 77%, and falls as the load is raised.

good psu though for the money.

[perkam]

You might want to check jonnyGurus review again, since your quoting it....

effeciency max is 77%, and falls as the load is raised.

good psu though for the money.

Varies based on who reviews the psu...though yea jG usually does things a tad better :p

Perkam

[Sanko]

nice PSU of the month. a quickie here. is it adviceable to get this PSU and sell my TT ToughPower CableManagement 750W? btw, my rig consist E66, Crucial 10th, 73GT (not an extreme gamer), WD320KS and a DVDRW, mobo just sold, looking for replacement.

PS: sorry if it's not proper to ask here.

[JPeitzman]

Is is really that much louder than the PCP&C that they are comparing it to? I figure it is as good or better than the PCP&C at more than half the price, how can you lose. It's not full sleeved, but so what, sleeve it yourself, that way you get that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you do something cool all by your self. Or I guess you could pay the extra and order it custom sleeved from performance-pcs.

This is one of the best deals out there, on one of the best PSU's out there. If anyone out there needs a PSU to power there OCed SLI rig, get this now. If you want a higher quality PSU....get a Zippy, but it will be hard to find one at this price point.

Good find for the deal of the month Perkam, this one is a winner.

[perkam]

Thx jp...no ordinary psu ever becomes a psu of the month...and i try to differentiate previous psu of the month threads to ensure that the reasons for buying any of them is unique.

Sanko...your TT Toughpower 750w can power two G80s in SLI...this can't.

Perkam

[Praxis1452]

Thx jp...no ordinary psu ever becomes a psu of the month...and i try to differentiate previous psu of the month threads to ensure that the reasons for buying any of them is unique.

Sanko...your TT Toughpower 750w can power two G80s in SLI...this can't.

Perkam

it can... if you go by DT especially if you are running a conroe.. which if you have G80 SLI it seems you should .

No need to get rid of the TP. It will work fine.

Only problem with this psu is you'll need 2 molex adaptors which takes up 4. That's just a pain.

[Reinvented]

Looks like another good PSU. After October's PSU recommendation, I'm starting to like the Corsair's a bit. Very quiet, and good voltages.

I will definitely be trying this out.

[RPGWiZaRD]

No adjustable 3.3v rail? That's what only one I need in the current setup.

[WeStSiDePLaYa]

No adjustable 3.3v rail? That's what only one I need in the current setup.

i beleive this unit has independent voltage regulation. so you should be able to mod the 3.3v rail so it is adjustable.

EDIT: heres the link.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...ad.php?t=37574

[Micutzu]

There's just one pot for all 3 main rails (+3.3V, +5V, +12V) inside. Benching 3Ghz FX-60 and crossfired X1900XT's seemed like a joke to this PSU when i've reviewed it, less than 0.1V voltage drop on the 12V rail in full load.

[Bbq]

Amazing power supply, budget price, high quality. This is what more power supplies should be like damn over-blinged power supplies.

[Summers618]

quick Q perkam, is this a better deal? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817163108
the 650 version for $109 + shipping, or is this version not as efficient or something?

[Praxis1452]

different oem's. only the 560W, 750W, and 850W ZF's are Etasis. Rest are enhance with 80mm fans.

[Summers618]

Oic, i figured something was different, but i didn't know what.

[C Stat B]

Are the Etasis' exactly the same? Cause 850w Etasis is £127 and 850w Silverstone is £170...

[Praxis1452]

Well you'd jonny might have an answer or OK wolf.

I think the 850W silverstone has the rails distributed differently? The 750W is the exact same as the Etasis I think.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

i beleive this unit has independent voltage regulation.

I don't think it does. Then again, I didn't want to pull mine too far apart as it's my 24/7 main rig PSU (this thing is really crammed full of components - hard to see anything). However, there only appears to be two pi filters on the secondary side, which is isn't indy. That said, I wouldn't be too surprised if it turns out to be indy after all next chance I have to get it apart.

Are the Etasis' exactly the same?

This unit is the Etasis EPAP-560. The OEM model number is stamped on a sticker on one of the primary caps on mine

EPAP-850 is the Silverstone 850W I believe, however there may be wiring harness differences.

[quicksilverXP]

Can this PSU handle one 8800GTX?

[Micutzu]

I haven't tested them together, but from experience with this PSU and with 8800's i'm 100% it handles one GTX easy.

[roibm]

so guys how much money did you get for this ad?
75% efficiency, wow... unheard of. far more than 560W? for like 10-20ms? yeah sure.

[Istasi]

so guys how much money did you get for this ad?
75% efficiency, wow... unheard of. far more than 560W? for like 10-20ms? yeah sure.

Perhaps you should read the review...

http://www.jonnyguru.com/review_details.php?id=30