Copyright 2010 - K.S. Studios - All rights reserved
Model No. SST-ST40F-ES
Max DC Output 400W
Load Range
+3.3V
+5V
+12V
-12V
+5VSB
Max (Amps)
24A
20A
25A
0.3A
2.5A
Peak (Amps)
/
/
/
/
/
Min. (Amps)
0.1A
0.2A
0.6A
0A
0A
Range (%)
±5%
±5%
±5%
±10%
±5%
Line Reg. (%)
±1%
±1%
±1%
±1%
±1%
Ripple (mVp-p)
100mV
100mV
150mV
150mV
100mV
combined +3.3, +5V 120W
combined +12V 300W/25A
Input Voltage 103.5V~253V
Input Frequency Range 47Hz ~ 63Hz
PFC Active PFC（PF>0.95 at Full Load）
Efficiency >80% at 20%~100% loading
MTBF 100,000 hours at 25℃（at Full Load）
Operating temperature 0°C ~ 40°C
Protection Over Current Protection
Over Power Protection
Over Voltage Protection
Under voltage protection
Short Circuit Protection
Connectors
1 x 24 / 20-Pin Motherboard connector （500mm）
1 x 8 / 4-Pin EPS / ATX 12V connector （550mm）
2 x 6-Pin PCIE connector （500mm / 150mm）
4 x SATA connector （400mm / 150mm / 150mm / 150mm）
3 x 4-Pin Peripheral connector （400mm / 150mm / 150mm）
1 x 4-Pin Floppy connector （400mm / 150mm / 150mm / 150mm）
Color Black（Lead-Free Paint）
Cooling System Silent 120mm fan
Noise level 18dBA-34dBA
Dimension 150 mm (W) × 86 mm (H) × 140 mm (D)
Weight 1.4Kg
Certification 80 PLUS
SilverStone recently relelased the Strider Essential Series of power supplies to add to their already large selection ranging from 350W to 1500W models currently in the Strider Series. The Essential Series combines high performance with an affordable price. Today we are testing the ST40F-ES 400W model. SilverStone also has a 500W model in this series as well. Some of you might be wondering why there is still a market for such a low powered PSU when companies are touting the 1KW and higher models. Well, truth is, the super high end PC should have enough power to run all components and still have some room left for expansion later on. There is a time to use such a monstrous PSU, but what if you have a basic to mid-range system or HTPC that really doesn't need all of that power? That's where the Essential Series ST40F-ES comes in. While still capable of running multi-GPU systems, this PSU fits in better for a quiet, power efficient PC. We installed the PSU into a multi-purpose system to see how it performed. Check out the rest of the review for the results.

Specs

SilverStone Strider Essential Series ST40F-ES 400W Modular PSU

The ST40F-ES performed very well in our testing. We used a PSU calculator to figure out what the standard load from our system components was. We were surprised to see that our configuration uses around 288W. It just proves that you don't always need a super high powered PSU for every PC, just a high quality one. While I would not recommend this model for a high end, multi-GPU PC build do to the 400W rating, it makes perfect sense for a power efficient low to mid-range system. The PC this was tested in is not the most power hungry, but it's no slouch either. We can safely recommend this PSU as a Value performance model. The ST40F-ES can be found at Newegg.com for $48.99.

6/11/10 -Keith Soreghen-

Conclusion

Packaging and Accessories

The packaging is nicely done. The PSU is pprotected by bubble wrap and there is just enough room for the included cables. The ST40F-ES comes with the product guide, user manual, power cord and mounting screws.

Exterior

The exterior has a nice matte finish and, although the casing feels thinner than the higher end models, the ST40F-ES is sturdy and well constructed. The outside even features a dedicated ON/OFF switch which was a surprise to see in a less expensive model from SilverStone. This PSU is auto switching 103.5V~253V model, so there is no need to verify an input voltage switch before use. The cooling is handled by a silent 120mm fan. The fan was barely audible above ambient room noise during our testing.

The cables are not modular on this model, but that is to be expected at this price point. The +12V is handled by a single 25A rail. The main power cable is sleeved, a nice touch. The ST40F-ES is 80 plus certified and active PFC, another nice feature.

Cables and Connectors

The ST40F-ES comes with a basic cable set. Cables include 1 x 20+4-Pin Motherboard connector , 1 x 8 / 4-Pin EPS / ATX 12V connector, 2 x 6-Pin PCIE connector, 4 x SATA connector, 3 x 4-Pin Peripheral connector and 1 x 4-Pin Floppy connector. This should be sufficient for a basic PC build.

Interior

The interior is well constructed and the PSU feels heavy in general. The ST40F-ES uses a 85 Degree capacitor. The 120mm fan has a Globe fan sticker on it. Overall, the PSU seems like a high quality model.

Voltage Tests

The above image is the power supply voltage tolerances chart. All ATX v2.2 PSU's should have voltages that fall between these minimum and maximum voltages.

*These numbers represent only one PSU and should not speak for the entire line of power supplies. You should always check voltages on a new PSU to make sure they are within accepted ranges.

ST40F-ES

Voltages

+12V +5V +3.3V
12.21V 5.0V 3.353V
20+4-Pin Motherboard connector
2 x 6-Pin PCIE connector
8 / 4-Pin EPS / ATX 12V connector
3 x 4-Pin Peripheral connector and 1 x 4-Pin Floppy connector
4 x SATA connector
Parts Used:

Asus M4A785-M Motherboard

AMD Athlon II X4 620 CPU

ATI Radeon 5670 GPU

8GB Corsair DDR2 800 memory

Western Digital WD3200AAJS 320GB Hard drive

SilverStone PS05 case

SilverStone ST40F-ES 400W PSU

Stock AMD CPU fan