Hi,

I'm looking for a fanless PSU such as the Seasonix X-400. However I want it to fit in a small computer chassis that uses the SFX format for the PSU. It only needs to be rated at ~150-200 Watts. So does anyone know if such a fanless SFX PSU exists?

Thanks!

look around for pico psu. There a lot of threads in here.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article601-page1.html

Yeah, I know that is an alternative. However the Pico PSU requires an external PowerBrick as well, which I don't want to have. I'd like to keep the PSU "solution" completely within the case. A fanless SFX PSU would solve that. So does any such PSU exist?

A SFX psu ist way bigger than a power brick. So why don't you put that brick in the place of the not needed SFX psu?

Watch brick's temps an you may got a win-win.

Yes, that could be an option. But then ideally the case should have a mounting option for placing the power brick in the case so it's easy to assemble, see for example the the bottom two pics in the review of the HDPLEX H10.ODD:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1173-page2.html

However not many computer cases have such mounting options for a Power Brick. Many have for SFX PSU:s though. So perhaps one option for a manufacturer would be to create a SFX PSU consisting of a Pico PSU and a Power Brick, all assembled into one package. Then you could fit it easily in cases with fixtures for SFX PSU:s.

Because as I understand it, right now there are no fanless SFX PSUs then, right?

Which case are you considering? I ask because if yours is a typical HTPC using onboard graphics, the real power demand will be well under 100W, typically 50W or less. This is true for the several such HTPCs I've built over the years. This means, depending on the case, you could easily run a hgih efficiency PSU fanlessly -- or at least with the fan running so slow as to be inaudible. Might require a bit of modding, but nothing too onerous, mostly just swapping out a fan in the PSU.

I'm curious, why don't you wanna use a brick? You will need a power cord either way - does it matter if there's a lump on it?

I don't think this is unusual. I also much prefer a straight ac cord rather than one with a wall wart or in-line adapter. Less clutter behind the gear, TV, etc.

Same here. But if fanless is a priority it might be easier to hide a small AC adapter and go with a picoPSU than to mod a regular SFX PSU with a fan.

I'm considering building two small form factor silent PCs:

1. HTPC (Ivy Bridge 35/45W CPU, Blu-ray player, 8 GB RAM, 80 GB SSD). I'm considering one of the HDPLEX cases. I'm still deciding whether it's ok that it lacks some "features" I'd like possibly to have, for example space for a front LCD panel, front USB connector (only some HDPLEX cases have that), and a PCIe TV-tuner-card (e.g. using a raiser card). Also, I don't know if all HDPLEX cases have fixtures for a Power Brick. Looking at the pics at their website it's somewhat unclear?

2. Desktop PC (Ivy Bridge 3570/3770K, Blu-ray R/W drive, 3.5" front multi-card reader, 16 GB RAM, 240 GB SSD): I'm considering for example the Spire SPM210B (see http://www.spire-corp.com/main/product_ ... ProdID=826). It has space for a SFX PSU. If I can find an even smaller case while still keeping the computer silent, then even better of course.


I don't like to have external stuff "lying around" outside the computer case. For example I don't like to have external hard drives, external TV-tuner-cards, external card-readers, and so on. It's messy. Everything should be kept inside the computer case as far as possible. Tidy and clean.

So to summarize, I have nothing against using a PicoPSU + PowerBrick. But I want it to fit in the computer case without any home made modifications to the case. And the back of the case should only expose a standard 110/220V power coord connector (+ power on/off switch) like normal computer cases do. So either the computer case must have fixtures for a PowerBrick + Pico PSU as some of the HDPLEX cases seem to have, or I need to find a SFX PSU that is fanless (or contains a Pico PSU + Power Brick ).