Enzo_FX wrote:
What's the point of a SFX PSU if the expansion slot is only for trivial things, i.e. not power intensive. This is the kind of case I want, but it needs to support double slotted graphics cards. A TFX PSU would be ideal, supporting a short, regular height card, slotted horizontally with a PCI-E 90-degree adapter or ribbon. Then it's perfect =P.
Meh.
While we currently only offer 300W as our least powerful model, there are lower powered and cheaper SFX PSUs available on the market as well. We believe there are many benefits for using SFX vs. other smaller form factor PSUs, below are ones that we think are the most important:
The first is its square-ish dimension, which give case designer like ourselves more flexibility in creating smaller cases that can be either slim or cube shaped (TFX is a bit too deep compared to SFX in this regard). For SFF cases that have ATX PSU mounts, a simple bracket that we include in our SFX PSUs make them easy to use as well, again this is something TFX isn't suited for because of its elongated shape.
The second benefit is availability, SFX is currently the second most popular PSU form factor after the PS2/ATX so customers have more choices in brand and wattage compared to TFX or PicoPSUs. Plus, SilverStone has been pushing SFX into mainstream for the last three years, and I can confirm that we will continue to invest in it.
Last but not least is the cost. With SFX being more popular than other small form factors, it generally has cost advantage too and this is very important for many users. This is also the biggest downside for PicoPSU, while it is the smallest per watt, you are still required to buy an AC adapter, which could double the cost (and sometimes negate the space saving achieved inside the case by requiring extra space outside case).
Enzo_FX wrote:
That ML03 is huge. This case is still just a tease. There are new cases that are coming out that are close to the design I mentioned, they are eagerly anticipated by many, so anything in-between just seems a bit pointless.
Actually at 7 liters in size, the ML05 is around half the size of those Mini-ITX slim cases that can fit dual slot graphics card. The RAVEN prototype (will be officially named RVZ01) we revealed at Computex in June for example is about 14 liters, which is similar in size volume to our other cube-shaped SFF cases SG07 and SG08.
So ML05 is definitely not a in-between product, it is designed for those who seek smallest possible standard Mini-ITX case in desktop, HTPC form factor. ML03 is similar in spirit, but designed for Micro-ATX motherboard and more standard components with the exception of graphics cards (we have SG09 / SG10 for that purpose).