The Corsair SF450 Platinum SFX PSU Review: Corsair's Best SFF PSU Gets Even Better
by E. Fylladitakis on October 23, 2018 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Corsair
- PSUs
- 450W
- SFX
Conclusion
Even though the demand for high performance SFX PSUs is on the rise, few companies actually allocate their R&D resources to improving their SFX units. Corsair is one of the rare examples of a company that released a very successful SFX PSU series and, instead of sitting on their laurels, redesigned those PSUs to improve their efficiency rating and overall performance without notably raising the retail cost. The SF450 version that we reviewed today is capable of powering the majority of gaming PCs, which comprise of a good CPU and a single high-performance graphics card.
Great Wall, the OEM behind the creation of the SF series, may be a relatively new company when it comes to high performance PC designs, yet the company repeatedly proved that they can deliver excellent products. Corsair’s engineers did a great job improving both the reliability and the performance of the platform, resulting to a new PSU that is more efficient, runs cooler, and performs better. Although the new 80Plus Platinum certified SF series is technologically rather simple, the platform is very efficient. Most of that efficiency comes from the very high-quality active components. These components also have very low thermal losses and a wide operating range, allowing the SF450 to remain very efficient regardless of the load and greatly improve the PSU’s longevity and overall performance. The passive components are of excellent quality as well, coming from reputable manufacturers.
In terms of performance, the SF450 pleasantly surprised us on just about everything. The electrical performance of the unit is exceptional, with line filtering and regulation that rivals most of the top-tier PSU platforms. The conversion efficiency initially seems barely good enough, honoring its 80Plus Platinum certification only when powered from a 115V AC source, but it is the extraordinary low-load efficiency that really stands out here, as well as the unit’s resistance to thermal stress. Finally, despite the use of a thin 92 mm cooling fan, the thermal performance of the SF450 is excellent and, on top of that, the noise output of the PSU is very low. It is unlikely that the noise coming from the SF450 will ever reach bothersome levels while the PSU is powering a typical gaming system, even if installed in a poorly ventilated environment.
With its high overall performance and considering its power delivery capabilities, the SF450 is the ideal choice for typical SFF living room gaming systems. The MSRP price of $99 seems a little high for a 450W PSU but, considering that retail prices tend to be significantly lower and the current price trends of SFX PSUs, it is not unreasonable. We believe that the new SF series will become a favorite amongst users who build high performance SFF systems.
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Spoelie - Tuesday, October 23, 2018 - link
Actually installed the 2015 in my ITX build one month ago (2700x & RX580) - both this and the 2018 were available in the shop but the most recent version came at a 25% premium (80 vs 100). I figured any improvements were not worth this premium, given how extraordinary the 2015 version already was (see jonny guru's review).JoeyJoJo123 - Tuesday, October 23, 2018 - link
Yeah, the price increase is a bit disappointing, since going from ~$80 to $100 is a 25% price hike. That being said, assuming SF450-2018 comes down in price a bit (even $90 would be good), I feel like it'd be a good replacement for the previous SF450, considering the additional benefits the new model comes with, as the 80+Plat rating.The initial hurdle with Mini-ITX is just paying extra for the form factor in regards to the case, sfx psu, heatsink quality for price/size (as opposed to cheaply affordable Cryorig H7 or CoolerMaster Hyper 212 +/Evo). (Followed by another hurdle with installation tediousness/difficulty of the cramped space and potentially unknown compatibility with certain parts which theoretically would've fit if it weren't for a piece that stuck out). Having to pay another $20 for a 80+Plat PSU over what most would already consider is _already_ great for an equal wattage 80+Gold PSU might just be another Nvidia RTX issue, where their hardest competition is ironically their older product which provided a compelling value at a lower total cost.
meacupla - Tuesday, October 23, 2018 - link
But have you ever used the ribbon cables that come with the Gold version?They suck shit.
The Platinum version already includes the individually sleeved cables, which are like $50 on their own.
DanNeely - Tuesday, October 23, 2018 - link
I've used other PSUs with flat ribbon cables that appear the same sort as with the gold 450 before without complaint. What don't you like about them?meacupla - Thursday, October 25, 2018 - link
The ribbon cables are way too damn stiff and the sata connectors are 90d, which don't work with quite a lot of mITX cases.Unless you want to break sata connectors on the drives, you either use the more malleable individually sleeved cables, or you use extensions that have 180d connectors.
Aneker - Wednesday, December 23, 2020 - link
Human stupidity has no limits. Firstly, I have to say that Platinum coated cables are much more rigid and difficult to maneuver than ribbon cables. Secondly, the designation Platinum is just marketing and it is false because the only difference is in the coated cables and this is perfectly ridiculous. .JoeyJoJo123 - Tuesday, October 23, 2018 - link
Uhhh... Yes? Have YOU ever tried stuffing cables in a low volume MiniITX build? It's not easy. I don't think I could've managed my build WITHOUT the thin ribbon cables that can be folded and wedged in nooks and crannies. The whole individually sleeved cable thing is just a meme to make PCs "look" prettier, but the fact of the matter is that those cables take a lot more volume and when you're building true miniITX, cable management becomes a big hurdle.https://imgur.com/a/HeiVayH
milkywayer - Tuesday, October 23, 2018 - link
And the 2019 will be the year of SFF pc. So many awesome cases and psu coming out. Including the next version of Dan Case and DrZaber Sentry as well as Louqe's 2nd batch of Ghost SFF. What a year.jonnyGURU - Tuesday, October 23, 2018 - link
FYI: It's not called "SF 2018". It's "SF Platinum". Calling it "2018" would imply it replaces the older, Gold version.. . Which it does not. Both are now being sold together, with the Platinum being sold at a slight premium.JoeyJoJo123 - Tuesday, October 23, 2018 - link
Good to know both models will remain in circulation. The 80+Gold SF450 was probably the next best choice to go with if the user wasn't comfortable with going with an 80+Bronze unit from Silverstone or someone, and was price competitive with all the other high efficiency SFX power supplies on the market. I was a bit concerned that the 80+Plat being a possible replacement would have pushed it out of that ideal position, leaving ITX builders with tougher budgets to accomodate.