Question Downsides to small form factor psu besides price?

mindless1

Diamond Member
Aug 11, 2001
8,201
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Yes, unless the system load is quite low so the % inefficiency results in very few watts (worth of) heat to get rid of, the smaller form factor PSU is more limited in heatsink size, and fan size, so must spin the fan faster to (attempt to) reach same components' operating temperature. If same operating temperature is not achieved, particularly for the capacitors, they will have a shorter lifespan. That doesn't make them less reliable until that point.

However SFX is not as bad as some, as it isn't that much smaller compared to some, particularly when the form factor is narrower which limits the fan diameter more. Plus one could have solid/polymer capacitors that don't age as fast from heat - does that one use solid caps on the output? It might, I would seek reviews before shelling out that much money and if really in love with the case you want that uses an SFX, at the very least I would want a PSU that uses major brand Japanese electrolytic caps rather than (any) Chinese brand. Then again, if the caps were to fail, I would replace them myself with solid or Jap electrolytic but in the failing comes the risk of damage as a result.

That Corsair has pretty good ratings, but wow is it overpriced for what it is. It does not cost more to make an SFX PSU with same components as an ATX, there is somewhat of a ceiling on how good a PSU can be and beyond that, it's just stuffing things in a smaller housing.

On the other hand, that Corsair's design is dictated by marketing departments rather than engineers because that whole "zero RPM fan mode, doesn't spin until you need it, for near-silent operation at low and medium loads", is a load of BS. A very slow spinning fan is virtually inaudible yet moves multiple times as much airflow and can cause 3X the lifespan. Guess it depends on the owner, some people only want a PSU to last through the viable lifespan of the tech it is powering and consider that tech obsolete and due to be replaced in less than a half dozen years, while I don't feel like any well designed PSU shouldn't last more than a decade unless used for some extreme load like mining.

Regardless of all of the above, that Corsair has a reasonably long lasting design and I'd go for it if your target system uses 400W or less at full load. With a full ATX sized PSU I'd have derated a 750W PSU with mostly same construction to 550W, or at least 15% more if you don't mind replacing or repairing it in less than a decade... there's full load wattage, and then there's how long/often it operates at that, kinda like wearing out a set of tires.

I've never owned one of those cases but like any other, the PSU temps and fan speed ramping are going to depend on the rest of the case ventilation too, how hot the air intake is. In general my preference is don't downsize if you don't have to, unless space is at that much of a premium, but that is not as bad as some and not a bad choice unless I missed some fatal flaw that a review I saw, didn't find.
 
Last edited:

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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I'm considering getting the lian li mini which needs a small form factor psu. I was looking at this. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07M63H81H/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

It's pricey at $165, but I expected a premium for small form factor. But are there other issues with small form factor PSUs that are less of an issue with full sized one? Like are they louder, less reliable, etc. I've never bought one before.
here's a review:

 
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