14 DAY TRIAL // Power supplies usually have the same set of components, with variations to size, effectiveness and range of perks, but SilverStone made a model that lacks one of the parts most others of its kind cannot go without.
When making a new hardware product, especially for the PC market, companies sometimes try to see if they can make it in any way unique.
There are two main methods to achieve this goal, one being the addition of new features and the other being the exact opposite.
In this particular instance, it is SilverStone that is experimenting with the latter method, on a certain power supply unit.
Named ST50NF, the PSU is a member of the Nightjar series and is build in such a way that it does not require and, thus, does not have a fan.
Instead, its maker implemented a special design which has the casing act the part of a heatsink.
The newcomer is no slouch in terms of delivered power either, featuring not just a considerable wattage (500 W), but also a high efficiency, all things considered.
While the 80Plus Bronze (barely short of 80Plus Silver really) certification is not exactly near the top, it is still more than enough to pique the interest of prospective buyers, since an 88% efficiency is nothing to scoff at.
Meanwhile, the ST50NF also boasts active PFC, as well as a single 12V rail and a non-modular design, plus compliance with the ATX 12 V2.3 & EPS 12V standards.
The product is not immediately available, but the company does intend to have the Nightjar ST50NF out in stores by the fourth of August 2011, this week as it were.
What remains to see is how many customers the above feature set, along with the MTBF of 50,000 hours and the price of 129 Euro reel in once shipments begin.