SFX Power Supplies for Small Builds: Corsair SF750, Cooler Master V850 SFX Gold, Lian Li SP850 and SilverStone SX1000
Why small cases need SFX power supplies, how to size one for a compact gaming PC, and four well-known units.
Why small cases need SFX power supplies, how to size one for a compact gaming PC, and four well-known units.
Photo by Baran Ivo / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
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Many small cases don’t fit a standard ATX power supply. SFX units are much smaller, and modern ones deliver enough power for high-end graphics cards.
Do you need SFX?
Check your case’s spec sheet: it will list “SFX”, “SFX-L” or “ATX”. SFX-L is slightly longer than SFX, with a bigger, often quieter fan. Some cases fit either. ATX cases can often take an SFX unit with an adapter bracket.
Four well-known units
- Corsair SF750: a long-running SFX line known for compact builds.
- Cooler Master V850 SFX Gold: an 850W SFX unit for more powerful GPUs.
- Lian Li SP850: an 850W SFX unit, available in white.
- SilverStone SX1000: a 1000W SFX-L unit for high-end GPUs in small cases.
Sizing
Small builds still need enough power. Follow your GPU maker’s recommended PSU wattage. For high-end GPUs, check that the unit has a native 12V-2x6 cable.
Cable management
Small cases have little room for spare cables. Fully modular units help. Some builders buy shorter custom cables to save space.
Noise
SFX fans are small and can be louder under load. Look for units with a fan that stops at low loads.
Bottom line
Check whether your case needs SFX or SFX-L, size by your GPU, and choose a fully modular unit to make cable routing easier.
Our picks: Power supplies
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Illustrative photos: Photo by Victor Korniyenko / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0; Photo by Baran Ivo / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain