ATX Vs SFX Power Supplies: Finding Your Perfect Fit

When it involves Power Supply Units (PSUs,) there are primarily two type elements that dominate the market right now—ATX and SFX. The time period ‘form factor’ right here describes the bodily form and dimension of a PSU that determines how seamlessly it may be built-in into your construct.

ATX energy provides, as a consequence of their bigger dimension, are commonest for constructing PCs in full tower and mid-tower circumstances. It’s a wonderful selection for anybody who desires to construct a excessive efficiency machine. On the flip aspect, SFX ones are comparatively smaller in dimension and a greater choice for many who prioritize compact builds with out compromising energy provide effectivity.

In this text, I’ve tried to incorporate each side of ATX and SFX energy provides that can make it easier to achieve a complete understanding of each of them. By the tip, you’ll additionally be capable of resolve what would be the best wager to your construct.

What is ATX Power Supply

Advanced Technology Extended (ATX) is probably the most generally used PSU type issue that’s 150mm extensive, 86mm tall and 140mm deep. While these measurements maintain true for the ATX PS/2 variants, the PS/3 variants have a smaller depth of 100mm.

You might additional discover a slight distinction on the size relying upon your PSU producer.

For instance, I took the measurements of my CORSAIR RM850X and located that its precise dimensions have been 150mm x 86mm x 160mm as a substitute.

Below is a listing of some professionals and cons that can make it easier to higher analyze the ATX type issue.

What is SFX Power Supply

SFX energy provides are an actual life instance for PC builders to show “Happiness also comes in small packages.” Because two PSUs, one ATX and one other SFX (with similar specs) can ship the identical energy and effectivity to your setup regardless of the smaller dimension of the SFX ones.

This form of PSU is 125mm extensive, 63.5mm tall and 100mm deep. The SFX PSUs even have a SFX-L variant that has fairly a bigger depth for accommodating bigger followers.

Referring to some SFX PSUs I personal, like a CORSAIR SF600, I can affirm that the size specified by the SFX customary are correct, though it could barely range for different fashions.

Differences Between SFX and ATX Power Supply

SFX and ATX are merely the shape elements of a Power Supply Unit. So chances are you’ll not discover a important distinction between them when it comes to their working mechanism.

They additionally share a number of similarities just like the equivalent energy provide connectors and the effectivity scores. Meanwhile the higher-end variants of each the varieties include security advantages like OCP and OVP.

Nonetheless, we additionally get to see some hanging variations between these two. In this part, I’ll focus on the foremost ones in the absolute best manner. By the tip, it’s going to make it easier to resolve which one will best go well with the wants of your construct.

Dimensions

The first and probably the most noticeable distinction between these two type elements is their bodily form and dimension.

Referring to the size mentioned earlier, the ATX type elements are bigger in dimension compared to the SFX ones. This makes the ATX PSU preferable for tremendous tower, full tower or mid-tower construct and the SFX ones for mini-tower, small type issue or HTPC builds.

Having stated that, it doesn’t essentially imply you can not use SFX PSUs with the ATX circumstances. Most of the SFX PSUs embody an SFX to ATX adapter for carrying out this. If you don’t have one, you too can shortly seize it from the close by retailer.

But I don’t see any level in using a SFX type think about your ATX construct except you want some further area, or if you have already got one out of your older construct.

Further, the cables that include the SFXs are comparatively shorter. So, it may be fairly tedious to make use of the SFX PSUs with the ATX circumstances. To counter this drawback, you may, nonetheless, buy longer cables out of your producers.

On the opposite hand, not all however some small circumstances additionally will let you use the ATX type issue together with your SFF builds. You can shortly examine the PC case specs to confirm if it permits doing so. Although made attainable, you’ll have a tough time becoming into the restricted area and managing the cables.

Rated Output Power

The rated output energy of an ATX energy provide usually begins wherever from 300 watts and may go as much as 2000 watts.

Similar to the ATX ones, the entry-level SFX energy provides are additionally obtainable ranging from 300 watts. But there are only some ones that transcend 1000 watts. So, in case your energy requirement is simply too excessive, you’ll have issues discovering the SFX ones.

Nonetheless there are some PSU fashions just like the Cooler Master V1300 SFX Platinum that claims itself to be the best wattage (1300 watts) SFX PSU available in the market. You can go for these fashions too for those who search compact and high-end rigs.

Modularity

If you go together with the ATX ones, you will have the liberty to decide on between non-modular, semi-modular or a modular PSU. The selection all relies on your cable administration abilities.

On the opposite hand, SFX PSUs usually are available in modular variants. Since they’re principally designed for compact construct, it might be a head-scratching job managing the cables for those who select different variants.

Noise and Cooling

SFX energy provides have smaller fan blades compared to the ATX ones due to area restrictions. As such, it requires the PSU followers to rotate at a better velocity in order that it may preserve the airflow because the ATX one of many similar specs would do.

This can also trigger the PSU to overheat when you find yourself using your system at a full load, inflicting thermal throttling in the long term.

Further, the restricted area has made it difficult for the producers to combine the noise discount know-how like acoustic dampening. This considerably will increase the noise stage within the SFX PSUs.

You might expertise a noise stage wherever round 20dB in case of an ATX PSU and about 30dB in SFX ones. It can by some means have an effect on your PC expertise in case you are in a pin-drop silent room.

Having stated that, I don’t imply you shouldn’t get a SFX PSU. With developments in know-how, they’re made a lot quieter today. You can at all times examine the noise scores of the device earlier than you buy it.

If you search more quieter followers, I counsel you go for one which has a fluid dynamic bearing. When the shaft on these followers rotate, a movie of pressurized fluid is constructed that doesn’t let it are available in contact with the bearing, making it nearly noiseless. These followers even have a a lot increased life expectancy however are costly than the traditional ones.

Nevertheless, each the variants have a semi-passive or good zero fan characteristic that enables the fan to decrease the velocity or utterly flip it off when the system is operating much less on load, or say is idle.

Price and Availability

“SFX comes with the power of ATX crammed in a smaller case.” So it might be a no brainer to state that the SFX energy provides are priced a bit increased than the ATX ones.

On the opposite hand, ATX items are way more frequent than SFX ones and are manufactured in bulk, decreasing the general manufacturing price.

Further, SFX PSUs use specialised elements and undergo rigorous manufacturing processes making the value justifiable.

When it involves availability, each of them are generally obtainable throughout the shops and you should not have any drawback getting one to your setup.

Final Comparison – SFX Vs ATX

Now that you’re on the finish of the article, you may need already found out which type issue best aligns together with your wants.

Revising the factors we mentioned earlier, I like to recommend using a SFX PSU in case you are into constructing mini PCs and if the area is a matter of concern. On the opposite hand, the ATX ones will at all times be the only option when you’ve got no area restriction.

As an extra tip, I additionally advocate you go for the one that’s ATX 3.0 appropriate. It is a more moderen customary for PSUs that combine a PCIe 5.0 +12VHPWR port for connecting high-end power-hungry GPUs that demand as much as a whooping 600W at full load.

Besides, these PSUs come geared up with the spike resistance characteristic that helps to deal with the momentarily energy spikes, as reportedly seen within the RTX 3000 sequence. Few examples of such PSUs embody SilverStone Technology HELA 1300R Platinum and MSI MPG A1000G.

Unlike the identify, the ATX 3.0 customary doesn’t solely suggest the ATX type elements. You also can get the SFX PSUs which are ATX 3.0 appropriate.

Further, you must also go together with the one which has a increased energy provide effectivity. It not solely ensures environment friendly energy provide to your rig but additionally wastes much less power as warmth, in the end enhancing the cooling of your system.

You also can shortly undergo our one other article on 80 PLUS Gold vs 80 PLUS Platinum energy provide that can make it easier to resolve.