Does anyone have any recommendations for small form factor PSUs?

[Key]

I am building a PC as an ITX build in the Fractal Design Nano S case, however I know absolutely nothing about PSUs. Does anyone have any recommendations for SFF PSUs?

Also from what I've read so far, the included cables may not be long enough. Is it safe to use other cables? And if so, are these easily available ? Thanks !

[satrow]

Why spend more money on an SFF PSU that would likely to be noisier as well (exc. SFX-L) in a case that isn't particularly space-restricted and accepts standard ATX power supplies?

What's the rest of the build, the budget and expected usage?

[Key]

Thanks for your reply. Well basically I want to build in a Nano S, and some reviews say that because the GPU is so close to the PSU it causes overheating. One way to help this problem is by using an SSF. But you're definitely right, they are significantly more expensive, noisier and hotter to have a mITX build, so I am just considering using mATX instead now with the Mini C.

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/XDyYsJ this is my build though in case you wanted to critique it. Main uses will be gaming, and microsoft office use for work.

[Spreadie]

I have owned several Silverstone SFF gold rated PSUs, all them have been flawless.

I still own two of them - a 450w and a 500w.

The early models were said to have noisy fans but they fixed the fan curves on the revisions - all of mine are/were revised models and I can't hear them. IIRC my 500 and 700w units didn't spin up their fans at all until the PSU started to get warm.

Obviously, there are other makes out there but I have no experience of them.

[Pob255]

Thanks for your reply. Well basically I want to build in a Nano S, and some reviews say that because the GPU is so close to the PSU it causes overheating. One way to help this problem is by using an SSF. But you're definitely right, they are significantly more expensive, noisier and hotter to have a mITX build, so I am just considering using mATX instead now with the Mini C.

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/XDyYsJ this is my build though in case you wanted to critique it. Main uses will be gaming, and microsoft office use for work.

That list looks ok

As to the case and psu, the Nano S takes standard 160mm deep atx psu's, so shouldn't be a problem
if it's blocking air flow to the graphics card cooler, then it might be an issue.
and SFX psu and a backplate will give you more space, although options are more limited and cost is higher, esp if you want to go for modular cables.
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/500w...lus12v-1x120mm

silverstone also make a nice offset converter backplate https://www.scan.co.uk/products/silv...-sfx-psu-black, although most decent sfx psu's come with plates, just not offset for that extra 5-10mm clearance.

Silverstone, seasonic, Corsair and Bequiet are good decent units
FSP is also well worth the look, they make some of the silverstone and bequiet models, but it's harder to find the newer FSP models

[Key]

Thanks, it looks like an ITX is going to be significantly more expensive than an mATX and will run hotter. I think I'll just go for the Mini C case and accept I'll have a bigger case

[Pob255]

Yes ITX tends to cost more than ATX or mATX and has more limited options.

Running hotter, that depends on what you're using and how you're using it.
Also running hotter isn't a problem, running too hot is, again how hot is too hot? depends on what you're using and how you're running it.

On last point about ITX is it tends to need work, all small form factor does, the harder you want to push the capability of a small system the greater the input requirement from you will be.

If you go to mATX then the mini C does look like a really nice option, the nano S is quite large for an ITX case
Others to look at are the Define mini and Arc mini, silverstone Temjin TJ08 and Precision PS07 (they are the same case inside just different front bezel+fan)

[DanceswithUnix]

Thanks, it looks like an ITX is going to be significantly more expensive than an mATX and will run hotter. I think I'll just go for the Mini C case and accept I'll have a bigger case

TBH, I still run SFX PSUs in mATX boxes if the airflow is at all tight.

[Pob255]

TBH, I still run SFX PSUs in mATX boxes if the airflow is at all tight.

That's because you're a weirdo
You're not the only one I've seen do that, always found it a bit odd as ITX motherboards tend to cost more than mATX boards

sorry misread, but sticking sfx into mATX case . . . it would depend on the case, generally I wouldn't for reasons of cost, atx psu's are the cheapest with the most range.
Only time I actively done it is some older chieftech mATX cases because they where designed for the ATX-ps3 PSU, which is the same height and width as standard ATX but far shorter, as ATX-ps3 is pretty much a dead form-factor now, SFX and an adaptor plate is the only way to replace atx-ps3 psu's

[DanceswithUnix]

sorry misread, but sticking sfx into mATX case . . . it would depend on the case, generally I wouldn't for reasons of cost, atx psu's are the cheapest with the most range.

Depends on where the PSU is. In this case it is mounted over the CPU, so switching to a SFX PSU allows better CPU cooler choice and more gap for airflow around the CPU fan.