Item: SilverStone ST50NF Nightjar 500W Silent PSU
Author: Tarinder Sandhu

Review: SilverStone ST50NF Nightjar 500W Silent PSU

Final thoughts and rating

HEXUS Snapshot:

...we believe the ST50NF Nightjar is a decent silent PSU that could do with better ripple regulation and a lower street price.

SilverStone's ST50NF Nightjar PSU is of particular interest to computing users who value silence over all-out power. Housed in aluminium casing and cooled with a healthy selection of heatsinks - both internal and external - the 500W capacity is stout enough to power a solid build that can include the latest Intel Core i7-3770K CPU and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 graphics card.

Efficiency and voltage regulation are good, but ripple suppression is below average though still within ATX specification. The unit can also become very warm, too, and does require active cooling if running at the high side of its capacity. Competitors such as Seasonic and Kingwin have since launched modular-cabling, silent supplies based on newer platforms and higher efficiencies, needing less cooling, and at around the same £130 price as this SilverStone.

Ultimately, we believe the ST50NF Nightjar is a decent no-fan PSU that could do with better ripple regulation and a lower street price. Get those two right, SilverStone, and you're on to a winner.

The Good

It's silent, right
Build quality is top-notch
Above-average voltage regulation

The Bad

High street price
Non-modular cabling
Newer platforms offer more for less

HEXUS Rating

SilverStone ST50NF Nightjar silent PSU

HEXUS Where2Buy

The SilverStone ST50NF Nightjar silent PSU is available to purchase from Scan Computers*.

HEXUS Right2Reply

At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.

*UK-based HEXUS community members are eligible for free delivery and priority customer service through the SCAN.care@HEXUS forum.

Login with Forum Account

Don't have an account? Register today!

Wasn't this released over a year ago?

Hexus Story Link

Bit late reviewing it now? Although price seems to have increased by 30% in that time!

I can't see the point in paying so much for a silent PSU, only for it to require active cooling when installed in a case? Better to just have a quiet PSU fan and save some cash. I would also worry about the long-term reliability of the unit…the review doesn't mention the warranty period, unless I missed it? Personally I'd much rather go with a hybrid model from Seasonic; predominantly silent, and at least the fan is there if things do get a bit toasty.

Huh? Why are you saying the efficiency must be worse than equipped with fan PSUs? They have the disadvantage of having to use the fan to cool themselves down, which takes a toll on their efficiency, amirite?

Jimbobgod1969
I can't see the point in paying so much for a silent PSU, only for it to require active cooling when installed in a case? Better to just have a quiet PSU fan and save some cash. I would also worry about the long-term reliability of the unit…the review doesn't mention the warranty period, unless I missed it? Personally I'd much rather go with a hybrid model from Seasonic; predominantly silent, and at least the fan is there if things do get a bit toasty.

Or the equivalent Corsair AX series. Made by Seasonic with the same internals as their hybrids (so the fan only kicks in around 20% load and is inaudible below 50%), but with a 7 year warranty.

i have the original 300W nightjar which i first built into a PC………..
2010 for my 1090T
2008 for my Q6700
2006 for my E6600
………. over six years ago with a cramped Silverstone LC16M case along with a Core2Duo and 7950GT passive.

and i have just rebuilt that PC using the same case, and the PSU is still going great guns in spite of the ceaseless thermal and electrical abuse.

if they are still made to the same quality, go for it!