Silverstone ST50F-ES

SilverStone Strider Essential Series 500W ST50F-ES review

The SilverStone Strider Essential Series 500W is particularly suited to standard desktop users and casual gamers. It can deliver power to a range of system components that include mid-ranged PCI Express graphics cards. Under load, the SilverStone Strider Essential Series 500W ST50F-ES achieved 100 per cent of the manufacturer's claimed performance based on real-world scenarios involving the most commonly used 12 volt rails. In terms of total efficiency, the SilverStone Strider Essential Series 500W ST50F-ES lagged slightly behind other lower-range power supplies like the Xigmatek NRPPC602 600W and the Antec TruePower 550W. However, it gained significant ground in terms of standby efficiency, and was one of the best performers on test. Another big win for this PSU was the low decibel noise compared to similar power supplies, such as the OCZ StealthXStream 2 600W and the Corsair HX 650W, with it being among the quietest under test. Its 120mm fan performed well venting heat, helping to keep the PC cooler on the inside, and the cables did not significantly heat up during high loads.