SilverStone Nightjar NJ450-SXL 450W Power Supply Review

SilverStone Technology Nightjar Series NJ450-SXL is a 450 Watt SFX-L power supply featuring fully-modular design, fan-less passive cooling and silent operation.

Though ATX is still the standard among form factors for PC power supply units (PSUs), SFX/SFX-L fills the gap in a niche market with consumers seeking a compact build configuration.

Lets take a look at what the NJ450-SXL has to offer.

Features

Highlight summary:

• High efficiency with 80 PLUS Platinum certification
• 100% modular cables
• Single +12V rail design
• 24/7 continuous power output with 40C operating temperature
• Fan-less thermal solution
• Silent 0 dBA acoustics
• 3 year warranty

Specifications

• Max. DC Output: 450W
• Power density: 436W per liter
• Dimension: 4.92" (W) x 2.5" (H) x 5.12" (D)
• Form factor: SFX-L
• MTBF: 100,000 hours
• Certification: 80 PLUS Platinum

Hardware

At the time of publication the NJ450-SXL 450W Silent Power Supply is retailing online for $189.99.

Contents of the retail box includes a power supply unit, product documentation, mounting screws, power cord and several modular connector cables as outlined below.

• 1 x 24 / 20 -Pin motherboard connector (300mm)
• 1 x 8 / 4-Pin EPS / ATX 12V connector (400mm)
• 4 x 8 / 6-Pin PCIE connector (400mm / 150mm x 2)
• 8 x SATA connector (300mm / 200mm / 100mm / 100mm x 2)
• 3 x 4-Pin Peripheral connector (300mm / 200mm / 200mm)
• 1 x 4-Pin Floppy connector (100mm)

Measurement of the cables are all within acceptable lengths. The sleeving is flat and flexible, allowing for moderate bending up to 90 degree angles without damage.

Fully-modular is pretty much standard now with any quality power supply. This type of design means that cables are not affixed to the unit, allowing for optimal cable management by selectively attaching only what is required for your configuration.

Furthermore, it reduces issues with cable routing, along with significantly decreasing air-flow issues typically related to excess cable clutter. Each mating connector is protected with a removable hard plastic cap which is also a nice little touch we've seen on past SilverStone PSUs.

As one would expect from a small form factor (SFF) power supply the physical foot-print is condensed. Measuring in at only 4.92" (W) x 2.5" (H) x 5.12" (D) the SilverStone NJ450-SXL is substantially smaller in comparison to a standard ATX power supply, perfect for a build where chassis space is limited.

Physical construction is solid and surprisingly heavy weighing in at 3.3 pounds (1.52 kg).

Earlier I mentioned passive cooling. This method does not utilize a fan unit, instead, operates with a combined approach of a closed assembly for heat gain prevention, as the integrated aluminum fins on the outer shell (all four sides) act as a giant heatsink for heat dissipation.

Labeling is kept minimal with key information on both front and back of the unit. It would be difficult to adhere branding or designations on the heatsinks, so nothing else is visible, just a nice matte black finish across the entire housing.

The NJ450-SXL meets 80 PLUS Platinum certification for energy efficiency with a maximum DC output of 450 Watts.

Those of you interested in a technical overview of 80 PLUS there is a wealth of information online that can better explain. However, for sake of this article I will provide a brief summarization based on my understanding. 80 PLUS is a well recognized, voluntary certification program which started back in 2004 with the intended purpose of promoting efficient energy use in computer power supplies. It certifies products that have more than 80% energy efficiency at 20%, 50% and 100% of rated load, and a power factor of 0.9 or greater at 100% load.

Over the years efficiency level certifications have evolved from being just one rating of 80 PLUS, into 80 PLUS Bronze, 80 PLUS Silver, 80 PLUS Gold, 80 PLUS Platinum and 80 PLUS Titanium.

Currently in 2018 there are a total of six certification levels, 80 PLUS Titanium being the most significant as it has elevated efficiency requirements for 20%, 50%, and 100% loads along with introduction of a new 10% condition. A Titanium rating is best it gets and ensures a power supply will operate with at least 90% efficiency over the full range of rated loads and delivers up to 94% efficiency at a 50% load.

80 PLUS Platinum does not factor a certification for 10% rated loads, but delivers 90% at 20% load, 92% at 50% load and 89% at 100% load. 

Greater the efficiency of a power supply, lesser the energy consumption and heat it produces. Both of these considerations affect performance and lifetime of internal components. The NJ450-SXL has an operating temperature rating of 40 Celsius, a Mean time between failures (MTBF) of 100,000 hours and backed by a 3 year warranty. These numbers are similar to other small form factor power supplies from other manufactures, but down from a 5 year warranty offered on other SilverStone Technology PSU models.

Airflow is still very important when using passive cooling, especially with a PSU such as the NJ450-SXL. Incorporating case cooling into your build will ensure stable operation and decrease component failure rates.