A Look Inside

Before reading this page we strongly suggest to take a look at this article, which will help you understand the internal components of a PSU much better.


The traditional OEM of Be Quiet! PSUs is Fortron Sparkle (FSP). SP-E8 400W doesn't break this tradition.


On the AC receptacle we find some parts of the transient filtering stage, two Y caps. On the main PCB we also find three coils, two pairs of X and Y caps and an MOV. Note that the MOV is installed in a X cap's place, according to the PCB. So initially, like many FSP PSUs we have seen, this platform didn't have room for a MOV but afterwards it was decided to omit one X cap in favor of the necessary MOV. Good MOV(e)!


The bridge rectifier is a GBU1506, way too powerful for the merely 400W capacity of the PSU. It is bolted on a very leaned heatsink, even the tower of Pisa isn't so inclined. In the APFC two IPA60R190C6 mosfets are used. The smoothing/reservoir capacitor is provided by CapXon (85°C, 420V, 330μF). A resistor, instead of a thermistor, is used for inrush current protection. This has a negative effect to efficiency since thermistors once heated lower their resistance thus energy losses are decreased, something that is not the case with resistors that keep almost the same resistance at all cases. As primary switches two FQPF13N50CF are used.


In the secondary side synchronous design is used and twoIRF1010E mosfets handle +12V. The minor rails are generated from +12V through two DC-DC voltage regulation modules. The PWM controller for both VRMs is the classic APW7159. In the secondary we find three different brands of capacitors, OST, Teapo and CapXon. Besides electrolytics three CapXon polymer caps are also used.


The DC output wires are well soldered to the main PCB but without any heatshrink. It seems that someone first soldered them in place and afterwards noticed it! We can't imagine any other reason not to use such a cheap but crucial for safety component as heatshrink. However we must note here that the wires of different DC outputs are far away from each other so there is no chance for a short between them. Also even if there is a short between the wires of the same output this will cause no harm, in the worst situation the PSU will transform from multi-rail into single rail! Nevertheless we would like to see heatshrink installed on them.


Housekeeping duties are handled by a PS232S IC which does not support Over Temperature Protection although the manufacturer claims that OTP is present in this PSU. We also found only one thermistor attached on the secondary heatsink, which is responsible for the fan's speed control. If OTP was supported two thermistors would be normally present.


Soldering quality of the main PCB is quite good. Also there are indeed three +12V virtual rails. Actually this PCB supports up to four +12V rails, since there are four shunt resistors and the PS232S has also four +12V OCP channels, but SP-E8 400W utilizes only three due to its small capacity.


The cooling fan is almost inaudible due to the low RPMs and the special designed blades it uses (Silent Wings technology). Its model number is BQT T12025-LF. Around the fan there is an elastic trim installed, to minimize vibrations.