A Look Inside & Component Analysis

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


As it seems, the fresh Silencers are made by Super Flower: the same OEM that built the 1200 W flagship model of the series. The platform looks the same as the one used in the Platinum model, but some crucial changes curtail efficiency and cost to Gold efficiency levels. We were surprised to discover that the main PCB only takes up a portion of the interior once we opened the unit, so it could easily fit in a smaller case, but Super Flower apparently didn't want to modify their production line and went with this spacious case instead. The primary side has a half-bridge topology and an LLC resonant converter that boosts efficiency, while the secondary side uses a synchronous design with two DC-DC converters for the generation of the minor rails. The platform is, all in all, modern and will easily provide the desirable Gold efficiency along with good performance.


The AC receptacle in this case doesn't hold any transient filtering components, since all of those are located on the main PCB. On the latter, we found three X caps, two pairs of Y caps - the second pair can be found after the bridge rectifier - and two CM chokes. Super Flower unfortunately doesn't utilize an MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) in this unit either, which we find upsetting.


The bridge rectifier is cooled by two heatsinks, and removing one revealed that no thermal paste was used. We made a point of applying some before putting the heatsink back on. A powerful US30K80R bridge is used; it can handle up to 30 A of current.


We found two Infineon IPP50R199CP fets and a CREE C3D08060A boost diode in the APFC. The hold-up cap is provided by Nippon Chemi-Con, and its capacity is 560μF (400V, 105°C, KMQ series). Next to the APFC cap resides the thermistor responsible for protection against large inrush currents and the relay that bypasses it once the start-up phase finishes, which restricts energy dissipation on it and allows it to cool down.


The PFC controller, a NCP1653A IC, is housed on a small vertical daughter-board.


The primary choppers are two IPP50R199CP fets in a half-bridge topology. An LLC resonant converter is also used to boost efficiency.


The standby PWM controller is an ICE3B0565 IC soldered onto the component side of the main PCB.


The secondary side utilizes synchronous rectification, and the +12V rail is generated by four IPP041N04N fets. The 1200 W Silencer uses ten of these fets!


These VRMs generate the minor rails. We found four fets, which we couldn't identify because of the metal shield that covers each one.


All caps of the secondary side are provided by Nippon Chemi-Con and are rated at 105°C.


The protections of the unit, along with the role of the LLC resonant controller, are handled by a proprietary IC with model number SF29601. The same IC is used on all Super Flower Gold and Platinum platforms, but no information about it has been leaked, so we don't know exactly which protection features it supports. An LM324ADG Quad Operational Amplifier resides on the solder side of the small PCB that holds the aforementioned IC.


The modular PCB's front holds several electrolytic Chemi-Con caps (105°C, KY series) for some extra filtering.


Soldering quality is average and not up to the usual level we see on Super Flower units. The finish of the board is of significantly lower quality.


The cooling fan is provided by Globe Fan, and its model number is RL4Z B1402512H (12 V, 140 mm, 102.4 CFM, 34 dBA, 1500 RPM max). The fan controller keeps the speed low in most cases, and its speed is - at worst - still significantly lower than the maximum that this fan can achieve.