Internal VS External PSU

[Okjoek]

This is more a discussion for enthusiasts for small form factor PCs.

 

One thing I never understood is how come external PSU don't need fans? Are they just that efficient? How come they can get away with being completely encased in plastic without airflow from what it looks like?

 

Do you think that for SFF enthusiasts an external power brick is like cheating and should its volume be added to the overall systems?

 

The advantages I would cite are that they are fan-less and thus more quiet and they're extremely good for portable systems where the wire is usually carried in another spot anyways. That said though while using your system you have to be bothered to find a location for this new lump on your wire in your setup.

 

What do you guys think of them?

[DocSwag]

I think that external bricks generally don't exceed 330w. That might be the reason.

[W-L]

1 minute ago, Okjoek said:

-SNIP-

It depends on the power brick, since most can only go to a max of around ~350W with only single voltage DC in most cases where ATX or SFF PSU's can be a lot more power. The internal DC to DC PSU in most builds will take that single voltage from the power brick and then split off the voltages required for the 24 pin and PCI-E. 

 

[Okjoek]

4 minutes ago, W-L said:

It depends on the power brick, since most can only go to a max of around ~350W with only single voltage DC in most cases where ATX or SFF PSU's can be a lot more power. The internal DC to DC PSU in most builds will take that single voltage from the power brick and then split off the voltages required for the 24 pin and PCI-E. 

 

My best power brick goes up to 230W I think. That's more than enough for any of my SFF builds, but yeah I guess having lower Wattage makes cooling it easier.

[Damascus]

6 minutes ago, Okjoek said:

My best power brick goes up to 230W I think. That's more than enough for any of my SFF builds, but yeah I guess having lower Wattage makes cooling it easier.

1500W 80+ platinum PSU's fans don't kick in until they hit 400-500W

[W-L]

14 minutes ago, Okjoek said:

My best power brick goes up to 230W I think. That's more than enough for any of my SFF builds, but yeah I guess having lower Wattage makes cooling it easier.

There are large 350W units I've seen before for gaming laptops and other equipment but they are large bricks with the heatsinking inside of them. Some higher wattage DC to DC PSU's use two of them to get the combined amount necessary for the system. 

[Okjoek]

9 minutes ago, Damascus said:

1500W 80+ platinum PSU's fans don't kick in until they hit 400-500W

1,500W... I wonder what kind of system uses even half of that power. Even if it did RIP to the guy who had a heart attack reading his power bill.

[Damascus]

Just now, Okjoek said:

1,500W... I wonder what kind of system uses even half of that power. Even if it did RIP to the guy who had a heart attack reading his power bill.

 my whole system uses less than 450W and I have an OC'd i7

[manikyath]

10 minutes ago, Okjoek said:

1,500W... I wonder what kind of system uses even half of that power. Even if it did RIP to the guy who had a heart attack reading his power bill.

7 gamers maxed out that 1600 watt evga power supply

[Okjoek]

3 minutes ago, Damascus said:

 my whole system uses less than 450W and I have an OC'd i7

I'd like to make a bad ass barebone system with a Ryzen APU once those are out or maybe if Intel makes some new Iris pro CPUs for Kaby Lake like the one they have in the Skullcanyon NUC. I think the skullcanyon NUC is sexy AF, but the price isn't exactly in line which what I'd expect with an APU system so I might compromise size a little for more standard ITX motherboarrd and regular RAM and get the upward-facing NH-L12 cooler. As for PSU... that's where this thread comes in a bit. I could go SFX or see if my old 230W power brick works, but I am missing a few wires that went to the internal board for it.