One of the many great outcomes of the general push towards small form factor (SFF) systems is that it has encouraged hardware developers to rethink size across all of their products. Does a video card really need to be longer than a sub sandwich? Does a laptop need to be two inches thick? Does a computer case need to be two feet tall? Sometimes the answer to those questions is still yes; but in other cases it turns out there's room for improvement – or rather, there is room to trim. And, as we're going to see today, this applies to power supplies as well.

SilverStone is a company known for their interest on the development and marketing of small system components, with their R&D department continuously releasing unique case designs and high-performance parts designed with reduced dimensions in mind. The company is also very active in the power supply unit (PSU) market, with a long track record and currently offering dozens of products. Their engineers are very experienced on the design and development of advanced PSUs, continuously setting new milestones, such as with the recent release of the 800W and 1000W SFX-L designs.

So perhaps it's only fitting that SilverStone has introduced one of the first 1200W power supplies that is actually ATX-compliant, in the form of the Strider Platinum ST1200-PTS.

Now, to be sure, there are plenty of 1200W power supplies on the market. However, technically none of these PSUs actually comply with the base ATX standard. ATX, the heart of the desktop computer as we know it, officially calls for power supplies to be 140mm in length. For practical purposes that requirement is frequently ignored in high-end builds – high-power PSUs have needed more space, and big cases have made sure to give them just that – but it none the less has a limiting effect on just what options are available for building a high-power system. Until recently, you couldn't have a high-capacity PSU in a case that didn't go beyond the ATX specifications.

SilverStone, with their Strider Platinum ST1200-PTS, is looking to change that. The latest addition to the company's PSU designs, it is the upgrade of the Platinum ST1200-PT that we received and reviewed last year. For the S(mall) version of the PSU, the company’s engineers have reduced the length of the chassis by an astounding 40 mm – bringing it down to 140mm in length – allowing the 1200W PSU to fit into any ATX-compliant case.

Power specifications ( Rated @ 40 °C )
AC INPUT 100 - 240 VAC, 50 - 60 Hz
RAIL +3.3V +5V +12V +5Vsb -12V
MAX OUTPUT 25A 22A 100A 3A 0,3A
120W 1200W 15W 3,6W
TOTAL 1200W

Packaging and Bundle

The new Strider Platinum ST1200-PTS PSU comes in an aesthetically simple but very functional cardboard box that is small enough to hint the dimensions of the included unit. It is a very sturdy box and additional foam layers provide excellent shipping protection. There are plenty of technical details and information printed on all sides of the box.

Inside the box we found a relatively rich bundle, consisting of a detailed user's manual, a thick AC power cable, black cable ties, a few short cable straps, a set of black mounting screws, a set of black thumbscrews, and a magnetic nylon fan filter. The fan filter is meant to protect the PSU from dust but it can be placed anywhere on the case if the PSU's compartment already features a filter.

SilverStone is using flat "ribbon" type cables, made using all black wires and connectors. This includes the ATX cable and the CPU/PCI-E 12V connectors. The only exception at the blue connectors at the PSU side of the PCI Express power cables. The ATX cable is made of several smaller ribbons bundled and secured together, forming a sort-of round cable.  

SilverStone ST1200-PTS
Connector type Hardwired Modular
ATX 24 Pin - 1
EPS 4+4 Pin - 2
EPS 8 Pin - -
PCI-E 6+2 Pin - 8
PCI-E 8 Pin - -
SATA - 8
Molex - 6
Floppy - 2
The SilverStone Strider Platinum ST1200-PTS 1200W PSU
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  • RealBeast - Friday, October 11, 2019 - link

    I've used a lot of SilverStone smaller (450-550W) units in small builds and been very happy, but would be hard pressed not to opt for a larger case and go with a Seasonic in this range.
  • C@mM! - Friday, October 11, 2019 - link

    I had both the last 1200w & a 850w Platinum from Silverstone die on me, whilst I applaud the size, they really needed to up their game on the PSU before making it smaller again.
  • tygrus - Friday, October 11, 2019 - link

    It's like having a 600w PSU with turbo boost upto 1200w. A 900w version with a bit more free space & easier airflow would be better for some users. Future versions may improve efficiency so you can run at higher loads without the hairdryer noise.
  • The_Assimilator - Saturday, October 12, 2019 - link

    Since SLI and Crossfire are dead, the only people who care about PSUs able to supply over a KW are miners and extreme overclockers - neither of which have a use for mITX chassis. So, this is a product looking for a market, which is not exactly a formula for success.
  • PenGunn - Saturday, October 12, 2019 - link

    I made an account for this. You just get the Seasonic that fits your purpose, no need for heavy thinking. ;)
  • HardwareDufus - Sunday, October 13, 2019 - link

    I have built my own PCs for 30 years. I'm going to build the last one of my professional working career in the next 8-12 months. It will be built to last 5 years (my current I7-3770k, 16GB, 500GB rig has been in service since late 2012) and it will be substantial. However, it will not a power supply that cost much over $100.
  • Showtime - Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - link

    I don't see the point. Some people will buy this thinking 50% loads, and other bs. Truth is no real SFF build requires over 750 watts which will cover a 2080 Ti with a 200 watt CPU. No SLI builds that require SFX power supply. Maybe specialty applications, but I mostly see it going to people with too much money, and not enough knowledge.
  • umano - Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - link

    I am waiting for their 1000w sfx-L and I hope a dual gpu prosumer card that needs that power :)

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