Well Guru's, this is the first ever PSU that did not survive our tests (initially). Well, it did survive as the PSU overload monitor is functioning fine yet it was not capable of handling a high-end Crossfire setup at default configuration. As stated we tested this PSU with a really hefty Crossfire environment, which meant that two X1900 XT's in a 3DMark06 run resulted in a PSU shutdown. We tested this three times and all three times the PSU shut down the PC completely.

From the very beginning honestly every fibre in my bones was saying we had a malfunctioning PSU here as the shut-downs did not make any sense to me whatsoever. This PSU absolutely should not have been an issue for this platform. Combined the 12 volts rails have a maximum of 42 AMPS available.

So how can a Quad 12 Volts rail with a total of 42 AMPs shutdown under heavy load in Crossfire mode? Well firstly let me state that the issue has been resolved by SilverStone. We received one of the earlier batches of the PSU and it had both the two PCI-Express VGA connectors connected to one (+12V3) voltage rail.

Here's the Answer from SilverStone:

We already changed the rails for this problem and use the 12V3 and 12V4 for the graphics.
 
 +12V1(13A) : CPU1 
 +12V2(18A) : CPU2+SATA
 +12V3(16A) : MB+VGA1
 +12V4(8A) : HDD+VGA2
 
 But at the moment we do not have the new version here in stock... it will take some months before it is available on the market.

So the issue will be corrected on the newer models where VGA1 (first graphics card) will feed of the +12V3 rail and the VGA2 will feed of the +12V4 rails (which can take a peak to 13 AMPS). We were hinted to simply feed the second graphics card from the +12V4 (we used a Molex to 6-pin connector) and yes... the PSU is now 100% stable as although that 4th rail is labeled 8A it can really handle a peak of 13A.

It is a rather illogical move from SilverStone to connect two VGA feeds to one 12v rail in this day and age. But they did not anticipate the hefty demands from the latest SLI and Crossfire cards. I'd also would love to learn how NVIDIA is actually testing and certifying these PSU's because in the state we test them it should have never passed their testing methodology and receive that SLI ready logo. I do know that this product received the SLI ready certification before the 7900 GTX 512MB series was released.

It's fixed though, with this bypass the PSU most certainly can handle the load we are serving it quite well. In fact it's one of the best PSUs we ever tested but considering what happened I'm simply not recommending it to people using a GeForce 7800/7900 in SLi mode or ATi users with X1900 XT in Crossfire as the 12V4 rail is rather close to it's limit also.

What has to be stated though is with the upcoming revision 2 of this PSU, the issue will be resoved completely.

Hey at least learned and know for sure that the overload function of this PSU is working fine :)

*phew*

Yeah, we tell it like it is and how we experience everything. So then with that issue out of the way, finally I can recommend that this PSU will function fine for sure with the recommendations we just made. More positives. Obviously the modular capability is fantastic to observe. Your PC will be clean and tidy as you only use the wires you need and these wires are protected by a black mesh sleeve, good stuff. Noise wise there is nothing to complain either.

When we where able to continue our tests with a Crossfire solution during all full load tests the PSU behaved very well. Neither did I feel much warm air exhausted. That is a sign that shows the PSU is definitely capable of pushing out power without stressing too much. Quad voltage rails might sound hip and trendy and I'll happily forgive SilverStone the "booboo" they made but at 160 USD these things really should not be possible.

This PSU has a lovely design, and the modular options are fantastic and the Quad 12 volts rail is making sure you are "Dual everything" prepared. It really is a breathtaking PSU ...