Introduction

We would like to thank Kingwin for supplying the Stryker 500 W review sample.

The previous product of Kingwin we reviewed was the LZP-550, a platinum efficiency unit which amazed us with its excellent performance and of course its high efficiency throughout the load range. Recently Kingwin added another platinum unit to its arsenal: the Stryker Fanless 500W (or STR-500). Although this unit shares the same OEM (Super Flower) and the same platform with the LZP-550 it has a significant difference, it is completely inaudible since it uses a fanless design. Till now the choices a user had in fanless PSUs were very restricted and actually the Seasonic X-400 and X-460 dominated the field. However lately many manufacturers show a great interest for fanless PSUs and Super Flower through Kingwin made the first entry it this category. Here we should note that Super Flower also sells this same PSU in the retail channel under their own brand, but at least in the USA their products are known thanks to Kingwin.

Let’s now take a brief look at the STR-500. Besides the Platinum efficiency and the 500W max capacity, the PSU can be overclocked to 600 W, dropping its efficiency to Gold level but providing higher Wattage. Not bad at all! Also it uses a semi-modular cabling system and on its top side, where the fan usually resides, a very large heatsink has been placed. This heatsink takes care of the heat that the unit produces. Finally, all the sides of the PSU have ventilation holes in order to increase heat dissipation. This technique is common in all fanless PSUs.

Specifications

The protections list includes "Under Power Protection". We never heard of this protection before and it doesn't really make any sense. Will the PSU shutdown when you only draw 10-20W from it? I don't think so. It's possible that Kingwin wanted to write "Under Voltage Protection" but "Voltage" and "Power" got mixed up somewhere on the way.
Also we were very suprised that Over Temperature Protection is missing - in a fanless unit. Super Flower (the OEM of this PSU) either forgot to add OTP or they are just very sure that the PSU will never overheat at dangerous levels. Finally the price is a bit high but unfortunately this is the trend for platinum and especially fanless units.


There is only one +12V rail so Over Current Protection isn't necessary, since OPP takes control if something goes wrong. The minor rails are a little weak with only 100W combined power, but contemporary systems don't draw much juice from these two rails. The unit can deliver almost all of its total power to +12V rail alone, something very convenient and natural of course for a PSU that utilizes DC-DC converters for the minor rails generation.

Cables & Connectors, Power Distribution

All cables have sufficient length but the distance between the modular connectors is rather small, at 110mm only, while 150mm is what the ATX spec recommends as the minimum distance between the connectors.
The unit features lots of connectors for its capacity and we were caught by surprise when we saw four PCIe connectors. This alone increases the PSU's usability dramatically. Also in an attempt to minimize the usage of two separate modular cables when there are few SATA and peripheral devices installed, there is a cable featuring a pair of both of the afore-mentioned types. Finally the hardwired main ATX connector along with the EPS one use thicker 16 AWG wires while all other connectors use 18 AWG.

Since this PSU features a single +12V rail we do not have anything to comment about its power distribution.