SilverStone Hela 850R Platinum power supply review

Established in 2003, SilverStone Technology has earned a solid reputation for producing high-performance PC hardware and accessories, with a particular focus on power supply units (PSUs), cases, and cooling solutions. Over the years, SilverStone has been recognized for balancing innovation, efficiency, and compact design, catering to a wide range of users, from gamers to professionals.

This review will delve into the latest revision of Hela 850R Platinum, SilverStone's latest series update to meet the ATX 3.1 certification, and determine if it deserves a place in our list of best power supplies. Rated at 850W and certified with the 80Plus Platinum standard, this PSU aims to provide exceptional efficiency and reliability for demanding systems. The first version of the Hela 850R Platinum was one of the first ATX 3.0 units to hit the market, and as we will see in this review, the changes with the new version are much more than just minor changes.

Specifications and Design

In the Box

We received the SilverStone Hela 850R Platinum in robust packaging with a distinctive blue and yellow theme. The PSU itself is encased in a protective nylon pouch and secured by foam inserts to prevent damage during transit.

SilverStone provides a modest bundle that includes just the essentials: mounting screws, an AC power cable, a few cable ties, and three standard cable straps. While the accessory pack is nearly minimal, it covers everything required for installation and basic cable management.

The Hela 850R Platinum features all-black cables that are flat and ribbon-like, without any exterior sleeving. The cabling includes a 12V-2x6 connector and four 6+2 pin PCI Express connectors, ensuring compatibility with modern high-powered components. Given the unit's power output, the number of connectors is more than sufficient.

External Appearance

Aesthetically, SilverStone kept the design simple, opting for a satin black chassis that resists fingerprints and offers a clean, professional look. Measuring 140mm in length, the unit adheres to the ATX design recommendation, ensuring broad compatibility with most cases.

The fan grille is integrated into the chassis, showcasing a unique design pattern that adds a subtle visual touch. The right and left sides of the PSU feature SilverStone's branding stickers, maintaining a minimalist appearance.

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At the rear, one will find the AC receptacle, power switch, and a button to toggle hybrid fan mode, which allows the fan to remain off under low loads for silent operation. The modular cable connectors are located at the front, with a subtle legend printed nearby for easy identification.

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Internal Design

Cooling is managed by a Globe S1202512HP-4M 120 mm fan with a fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) engine, balancing longevity with quiet operation. SilverStone had to use an 120 mm fan as a 135 mm model does not fit in such a small chassis. It is not the highest quality fan but it is acceptable. The fan remains off at low loads, activating only when necessary, reducing noise and enhancing lifespan.

Enhance Electronics serves as the OEM for the Hela 850R Platinum, introducing a new platform distinct from its predecessor. The internal layout is reminiscent of older designs, with green PCB coloring and simplistic heatsinks, and a quick glance could fool even an expert. A closer look, however, reveals exceptional quality parts and modern topologies.

The filtering stage is well-implemented, consisting of four Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two inductors to suppress noise and interference. The Active Power Factor Correction (APFC) stage utilizes two Oriental Semi OSG55R140F MOSFETs and a diode, supported by a large inductor and a Nippon Chemi-Con 680 μF capacitor.

On the primary side of the main transformer, two Oriental Semi OSG55R140F MOSFETs form the primary inversion side, operating under a simple half-bridge LLC topology. All primary-side active components are mounted on the same heatsink, which feels undersized given the unit's wattage.

The secondary side employs eight IPS 014N04SA MOSFETs to generate the main 12V rail directly from the transformer. The 3.3V and 5V rails are derived through DC-to-DC converters mounted on a vertical daughterboard. Secondary side capacitors are a mix of Rubycon and Unicon products, both reputable brands known for their reliability. Overall, the Hela 850R Platinum's internal design is straightforward, relying on quality components but lacking advanced cooling measures.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

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During cold testing, the SilverStone Hela 850R Platinum does meet the CLEAResult 80Plus Platinum certification requirements with an input voltage of 115 VAC. The PSU does not have a Cybenetics efficiency certification at the time of this review. It achieves an average nominal load efficiency of 91% with an input voltage of 115 VAC, which rises to 92.2% under a 230 VAC supply. The efficiency peaks at around 50% load and remains fairly robust throughout the nominal load range (10–100%), while efficiency at very low loads is acceptable.

The Globe 120 mm fan remains inactive until the load surpasses 300 watts. It operates fairly quietly up to approximately 600 watts before increasing speed in noticeable steps, ensuring effective thermal management without ever reaching maximum speed at full load under room-temperature conditions. The Hela 850R will be noticeable if heavily loaded for prolonged periods of time but noise figures are reasonable and likely far lower than those of the PC’s other cooling systems.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

Under elevated ambient temperatures, the Hela 850R Platinum exhibits a measurable decline in performance, with the average nominal load efficiency dropping to 89.6% at 115 VAC and 90.7% at 230 VAC. This reduction of about 1.4% in hotter conditions was a bit higher than we typically expect, yet the unit continues to perform within acceptable limits without significant thermal stress.

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In these warmer conditions, the fan activates only marginally earlier compared to cold tests but accelerates far more rapidly with increasing load, reaching its top speed when the load is approximately 700 watts. Although the fan becomes noticeably loud under sustained heavy loads, internal temperatures rise significantly, still, these remain within safe operating boundaries and do not trigger the Over Temperature Protection (OTP).

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

The SilverStone Hela 850R Platinum demonstrates commendable electrical performance and power quality. Voltage ripple is well contained, with the 12V rail showing a maximum ripple of 36 mV, and the 5V and 3.3V rails registering a maximum of 22 mV and 20 mV, respectively. Voltage regulation is excellent, at 0.6% for the 12V rail, 1.2% for the 5V rail, and approximately 1% for the 3.3V rail.

During our thorough assessment, we evaluate the essential protection features of every power supply unit we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP). All protection mechanisms were activated and functioned correctly during testing.

The OCP is set to activate at 146% for the 3.3V rail, 150% for the 5V rail, and 128% for the 12V rail, with an OPP threshold of 132%. While these thresholds are on the higher side, they are acceptable for an ATX 3.1 compliant unit.

Bottom Line

SilverStone Technology has long been regarded as a reputable manufacturer of PC hardware, known for its emphasis on quality, performance, and compact design. The Hela 850R Platinum represents SilverStone's latest effort to stay at the forefront of PSU design by embracing the ATX 3.1 standard while maintaining the Platinum efficiency rating. Even though most manufacturers made very minor changes (if any at all) to switch their units from ATX 3.0 to ATX 3.1, SilverStone revamped the unit completely, changing even the OEM of the unit itself. The Hela 850R Platinum is a product aimed at demanding users — such as gamers, content creators, and professionals running high-performance systems — promising solid power delivery and broad compatibility with modern components. However, with a retail price of around $200, it enters a highly competitive market segment, where expectations are as high as the price tag.

In terms of performance, the Hela 850R Platinum excels during cold testing, where it easily meets its 80Plus Platinum certification benchmarks with an input voltage of 115 VAC. At an ambient temperature of 25°C, the unit achieves an impressive nominal load efficiency of 91% at 115 VAC, which further improves to 92.2% under a 230 VAC input. These efficiency figures peak at approximately 50% load and remain stable throughout the nominal load range from 10% to 100%. The Globe 120 mm fan operates in a zero-RPM mode until the load exceeds 300 watts, ensuring quiet operation during moderate workloads and efficient thermal management without sacrificing performance.

However, the unit's performance under elevated temperatures presents a more nuanced picture. During hot testing at around 45°C ambient, the Hela 850R Platinum experiences a modest decline in efficiency, with figures dropping to 89.6% at 115 VAC and 90.7% at 230 VAC - a significant reduction of roughly 1.4%. Although this decrease is within acceptable limits, even if only barely, the response of the cooling system under these conditions is notable. The fan, which remains largely inactive during light loads, accelerates more rapidly in warmer conditions and reaches its maximum speed at approximately 700 watts. While this ensures that internal temperatures are kept in check, the resulting noise can be somewhat intrusive under sustained heavy loads. Despite this, the PSU’s electrical performance remains robust, with exemplary power quality delivery.

In conclusion, the SilverStone Hela 850R Platinum stands out as a high-quality power supply unit that delivers exceptional efficiency, strong performance, and reliable protection features. The unit’s compact 140mm form factor, full modularity, and ATX 3.1 compliance make it well-suited for powerful builds. However, at a retail price of approximately $200, the unit faces stiff competition from other PSU offerings in the same category. While its performance merits and premium features justify the cost to some extent, potential buyers must consider whether the investment aligns with their budget and needs in a highly competitive market.

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