9-Way 850W Power Supply Roundup

[SKYMTL]

9-Way 850W Power Supply Roundup

(Featuring: Antec, Cooler Master, Enermax, Seasonic, Silverstone, Thermaltake, Ultra, XFX & Xigmatek)​

With new graphics cards on the market from ATI and upcoming units from NVIDIA, the GPU industry isn’t the only one that is flourishing. While these new cards are more efficient than ever, better multi-card scaling means the insatiable need for more power hasn’t stopped and if anything it has increased in pace. As such, power supply manufacturers have been concentrating their efforts on several key parts of the market: budget-friendly 750W to 850W units as well as flagship products that serve to plant a flag with claims of never-before-seen specifications and sky-high prices. In this review we will be looking at a range of 850W power supplies that should be able to power literally any dual-card setup that you could possibly dream up while still having output to spare.

You may be asking yourself: why feature a roundup of high-end 850W power supplies when money is so tight these days? In our opinion, 850W power supplies are the new sweet spot in the market since many of them offer an excellent value for your money. Just a few short years ago, we would have expected to pay an arm and leg for some of these units but now even the best of the best can cost less than $200CAD. Compared to the prices for other components, this is a small investment which can pay dividends when it comes to the safety and overall performance of your equipment. In our opinion, 850W units are the cornerstone of the power supply market and a good power supply is an essential part of a properly running system.

In this roundup, we will be taking a look at a large cross section of the 850W power supply market by putting nine of the most talked about products under the microscope. Naturally, not every 850W unit under the sun is here but most of the major manufacturers with products on the North American market are represented. We will be running the gamut from a decidedly budget-friendly Cooler Master unit to Silverstone’s brand new Strider Plus series and on to XFX’s first foray into the PSU market. Prices are all over the map as well with some units retailing below the $150 mark while others are easily pushing into the $220 category before rebates here in Canada. All in all, this should make your pre or post Christmas shopping a bit easier.

There are however also some notable absences with the OCZ Z-series 850W and Corsair HX 850W sitting on the sidelines for two totally different reasons. Corsair isn’t here for the simple reason that we have already reviewed all of their currently available 850W units. On the other hand, OCZ’s omission is due to an inability on their part to send a review sample and a lack of Z-series 850W units in stock at Canadian retailers when we were in the process of testing.

Even though there are a ton of bases to cover in an article such as this, we should also mention right here that there will be a custom test system used. In order to keep as close as possible with real-world expectations, the usual high-wattage HD 4870 X2 cards will be replaced by a pair of new Sapphire HD 5870s.

Enough talk. On to the roundup, here’s to hoping you enjoy it.

 

[SKYMTL]

Meet the PSUs: Specifications

Meet the PSUs: Specifications

 

[SKYMTL]

Antec Signature 850W

Antec Signature 850W

The name Antec has long been synonymous with quality power supplies which cater to everyone from budget-minded first time buyers to enthusiasts who demand the best of the best. Their new Signature series caters to the latter crowd and are actually considered a cut above as evidenced by the 850W unit’s price of around $225 CDN. Granted, with the release of the new Quattro 1200W there is a new king of the hill in Antec’s stable but the Signature series still has its place in the market.

​

Antec’s packaging is a study in understated design with a predominantly black color scheme accented by yellow highlights. The interior layout within the box is quite unique as well with the power supply, cables and accessories laid out in a sandwich-style affair with the PSU on the top and the accessories below.

​

Accessories are pretty much MIA with this unit as Antec sticks to the bare necessities with a thick, oversized power cord, a quick install guide and black mounting screws. What is interesting is the addition of a complete testing report for the power supply which shows the stringent process every unit has to go through before it goes into the retail channel.

​

The Signature 850W strikes a unique figure when compared to the other units in this roundup since it is the only one to use a single, rear-mounted 80mm exhaust fan. This leaves the top for the strategically-placed gold Antec logo and a vast expanse of black-painted metal.

Meanwhile, the modular interface is quite small when compared to some other power supplies since most of the cables on the Signature are non-modular. The extra PCI-E cables are plugged into the red connectors while the peripheral and drive cables use the other outputs.

​

As we already mentioned, the majority of cables on the Signature are non-modular. Basically, the ATX cable and connectors for the CPU, two PCI-E 6+2 pin and single strings of Molex and SATA connectors are attached to the unit while additional cables are modular.

Unfortunately, we’re not huge fan of the sleeving used on the cables since it feels slightly cheap and the main cables aren’t sleeved all the way into the PSU housing. This leaves flashes of multi-colored ugliness all over your case which is unfortunate considering how wonderfully neutral the Signature’s design is.

​

Antec bills this unit as using the best possible components and their OEM Delta Electronics (one of the least known yet among most respected OEMs around) seems to have taken that mantra to heart. The overall layout is positioned to take advantage of the single 80mm fan’s limited air movement which means there are two PCB that face each other. From the soldering to the layout to the pure copper heatsinks, everything within the Signature 850W points to it being one hell of a power supply.

​

The upper PCB holds the primary filtering section along with a pair of titanic Rubycon capacitors and high-end rectifiers hooked up to a dedicated heatsink. Meanwhile, the lower PCB holds the input and secondary filtering sections the latter of which is a forest of high quality NCC caps.

 

[SKYMTL]

Cooler Master Silent Pro M 850W

Cooler Master Silent Pro M 850W

Cooler Master’s entry into this article is the FSP-based Silent Pro M 850W which also happens to be close to the least expensive power supply in this roundup at around $150. It doesn’t make any huge boasts about performance since its main claim to fame is near-silent operation coupled with an 80 Plus Bronze rating. However, don’t let the Silent Pro M’s price mislead you into thinking Cooler Master is skimping in any way since they felt confident enough to back it up with a 5 year warranty.

​

Some say that if you have seen one PSU box, you’ve seen them all, and upon first glance the one this product is packaged in isn’t exactly blazing any new trails. It does however open up in a unique Venus flytrap fashion and while it may be compact, the proximity of all the accessories to the power supply makes for a well protected though slightly tight arrangement.

When it comes to accessories, we see all the usual suspects with a few additional things thrown in for good measure. There’s a warranty card (though this one is conveniently sized as a business card), screws, a quick install guide and a felt bag for any unused modular cables. There is also a pair of rubber vibration dampeners which should be placed between the power supply and your chassis to absorb any of the noise usually associated with metal rattling against metal when high speed fans are being used. Finally, the power cord is an industrial looking 14AWG beast.

​

The Silent Pro M 850W is finished in a stealthy black semi-gloss paint that seems quite durable but unfortunately the contrast of the silver grille for the 140mm fan degrades the whole understated look. There isn’t anything particularly striking about the design of this unit but we do have to appreciate the way everything from labeling to the modular interface is done; there’s just feeling of quality permeating from every corner.

Speaking of the modular cable interface, we have to marvel at how well it is done without having to resort to a rainbow of colors to designate connector placement. Basically, the PCI-E cables get plugged into the grey connectors while all the other peripheral and drive cables are universally compatible with the flat looking connectors on the PSU housing.

​

When it comes to actual cables, the Silent Pro M isn’t found lacking in any way. Attached to the power supply itself are the ATX and CPU connectors, which are fully sleeved, while the modular cables are done in an absolutely drool-worthy flat cabling. Unlike some power supplies we have seen in the past (early revisions of the Corsair HX1000 and HX850 for example), the PCI-E cables each have a single cable running to and from each connector instead of separate cables which make a clean install next to impossible. We have to commend Cooler Master for taking this direction and it should also be mentioned that the end of the PCI-E cable that plugs into your GPU is black and the grey you see above is for connection to the PSU’s interface.

​

As we mentioned earlier, this power supply is based off of an FSP platform and upon first glance the interior layout looks quite sparse for an 850W power supply. The heatsinks are downright tiny which is a bit concerning considering the Silent Pro is supposed to be just that: silent. Without large heatsinks, the fan may have to work overtime to cool off all the components. Excess heat may also cause some performance degradation since Cooler Master rates this unit at 40°C unlike other power supplies in this roundup which sport 50°C ratings. That being said, the build quality of certain areas like the modular interface is simply top notch.

​

From what we could see, the capacitor selection is good with Nippon Chemi-Con 105C units on both the primary and secondary sides. It is also good to see that the main cables are sleeved all the way into the housing.

 

[SKYMTL]

Enermax Revolution 85+ 850W

Enermax Revolution 85+ 850W

If you don’t know the name Enermax, we’re sure by the end of this review you will be looking high and low for the Revolution 85+ 850W. This is one company with a longstanding history of producing some of the best power supplies around which are priced accordingly. For example, this 850W unit comes with an eye-watering price of between $230 and $250 Canadian. That puts it within spitting distance of the much-ballyhooed Corsair HX1000 but we also have to remember that the Revolution 85+ is one of the few 80Plus Sliver rated units in the roundup.

​

We have seen in the past that Enermax has begun going with a plain, non-nonsense package design that features a simple black background with grey lettering. It looks great, conveys the high end nature of the product and is big enough for a pair of additional boxes within its confines. One of these boxes holds the modular cables and accessories while the larger one holds the power supply.

Accessories are typical Enermax as well with a 14AWG power cord, an instruction manual, mounting screws, a quick install guide and an advertisement brochure. There is also a bag for any unused cables and six Enermax-branded Velcro tie wraps for those pesky cable routing jobs.

​

The Enermax Revolution85+ series is known for being quite long when compared to the competition and the 850W version is no different. Regardless of length, this power supply looks stunning with a rugged back powder coating along with red and white accents. Its huge 140mm fan dominates the upper portion while the modular interface takes up much of the inner side. This interface features red connectors for PCI-E cables and Molex-like outputs for the peripheral cables.

​

Other than the inclusion of a fan monitoring connector, the Revolution85+’s cable selection doesn’t really allow it to stand out from the crowd. Attached directly to the power supply we have a pair of CPU connectors along with the ATX cable and a pair of PCI-E 6+2 pin connectors.

The modular cables on the other hand may look good upon first glance but we found numerous issues with both their layout and quality of finish. First of all, the PCI-E cables are paired up on each cable which may make sense when using them for high-wattage GPUs but this also makes them infinitely harder to route properly through a case. In addition when looking at a $200+ power supply, it’s the little things that count and seeing both the Molex and SATA cables being sleeved only to the first connector is a definite faux pas. Come on Enermax, this is basic stuff you’re missing here!

​

The interior of Enermax’s Revolution shows us some top-notch build quality though their unique AHD (Asymmetric Hybrid DC-to-DC topology) design. It should also be mentioned that even though Enermax bought Impervio a few months ago, this power supply is still a home-grown design.

 

[SKYMTL]

Seasonic S12D 850W

Seasonic S12D 850W

Seasonic is one of those companies that many people and companies look to for top-notch power supplies. Ttheir OEM capabilities have produced some amazing units for the likes of Corsair, PC Power & Cooling and Antec but we have to remember they also have their own line of retail products. For this roundup, Seasonic sent us their S12D which ends up being the only non-modular unit featured here but it is also one of the least expensive at a shade under $200 CAD.

​

It seems that lately, we are seeing less and less manufacturers go for flashy, gaudy packaging designs and it is good to see Seasonic following this trend to a tee with a predominantly black box. Meanwhile, the interior shows us adequate protection with all the cables pushed to the side and hidden by an S12D-branded flap which protects the PSU form lateral movement.

As with all Seasonic packages, the accessory list isn’t anything to write home about. You get the usual mounting screws along with a reasonably thick 16AWG power cord, instruction manual, a case sticker and finally a Molex to dual FDD (Floppy) adaptor.

​

While we have already talked about how this power supply is obviously not modular, there is one thing else that makes it stand out from the crowd: it sports a 120mm fan instead of the usual 135 / 140mm turbines seen in the rest of the group. This shouldn’t hold it back in any way but it is worth mentioning. The unit itself is also quite compact in size and sports a Seasonic-standard black powder-coated finish that while being quite durable attracts finger prints far too easily.

​

Since the S12D doesn’t sport a modular interface, taking a picture of all its cables is a lesson in frustration but let’s just say that they are wonderfully sleeved all the way to the last connector.

​

Seasonic designs are usually overbuilt and the S12D is no different. Upon first glance we can see this unit features Seasonic’s DC to DC converter design which uses a single AC to 12V DC transformer layout. Instead of the +3.3V and +5V rails being separate, in this type of design they are directly branched off of the +12V rail which is supposed to increase efficiency and result in other performance benefits.

​

In the midst of the large aluminum heatsinks lie of pair of telltale blue Hitachi 105°C capacitors while the secondary side receives a forest of NCC caps. All in all, these are great component choices but we would expect nothing less of Seasonic.

 

[SKYMTL]

Silverstone Strider Plus 850W

Silverstone Strider Plus 850W

For longtime readers of Hardware Canucks, the inclusion of a power supply from Silverstone into this review should come as no surprise. From the Decathlon to the Olympia, for years now they have been producing some of the best power supplies around. They have also flirted with a number of OEMs like FSP, Impervio, Seventeam and Etasis but with their recently released Strider Plus series, they have gone a new platform from an old favorite: Enhance. The Strider Plus series represents Silverstone’s first steps into the high wattage, 80Plus Silver market and believe it or not, it also takes the crown of the most cost-conscious product in this roundup. With a street price of about $145 Canadian, the potential bang for buck of this unit is phenomenal.

​

When it comes to the box of the Strider Plus, there is one overriding observation: this thing is huge. Silverstone must have cut down a small forest to make it which really doesn’t feel right considering the entire point of these new PSUs is efficiency. Where’s the efficiency in asking the customer to pay megabucks to ship a box that simply dwarfs everything we have seen in the past? With or without the foam padding, the PSU is simply lost within this cavernous interior. What a waste.

​

Regardless of the Strider’s relatively low price point when compared to some of the competition, the accessories included seem to be well thought out and we have to compliment Silverstone for giving us things we can actually use. The inclusion of black screws and (wonder of wonders) thumb screws is a godsend while the Velcro ties will definitely come in handy when trying to run herd on stray cables. Standard black non-reusable zip ties are also included.

​

Silverstone once again sticks to their tried, tested and true solution of a highly durable satin black finish accompanied by a stamped logo on the lower portion of the Strider’s housing. Other than the single massive 135mm fan adorning its top, there is one thing that should jump out at you right away: there is no on / off switch on the back of this unit. This means your system will always be drawing a modicum of power from the wall even if everything is turned off. Alternately, other units allow you to cut your system’s overall consumption footprint by toggling the power switch instead of unplugging the PSU.

​

Everything about the Strider Plus is larger than life and that observation goes for the modular interface as well. Basically, since every cable is modular (yes, even the ATX cable) things can get a bit complicated but everything has its set place in the grand scheme of things. To make matters easier for the first time builder that doesn’t care to read the manual or the handy pictogram on the PSU itself, all of the modular connectors are keyed so they will accept only one type of cable. The two 8-pin black plugs are used for the CPU connectors, the blue outputs are used for PCI-E cables and finally the remaining connectors for SATA and Molex cables.

​

All of the cables are fully sleeved as is befitting of a high-end 850W power supply but what struck us as the most interesting was the treatment given to the PCI-E connectors. In a move similar to Antec’s new “Powercache” system, Silverstone has installed a capacitor about an inch away from every PCI-E connector. Supposedly, this should help with voltage regulation and ripple suppression.

​

Ah yes, the usual appearance of the tank-like Enhance interior is a great thing to see again on a Silverstone power supply. The telltale finger-like heatsinks are in abundant supply and are interspersed with temperature monitoring sensors for control of the fan. The capacitors used aren’t quite up to the temperature specs of some of the other units in this roundup but a pair of 85°C NCCs on the primary along with Teapos on the secondary isn’t anything to scoff at either.

​

From our vantage point, the modular interface seemed to be very well done with excellent solder points and a clean design. We couldn’t ask for more in terms of quality.

 

[SKYMTL]

Thermaltake Toughpower XT 850W

Thermaltake Toughpower XT 850W

Honestly, we haven’t reviewed many Thermaltake power supplies here at Hardware Canucks due to a variety of reasons one of which being past availability issues with their higher-end products here in Canada. This situation has since changed and the Toughpower XT we received is widely available but at a steep price of around $250 making it $100 more expensive than the likes of the Strider Plus 850W and $25 more than the Antec Signature. This may not seem like an auspicious beginning for Thermaltake’s XT series but if its performance matches its price, it could be worth the investment. Not to mention that this unit is one of the few with a 5-year warranty.

​

To us, the exterior design of a box doesn’t really impact on what we think of the product itself but it can definitely help influence a customer’s buying decision. What matters is how much protection is afforded the item within the box and as you can see, Thermaltake has done a good job protecting the precious cargo. Other than sitting in a high density foam cocoon, the Toughpower XT is additionally protected by the cable bag on one side and by a bubble wrap bag.

Accessories have always been a strong point of Thermaltake and we once again see things being done right. Along with the usual instruction manuals there is a bag for your unused modular cables, a vibration dampener, mounting screws, a case badge, Velcro tie wraps, adaptor / extension cables that convert the 8-pin PCI-E connectors into 6-pin connectors and a 4-pin CPU extension cable. The one thing that concerned us was the inclusion of a horribly thin power cord that felt more like a shoe-string than a device that could transport 850W of power.

​

All of Thermaltake’s Toughpower power supplies have a rugged, utilitarian look about them and while this may appeal to some, we prefer the standard black finish to an odd off-brown color. Where the XT 850W differs from nearly every other product is with the inclusion of a manual fan control on its back as well as LED indicators on the side. Basically, the switch controls how long the 140mm fan spins after the power supply turns off (up to 30 seconds) while the LEDs can issue warnings about the power signal and temperatures. We find both of these features to be a bit pointless considering they won’t affect performance in any way but to each their own.

​

The lone cable attached directly to this power supply is the ATX 24-pin which surprisingly isn’t sleeved all the way into the housing. This leaves a multicolored mess of wires exposed which is definitely not something we want to see on product that costs as much as the XT 850W does. Meanwhile, when it comes to the modular interface, things are very well labeled so users won’t be trying to plug cables into spaces they shouldn’t be.

​

The modular cables are just about what you would expect: fully sleeved, quite long and the addition of quick-release Molex connectors is always welcome.

​

After opening the Toughpower XT we are greeted with a typical Channel Well PSH design with a single main transformer, a small daughter board for fan control which is placed at a right angle to the main PCB and wrapped coils. The heatsinks are laid out in such a way that they offer expanded surface area for heat dissipation by the main fan.

​

All in all, the build quality of Thermaltake’s Toughpower XT is top-notch which is evidenced by the pinpoint accuracy of the modular interface’s welds. Capacitors are also well chosen with a single Matsushita 85ׄ°C unit on the primary filtering section and Nippon Chemi-Cons on the secondary.

 

[SKYMTL]

Ultra X4 850W

Ultra X4 850W

Without a doubt, it has been a long, long time since we last reviewed an Ultra power supply here at Hardware Canucks. How long? Try June of 2007, back when this site was still in its infancy and the system we were using for testing consisted of a Socket 939 AMD processor and the legendary DFI Lanparty SLI DR Expert motherboard. How times have changed.

One thing that hasn’t changed is Ultra’s dedication to releasing successive generations of power supplies. While there have been some speed bumps along the way, with the X4 series they are trying to once again appeal to enthusiasts with a supposedly solidly-built product. One of the main selling points of this unit is Ultra’s Lifetime Warranty which leaves all other competitors in the dust even though at around $220CAD the X4 850W is one of the pricier power supplies featured here. The only thing which could possibly hold it back (other than performance of course) is the fact that finding the X4 series isn’t that easy if you don’t want to buy from Tigerdirect.

​

Ultra’s packaging is unique with access coming from the side of the box instead of the top. The accessories are placed in a foam-sealed compartment at the top which is bordered by the modular cables while the power supply itself is nestled in high density foam below.

​

One thing is for sure: with the X4 850W, you won’t be left wanting for accessories since it has everything you could possibly need. There is a vibration dampener, zip-ties, six black thumb screws (just in case you lose some), standard silver mounting screws and a bag for unused modular cables. Additionally, every cable is wrapped in a reusable Velcro tie wrap. Brilliant.

​

The all-black Ultra X4 850W does cut one hell of an imposing figure and to be honest with you, from the outside it seems to be built like a tank. The brushed, blackened finish is top notch and is extremely hard to scratch while the indented “X4” really finishes things off nicely.

To us, the modular interface is a bit over-complicated with every cable type getting its own designated connector and even the ATX cable being modular. On the other hand, even though this can cause some confusion when trying to add a new cable in a dark case, it is still good to see that you can’t plug a connector into an incorrect spot.

​

As you will see in our cable length comparison charts, the Ultra X4 comes with a plethora of cables including a handy little Molex to 2-pin fan adaptor. They are all finished in some of the best, tightest fitting sleeving we have ever come across. Trust me, you have to feel it to believe the quality and it makes every other sleeving job look downright cheap by comparison.

​

The sinister black look we saw on the exterior continues into the interior as well with appropriately colored heatsinks and PCB for this Andyson-OEM’d power supply. All of the filtering stages look well-appointed as well with Rubycon capacitors on the primary Teapos for the secondary stage.

​

The quality of the modular interface is good but not great since we are not fans of seeing bare wires attached to the PCB with nothing but globs of solder. Granted, there isn’t any excess flash or other soldering issues but we were hoping to see something a bit better from the company that patented the modular interface.

 

[SKYMTL]

XFX Black Edition 850W

XFX Black Edition 850W

XFX has made a name for themselves first as a forward-thinking NVIDIA board partner and more recently have made an extremely successful dive into the world of ATI GPUs as well. However, there were quite a few people with raised eyebrows when this division of Pine Technologies let slip images of its first power supply: the Black Edition 850W. They may not yet have street cred when it comes to power supplies, but XFX is moving forward with not only this product but will have units in the 750W and 650W ranges within the next few weeks as well. For the time being though, we will be looking at their flagship 850W model which is backed up by a 5-year warranty and shouldn’t run you above the $190 mark here in Canada.

​

From the moment you look at the box and start unpackaging the power supply, it is obvious XFX is aiming for something unique with this product. The accessories and modular cables are in their own separate box which is held in place by flaps and when removed shows us the top of the Black Edition. This makes for an extremely durable setup and you won’t have to worry about any shipping damages.

​

The modular connectors come in their own carrying bag but the accessories that XFX gives with their 850W unit are basic and without any frills. You get silver mounting screws, a power cord and a quick install guide.

​

If you thought the packaging was unique, get a load of the Black Edition itself! XFX seriously pulled out all the stops and designed a power supply that not only has funky looks but also breaks the standard “boring box” mentality in a big way. In this case, beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I personally love the fresh thinking this brings to the table.

The modular interface meanwhile is basic and quite well laid out with large gaps between the connectors which makes finding them in a dark case all the easier. The two 8-pin connectors you see are used for PCI-E cables while the others are used for peripheral cables.

​

Attached to the power supply are cables you will be using on a normal basis: the ATX, two 6+2 pin PCI-E, a 4+4 pin CPU and an 8-pin CPU connector are all there for the taking and are perfectly sleeved to boot. The modular cables are completely sleeved as well and use quick-release Molex connectors which will come in handy every now and then.

​

Unlike every other power supply we have seen with a top-mounted fan, this one needed to be designed differently due to the unique layout of the casing. As such, the 140mm fan is screwed directly to the sides of the housing instead of the upper fan grille.

The XFX Black Edition is OEM’d by Seasonic and is based off of their high-end M12D design which we should all know by now is one of the better 80Plus Silver-rated platforms on the market. Its robustness and built quality are above reproach. For those of you wondering, both primary and secondary caps are industrial-rated 105°C units from Nippon Chemi-Con.

​

The modular interface is a picture of perfection but what really caught our eye was the small daughter board with solid capacitors that is hiding under a heatsink. This daughter board seems to control the +5V and +3,3V rails which through the DC to DC conversion process are derived from the +12V rail.