Verdict and Conclusion
This is a very good PSU.
CoolerMaster has said that they were stepping things up in the PSU game, and if this V850
It looks great, I especially like the rounded metal around the modular connectors instead of the standard sharp edges.
It’s quiet up until high heat high load, which is nice. At full tilt the fan isn’t the quietest, but it’s not the noisiest either. If you can put that much of a load on it you have a few GPUs running full tilt as well, not quiet.
The connector count is solid, I’m surprised they only ship one CPU power connector with the unit, most 850w units these days have two. On the plus side there is a second plug, so you can get a second cable (don’t mix/match, get a cable specifically for this unit!) and you’re set. A couple more Molex connectors would be nice too.
The design is glorious. Seasonic’s KM3 platform is nothing short of amazing. Unfortunately the person who actually soldered this specific unit together was not having a good day at all. It’s still better than some manufacturers can manage, but disappointing compared to the design quality. I, as with all the other PSU reviewers, would like to see some thermal grease on the 12V rectifier heatsink.
The regulation was an excellent 0.8% average, very nice. The ripple control was quite good as well, especially on the 5V and 3.3V rails.
The packaging is wonderful, the PSU gets lots of foam on all sides. It doesn’t get better than that.
The current price is $160
To summarize, there are pros:
- Excellent regulation.
- Very good ripple control.
- Fantastic packaging.
- Looks great.
- Quiet at most load levels.
- Seasonic KM3.
- Good price.
There are a few cons too:
- Whoever assembled mine was a bit sloppy.
- Could do with a second CPU power cable.
- Could do with more than four Molex plugs.
Final Words
All told I’m pleased with the Cooler Master V850
SCORE
9/10
