NZXT, one of the premier names in PC gaming hardware and accessories, has a new product available for your consideration. The C850 is the cheaper, more bare-bones option than NZXT other lineup of power supplies, the E-series, and strips away the digital monitoring option and tosses in an ultra-quiet mode for the PSU fan in low load conditions. Let’s take a look!
Specifications
- MSRP: $129.99
- Dimensions: 150mm x 150mm x 86mm
- Materials: Steel, PCB and plastic
- Compliance Standard: ATX12V v2.4 / EPS12V v2.92
- PF Correction: Active @ 0.99
- AC Input Rating
- 100-240Vac, 12-6A, 50-60Hz
- 200-240Vac 6A, 50-60Hz
- DC Output Rating
- +3.3v: 20A
- +5v: 20A
- +12v: 70A
- -12v: 0.3A
- +5v sb: 3A
- Fan Specs
- Dimensions: 120mm x 120mm x 25mm
- Speed: 0 - 2,200 + 220 RPM
- Airflow: 73.9 CFM
- Noise: 32.3 dBA
- Bearing: Fluid Dynamic
- Hazardous Materials: RoHS & China RoHS
- Rating: 80 Plus Gold20% loading: 87%, 50% loading: 90%, 100% loading: 87% @ 115Vac
- Operating Temperature: 0 to 50c
- MTBF: 100,000 hours
- Included Cables
- 1x 24-pin ATX power (610mm, Nylon sleeving)
- 2x 4+4-pin CPU power (650mm, Nylon sleeving)
- 3x PCIe (6+2 pin) power (675 +75mm, Nylon sleeving)
- 2x SATA power (500mm + 100mm + 100mm + 100m)
- 2x Peripheral power (500mm + 100mm + 100mm)
- Output Connectors
- 1x 24-pin, 2x 4+4 pin, 6x PCIe 6+6 pin, 8x SATA, 6x peripheral
- Warranty: 10 years
Power supplies are an interesting one to write about. If it does its job without failing, it pretty much falls in line with every other PSU out there with the same wattage and modular capabilities. There’s not a whole lot of room for innovation, though NZXT historically pushes that boundary. The E-series was a popular power supply for many hardcore enthusiasts due to its ability to monitor power loads in real-time. The C-series we are looking at today takes a step back and offers up a good, quality power supply for the general masses (and almost $40 cheaper than it’s E-series counterpart at 850w).
First thing’s first - I was impressed with the level of care that simply went into the packaging. The PSU itself comes snuggly wrapped in a cloth-like cover, your cables in a NZXT-purple pouch, all firmly seated in a foam bottom. Inside the pouch were all the included cables, with the nylon sleeved and unsleeved cables separated in their own plastic wrap. There’s nothing new to report on how the PSU feels. It’s a standard metal affair with all the expected outputs located on the back.
Moving on to the nylon sleeves, I have mixed feelings about them. While it’s nice for cable management behind the motherboard tray (the 24-pin, 4+4-pin, and PCIe cables are nylon sleeved), I’ve always found sleeving to be more restrictive to my attempts to move. It’s one of those things that you either love or hate, in my honest opinion, but at least in NZXTs case I could take it or leave it - which is the best you can hope for with sleeving from me.
Like all modern modular power supply units these days, the C850 comes ready for multiple power inputs making it usable all across the world without having to worry about flipping switches. The automatic power input switching has been a standard feature a while but every now and then you don’t see it so it’s worth pointing out it’s included. The big feature, in addition to an impressive TEN year warranty, is the C850s silent mode. What it really is is a toggleable switch that puts the fan into a zero RPM mode while under low loads. While your computer isn’t being taxed much (sitting in windows, doing some office work, etc) the PSU fan switches off to keep things quiet. Once power consumption ramps up after you boot up a game or start a power-hungry render the fan will ramp back up to keep the PSU cool while under load.
When it comes down to it, the quality you are getting at the price point of $129, makes the NZXT C850 a product worth serious consideration. It comes in cheaper than most of EVGAs 850w lineup, beats Corsair in the 850w price department and comes in right in line with ThermalTake. Factor in a 10-year warranty, nice out of box cables, silent mode, and a brand name that can be trusted and the C850 adds up to be a very attractive option for your next build.
The product discussed in this article was provided by the manufacturer for the purposes of review.
