Early Verdict
The major problem in this unit is the fan profile, which makes the fan spin at very high speeds from almost zero load. The second problem are the low quality electrolytic caps on the secondary side, which along with the sleeve bearing fan have no place in a PSU that costs 110 bucks. On the other side the AG-850M is supported by a ten-year warranty, which shows Apexgaming's confidence on this platform, the soldering quality is good and has low EMI emissions. We are troubled though about the 10-year warranty which looks highly optimistic given the Chinese electrolytic caps and the sleeve bearing fan with the aggressive speed profile.
Pros
- +
Price
- +
Full power at 45°C
- +
Ripple suppression in sample #1 (+12V, 5V & 3.3V rails)
- +
Transient response (+12V)
- +
Turn-on transient response
- +
Accurate Power Ok signal
- +
Inrush current
- +
Fully modular
- +
6x PCIe connectors
- +
EMI
- +
Ten-year warranty
Cons
- -
Fan profile
- -
Sleeve bearing fan
- -
Secondary side electrolytic caps
- -
Hold-up time
- -
Load regulation
- -
3.3V rail's transient response
- -
5VSB ripple problem in the first sample
- -
1x EPS
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Features & Specifications
Solytech has been in the PSU business for a long time, manufacturing mostly low-end and mid-range models that typically get relabeled and sold under other brands. Apexgaming's AG-850M is the first Solytech-made power supply to make its way through our lab though, so we're eager to see what it can do.
So far, Apexgaming's AG line consists of six members ranging from 650W to 850W. Three sport fully modular cabling (the AG-M series), while the rest employ a semi-modular configuration (AG). All Apexgaming PSUs sport a 10-year warranty, demonstrating Solytech's faith in its platform. But as we've mentioned previously, we're not necessarily fans of such long guarantees because they open the door to other issues, particularly with cryptocurrency mining being as popular as it is.
Again, Apexgaming's flagship AG-850M is our subject today. Besides 850W of capacity, it employs a single +12V rail and is 80 PLUS Gold-certified. On the Cybenetics scale, it achieves ETA-A- efficiency, but fails to earn a badge for acoustics since it outputs more than 45 dB(A). Frankly, it's weird to encounter such a noisy 850W PSU. This is a major weakness that'll no doubt affect sales. Apparently, the fan profile is badly tuned. In combination with a powerful fan, we end up suffering through loud operation in every situation.
Specifications
The sleeve bearing fan is unnecessarily potent for an 850W power supply with 80 PLUS Gold efficiency. However, given Apexgaming's long warranty and the secondary side's capacitors, an aggressive fan profile is probably a good idea.
According to Apexgaming's claims, the AG-850M includes all necessary protection features and is rated for full, continuous output at 50°C. On paper, if this PSU's noise wasn't so bad it'd stand a good chance of competing against compelling alternatives like Corsair's RM850x, Seasonic's Focus Plus Gold 850, and EVGA's 850 G3.
Power Specifications
| Rail | 3.3V | 5V | 12V | 5VSB | -12V | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. Power | Amps | 25 | 25 | 70 | 3 | 0.5 |
| Watts | 150 | 840 | 15 | 6 | ||
| Total Max. Power (W) | 850 |
The minor rails are more powerful than they need to be for a modern PC, reminding us of older times when the +5V rail was heavily used instead of the +12V rail.
Speaking of the +12V rail, it's able to output 70A, easily supporting enthusiast-oriented gaming systems. And the 5VSB rail offers up to 15W capacity. That's usually plenty for today's needs.
Cables & Connectors
| Modular Cables | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Cable Count | Connector Count (Total) | Gauge | In Cable Capacitors |
| ATX connector 20+4 pin (600mm) | 1 | 1 | 18AWG | No |
| 4+4 pin EPS12V (650mm) | 1 | 1 | 18AWG | No |
| 6+2 pin PCIe (600mm+150mm) | 3 | 6 | 18AWG | No |
| SATA (520mm+110mm+110mm) | 2 | 6 | 18AWG | No |
| SATA (500mm+110mm+110mm+110mm) | 1 | 4 | 18AWG | No |
| Four-pin Molex (450mm+100mm+100mm+100mm) | 1 | 4 | 18AWG | No |
| FDD Adapter (+100mm) | 1 | 1 | 22AWG | No |
| AC Power Cord (1420mm) - C13 coupler | 1 | 1 | 18AWG | - |
There is only one EPS connector, which we consider to be a shame for an 850W PSU. The number of PCIe connectors is enough though, and there are plenty of SATA connectors as well. All of the cables are sufficiently long. However, the distance between connectors (especially the four-pin Molex ones) is too small. Finally, Apexgaming also provides a floppy disk adapter that still might come in handy for some folks.
The AG-850M's cables are shown in the photos below.
Power Distribution
Since this PSU features a single +12V rail, we do not have anything to say about its power distribution.
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