Cooler Master V850 Platinum Power Supply Review

Specifications and Part Analysis

The Cooler Master V850 Platinum power supply performs well enough, and its build quality is top-notch. The major downside is the high price tag, $199 (£153), which makes it more expensive than better performing units with some of them having a quieter operation. For instance, the similar capacity Seasonic Prime Ultra Platinum is better in all areas but noise output, since its overall noise output is 12 dB(A) higher than Cooler Master's offering. Another strong opponent of the V850 Platinum is the Corsair HX850 which has a much lower price tag, yet it offers better performance and is quieter by almost 5 dB(A) overall. Things look tough for the V850 Platinum, given its strong competitors. Cooler Master should proceed on lowering its price, by at least 30-40 bucks (23 to 31 pounds), if it wants to boost its performance per dollar/pound ratio.

Cooler Master's new V Platinum line consists of three members with capacities ranging from 850 to 1300W. We have already evaluated the strongest member of the line, so we decided to take a look at the smallest as well, since its lower capacity and price make it more interesting to the majority of users.

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The Cooler Master V850 Platinum is based on an older Delta platform, which we've last seen several years ago, in the Antec HCP-850. This is a highly capable design, but it counts many years in production so naturally, it will have a hard time facing fierce competition. In the efficiency section, the V850 meets the requirements of the 80 PLUS Platinum and Cybenetics ETA-A standards, while its noise output is kept low. All cables are modular, the cooling fan uses double ball-bearings which will easily cope with high operating temperatures and the provided warranty is long at ten-years.

Specifications

* The V850 Platinum is not certified by Cybenetics, yet. The provided ratings are based on our own measurements.

Power Specifications

Cables & Connectors

This is a fully modular power supply, and it is equipped with lots of cables, as you can see in the table above. All cables are long, but the distance between the peripheral connectors should be 150mm, instead of only 120mm. Finally, there are no in-line caps, and only the PCIe cables use thicker 16AWG gauges, up to the first connector.

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Power Distribution

Component Analysis

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

All new V Platinum power supplies are made by Delta Electronics, which is the largest PSU manufacturer and one of the best. The platform might count several years in production, but it uses all contemporary tricks including a full-bridge topology along with an LLC resonant converter on the primary side, for restricted energy loses.

The main transformer uses a unique design that allows it to be extra small. On top of that, the board that hosts the +12V FETs is directly attached to the main transformer, to increase efficiency and minimize EMI noise. The +12V rail is mostly filtered by polymer caps, which are much more tolerant to high operating temperatures than electrolytic ones. Finally, the build quality is excellent; something expected given that Delta is well known for its top-notch production lines and the strict quality control.

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