Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Pros, Cons And Final Verdict
XFX offers a decent number of PSU products that cover most PC segments. Its XTR series is the company's second-best, and the family's members are based on a slightly modified version of Seasonic's mature KM3 design. The KM3S platform, like its predecessor, offers high performance even under stressful conditions. What we like best about the XTR models is that XFX prices them very aggressively, so the 850W model is remarkably affordable. At the time of this review, you could find it for $120. Corsair's CS850M and EVGA's 850 G2 both cost $10 more. The strongest competitor, though, is Corsair's RM850x, which is priced similarly, offers around the same performance, but generates a lot less noise, especially under tough conditions. Speaking of noise output, the only notable downside of the 850W XTR is its 135mm fan that spins fast to exhaust hot air from inside the PSU. To make matters worse, the fan's minimum speed is 800 RPM, where it generates over 32 dB(A). If you want to build a silent system, then Corsair's RM850x is probably the better alternative. Or, you could spend more money on EVGA's 850 P2.
Seasonic's KM3(S) platform might be considered mature at this point, but PSU technology doesn't advance as fast as CPUs or GPUs. The KM3(S) design still offers great performance, standing up to newer platforms like the CWT one that Corsair's RMx unit utilizes. Moreover, Gold efficiency isn't as expensive these days since two higher tiers (Platinum and Titanium) exist. As a result, the XTR 850W won't empty your wallet. Actually, at $120, we think this PSU represents a good deal given its specifications and impressive performance in our load regulation, ripple suppression and efficiency benchmarks.
On top of that, Seasonic uses only high-quality components including Japanese capacitors and a Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan that should last for years. We already know that a PSU's capacitors are immensely important. But fan quality matters as well; if it fails, then higher temperatures can cause damage to other components inside the power supply. This is why you need to pay extra attention to a PSU's fan and make sure that its bearing is of high quality, in order to offer a long life and quiet operation.
MORE: Best Power Supplies
MORE: Power Supplies 101
MORE: How We Test Power Supplies
MORE: Picking The Right Power Supply: What You Should Know
MORE: All Power Supply Content
Subscribe to us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter & YouTube.
