EVGA BQ Series 850W PSU Review

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Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time, And Inrush Current

To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

Load Regulation testing is detailed here.

Hold-Up Time

Our hold-up time tests are described in detail here.

Though the measured hold-up time exceeds 17ms, the power-good hold-up time is lower than 16ms. By tuning this delay, the power-good signal could be made to exceed 16ms. At least this signal is accurate, since it drops before the rails go out of spec.

Inrush Current

For details on our inrush current testing, please click here.

Inrush current is high with both voltage inputs. HEC should take a closer look at this.

Load Regulation And Efficiency Measurements

The first set of tests reveals the stability of the voltage rails and the EVGA 850 BQ's efficiency. The applied load equals (approximately) 10 to 110 percent of the PSU's maximum load in increments of 10 percentage points.

We conducted two additional tests. During the first, we stressed the two minor rails (5V and 3.3V) with a high load, while the load at +12V was only 0.1A. This test reveals whether a PSU is Haswell-ready or not. In the second test, we determined the maximum load the +12V rail could handle with minimal load on the minor rails.

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Test #12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan SpeedFan NoiseTemps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
15.165A1.964A1.936A0.995A84.7980.93%1120 RPM38.8 dB(A)37.00°C0.987
12.235V5.093V3.405V5.023V104.7740.40°C115.2V
211.365A2.948A2.919A1.196A169.6085.22%1120 RPM38.8 dB(A)38.47°C0.983
12.210V5.074V3.388V5.003V199.0142.94°C115.1V
317.964A3.458A3.434A1.400A254.8586.60%1135 RPM39.0 dB(A)40.11°C0.990
12.179V5.059V3.375V4.985V294.2846.06°C115.1V
424.564A3.963A3.924A1.609A339.7386.80%1150 RPM39.2 dB(A)41.98°C0.993
12.154V5.045V3.362V4.968V391.3848.83°C115.1V
530.866A4.972A4.930A1.816A424.6886.43%1395 RPM43.0 dB(A)43.48°C0.995
12.124V5.025V3.345V4.949V491.3850.53°C115.1V
637.190A5.994A5.945A2.025A509.6785.74%1550 RPM46.1 dB(A)43.64°C0.996
12.097V5.005V3.330V4.932V594.4751.50°C115.1V
743.542A7.019A6.973A2.239A594.6285.00%1665 RPM48.3 dB(A)43.84°C0.997
12.070V4.984V3.312V4.910V699.5952.16°C115.1V
849.917A8.061A8.013A2.451A679.4984.12%1780 RPM49.0 dB(A)44.48°C0.998
12.042V4.963V3.294V4.890V807.7653.13°C115.1V
956.777A8.594A8.566A2.459A764.4983.14%1830 RPM49.7 dB(A)45.29°C0.998
12.010V4.946V3.280V4.877V919.4954.20°C115.1V
1063.378A9.127A9.090A3.091A849.3382.22%1840 RPM50.0 dB(A)45.46°C0.998
11.986V4.930V3.267V4.849V1033.0055.15°C115.2V
1170.652A9.152A9.126A3.099A934.2681.08%1925 RPM51.2 dB(A)46.32°C0.998
11.954V4.918V3.253V4.837V1152.2356.17°C115.1V
CL10.101A19.021A19.001A0.003A156.9677.77%1330 RPM42.2 dB(A)44.07°C0.984
12.184V4.931V3.259V4.976V201.8353.34°C115.1V
CL269.958A1.002A1.003A1.002A851.5182.77%1885 RPM50.9 dB(A)46.58°C0.998
11.982V5.003V3.317V4.922V1028.8056.43°C115.1V

Load regulation is bad, especially on the minor rails (including 5VSB). At least our efficiency measurements do satisfy the 80 PLUS Bronze requirements. Also, the PSU doesn't have a problem delivering its full power under a very high ambient temperature, which actually exceeds EVGA's official maximum rating (40°C). The fan is super noisy though, and even under lighter loads it spins fast. Obviously HEC wants to cool the secondary side's Teapo SC capacitors as effectively as possible, so it tuned the fan's minimum speed to 1120 RPM.

Contributing Editor

Aris Mpitziopoulos is a Contributing Editor at Tom's Hardware US, covering PSUs.

  • joz
    At $85 I can get a G2 650W; or even a G2750W on sale.
    Reply
  • Metteec
    Thanks for the review. Looks like I will be avoiding this one.
    Reply
  • Metteec
    Also, for $20 more, you can pick up an equivalent gold rated PSU or maybe even a platinum one on sale and after rebates. It is the halcyon days for competition in quality PSUs.
    Reply
  • _TheD0ct0r_
    19020704 said:
    Thanks for the review. Looks like I will be avoiding this one.

    Why is that?
    Reply
  • Metteec
    @_THEDICTOR_, for $85, there are so many other better options. EVGA could have been more competitive model if they made quieter version. Instead, you get a PSU with fixed cables, low efficiency, high power variances, and noise like a mini-vacuum. While the higher quality capacitors and warranty are nice, the lack of utility does not make this a good value. 3-years ago, this would have been a great PSU, but times have changed. It is a great day to buy a PSU, just not this one.
    Reply
  • MasterMace
    appears to be another terrible unit. I'll have to read back and see if it's an Andyson or a HEC
    Reply
  • Dark Lord of Tech
    Considering the OEM is HEC , not surprised by this review.
    Reply
  • Nuckles_56
    I would have thought that EVGA could have pushed HEC a bit harder and got a much better unit out of them than this
    Reply
  • lunyone
    I would personally like to see more 450-550w PSU reviews, not the cherry picked and delivered 750w+ ones that seem to make the rounds. It is just that most people are only going to need 450-550w PSU's for their 1 dGPU based systems.
    Reply
  • Aris_Mp
    This is not a cherry-picked sample. It comes directly from a store shelf and not from EVGA.

    As for more 450-550W PSU reviews, I am currently working on a 500W unit (which however isn't affordable).
    Reply