Exclusive: XFX Black Edition 850W Power Supply Preview

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HWC Exclusive: XFX Black Edition 850W Power Supply Preview

Product Number: P1-850B-CAG9
Price: Approx. $200USD
Availability: Soon
Warranty: 5 Years



Every once in a while a product comes our way and we just have to share it with you as soon as possible. Sometimes it is a feature-rich motherboard and other times it is a high performance graphics card but this time it is something some of you may think to be a bit more mundane: a power supply from XFX.

While the whole power supply arena might be rife with products that run the gamut in both price and quality, it isn’t every day that you see such a well-respected company entering the fight. Years ago, Corsair took the same plunge and ever since then, they have been considered a market leader. XFX on the other hand is aiming to replicate the same type of success with the release of their first ever power supply: the Black Edition 850W. The potential for success is definitely there but there are always challenges lining the road to widespread market adoption.

When we first saw the Black Edition 850W, a few leaked press slides were all that was released but Computex soon followed and XFX officially unveiled their challenger to the world wide press. Months have passed and now we are finally in a position to bring you a quick preview of one of the first retail-boxed units which has made its way into the wild. However, nothing has changed since those first tantalizing pictures emerged; it is still 80Plus Silver rated, carries a single +12V rail and has a modular interface.

Before we get on to the preview itself, I am sure there are some burning questions regarding pricing, availability and warranty coverage on your mind. Let’s tackle pricing first. Originally it was reported that XFX would try to hit the $250USD mark at retail with their 850W product but we are happy to report that the price seems to have been overstated a bit. We are now looking at a street price of around $200USD. Warranty coverage is in the upper tiers as well with a generous five years given. Unfortunately, the availability question is still somewhat up in the air since the original date we were given was mid-August but that has come and gone. Considering the first units are just now shipping to reviewers, I’d say that you should see the Black Edition entering retail channels in the next few weeks.

While this may not be a full review -expect the review to be posted in the next few weeks as we test the hell out of this PSU- I am personally hoping that this preview whets your appetite since I know I’m not the only one excited about this product.

 

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The XFX Black Edition 850W Under the Microscope

The XFX Black Edition 850W Under the Microscope

As we stated before; this isn’t a full review. Rather, this page will endeavor to give you a quick taste of the looks, outputs and even the OEM of the Black Edition 850W.

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From looking at the preliminary specifications, there really isn’t anything to question since the output figures are exactly what we would expect of a modern high-end power supply. The single +12V rail is perfectly proportioned to power your most demanding hardware without having to worry about tripping an OCP circuit.

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The packaging scheme that XFX uses is definitely unique with the front graphics closely reflecting their graphics cards’ overall design along with a predominantly black and green color scheme. Meanwhile, the interior box really is something to behold with the fan of the power supply peaking out from behind black cardboard flaps.

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If you thought the packaging was unique, get a load of the power supply itself. We all know that some people may hate it while others (myself included) will give XFX a high five for creativity but one thing is certain: there is no other power supply on the market that looks quite like this. To be honest with you, pictures just don’t do its design elements or its amazing finish any justice. The green 135mm ADDA fan is definitely an eye-catcher as well.

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As you can see, a number of cables are fixed in place (ATX, two PCI-E 6+2, 8-pin CPU & 4+4 pin CPU) while the rest make use of the modular interface. All of the cables are perfectly sleeved in a tightly-woven black mesh.

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This is the part you have probably all been waiting for since without proper innards, a power supply is just an empty shell that may take out you hardware when it decides to blow its lid. Luckily, XFX chose one of the best OEMs in the business: Seasonic. To make matters even better, the Black Edition 850W is based upon one of the best Seasonic power supplies around right now: the M12D.


So there you have it; our quick preview of the new XFX 850W power supply. If initial impressions are anything to go by, this power supply may be one of the best available when it ends up going on sale sometime this month. Not only do it look absolutely stunning without being overly gaudy but it packs Seasonic underpinnings from a power supply that retails for $250 and more. Starting into such a competitive market is very much a sink or swim type of affair but judging from initial impressions, XFX seems to have everything it takes to be successful. Stay tuned for the full review in the coming weeks. Until then, we hope you appreciate this preview.