Build Quality
As we already know the DeepCool PQ850M is a 120mm fan design that can provide for quiet cooling environments due to the ability to move a larger volume of air at slower speeds than a smaller diameter fan. While great for quiet computing environments the key criteria in our evaluation is whether or not the cooling solution is sufficient, not necessarily its sound output level or form factor, although we certainly listen for offending units.
External Build Quality
The exterior of the DeepCool PQ850M in a lot of ways to other power supplies we have seen with 120mm overhead fan designs but it does have a few of its own unique attributes. Cosmetically, the side of this unit features just the DeepCool name and logo in small print. On the front of the unit, the modular interface is well labeled as we typically see from Seasonic based units. Where this unit starts differing is the fan guard over the 120mm fan with its unique shape. Here we see a perfectly square guard that is further divided in even-sized squares. This design certainly looks interesting, but it really isn’t apparent whether or not it will do much in the way of better cooling. Rounding things out, the unit has a durable black finish.
The DeepCool PQ850M comes in at a total length of ~5 1/2 inches while the cables come in at a length of ~23″ to 30″ to the first or only connector. Additionally, the cables are all FlexForce style cables which is excellent and this unit is fully modular.
Internal Build Quality
Once we open the top of the DeepCool PQ850M, we see a rather open layout that is based on Seasonic’s Focus Plus Gold design. The topology features a full bridge resonant LLC primary with a synchronous rectification secondary and DC-DC VRMs for the minor rails. The fan cooling this unit today is a Hong Hua FDB fan rated at 0.58A at 12v and it is paired with six heatsinks of varying size and design. Lastly, the soldering is very neatly done.
The DeepCool PQ850M input filtering begins upon the housing itself where we find some X and Y capacitors. The balance of the input filtering is found on the back edge of the main PCB. There is then a pair of bridge rectifiers next in the line sandwiching the finned heatsink. The APFC coil is next followed by another heatsink. On this heatsink we find the APFC power components. Next to these, behind the APFC coil, we find the main input capacitor. This capacitors is provided Nippon Chemi-Com and it is rated at 400v 680uF 105F! Impressive! Next to this capacitors we find the main switchers attached to a pair of heatsinks that are fingered.
The secondary side of this unit looks rather open. In the middle of this area, we find all of the transformers. Moving on, the MOSFETs are on the back of the main PCB but we see the two small silver heatsinks here which are used for cooling them. Next to this, we find the DC-DC VRMs housed on their own PCB (populated by FPCAP solid capacitors) up against the modular PCB and edge of the main PCB. In front of these PCBs, we find a few standard electrolytics courtesy of Nippon Chemi-Con. The modular PCB construction looks very nice and there are FPCAP and Chemi-Con solid capacitors as well as Nippon Chemi-Con standard capacitors found here.
Build Quality Summary
Today’s DeepCool PQ850M is the first ATX12v/EPS form factor power supply we have seen from DeepCool. That said, the build quality looks very nice today as we typically see from Seasonic OEM units. The exterior is very similar to what we have seen from a lot of units over the last 15+ years with the textured black finish becoming the de facto standard. However, DeepCool has taken a shot at putting some unique branding in place today with the modified fan grille design along with the FlexForce style cables we find today.
When we move to the interior, the integration seems to be very well done and the component selection is generally excellent. On the standard capacitor side of things, we see Nippon Chemi-Con capacitors throughout which is always good to see. On the solid capacitor side of the coin we see a mix of FPCAP and Chemi-Con capacitors, so things are still going strong. Lastly, from a component standpoint, the unit features a Hong Hua FDB fan which is probably what all of our quiet cooling enthusiasts out there were hoping to see. All in all, the DeepCool PQ850M build quality is very positive and starts off on the right foot. Let’s move on now to the load tests and see how this unit performs!
Discussion (6 replies)
Join Discussion →Thanks for the review! Interesting to see them put out a PSU. I know they've been in the cooler business for a while now but didn't know they did PSUs as well.
That, my friends, is where this unit runs headlong into a house while speedballed out of their mind like Anne Heche in an Austin Mini.
Damn that’s cold. Hilarious, but the dirt hasn’t even settled on the grave yet.
Some times the inspiration just slams right into you.
I find this interesting and if I were in the market for a 850 watt power supply I would want platinum or titanium rated personally. Getting every ounce of efficiency will be critical with new modern parts at least in my mind.
Hmm, I don't know that the effiency matters much.
The wattage is based on DC side - so an 850 Titanium will deliver the same 850W that a 850 Bronze will -- they will be identical as far as the computer load you can throw on them goes.
Granted, the bronze would pull a bit more from the wall... but it's only a difference of 8% (82% vs 90%) - or 80W... at 85%.
And if you have no qualms about a 500W+ Graphics card or 250W+ CPU (Not saying you personally Grim, just the general "making a point") -- then that extra 8% is nothing. Maybe if you are rocking one of those 1500W+ PSUs, and then that extra 8% may be the difference between throwing a breaker or not - and that would be a legitimate reason for a gamer or home computer user to care.
Buy a power supply for the voltage quality, the warranty, the bells and whistles that you like -- but the Plus rating is mostly just a marketing badge. It might matter in a server situation where it's going to sit under load for long stretches of time (like 24x7), or maybe if you are mining full time, but it needs to be on at a healthy load for a long time if you ever want to recoup that price difference.
I'll grant you that higher tier PSUs tend to be better units, but it isn't because they are higher tier rated. The tier rating is a good reason for the manufacturer to put a higher markup on a product, but you shouldn't pay extra for just that. Pay extra for stuff that matters, like good voltage quality or cable management or 10 year warranty. It's a shame that stuff is hard to sleuth out if all you have is the box on the shelf to go by - which is why I love sites like this one.
I agree with everything you said. I consider warrranty and reputation as well. When I got my 1300 watt I wanted high efficiency. I didn't even realize titanium rated was a thing or I would have looked for it. (hard to find mind you.) And I know I over paid for my power supply but for me that piece out lives dang near every other component of my system. My old 850 watt that ran my 3900x is being given to a friend with the 3900x cpu and motherboard and the 1 tb nvme drive I had in it to boot. so it will see more life.