Build Quality
As we already know the Cooler Master XG PLUS 850 Platinum features a single 135mm fan design that is used in the same vein as 120mm fans in that these can provide quiet cooling environments due to the ability to move a larger volume of air at slower speeds than a smaller diameter fan. The 135mm fan is just about the largest diameter fan we are likely to see in ATX power supplies given the physical constraints of the form factor. 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 XG PLUS 850 Platinum is traditional for a modular unit with an overhead fan in the ATX12v/EPS form factor. Cosmetically, the unit carries the XG 850 branding in a mix of silver printed accents and aRGB display blingyness! The branding is nice and a bit more eye-catching than we see with some other units, but there is a problem. You will notice in the pictures above….if your case has a bottom-mounted power supply then the RGB display is going to be upside down. Oops!
Also, I did manage to scratch up the acrylic while handling and testing the unit. Oops 2.0! That said the aRGB display gives you the model number, Cooler Master logo and then rotates between “power output” temperature, and fan speed. The modular interface is well-labeled. Rounding things out, the unit has a durable black finish. In addition, the Cooler Master logo at the rear of the unit, which is obscuring some airflow, is also RGB goodness.
The XG PLUS 850 Platinum comes in at a total length of ~6 1/4 inches while the cables come in at a length of ~19″ to 25″ to the first, or only, connector. Additionally, the cables are all FlexForce-style cables which are excellent.
Internal Build Quality
Once we open the top of the XG PLUS 850 Platinum we see a unique, to us, platform which Cooler Master claims to have created themselves (though they are not the OEM of the unit). The is 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 an FDB fan. The fan is manufactured by Huizhou City Xunshuo Technology Co Ltd and it is rated at 0.6A at 12v. It is paired with two different types of heatsinks.
First, we have a pair of black ridged heatsinks (primary side) and then two small silver heatsinks (secondary side). On the secondary side, the heatsinks actually look like they are what is predominately interfacing with the large thermal pad and connecting them to the case indirectly. Other than that, the layout of this unit is fairly open particularly as we see the area behind the modular PCB. Lastly, the soldering is excellent on the main PCB.
The XG PLUS 850 Platinum input filtering begins up on the housing itself where we find a PCB with some X capacitors 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 attached to its own heatsink. Next, we find the main input capacitor (which is a Nippon Chemi-con part rated at 450v 680uF 105C) and then the APFC coil in front of it. The heatsink next to all of this houses the APFC components and the remainder of the primary side power components. The overall setup here is fairly standard but very tight.
The secondary side of this unit looks very sparse but it is complete. Behind the main input filtering components are we find the main transformer and the 12v MOSFETS. Scattered around the rest of the secondary are some standard and solid Nippon Chemi-con capacitors as well as solid capacitors from FPCAP. We also find, behind the main power components for the primary side, as well as on the modular connector PCB, the connectors for the wiring to the fan and the aRGB display as well as their controllers.
Speaking of the modular PCB, it is here that we find the DC-DC VRMs for the minor rails housed. This PCB is populated with a number of FPCAP solid capacitors and Nippon Chemi-con standard capacitors. All of this is very cleanly done and Cooler Master had their OEM put the Cooler Master branding here as well.
Build Quality Summary
Today’s Cooler Master XG PLUS 850 Platinum is the third Cooler Master power supply were have seen and it is the first ATX12v/EPS form factor unit we have seen (previous offerings were SFX units). Now, starting from the top….errr…..outside…..the exterior looks well done in general. There is a good amount of Cooler Master and XG branding adorning the unit in silver on top of a textured black base coat.
On top of this, we, of course, get the aRGB blingyness of the fan that is included and the display on the side of the unit. The only problem with all of this from a quality standpoint is the acrylic that is on the aRGB display takes scratches easily. Overall, the external build quality looks very good, including the FlexForce cables, if you stand on your head with cases where the PSU is bottom mounted.
The interior of the unit is, surprisingly, very open. The components we see used today are generally excellent as we see Nippon Chemi-con standard capacitors along with FPCAP and Nippon Chemi-con solid capacitors. The FDB fan is from Huizhou City Xunshuo Technology Co Ltd which is an unknown quantity. Other than that, the topology is modern and the integration as well as soldering looks very tidy. Let’s move on now to the load tests and see how this unit performs!