By: Ben Joubert
May 3, 2024
Naming conventions can be quite an interesting pursuit. I have been around computers and gaming consoles for a long time and very few naming conventions make sense to me. The Xbox lineup has been laughed at for their console names, going from Xbox to 360 to One to Series X|S. Similarly, AMD's graphics cards have been an enigma to me. Understanding where each card lands in performance tiers is confusing. NVIDIA is slightly simpler with their naming schemes, but some context is still required to understand which cards are higher than others. Context is crucial to get a grip on what each of the naming schemes mean and how they may indicate performance. Each company has their own ideas in naming their electronics, and it gets even more confusing when they launch a new series. It takes time and attention to discover what the lineup is about and how their products fit into the landscape of everything else, both for their own products and in comparisons with other companies. Having a deeper knowledge of the whole landscape provides the needed context to start to understand what the names mean. Power supplies are similar. Having more context and information about them and the parts that make up the whole provides the necessary insight and understanding to provide an overview of the product. Today, we have the Cooler Master V SFX Gold ATX 3.0 850W. It is an updated version of a power supply we have previously reviewed, the Cooler Master V850 SFX Gold 850W. The one we have to look at today, however, meets the ATX 3.0 standard. What does this updated name mean? Let us read on to find out!
The Cooler Master V SFX Gold ATX 3.0 850W arrived in a medium sized brown corrugated box. The box was rather large compared to the smaller retail box. Having ample room for the product inside can be dangerous, but a lot of padding was included to ensure the power supply did not bounce around too much inside. The box shipped all the way from Ontario, California, USA, to Calgary, Alberta, Canada via FedEx International Ground. The shipping box arrived at our APH Networks offices in good condition with no damage on the exterior to indicate anything amiss inside.
The Cooler Master V SFX Gold ATX 3.0 850W has a similar design compared to other Cooler Master power supplies, such as the Cooler Master GX III Gold 850W I recently reviewed. It has a mostly purple retail box, featuring some other colors in the same shade. An image of the power supply can be seen on the front with the name of the product listed in bold white lettering. The ATX 3.0 and PCIe 5.0 readiness is pasted front and center. The sides of the box list the different features of the power supply, while the back of the box highlights a few important features of the V SFX Gold ATX 3.0 850W.
Before we continue and investigate many of these claims, here is a list of specifications from the manufacturer’s website:
Specifications
Product Name: V SFX Gold 850 ATX3.0
Item Code: MPY-8501-SFHAGV
ATX Version: ATX3.0 & SFX 12V Ver. 3.42
PFC: Active PFC
Input Voltage: 100-240V
Input Current: 12-6A
Input Frequency: 50-60Hz
Dimensions (L x W x H): 100 x 125 x 63.5 mm
Fan Size: 92mm
Fan Bearing: FDB
Efficiency: 90% @ Typical Load
80 PLUS Rating: 80 PLUS Gold
ErP 2014 Lot 3: Yes
Operating Temperature: 0-50°C
Power Good Signal: 100 - 500 ms
Hold Up Time: 16ms
MTBF: >100,000 Hours
Protections: OVP, OPP, SCP, OCP, UVP, OTP, Surge and Inrush Protection
Regulatory: TUV, cTUVus, CE, BSMI, FCC, CCC, EAC, RCM, CB, UKCA
Connectors:
- ATX 24 Pin: x1 = 1x (300mm)
- EPS 4+4 Pin: x1 = 1x (450mm)
- EPS 8 Pin: x1 = 1x (450mm)
- SATA: x8 = 2x (100+115+115+115mm)
- Peripheral 4 Pin: x4 = 1x (100+115+115+115mm)
- PCI-e 6+2 Pin: x4 = 2x (400+120mm)
- 12VHPWR: x1 = 1x (400mm)
The inside of the retail box for the Cooler Master V SFX Gold ATX 3.0 850W is fairly simple. Some high-quality foam is in place to protect the power supply from any bumps and bruises. This type of foam is crucial for transporting heavy components, so seeing it present is excellent. The rest of the components include the cables for the modular connections. There are plenty of modular cables for whatever need you have. One addition of note from the standard cables is the 90-degree 12VHPWR connector for newer graphics card. Another important inclusion for an SFX power supply is an ATX bracket, which allows you to install the small power supply in normal-sized cases. All in all, the Cooler Master V SFX Gold ATX 3.0 850W has everything you need out of the box for a pleasant installation experience.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Minor Tests and Conclusion
