Selecting the right power supply may not be the most exciting part of building a custom gaming PC rig, but it's certainly one of the most important steps. As PC gamers are investing more money into high end graphics cards and motherboards, it's becoming exponentially important to select a power supply that is well-equipped to protect those expensive components. The NZXT E850 aims to deliver that level of support.
The E-Series of NZXT ATX power supplies feature digital voltage and temperature monitoring so users can get precise, real-time information about their PSU. This is the sort of perk that baseline users don't really need to worry about, but power users will be able to take advantage of to keep their machine performance optimal.
To take the E850 for a test spin, Game Rant slotted it into an NZXT H510i tower. Obviously, these components were made to work well together, so the PSU fit perfectly into the case and installation was mostly a breeze. Like the other NZXT hardware we've had the chance to handle, we noticed right away how much organization went into the packaging of this PSU and its cables. Builders who like to keep things clean and organized will appreciate these sorts of details that make swapping this component in or out as painless as possible (assuming the rest of your rig is also well organized). This sort of organized unboxing experience should make the install a breeze with most compatible cases.
Key Features
- Power indicators monitored and tracked through CAM software
- Delivers precise & stable voltage while ensuring optimal efficiency under load
- Silent operation with 0 RPM fan when operating under 100 watts
- All the essentials delivered by a modern PSU: complete protection and fully modular design
With a retail price hovering around $140 at most outlets, the E850 comes in a bit more expensive than some comparable models (to the tune of about $40). That said, the bundled software's insights are going to be enough to justify that added cost for users who love to geek out over data. The PSU itself isn't all that much more powerful or quieter than some of the cheaper comparable options, so the extra money is really going towards those digital enhancements. Builders will have to decide for themselves if the extra cost is worth that sort of control and insight.
As mentioned earlier, one of the perks of a PSU as smart as the E850 is the additional protection it can offer to the other expensive parts of the machine. The E-series allows users to achieve that protection through CAM by setting an overcurrent protection manually so that they can protect those expensive components. If the PSU detects a power spike above a certain threshold, that users can customize and set, it will short the PSU and shut off the system protecting the components inside. This is a great perk that a lot of the competitors don't offer and help set the PSU a tier up from some similar models.
Specs
Dimensions 150 x 150 x 86 mm
Material(s) Steel, PCB and plastic
Compliance Standard ATX12V v2.4 / EPS12V v2.92
PF Correction Active@0.99
AC Input Rating 100-240Vac, 12-6A, 50-60Hz
DC Output Rating
Fan Specs Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25mm
Speed: 0-1,800 + 180 RPM
Airflow: 73.9 CFM
Noise: 32.3 dBA
Bearing: FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing)
Hazardous Materials RoHS & China RoHS
Energy Efficiency 80 Plus Gold 20% loading: 87%, 50% loading: 90%, 100% loading: 87% @115Vac
Operation Temperature 0 to 50°C
Regulations & Certifications (EMC & Safety) CB / CE / FCC / TUV / cTUV-SUDus / China CCC / Taiwan BSMI / Australia RCM / EAC
MTBF 100,000 hours
Output Connector(s) 1 x 24-pin ATX power
2 x 4+4-pin CPU power
6 x PCIe (6+2 pin)
8 x SATA
6 x Peripherals
1 x Mini-USB
Included Cables 1 x 24-pin ATX power (length: 610 mm, Nylon sleeving)
2 x 4+4-pin CPU power (length: 650 mm, Nylon sleeving)
3 x PCIe (6+2 pin) (length: 675 +75 mm, Nylon sleeving)
2 x SATA (length: 500 + 100 +100 +100 mm)
2 x Peripherals (length: 500 + 100 +100 mm)
1 x Mini-USB (length: 600mm)
After slotting the new PSU into our build and getting the software up and running, we played through some Destiny 2, Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and Magic: Arena. As expected, there were no performance issues and the whole system managed to maintain a healthy temperature and output throughout multiple lengthy gaming sessions. The CAM insights allowed us to easily monitor real-time wattage indicators for the three 12V rails, along with total uptime and internal temperature.
Although NZXT is best known for its cases and pre-builts in recent years, the E-series power supplies are definitely a solid, reliable PSU choice for builders who don't mind paying a little extra for some additional functionality. The performance and data combined with the peace of mind of a 10-year warranty make this a great choice for PC users on the market for a new PSU.
The NZXT E850 Gaming Power Supply is available now. Game Rant was provided with the power supply for this review.