XPG Core Reactor 850W Review: Best Power Supply In Its Budget?

This is our review of the XPG Core Reactor 850W Power Supply Unit. If you are new to building PCs then you must have not given priority to the Power Supply. And while this may sound annoying, because everyone has already said the same, but a power supply unit is arguably one of the most underrated components to take into account while building a PC. So if you are looking for a Power Supply Unit and have a budget of 130$ to 150$ then you might want to consider XPG Core Reactor 850W PSU.

XPG Core Reactor 850W Review

Here are the features that the XPG Core Reactor 850W offers you. To better understand it we have divided them into the following parts:

• Box Contents
  
• Fan Speed
  
• 80 Plus Gold Protection
  
• Protections it offers
  
• Power Specs
  
• Design
  
• Performance

Box Contents

Here is what you get when you buy the XPG Core Reactor 850 Gold.

• XPG Core Reactor Gold Power Supply Unit: 1
  • Its dimensions in WxLxH are 150x140x86mm
• AC Power Cord: 1
• DC Modular Cable Pack:
  • ATX Cable 24 pin (20+4) of length 650mm: 1
  • EPS/ATX12V 8 pin (4+4) cables of length 650mm: 2
  • PCIe 8 pin (6+2) cables of length 650mm: 2
  • PCIe 8 pin with 2 (6+2) cables of length 650mm: 2
  • SATA cables (4 SATA) of length 500mm: 3
  • Peripheral cables (4-pin) of length 500mm: 1
• DC Modular Cable Storage Bag: 1
• Thumb Screw: 4
• Cable Ties: 10
• User Manual: 1

Fan Speed

One of the most important things to keep in mind while buying a PSU is the fan speed. Not only do you take into account how quiet it can be while performing at its max capacity. But also the fan’s rotation speed, it is described using RPM (Rotations Per Minute). A good fan ensures that the heat can escape efficiently. This leads to a cooler CPU, which in turn lets you PC perform better. The fan you get with the XPG Core Reactor 850W is of 120mm. Here is the fan’s speed under different load conditions, based on our testing:

• 10% to 40% load: On average between 630 to 680 RPM.
• 50% load: 1135 RPM
• 60% load: 1257 RPM
• 70% load: 1428 RPM
• 80% load: 1563 RPM
• 90% load: 1646 RPM
• Full load: 1785 RPM

80 Plus Gold Protection

If you are a beginner and new to PC building then you should always check if the PSU you are buying has an 80 Plus rating. It is there to make sure the power supply you are going for has 80% or greater efficiency at different loads. But 80 Plus protection white is still outdated. The rating you should go for is 80 Plus Gold. And for a bare minimum, it should be at least bronze. Thankfully, the XPG Core Reactor 850W PSU comes with an 80 Plus Gold rating. So when it comes to efficiency. It is easily one of the best options available that you can rely on.

Protections it offers

The most important role of a PSU is to regulate the power it receives and distribute it to the components. It has to make sure the components are not only able to handle the power they receive but also able to use it efficiently. And the biggest role is to make sure the components don’t falter when there is a case of too much power being drawn or a short circuit to name a few. Here are the protections that XPG Core Reactor 850W PSU provides:

• Over Current Protection (OCP)
• Over Voltage Protection (OVP)
• Under Voltage Protection (UVP)
• Over Power Protection (OPP)
• Short Circuit Protection (SCP)
• Over Temperature Protection (OTP)
• No Load Operation (NLO)
• Surge and Inrush Protection (SIP)

Power Specs

Design and build

The XPG 850 W PSU has a strong built and regular size. Its dimensions in WxLxH are 150x140x86mm, so you should have no problem fitting it in your cabinet, and it should be compatible with most cabinets in general.

Performance

It is safe to say you can use it comfortably for gaming. We used it with our system that has 16GB RAM, Intel Core i7, and Nvidia RTX 3080. The fan sounds were noticeable but not bothersome. And we tested it with games like Elden Ring, Stray, and Valorant. Aside from gaming if you do video editing or are a content creator then this PSU is an ideal choice. Especially due to the fact that its maximum power is 850W, so you can go for it if you plan on upgrading your system in the future. This is one component less to worry about.

Verdict

XPG Core Reactor 850W is a very close in terms of price to the options available in the market and comes at 139$. I suggest you wait for some deals or offers to get it for an even better price but you can still go for it. And if you are a gamer or a content creator this is one of the good options you could buy. Its build quality and design are good. The performance you get with the low fan noise. And the Industrial grade protection it gives you. These are some of the factors that make it a good purchase.

That sums up this review of the XPG Core Reactor 850W. If you like to check our reviews on other hardware and games check out our Review section. And for more things gaming check out Gamer Tweak.