The power supply, often referred to as the heart of a computer, is a crucial component that determines the overall stability and lifespan of the system. With the recent release of high-end graphics cards, which consume a significant amount of power, a high-output and high-efficiency power supply is essential for long-term stable PC use. Of course, for general users who do not use high-end components, the focus may be more on stability and additional features like low noise rather than excessive output.
The MSI MPG A850GS 80PLUS Gold Full Modular ATX3.1 we are reviewing today is a product that not only offers stability and high efficiency but also boasts Cybernetics Gold certification and the increasingly popular PPLP certification. It supports the latest ATX 3.1 standard and PCIe 5.1, making it suitable for the latest graphics cards like the RTX 50 series or RX 9000 series. As a super low-noise power supply with a LAMBDA A++ rating, it is an attractive option for users seeking a quiet environment. Let’s take a closer look at the features and performance of this product.
Specifications and Configuration
MSI is a global brand well-known for its motherboards and graphics cards, offering a wide range of PC components. Among them, the MPG series is part of MSI’s performance gaming lineup, positioned between the top-tier MEG series and the entry-level MAG series, providing gaming users with high performance and reasonable prices.
Looking at the basic specifications of the MSI MPG A850GS PCIE5, it provides a rated output of 850W and guarantees stable performance even in 50°C environments. With a single 12V rail configuration, it can supply 70.8A, or 849.6W of power, effectively concentrating almost 100% of the total output on the 12V line.
The MSI MPG A850GS 80PLUS Gold Full Modular ATX3.1 has passed the ATX 3.1 PASS certification in all W sections of the CYBENETICS official ATX 3.1 test. The PPLP (PSU Performance Level Plan) certification is a new power supply certification program granted after precise testing with Chroma equipment.
Having achieved 80PLUS Gold certification, it offers high efficiency of over 90% at 115V and 92% at 230V. High power efficiency means less loss during the conversion of input power to output, leading to reduced heat generation and savings on electricity bills.
The package includes the product itself, a full modular cable set, an AC power cable, and mounting screws. The cables are stored in a separate pouch for convenient storage and use.
Appearance and Features
The MSI MPG A850GS PCIE5 is designed with a compact size of 150 x 86 x 140mm. For an 850W power supply, it is relatively short at 150mm in depth, allowing it to fit into most mid-tower cases without issue.
The exterior is entirely black-coated, with the MPG brand logo and MSI’s signature dragon emblem engraved on the side.
High-quality components are used internally, such as server-grade 105°C Rubycon capacitors, and it is equipped with comprehensive protection circuits including OCP (Over Current Protection), OVP (Over Voltage Protection), SCP (Short Circuit Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), OTP (Over Temperature Protection), UVP (Under Voltage Protection), SIP (Surge & Inrush Protection), and NLO (No Load Operation) to protect the system from various abnormal situations.
The full modular design allows you to connect only the cables you need, keeping the case interior tidy and minimizing airflow obstruction from unused cables. The rear modular panel has 10 sockets, with two 12V-2×6 sockets, advantageous for connecting high-performance graphics cards.
The cooling fan is a 135mm FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing) bearing fan. FDB bearings have less friction and a longer lifespan compared to standard sleeve bearings, with advantages like minimizing oil leakage and dust ingress.
It also supports a Smart Zero Fan mode, allowing passive cooling with the fan completely stopping under loads below 60%. This feature can be toggled on and off by the user with a button located next to the rear power connector.
It comes with one ATX 24-pin main cable, two 4+4 pin CPU auxiliary power cables, four 6+2 pin PCIe cables, one 12V-2×6 cable, SATA cables for eight ports, and four-port Molex cables, accommodating various system configurations.
The 12V-2×6 cable features MSI’s unique dual-color design, with the connector part in yellow. This visual cue ensures a secure connection, preventing issues like melted graphics card power connectors due to improper seating.
MSI’s attention to detail is evident in the cables as well. Instead of typical flat cables, a mesh-patterned embossed material is used to enhance durability while allowing flexibility. All cables come with cable holders for neat cable management.
System Configuration and Assembly
For benchmark testing, we configured a system based on the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card.
Before mounting it in the case, we measured each voltage using a power supply tester. The test results showed +12V at 11.04~12.0V, +5V at 5.06V, and +3.3V at 3.32V, all very close to the rated voltages, demonstrating stable output within the voltage fluctuation range allowed by the ATX standard.
The advantage of the full modular design is that you can connect only the cables you need, allowing for neat cable management inside the case, as shown in the photo.
As previously mentioned, the dual-color design of the 12V-2×6 cable allows for more careful and secure installation of the graphics card power cable, which was satisfying.
Benchmarking
We conducted a hardware stress test using OCCT. OCCT is software that applies extreme loads to the CPU, GPU, memory, and power supply to verify system stability. In power test mode, we applied maximum load to both the CPU and GPU simultaneously to check power consumption and stability.
The total power consumption of the system under full load was measured at approximately 538W. There was almost no voltage fluctuation during the test, and the ripple noise on the 12V line remained well below the ATX standard of 120mV.
We also measured power consumption in standby mode. The power consumption when the system was idle on the Windows desktop was about 2W, and since the smart plug-in consumes 1W, the actual consumption can be considered less than 1W.
We measured noise levels as well. The ambient noise was 35.7dBA, and even under full load, it was measured at 36.6dBA, demonstrating significant quietness. Thanks to the zero-fan feature, there is no noise from the power supply during everyday web browsing or document work, allowing for a comfortable working environment, and a quiet system can be maintained even under full load.
Conclusion
The MSI MPG A850GS 80PLUS Gold Full Modular ATX3.1 is an attractive product for users looking to build not only the latest high-end gaming systems but also low-noise, high-performance systems.
It fully supports ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards, offering excellent compatibility with next-generation graphics cards like NVIDIA RTX 50 series or AMD RX 9000 series, and provides a 12V-2×6 connector for clean connections without additional conversion cables.
The 80PLUS Gold and Cybernetics ETA Gold certifications ensure high power efficiency, and with PPLP Gold certification, its excellent performance is also verified. Equipped with server-grade 105°C Rubycon capacitors, DC to DC converter design, and eight protection circuits, it enables stable system operation. Additionally, the generous 7-year warranty reflects MSI’s confidence in the product’s quality.
For those looking to build a high-performance gaming PC with AMD Ryzen 9000 series or Intel Core Ultra series processors and RTX 5070 or higher graphics cards, the MSI MPG A850GS PCIE5 seems to be a reasonable and reliable choice.
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