The release of the new PCI-SIG ATX 3.1 guidelines and the introduction of a safer 12V-2×6 power connector design have prompted PSU manufacturers to update their current products with new versions. Because the new standard is compatible with existing designs, manufacturers need much less effort to provide a safer and more robust platform that ensures stable power delivery to your computers despite high power variances. , spikes, and most importantly, protection from some of the problems that occurred with previous 16-pin connector designs. Thus, XPG has launched its new Core Reactor II VE series.

XPG Core Reactor II VE 850W 80 Plus Gold PSU Specifications

The unit we have today is ADATA XPG Core Reactor II VE 850W Which is an 80 Plus Gold rated PSU that delivers up to 87% efficiency when running at full load. It also comes in a fully modular design and is Cybernetics LAMBDA/ETA certified with both Platinum and A- ratings respectively. The PSU's maximum power exertion is rated up to 235% of the PSU's rated power for 100us (1997W).

Coming to the specifications, the XPG Core Reactor II VE 850W 80 Plus Gold PSU offers a maximum DC output of 850 Watts and an active PFC. The PSU is fully compliant with Intel's C6 and C7 power states and has an operating temperature of up to 40C while the Japanese bulk capacitors are rated up to 450V and 105C. The PSU is fully IEC/EN 62638 certified. The entire unit weighs 1.45 kg.

Some of the protection features you'll find on the XPG Core Reactor II ATX 3.0 Series PSUs include:

• 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)

Cooling is provided by a top-mounted semi-fanless FDB 120mm fan. The fan itself is a non-PWM and fluid dynamic bearing design. XPG ships its Core Reactor II VE series PSUs with a 7-year warranty and is currently listed at $119 US, which is $20 more than the standard ATX 3.0 offering.

Some of the key features of the XPG Core Reactor II VE Series include:

• ATX 3.1 compatible
• 12V-2×6 connector
• DC-DC Circuit Design
• Low ripple noise design
• >15ms hold up time
• 8 Industrial Considerations
• Length of 140 mm
• 135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) Fan
• Fully modular cabling design

XPG Core Reactor II VE 850W 80 Plus Gold PSU unboxing and close-up

The XPG Core Reactor II VE comes in a large red package with a picture of the PSU on the front alongside the XPG brand ambassador, Meera (an anime character).

The previous section also offers a list of features that we have detailed above. You can see the various cables and connectors that come with the package along with its features.

Opening the package reveals the PSU itself, along with a pouch containing all the cables and case stickers.

The PSU itself is packed in a plastic cover.

It's a 140mm chassis that manages it inside small and convenient PC cases. The exact dimensions of the PSU are 140x150x86mm.

Keeping the design simple, we find the power in plug and the power on/off switch at the back. There are also large exhaust vents to expel hot air from the PSU chassis.

Now depending on how you use the PSU, the bottom panel reads specifications and power ratings. The PSU is rated for a maximum output of 70.8A and 850W through 12V rails.

The sides of the PSU have XPG Core Reactor II VE labels.

Coming to connectors, there are 1 PCIe 12+4 (12V-2×6), five PCI-e 6+2-pin connectors, one ATX 24-pin (14+10 pin) connector, and two 4-pin Molex connectors.

Cables inside the packaging pouch include an ATX 20+4 pin, a 600mm 12V-2×6 cable, two 8-pin CPU cables, 4 PCIe 8-pin cables, and 3 peripheral cables.

Finally, we have a 120mm fan with different profiles that enable it to run in silent mode when the load is low and increase the fan speed when needed.

Impressions

It is good to see that PSU manufacturers are adopting the latest PCI-SIG standards as soon as they are announced. The final ATX 3.0 standard was designed to meet current CPU and GPU design requirements but with a more robust and secure power connector layout in the form of the ATX 3.1 standard to ensure stable power delivery and high performance. A new standard was quickly devised. and 12V-2×6 connector. The new standard is compatible with existing PSUs, which has allowed companies to introduce their latest products to the market so quickly and can be easily purchased off store shelves today.

XPG's Core Reactor II VE Series is the ATX 3.1 update to the Core Reactor II series, offering secure operation in a fully modular design to ensure easy compatibility with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 40 GPUs. For 12V-2×6 comes with 600mm in cable length. The price makes them a worthy choice in the $100 US range.