XFX Pro Series Core Edition Power Supply Review

Introduction:

XFX is a division of PINE Technology Holdings Limited, a respected and world-renowned presence in the gaming industry. PINE designs, develops, manufactures and distributes high-performance graphics cards and computer peripherals. Founded in 1989, PINE’s main headquarters are situated in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong SAR). The company has two state-of-the-art research and development facilities in Taiwan and Shenzhen, technical support offices in the US, Europe and Asia, a factory in China and now sells its products in over 50 countries.

XFX are perhaps best known for their high performance ATI and NVIDIA graphics cards and motherboards. Power supplies are a relatively new venture for company. The XFX Black and XXX edition power supplies, their first offerings, proved popular and performed very well and are now joined by three new power supplies. The XFX Pro Series Core Edition power supply range retains the industrial theme of their predecessors, include a 650W, 750W and 850W variant, 80 Plus Bronze efficiency and come with a fully wired cable set.

Closer Look:

The basic package design used for the XFX Pro Series Core Edition power supplies is basically the same apart from a few minor changes that reflect the different power supply wattages and output currents. The theme is black with the background in satin and a grid of small gloss squares randomly covering different areas of the box. The front face of the box shows a gloss photograph of the power supply, large XFX logo, the power supply model and a set of smaller logos which include Japan Caps, Crossfire Ready, SLI Ready and 80 Plus Bronze

The only change on the front face of the XFX Pro Series Core Edition power supply boxes is the model number.

The rear face of the box explains the EasyRail technology used for the power (more on this later) and clearly shows the five year warranty.

The top face of the box explains some of the main features of the XFX Pro Series Core Edition power supply. The small circular yellow graphic in the top left hand corner is a true wattage guarantee which is exactly what it says, a guarantee that unlike some other power supplies, these units will deliver their rated wattage continuously at the more realistic working temperature of 50°C.

The only change on the top face of the box across the range is again the model number.

The bottom face of the box gives a list of other features, connector types and quantities along with a specification table and agency approval logos.

Obviously each power supply requires a different specification table as well as power supply model.

The XFX Pro Series Core Edition power supplies come in a box within a box.

Lift the lid and the user manual (same one across the range) sits in the center of its own cardboard tray. Remove the tray and power supply sits neatly in the center of the box, power cord hidden in the section on the right and the captive cable set hidden in the left hand section. The use of cardboard spacers top and bottom ensures the power supply is adequately protected from impact damage and should survive the rigours of most postal systems.

The power supply and full box contents which are a little sparse as there are no cable ties, velcro straps nor anti-vibration mounts. There is a user manual, power cord and mounting screws.

The XFX Pro Series Core Edition power supplies are well packaged but lack a few accessories that are often included with other high-end power supplies like cable ties. But it’s not the end of the world so let’s move on and have a closer look at the power supply.