Introduction

We would like to thank Bitfenix for supplying the review sample.

The last PSU we reviewed from Bitfenix was the Fury 750G, and it didn't impress us very much because of its high price and rather average performance. The company has now introduced another PSU series, but is also working with a different OEM. The fresh Whisper units are made by Channel Well Technology (CWT), the same manufacturer as for the excellent platform in Corsair's RMx and RMi units. This means that we can expect pretty good results from these Whisper models - they hopefully won't let us down like the Fury 750G did almost two years ago.



The Whisper line consists of five members with capacities ranging from 450 W to 850 W, which covers the entry and moderate wattage categories. All units are fully modular and 80 PLUS Gold certified, which makes the EVGA G2/G3 and Corsair RMx models competitors. However, neither of those lines feature a 450 W model while the Whisper series does. But there are also no 1 kW or higher capacity Whisper units, at least for now. Most users don't need such strong PSUs, though, which also makes the mainstream and moderate wattage categories the most popular.

Specifications

The BWG850M is Gold certified, has a fully modular cable design, features a 50°C temperature rating for continuous full load delivery, and includes all protections. It is also compatible with Intel's C6 and C7 power states, which means it can deliver its full load on the minor rails without running into any problems with load regulation while the load at +12V is set to no more than 0.1 A, which is the absolute minimum.

The unit's cooling is taken care of by an HDB fan, which isn't supported by a semi-passive operation. If the fan's minimum speed is set low, noise output will be equally low, and there is, as such, no need for a passive phase, which would also increase internal temperatures. The BWG850M is small for its capacity, but its 7-year warranty is long. Its suggested retail price is also reasonable. Considering that MSRP's are usually significantly higher than actual street prices, we might see this PSU in stores for less than $110.


There are four +12V rails. Two of these have a lower OCP triggering point. The +12V rails that handle all six PCIe connectors (or four PCIe connectors and the second EPS connector) obviously have a significantly higher OCP triggering point. At 120 W maximum power output, the minor rails are quite strong, but the 5VSB is only set to 2.5 A maximum current output, though it has absolutely no problem with delivering more than 3 A when necessary.

Cables & Connectors, Power Distribution

This PSU is equipped with an adequate number of connectors, but note that not all six PCIe connectors and the two EPS connectors are available at the same time. Some high-end 850 W PSUs offer all of the above at the same time, but we believe that such is too much for 850 W since three overclocked VGAs and an energy hungry CPU will definitely push a PSU with a capacity of 850 W beyond its limit.


The first +12V rail is for the 24-pin ATX cable and all peripheral and SATA connectors, while the second +12V rail handles the first EPS connector. The other two +12V rails handle all PCIe cables. This PSU has two EPS cables with a connector each. You will, as such, have to sacrifice a PCIe cable if you need to connect another EPS cable. Bitfenix did well by not providing an additional EPS socket since two of those and six PCIe connectors are too much for a 850 W PSU.

Packaging

The box has a rather serious design with a black background. At the package's front is a picture of the PSU's fan grille with Bitfenix's nice logo as its centerpiece. Two badges in the top-right corner make mention of the 7-year warranty and 80 PLUS Gold certification.


On the sides is a features and technical specifications list, in multiple languages.


A scheme around the back shows all available cables and connectors, and mentions their lengths. Our trusty measuring tape showed that the information on how long each cable is isn't terribly accurate. The PCIe cables are longer, while the SATA cables are a bit shorter, and the 4-pin Molex cables are 5 cm longer at up to the first connector.

On this side of the box are the power specifications table, a scheme showing the PSU's dimensions, and a graph depicting the fan's speed, dependent on load. An ambient over 25°C for the latter would have been nice since 25°C is rather unrealistic when it comes to the ambient temperature inside a PC.

Contents

Bitfenix used packing foam inside the box to ensure the unit is well protected.


The bundle includes a pouch for storing any unused modular cables, several zip ties, and a set of fixing bolts.


The user's manual is common to all members of the Whisper family.