Final Thoughts and Conclusions
The Enigma 850W power supply is Riotoro’s first entry into the burgeoning PC power supply market. Riotoro appears to be targeting main stream PC users with their new Enigma series, shooting for the sweet-spot that balances real-world performance, reliability, and price. To that end, the Enigma 850W power supply comes with basic features and not a lot of frills. This is a tough market that is already filled with numerous brands and models all hoping you will select their PSU for your next build or upgrade.
The new Riotoro Enigma 850W power supply produced very good DC voltage regulation with all of the three main outputs staying within ±2% of the target values. The power supply also exhibited very good efficiency, meeting the criteria for 80 Plus Gold certification even while operating on 120 VAC and at elevated temperatures. The AC ripple and suppression was however a bit of a mixed bag. The +3.3V and +5V rails stayed low and well under control but the more important +12V output was higher than we would like to see, still well within the range of the ATX guidelines. The Enigma PSU uses a 140mm variable speed cooling fan that starts out and stays relatively quiet through 50% load.
The Riotoro Enigma 850W PSU features semi-modular cables, which I personally like, but at this power level some users will be looking for a second 8-pin EPS cable/connector and another pair of PCI-E connectors, preferably on dedicated cables. And while the Great Wall build-quality appears very good, Riotoro’s decision to opt for 85°C primary capacitors and a sleeve bearing fan didn’t win extra points for longevity. This also makes it harder to differentiate the upper level Enigma series from the more entry level Onyx power supplies that we will be reviewing in the near future. However, the Enigma 850W PSU does come with a 5-year warranty versus the 3-years offered with the Onyx series.
The Riotoro Enigma 850W power supply should be entering retail channels by the time you read this review with an introductory price $119.99 USD. That seems a little high for a new player trying to enter the market given the stiff competition. The Enigma 850W is virtually identical to the Corsair CS850M, which is also selling for $119.99 USD but only has a 3-year warranty. Another popular brand is EVGA with their comparable 850W GQ power supply that is selling for $109.99USD.
Overall, the Enigma 850W PSU is a good first effort by the folks at Riotoro and compares favorably with the competition but lacks any major compelling reason to buy their product over one of the established brands. We would really like to see a nice ball bearing or Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan and 105°C capacitors used in future Enigma series power supplies.
Good luck and welcome to the jungle!
Strengths:
• Very good voltage regulation (±2% on the three main outputs)
• Very good efficiency (80Plus Gold certified)
• 140mm fan is quiet through mid-power levels
• +12V output can deliver up to 70.8A (849.6W)
• Japanese made primary capacitors
• Active PFC with universal AC input
• Modular, ribbon style cables
• Safety protections: OVP, UVP, OCP, OPP, and SCP
• 5-Year warranty
Weaknesses:
• Introductory price seems high compared to the established competition
• A few additional cables/connectors would be nice at this power level
• 85°C primary capacitors and sleeve bearing fan
Riotoro Enigma 850W Power Supply
Our thanks to Riotoro for sending us the Enigma 850W PSU to review.
Edit: Riotoro just informed us the Enigma 850W PSU will be available mid-March on amazon.com and the riotoro.com website and will be selling for $109.99 USD. Customers that preorder from riotoro.com can get an additional 10% discount and free shipping by using the coupon code RIOTOROPSU.
Is there any PSU with fan(s)
Is there any PSU with fan(s) capable of evicting the heat equivalent of its nominal power?
Yes, most any enthusiast
Yes, most any enthusiast grade PSU uses a fan capable of exhausting the waste heat generated at 100% load. You might also want to consider how much noise is generated at that level and the quality of the fan. A cheap fan that fails early will most likely take the PSU with it.
Literal rip-off of the
Literal rip-off of the legendary AX 850 of Corsair’s (OEMed from SeaSonic), except this one’s worse because it’s not fully modular and probably has sub-par chokes.
As the reviewer pointed out,
As the reviewer pointed out, the Enigma 850W is made by the same OEM as The Corsair CS850M (not the AX850). And I would say that being semi modular is better than being fully modular. It’s not like those 24 pin ATX and 4 pin CPU cables are optional. Not having the extra connectors on the front of the power supply just eliminates potential problems (oxidation, extra voltage drop, etc.) and gives a little more flexibility to the cables for easier routing.
Really?
A “silver award” for
Really?
A “silver award” for a product that has competition at it’s price-point that is fully modular?
Then there is the “suspect quality” of some of the parts used in this device as noted by another more skillful reviewer on another web site.
Lee ought to retire before his “cream puff” reviews short him out.
Dude, who pissed in your
Dude, who pissed in your Wheaties? I have to agree with the Silver award. It seems this power supply has enough good things going for it to earn a little recognition, but not ready for Gold. And as the reader above pointed out being fully modular is not an advantage, it’s a disadvantage! I’ve been working in IT support for over 12 years so I know a little about PCs and power supplies.
The main reason manufacturers build fully modular power supplies is to save labor, which saves them money. It does not offer any advantage to the user. Modular connectors can be soldered on machines but fixed cables require hand soldering. A semi modular power supply offers the best combination of reliability and flexibility.
I for one appreciate the power supply reviews these guys provide and I hope they keep them coming for a long time.