Buying Guide
The Best Fully Modular 850W PSUs
Three power supplies ranked on rated output and native 12V-2x6 cable count; the darkFlash DG850 is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
A fully modular 850W unit makes cable routing tidy in a high-end build. Every pick is 850W and fully modular, ordered from the lowest price.
We ranked these power supplies on wattage, native 12V-2x6 cables and warranty using manufacturer specifications; where a maker leaves out native 12V-2x6 cables, we say so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
darkFlash DG850
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for darkFlash DG850 (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Rosewill VMG 850W
Listed support for large GPU power excursions.
Best for: Buyers who want listed support for large GPU power excursions.
Our take Check price for Rosewill VMG 850W (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
CORSAIR SF850 (2024)
A 92mm PWM fan at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Our take Check price for CORSAIR SF850 (2024) (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Spending as little as possible. | Check price for darkFlash DG850 (opens in a new tab) |
| Listed support for large GPU power excursions. | Buyers who want listed support for large GPU power excursions. | Check price for Rosewill VMG 850W (opens in a new tab) |
| A 92mm PWM fan at the highest price in the group. | Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor. | Check price for CORSAIR SF850 (2024) (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
darkFlash DG850 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
darkFlash's DG850 fits 850W into a 140mm body, with a native 12V-2x6 cable and fully modular cables.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when a shorter 5-year warrant is a problem.
Why we like it
Its warranty is 5 years. It is fully modular with a quiet HDB fan, and it carries a 5-year limited warranty with built-in protections. Its 850W output suits high-end CPU and GPU builds.
Like the Rosewill VMG 850W, it has a gold 80 plus rating, while the CORSAIR SF850 uses a platinum 80 plus rating. It also offers multi-protection circuitry. The darkFlash DG850 comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter.
At 140mm deep, compare it with your case's PSU clearance before buying. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Rosewill VMG 850W was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wattage: 850W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables: 1
- Warranty: 5 years
- Depth: 140mm
- 80 Plus rating: Gold
- ATX version: ATX 3.1
- Form factor: ATX
- Cabling: Fully modular
- Colour: Black
Pros
- A 850W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- A short 140mm body
- ATX 3.1 compliance
Cons
- A shorter 5-year warranty
Also Consider2 of 3
Rosewill VMG 850W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Rosewill's VMG 850W offers a native 12V-2x6 cable and support for large GPU power spikes, on a fully modular 80 Plus Gold design.
Best for
- Buyers who want listed support for large GPU power excursions.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: a shorter 5-year warranty.
Why we like it
Its compact 140mm-deep chassis is 35% smaller than a standard ATX unit, which helps in small cases. Six protections guard against overcurrent, overpower, overtemperature, overvoltage, short circuit and undervoltage. Its steel shell has large vents, and a 120mm FDB fan handles cooling.
It lists ATX 3.0 and 3.1 support, a 12V-2x6 cable and a 120mm FDB fan. Like the darkFlash DG850, it has a gold 80 plus rating, while the CORSAIR SF850 uses a platinum 80 plus rating. The Rosewill VMG 850W comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter.
No depth is rated for the Rosewill VMG 850W, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay. When we checked, only the darkFlash DG850 cost less, and the CORSAIR SF850 cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wattage: 850W
- Native 12V-2x6 cables: 1
- Warranty: 5 years
- 80 Plus rating: Gold
- Form factor: ATX
- Cabling: Fully modular
- Fan: 120mm
- Colour: Black
Pros
- A 850W rating
- A native 12V-2x6 cable for 16-pin cards
- Fully modular cables
- Listed support for large GPU power excursions
Cons
- A shorter 5-year warranty
- Costs more than the darkFlash DG850 at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 3
CORSAIR SF850 (2024) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the CORSAIR SF850 brings to the table is a 92mm PWM fan, plus 105°C-rated Japanese capacitors.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Skip if
- The maker gives no native 12V-2x6 cable count, so look elsewhere if that figure decides it for you.
Why we like it
A platinum 80 plus rating is unique to it among these picks, while the Rosewill VMG 850W uses a gold 80 plus rating. The CORSAIR SF850 has no stated native 12V-2x6 cable; confirm the cable kit before pairing it with a 16-pin card. No depth is rated for the CORSAIR SF850, so check the maker's page against your case's PSU bay.
It also brings fully modular cables. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Rosewill VMG 850W. If rated output is your priority, the darkFlash DG850 (850W) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wattage: 850W
- 80 Plus rating: Platinum
- ATX version: ATX 3.0
- Form factor: SFX
- Cabling: Fully modular
- Fan: 92mm
- Colour: Black
Pros
- A 850W rating
- 80 Plus Platinum efficiency
- Fully modular cables
- 92mm PWM fan
Cons
- No published native 12V-2x6 cable count
- No published warranty
- Costs more than the darkFlash DG850 at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up three power supplies on rated output, native 12V-2x6 cable count, warranty and 80 Plus rating, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the darkFlash DG850 to the CORSAIR SF850, state rated output, 80 Plus rating and form factor and share Fully modular cabling and Black colour.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The CORSAIR SF850 gives no native 12V-2x6 cable count; the CORSAIR SF850 gives no warranty.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the darkFlash DG850 ($50 to $100) to the CORSAIR SF850 ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a Fully Modular 850W PSUs
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
ATX version
The darkFlash DG850 lists ATX 3.1; the CORSAIR SF850 lists ATX 3.0. Settle this first, then compare prices.
Setup checks
The darkFlash DG850 comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. The CORSAIR SF850 has no stated native 12V-2x6 cable; confirm the cable kit before pairing it with a 16-pin card.
Extras that separate them
The darkFlash DG850: multi-protection circuitry. The Rosewill VMG 850W: a compact build Rosewill markets for smaller cases. The CORSAIR SF850: 105°C-rated Japanese capacitors.
How much to spend
$50 to $100 buys the darkFlash DG850 and the Rosewill VMG 850W; $150 to $250 buys the CORSAIR SF850 at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Spending as little as possible: the darkFlash DG850. Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor: the CORSAIR SF850.
How to Choose a Fully Modular 850W PSUs
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible | darkFlash DG850 | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want listed support for large GPU power excursions | Rosewill VMG 850W | Listed support for large GPU power excursions |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor | CORSAIR SF850 | A 92mm PWM fan at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The darkFlash DG850, the Rosewill VMG 850W and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Power supplie | Wattage | Native 12V-2x6 cables | Warranty | 80 Plus rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| darkFlash DG850 | 850W | 1 | 5 years | Gold |
| Rosewill VMG 850W | 850W | 1 | 5 years | Gold |
| CORSAIR SF850 | 850W | Not listed | Not listed | Platinum |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The darkFlash DG850 was the lowest-priced pick and the CORSAIR SF850 the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Power supplies |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | darkFlash DG850, Rosewill VMG 850W |
| About $150 to $250 | CORSAIR SF850 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the CORSAIR SF850 our Premium Pick pick?
It earns the label for a 92mm PWM fan at the highest price in the group. It suits buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Do the darkFlash DG850 and the CORSAIR SF850 differ on 80 Plus rating?
The darkFlash DG850 and the Rosewill VMG 850W use Gold; the CORSAIR SF850 uses platinum.
Will the darkFlash DG850 work with my setup?
The darkFlash DG850 comes with a native 12V-2x6 cable, so a 16-pin card plugs in without an adapter. In this guide it ranks first of 3, as our Lowest Price Here pick.
What extras do the darkFlash DG850 and the Rosewill VMG 850W include?
The darkFlash DG850: 850W in a 140mm body. The Rosewill VMG 850W: listed support for large GPU power excursions. The CORSAIR SF850: a 92mm PWM fan.
Who should choose the darkFlash DG850?
The darkFlash DG850 carries our Lowest Price Here label for the lowest price of the group at our last check. It ranks first of 3 here.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the darkFlash DG850, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the Rosewill VMG 850W for listed support for large GPU power excursions and the CORSAIR SF850 for a 92mm PWM fan at the highest price in the group if those matter more to you.
Use the cables that came with the unit; modular cables differ by brand.