Lepa B-Series 850W - The Leopard Attacks

Conclusion

The Lepa B850-MA offers great quality and performance for its price. The ripple and noise results on each output are moderate, and the same applies to the acoustic noise levels. This PSU had no problem with our crossload tests. The connector configuration is outstanding since Lepa installed six PCIe plugs. Only those who need a large number of Molex connectors are likely to find the connections insufficient.

Inside of the PSU the input filtering and the safety functions are satisfying—just as expected. Lepa (Sirtec) uses a high-quality material for all printed circuit boards. Often the ICs are soldered on PCBs that are made out of laminated paper. The choice of the capacitors and semiconductors is not significantly different from what other manufacturers use. A striking feature is the regulation of all output voltages, as they get raised or lowered separately; +5V and 3.3V are controlled via magnetic amplifiers. The output wires in the power supply are secured with cable ties, and internally there's a lot of space for cooling the output chokes. This is not (only) relevant for the choke as the surrounding components, such as capacitors and rectifier diodes, get warmed up.

During the load test, the efficiency isn't the highest we've seen (not even the highest 80 Plus Bronze), but it meets the requirements for the certification and is high enough for mainstream users . At 10% load efficiency reaches nearly 80%, but the power factor is about 0.700, which is a poor result. Things improve once loads get above 20% and particularly at 50% and higher. In addition we have to criticize the relatively high ripple and noise at +3.3V during full load; nevertheless, all output voltages work within specification. The fan is relatively quiet at first and no electronic interference can be heard. At high load the RPMs are much higher so we wouldn't call it silent or even quiet, but most computers won't reach sucn a load without generating noise from GPU and CPU fans, so the overall noise should be passable for most users.

As mentioned already, the six PCIe connectors are a noteworthy addition, even if there are two per harness. The number of CPU and SATA connectors is also beneficial. However, only one Molex plug per peripheral cable (four pieces all in all) may create some difficulties with wiring in some scenarios. In addition the Molex connectors are all at the end of the harnesses; two or three connectors on a single harness would be more flexible in many PCs, especially if you have to sacrifice one for the FDD adapter. The package contents are similar to what other manufacturers offer, but the cable sleeving could be better. However, this is a matter of taste and has nothing to do with the qualitative assessment of the power supply itself.

In summary, Lepa makes a fair impression. We didn't find any significant issues during testing, and the current price of $110 for the B850 (with free shipping) is very impressive—or if you prefer, Newegg has it for $120 with a $40 MIR. The Corsair TX850 V2 with its 5-year warranty and the XFX Black Edition Series are noteworthy competitors, though both require a mail-in rebate to get the pricing close to that of the Lepa and the Lepa still has a large MIR if you're willing to go that route. Most good quality 800W-900W power supplies are even more expensive and offer fewer connectors than the B850, though we have to mention the PC Power and Cooling 80 Plus Silver PSU (also manufactured by Sirtec) as one option with a similarly low price (after rebate)—but it lacks the modular cabling. Overall, we're impressed with what Lepa offers for a very reasonable price; it's not the best performing power supply, but for $110 it definitely provides a good price/performance ratio for a moderately high output PSU.