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[nextpage title=”Introduction”]
The new Commander II series is comprised of 750 W, 850 W, and 1,200 W models, all with 80 Plus Bronze certification and a high-end design with synchronous rectification and DC-DC conversion. In fact, the 850 W model (and only this model) is officially an 80 Plus Silver unit, but In Win decided to downgrade it to 80 Plus Bronze. Let’s see if this new power supply gets our recommendation.
The original Commander series was manufactured by CWT, but the Commander II power supplies are manufactured by Andyson. In fact, the Commander II 850 W is a rebranded Andyson AD-K850AE-D6 and is also sold as Raidmax RX-850AE.
In Win has two different websites (https://www.in-win.com.tw and https://www.inwin-style.com), and this new power supply series can’t be found on either of them. We are always amazed by how many Taiwanese companies have more than one website when they shouldn’t, and don’t have any information when they should.
Figure 1: In Win Commander II 850 W power supply
Figure 2: In Win Commander II 850 W power supply
The In Win Commander II 850 W is 6.5” (165 mm) deep, using a 135 mm ball bearing fan on its bottom (Young Lin DFB132512H, maximum of 1,700 rpm, 91.16 CFM, 36.28 dBA).
This unit has a modular cabling system with six connectors (two for video card power cables and four for SATA and peripheral power cables), and four cables are permanently attached to the power supply. This power supply comes with the following cables:
- Main motherboard cable with a 20/24-pin connector, 21.6” (55 cm) long, permanently attached to the power supply
- One cable with two ATX12V connectors that together form an EPS12V connector, 24.4” (62 cm) long, permanently attached to the power supply
- One cable with one EPS12V connector, 24.4” (62 cm) long, permanently attached to the power supply
- One cable with two six/eight-pin connectors for video cards, 23.6” (60 cm) long, permanently attached to the power supply
- Two cables, each with two six/eight-pin connectors for video cards, 19.7” (50 cm) long, modular cabling system
- Two cables, each with four SATA power connectors, 19.7” (50 cm) to the first connector, 5.9” (15 cm) between connectors, modular cabling system
- Two cables, each with four standard peripheral power connectors and one floppy disk drive power connector, 19.7” (50 cm) to the first connector, 5.9” (15 cm) between connectors, modular cabling system
All wires are 18 AWG, which is the correct gauge to be used.
The cable configuration is excellent for an 850 W product, allowing you to install up to three video cards that require two power connectors each without the need of adapters. However, we’ve seen a few competing products with more SATA power connectors.
Figure 3: Cables
Let’s now take an in-depth look inside this power supply.
[nextpage title=”A Look Inside the In Win Commander II 850 W”]
We decided to disassemble this power supply to see what it looks like inside, how it is designed, and what components are used. Please read our Anatomy of Switching Power Supplies tutorial to understand how a power supply works and to compare this power supply to others.
On this page we will have an overall look, and then in the following pages we will discuss in detail the quality and ratings of the components used.
Figure 4: Top view
Figure 5: Front quarter view
Figure 6: Rear quarter view
Figure 7: The printed circuit board
[nextpage title=”Transient Filtering Stage”]
As we have mentioned in other articles and reviews, the first place we look when opening a power supply for a hint about its quality, is its filtering stage. The recommended components for this stage are two ferrite coils, two ceramic capacitors (Y capacitors, usually blue), one metalized polyester capacitor (X capacitor), and one MOV (Metal-Oxide Varistor). Very low-end power supplies use fewer components, usually removing the MOV and the first coil.
In this power supply, this stage is flawless. It has one X capacitor and four Y capacitors more than the minimum required, plus an X capacitor after the rectification bridges.
Figure 8: Transient filtering stage (part 1)
Figure 9: Transient filtering stage (part 2)
On the next page, we will have a more detailed discussion about the components used in the In Win Commander II 850 W.
[nextpage title=”Primary Analysis”]
On this page we will take an in-depth look at the primary stage of the In Win Commander II 850 W. For a better understanding, please read our Anatomy of Switching Power Supplies tutorial.
This power supply uses two BU1006A rectifying bridges connected in parallel on its primary, which are attached to the same heatsink where the active PFC transistors are located. These components support up to 10 A at 90° C each, so in theory, you would be able to pull up to 2,300 W from a 115 V power grid. Assuming 80% efficiency, the bridges would allow this unit to deliver up to 1,840 W without burning themselves out. Of course, we are only talking about these particular components. The real limit will depend on all the components combined in this power supply.
Figure 10: Rectifying bridges
The active PFC circuit uses two SPW24N60C3 MOSFETs, each supporting up to 24.3 A at 25° C or 15.4 A at 100° C in continuous mode (note the difference temperature makes), or 72.9 A in pulse mode at 25° C. These transistors present a 160 mΩ resistance when turned on, a characteristic called RDS(on). The lower the number the better, meaning that the transistor will waste less power, and the power supply will have a higher efficiency.
Figure 11: Active PFC transistors
This power supply uses two electrolytic capacitors connected in parallel to filter the output of the active PFC circuit. Each capacitor is a 390 µF x 400 V model, which is equivalent to a single 780 µF x 400 V capacitor. These capacitors are Japanese, from Matsushita (Panasonic), and labeled at 105° C.
In the switching section, another two SPW24N60C3 MOSFETs are used, installed in the traditional two-transistor forward configuration. The specifications for these transistors were already discussed above.
Figure 12: Switching transistors
The primary is managed by the omnipresent CM6800 active PFC/PWM combo controller.
Figure 13: Active PFC/PWM combo controller
Let’s now take a look at the secondary of this power supply.
[nextpage title=”Secondary Analysis”]
The In Win Commander II 850 W uses a synchronous rectification. In this design, the rectifying diodes are replaced with transistors in order to increase efficiency. On top of that, this power supply uses a DC-DC design, meaning that the +5 V and +3.3 V outputs are generated by two smaller switching power supplies that are connected to the main +12 V rail. So, this unit is basically a +12 V power supply. This is also done to increase efficiency.
The +12 V output uses five ME80N08A MOSFETs, each one supporting up to 80 A at 25° C in continuous mode or up to 300 A at 25° C in pulse mode, with a maximum RDS(on) of 8.7 mΩ, which is extremely low (i.e., higher efficiency). Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn’t publish the current limits at 100° C. Three of these transistors are used for the direct rectification, and two for the “freewheeling” part of the rectification.
Figure 14: The +12 V transistors
This power supply has two DC-DC modules, one for converting +12 V into +5 V and the other for converting +12 V into +3.3 V. Each module is managed by an APW7073 PWM controller and uses four ME75N03 MOSFETs, each one supporting up to 86 A at 25° C or 70 A at 70° C in continuous mode, or up to 200 A at 25° C in pulse mode, with a maximum RDS(on) of only 9 mΩ.
Figure 15: One of the DC-DC modules
Figure 16: One of the DC-DC modules
This power supply uses a PS232S monitoring integrated circuit, which supports over voltage (OVP), under voltage (UVP), and over current (OCP) protections. This chip has six OCP channels, one for +3.3 V, one for +5 V, and four for +12 V, correctly matching the number of +12 V rails advertised by the power supply manufacturer (four).
Figure 17: Monitoring circuit
The electrolytic capacitors available in the secondary are from Teapo, and are labeled at 105° C.
[nextpage title=”Power Distribution”]
In Figure 18, you can see the power supply label containing all the power specs.
Figure 18: Power supply label
This power supply is sold as having four +12 V rails, which is correct, since this unit has four +12 V over current protection circuits (see previous page), and we could clearly see one “shunt” (current sensor) for each +12 V “rail.” See Figure 19. Click here to understand more about this subject.
Figure 19: Shunts
The four +12 V rails are distributed as follows:
- +12V1: Main motherboard cable and the SATA and peripheral power connectors
- +12V2: The video card power cable that is permanently attached to the power supply and the ATX12V cable
- +12V3: One of the video card power connectors on the modular cabling system
- +12V4: The EPS12V connector, the other video card power connector on the modular cabling system
This distribution is adequate.
How much power can this unit really deliver? Let’s find out.
[nextpage title=”Load Tests”]
We conducted several tests with this power supply, as described in the article Hardware Secrets Power Supply Test Methodology.
First we tested this power supply with five different load patterns, trying to pull around 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of its labeled maximum capacity (actual percentage used listed under “% Max Load”), watching the behavior of the reviewed unit under each load. In the table below, we list the load patterns we used and the results for each load.
If you add all the powers listed for each test, you may find a different value than what is posted under “Total” below. Since each output can have a slight variation (e.g., the +5 V output working at +5.10 V), the actual total amount of power being delivered is slightly different than the calculated value. In the “Total” row, we are using the real amount of power being delivered, as measured by our load tester.
The +12VA and +12VB inputs listed below are the two +12 V independent inputs from our load tester. During this test, the +12VA input was connected to the power supply +12V1 and +12V2 rails, while the +12VB input was connected to the power supply +12V2 rail.
| Input | Test 1 | Test 2 | Test 3 | Test 4 | Test 5 |
| +12VA | 6 A (72 W) | 13 A (156 W) | 18.5 A (222 W) | 25 A (300 W) | 31 A (372 W) |
| +12VB | 6 A (72 W) | 12 A (144 W) | 18.5 A (222 W) | 25 A (300 W) | 31 A (372 W) |
| +5 V | 2 A (10 W) | 4 A (20 W) | 6 A (30 W) | 8 A (40 W) | 10 A (50 W) |
| +3.3 V | 2 A (6.6 W) | 4 A (13.2 W) | 6 A (19.8 W) | 8 A (26.4 W) | 10 A (33 W) |
| +5VSB | 1 A (5 W) | 1.5 A (7.5 W) | 2 A (10 W) | 2.5 A (12.5 W) | 3 A (15 W) |
| -12 V | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) | 0.5 A (6 W) |
| Total | 172.8 W | 347.8 W | 509.4 W | 680.5 W | 845.2 W |
| % Max Load | 20.3% | 40.9% | 59.9% | 80.1% | 99.4% |
| Room Temp. | 44.7° C | 45.3° C | 46.6° C | 49.1° C | 47.6° C |
| PSU Temp. | 50.6° C | 50.3° C | 50.7° C | 52.1° C | 54.2° C |
| Voltage Regulation | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Ripple and Noise | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| AC Power | 205 W | 400.6 W | 589 W | 800 W | 1010 W |
| Efficiency | 84.3% | 86.8% | 86.5% | 85.1% | 83.7% |
| AC Voltage | 115.7 V | 113.5 V | 111.6 V | 109.4 V | 107.2 V |
| Power Factor | 0.987 | 0.995 | 0.997 | 0.998 | 0.998 |
| Final Result | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
The In Win Commander II 850 W can really deliver its labeled power at high temperatures.
Efficiency was high, ranging from 83.7% to 86.8%, surpassing with a good margin the requirements for the 80 Plus Bronze certification. Downgrading this unit to 80 Plus Bronze was a very nice move from In Win, because this unit can’t achieve 80 Plus Silver performance under high temperatures.
Voltage regulation was good. On tests one, two, and three, all positive voltages were within 3% of their nominal values. The -12 V output was outside this tighter range, but still within the allowed range. On tests four and five, the +5 V output exited this tighter range, but was still within the proper tolerance. (This output was at +4.83 V and +4.84 V on these two tests.) The +3.3 V output also dropped below the tighter 3% range during test five, at +3.19 V. The ATX12V specification says positive voltages must be within 5% of their nominal values and negative voltages must be within 10% of their nominal values.
Noise and ripple levels were always very low. Below you can see the results for the power supply outputs during test number five. The maximum allowed is 120 mV for +12 V and -12 V outputs, and 50 mV for +5 V, +3.3 V and +5VSB outputs. All values are peak-to-peak figures.
Figure 20: +12VA input from load tester during test five at 845.2 W (24.2 mV)
Figure 21: +12VB input from load tester during test five at 845.2 W (21.4 mV)
Figure 22: +5V rail during test five at 845.2 W (6.2 mV)
Figure 23: +3.3 V rail during test five at 845.2 W (7.8 mV)
Let’s see if we can pull more than 850 W from this unit.
[nextpage title=”Overload Tests”]
Below, you can see the maximum we could pull from this power supply. We couldn’t pull more than that because the power supply shut down, showing that its protections were working well. During this test noise and ripple levels were still extremely low, however, some voltages were outside the proper range. The +3.3 V output was at +3.00 V, the +5 V output was at +4.68 V, and the +5VSB output was at +4.68 V.
| Input | Overload Test |
| +12VA | 33 A (396 W) |
| +12VB | 33 A (396 W) |
| +5 V | 23 A (115 W) |
| +3.3 V | 23 A (75.9 W) |
| +5VSB | 3 A (15 W) |
| -12 V | 0.5 A (6 W) |
| Total | 985.6 W |
| % Max Load | 116.0% |
| Room Temp. | 43.4° C |
| PSU Temp. | 47.6° C |
| AC Power | 1,251 W |
| Efficiency | 78.8% |
| AC Voltage | 104.9 V |
| Power Factor | 0.999 |
[nextpage title=”Main Specifications”]
The main specifications for the In Win Commander II 850 W power supply include:
- Standards: ATX12V 2.3 and EPS12V 2.91
- Nominal labeled power: 850 W
- Measured maximum power: 985.6 W at 43.4° C ambient
- Labeled efficiency: Between 83.9% and 87.0% at 115 V and between 86.1% and 88.8% at 230 V, 80 Plus Silver certification, downgraded to 80 Plus Bronze by In Win
- Measured efficiency: Between 83.7% and 86.8% at 115 V (nominal, see complete results for actual voltage)
- Active PFC: Yes
- Modular Cabling System: Yes
- Motherboard Power Connectors: One 24-pin connector, two ATX12V connectors that together form an EPS12V connector, and one EPS12V connector, permanently attached to the power supply
- Video Card Power Connectors: One cable with two six/eight-pin connectors permanently attached to the power supply, and two cables with two six/eight-pin connectors each on the modular cabling system
- SATA Power Connectors: Eight on two cables
- Peripheral Power Connectors: Eight on two cables
- Floppy Disk Drive Power Connectors: Two on two cables
- Protections (as listed by the manufacturer): Over voltage (OVP), under voltage (UVP), over current (OCP), over power (OPP), and short-circuit (SCP) protections
- Are the above protections really available? Yes.
- Warranty: Five years
- Real Model: Andyson AD-K850AE-D6
- More Information: https://www.inwin-style.com
- Average Price in the US*: USD 168.00
* Researched at Newegg.com on the day we published this review.
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
The In Win Commander II 850 W is a very nice 850 W power supply, with high efficiency between 83.7% and 86.8%, ultra low noise and ripple levels, and voltages within the proper range. The cable configuration is excellent, allowing you to install up to three video cards that require two power connectors each without the need of adapters.
In Win did the right thing by downgrading this unit from 80 Plus Silver to 80 Plus Bronze, since it has efficiency higher than Bronze, but lower than Silver under high temperatures.
The only problem with this power supply is pricing. At USD 170, it faces some challenges. For example, the Sentey Golden Steel Power 850 W costs USD 160 and is an 80 Plus Gold unit, also with modular cabling system. To make things worse, consumers will compare the Commander II 850 W to other 80 Plus Bronze units, such as the XFX PRO 850 W (USD 120, no modular cabling) and the Corsair TX850 V2 (USD 140), even though this new power supply from In Win offers higher efficiency than these other power supplies.
In summary, it is a good power supply; we only wish that it were cheaper.