Confused about the actual differences between EVGA White and Bronze PSUs? You’re not alone and we can help!
The short answer is that EVGA’s White line is smaller and features only 500W & 600W PSUs, while the Bronze line features a more extensive range from 450W to 850W. Additionally, White has fewer overall features than Bronze, especially in regard to power efficiency, warranty, etc.
That’s a quick summary, but there are plenty of details to cover before definitively choosing between these two options.
Lots of the questions around the White and Bronze PSUs have to do with the 80 Plus ratings attached to EVGA’s power supplies. Every one of their PSUs has one of these ratings, but what do they mean? Is there really a difference between 80 PLUS White and 80 PLUS Bronze?
We’ve done all the digging to help you figure all of this out and determine exactly which of these options best fits your PC.
Overall EVGA White & Bronze PSU Comparison
EVGA’s White-certified line is very small and only includes 500W and 600W PSUs. The White-certified products are somewhat less expensive than their Bronze counterparts, but they’re also not as well reviewed or as widely recommended by users.
The White models are also very barebones; they don’t have any frills or advanced features you’d see on higher-priced PSUs, and they tend to have lower outputs and tolerances than their Bronze counterparts.
The Bronze line, on the other hand, includes PSUs with capacities ranging from 450W to 850W, many of which are semi or fully modular. Though they aren’t the fanciest PSUs out there, many models in the Bronze-certified line include features like improved fan bearings, additional connectivity options, more durable and heat-tolerant constructions that you won’t find on the White line.
Many of the Bronze units also come with longer warranties than the White units, which can be interpreted as EVGA having greater confidence in their longevity.
Our Recommendation: Our TLDR recommendation here would be go to with the 750w Bronze (here’s a link to its current price on Amazon) over any of the White options, as long as it meets your power output needs. And if you want to strike an even better balance for not much more money, bump up to the 850w Gold (here’s a link to its current price also on Amazon).
Individual White & Bronze PSU Comparison
The first thing you’ll notice about EVGA’s current slate of PSUs is that there are fewer 80 PLUS White than 80 PLUS Bronze models available. A lot fewer, actually.
EVGA currently lists only three 80 PLUS White-rated PSUs on its website, a selection that pales in comparison to their twenty different 80 PLUS Bronze-rated models.
Before getting into the broad strokes comparisons between the two lines, let’s start with an apples-to-apples comparison between the 500W and 600W Bronze and White models:
500W Models
There are two 500W-capacity White models and three 500W-capacity Bronze models.
Similarities:
- Identical wattages
- All single-rail
- 3-year warranties
- 120mm fans
- Same safety features and certifications
- Active PFC
Differences:
- White models have slightly lower DC outputs
- Bronze models are more efficient
- Bronze models use long sleeve and fluid dynamic fan bearings
- Bronze models have more Molex 4 pin sizes
- Bronze models are slightly more expensive; $64.99 and $69.99 vs $54.99
600W Models
EVGA’s site currently lists one 600W White-certified model and three 600 Bronze-certified models.
Similarities:
- All single-rail
- Same safety features and certifications
- Same input voltage
- Same fan size
Differences:
- 600 BQ Bronze model is semi modular
- Bronze models are more efficient
- White model has lower DC outputs across the board
- Bronze models have long sleeve and fluid dynamic fan bearings
- Bronze models have more SATA 5-pin and Molex 4-pin output cable ports
- Bronze models are slightly more expensive; $74.99, $69.99, and $79.99 vs $64.99
What Exactly is 80 Plus?
The 80 PLUS certification program started back in 2004 as a way to encourage manufacturers to make more energy efficient PSUs. 80 PLUS is voluntary—and not legally enforced—so it took a few years to catch on, but over time PSU manufacturers realized the value of designing certification-ready PSUs.
Greater energy efficiency means less heat generation, and less heat generation means less fan noise and less heat-related wear and tear; all of which were turned into selling points for 80 PLUS-compliant PSUs.
Perhaps more important than the physical benefits of greater energy efficiency, however, was the market’s growing appetite for greener technology. Suddenly energy efficiency was a major selling point, and by the time the decade ended just about every PSU came with an 80 PLUS certification sticker proudly displayed on its packaging.
So that’s all well and good, but what does 80 PLUS actually mean in terms of performance?
Energy Efficiency 80 PLUS Power Factors
The 80 PLUS rating system is fairly straightforward. All it means is that a PSU is at least 80% energy efficient at 20%, 50%, and 100% of its max load as well as having a power factor of 0.9 or greater at 100% load.
A PSU’s energy efficiency is measured by dividing its output power by its input power. If a power supply drew 1000W at full load and output 800W (with 200W of waste heat), for example, that PSU would be operating at 80% efficiency.
A PSU’s power factor is somewhat similar to its efficiency, just a little harder to calculate and understand (unless you’re an electrician or electrical engineer).
The power factor of a PSU is calculated as a ratio of the real/effective power it draws versus the apparent power that actually makes it into the circuit. Power factors range between -1 to 1, with anything lower than 1 meaning the system in question draws more current than it actually uses.
A higher power factor means a PSU draws only a bit more current than it needs, which is obviously a big plus for more environmentally conscious users.
A Breakdown of the 80 PLUS Ratings
There are six color-coded 80 PLUS certification tiers: White, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium.
White, the lowest tier, hits the bare minimum qualifications with 80% efficiency levels at 20%, 50%, and 100% of maximum load.
Bronze, the next tier, hits 82%, 85%, and 82% efficiency at 20%, 50%, and 100%, of maximum load, respectively.
For comparison, PSUs that qualify for the Titanium tier have 92%, 94%, and 90% efficiency levels at 20, 50, and 100% max loads.
It’s important to note that a PSU’s 80 PLUS rating isn’t necessarily indicative of its quality. It’s easier to achieve high efficiency ratings with higher-capacity PSUs, for one, so it’s tough to find lower-capacity Gold, Platinum, and Titanium-tier models.
The test itself can also be gamed; some more unscrupulous PSU manufacturers and resellers have been willing to bend the rules, fudge their numbers, and even modify test models to achieve higher, if illicit, test results in the past.
And most importantly: the 80 PLUS rating measures energy efficiency, not performance. You should absolutely consider the rating when shopping for your next PSU, but you should also keep in mind the rating system’s scope and limitations.
About EVGA as a Manufacturer
EVGA is an American computer hardware company based in Brea California. Established in July of 1999, EVGA has grown from a small shop into one of computing’s most prominent brands in just 22 years.
Though they got their start by producing NVIDIA-based graphics cards, their product offering has swelled in the last decade to include everything from gaming laptops to mice to computer power supplies.
EVGA doesn’t just offer a wide range of products, they offer a wide range of quality products. Both customer reviews and professional writeups from sites like Tom’s Guide give EVGA’s products glowing marks for performance, price, and durability, and EVGA’s commitment to quality doesn’t end at the cash register.
Like many of the best firms in the market, EVGA prides itself on providing comprehensive warranties and stellar customer service, so you can be sure they’ll resolve any issues you have with their products in a polite and timely manner.
Though EVGA isn’t the original manufacturer of their power supplies, they take care to only partner with reputable manufacturers whose products meet EVGA’s stringent standards.
You really can’t go wrong with a PSU from EVGA regardless of its original manufacturer. That being said, however, a cheap PSU is a cheap PSU, and not even a brand like EVGA can provide amazing products at bargain-barrel prices.
Final Thoughts & Recommendations
The differences between EVGA’s 80 PLUS White and Bronze-certified PSU product lines aren’t extreme, but they are worth considering before making a purchase.
The White line only has one real advantage over the Bronze line: Price. The differences in price aren’t significant, however, and you may have a hard time finding a PSU with the right capacity if you limit yourself to EVGA’s White line.
It’s also worth noting that the White line is not as well regarded as the Bronze line, and the White line’s relative lack of performance and durability may not be worth the savings.
Although the Bronze line is much larger and encompasses a wider range of PSU capacities, it doesn’t offer all that much more in terms of performance, longevity, or versatility compared to the White line.
The Bronze-certified PSUs are more feature-rich and last longer, and they only cost a bit more than the White line, but many users strongly prefer PSUs that are more efficient, higher rated, and even more feature-rich than EVGA’s Bronze line.
As always, it’s a good idea to do your own research before pulling the trigger, and it may be wise to aim a little higher than the very cheapest models. EVGA has a large line of higher-rated, more efficient PSUs that will provide better, more long-lasting performance for just a few dollars more.
Picking the right power supply for your next build is a little more complicated than you might think. You need to calculate how much power your PC will need, then figure out which of the dozens of brands have PSUs with the right capacities, and that’s just the start.
You need to compare specs and features to narrow down your choices, look for articles and customer reviews, and do as much research as you can before you finally pick a PSU that fits your needs and your budget.
