Top level efficiency & quiet modular PSU–CORSAIR HX1000W open box test

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CORSAIR cross over to PSU business field more than two years
The major product lines are HX and VX series.
Their PSU product segments define from top to end are HX, TX and VX series.
The highest level are HX series, comes with high quality/efficiency design,
low noise and 5 years warranty to match gamer and heavy users’ demand.


It’s not enough that the top segment HX series only have 520/620W version in 2007
For power user and gamer,
like 3-Way SLI gaming system, 620W power is really not enough.
This situation was changed after HX1000W launched in 2008, CORSAIR HX series PSU already up to 1000W and higher level.


Let’s introduce the CORSAIR HX1000W Modular power supply
We take a look on packing and box first, comes with high level segment design and very heavy.
There are 80 PLUS and NVIDIA SLI support logo on box.

The inside accessories
Modular cables packing, cable sleeve wire, power cord and 8 languages manual.

Modular cables
1 X ATX 20/24 PIN
1 X ATX 4/8 PIN
2 X PCI-E 6PIN
2 X PCI-E 6+2PIN
2 X PCI-E 8PIN
12 X SATA
12 X 4PIN
2 X Floppy
Besides normal power connector and cables,
even built with 6 PCI-E VGA power connectors that make the power support 3 Way SLI or Multi CrossFire graphics platform.

PSU size is 150mm (W) x 86mm (H) x 200mm (L), the depth is longer than normal size PSU.
HX1000W keep the tradition of HX series, use fogged black shield case, that makes the PSU become higher quality looks.

Back side use beehive holes design to exhaust the heat.
Active PFC design, so there is no 110/220V switch beside the power switch.

HX1000W main cooling system is 14cm fan, comes with thermal control, fan speed and noise is very low when loading is light.
The noise is acceptable when heavy loading.
HX1000W fan comes with high quality CORSAIR mark board.

Modular cable holes and 20/24PIN.4/8PIN.PCI-E 6+2PIN cables.

HX1000W detail spec.
+12V1, +12V2 total support 80A, support all kinds of high level VGA cards with multi SLI/CrossFire platform.

 

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Open the case to take a look with inside design
Use GP fan, part number is D14BH-12 14cm.
The fan can control the speed with power heat and loading.

We can see the design are full of high quality components, also use many big size heatsink to spread the heat, most of them are solid Caps.


Testing platform setup
CPU: INTEL Core 2 Duo E8400 E0
MB: DFI LANParty LT X48-T3RS
DRAM: CORSAIR Dominator TWIN3X2048-1800C7DIN
VGA: MSI R4870X2-T2D2G-OC
HD: Seagate 7200.10 320GB
POWER: Corsair HX1000W Modular Power Supply
Cooler: Thermaltake BigTyp VP/JETART Nano Diamond/Lubic

OS Setup
CPU 500X8.5=>4250Mhz
DARM DDR3 2000 CL8 7-6-20 1T
Dual Core full loading when OCCT test.

 

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CPU voltage time shift monitoring almost comes with 1 flat line.
The voltage only change 1 time between 1.33~1.35V.

3.3V
Almost between 3.04~3.07V, the differentiate is about 0.9%

5V
Almost between 4.87~4.89V, the differentiate is about 0.4%

12V
11.845V, the differentiate is small with a flat line.

The voltage test above are motherboard hardware detect present numbers,
most of the motherboard detect hardware/software detect will have some differentiate gap with 3.3V/5V/12V voltage supply.
So the voltage present is not reflecting the real voltage numbers, have to use instrument to test to get correct numbers.
OCCT can only test voltage change range with heavy loading test.


Use this high performance platform to test power supply loading change status.
Use Power Angel to test the watts.
Into OS test – 266W

Run OCCT with full loading Dual Core – 351W
Used Q9550 OC 3.7G + 9800GTX, Quad Core full loading only require 309W.
So even use high level VGA and Quad Core, OCCT software still hard to push the power loading over 420W
So we can see that OCCT software is hard to push high watts PSU up to it’s max output loading.

3DMARK2005-496W
3DMARK2005 is one of the heavy loading program, so use it to test 4870X2 to test the loading.

OCCT + 3DMARK2006-531W

Because of only use 4870X2 single card platform to test, so the top loading test is only 500~530W,
if you are a heavy gamer with 4870X2 CF or 9800GX2 SLI or other 3 VGA platform,
it’s not hard to reach 800~1000W when heavy loading, that’s also the reason we need 1000~1200W PSU.



The 3DMARK05 test result.

CORSAIR HX1000W Modular Power Supply testing conclusions
Pros:
1.Packing and case with high quality design, makes this PSU looks great.
2.Pass the “80PLUS” efficiency certification, modular cables with flat cable design.
3.Great numbers of connectors, even support 3 Way VGA or multi RAID platform as well.
4.The power supply present is stable on 3.3V/5V/12V test, differentiate gap is under1%
5.The power supply comes with low temp. when work, 14cm fan is quiet even in heavy loading mode.
6.CORSAIR test all these series with 50 degree temperature, also comes with 5 years warranty.


Cons:
1.Although the website have HX1000W detail spec, but still wish the manual can have more spec. and test detail.
2.CORSAIR is famous but not that easy to buy in ASIA retail market,
if they can have more channel and better price strategy, customers will have more better choice.

Performance ratio:9/10
Design/Components ratio: 8/10
Outlooks/Shapes ratio: 9/10
Cost/Performance ratio: 9/10


The cost/performance ratio compares with other retail 900~1200W products,
personally I think we have to use same segment products to get more fair comparison.
Of course the high watts PSU C/P ratio is not that good compare with 400~700W segment products.
The CORSAIR HX1000W is about 270USD on NEWEGG in US, it’s already a great value high level PSU.

HX1000W is the top level PSU product of CORSAIR, comes with great spec. and rich connectors design.
Besides 1000W output supply, modular design and 80PLUS certified, also comes with many Japan caps, high stability voltage supply and high quality outlooks.
HX1000W comes with high price and segment, but it’s really worth it to get higher level design and packing.
Former CORSAIR PSU was OEM from other power supply factories, such as Seasonic designed the HX620W. This HX1000W seems made from CWT, CWT also have similar products.
But compare CROSAIR retail PSU and OEM factory products, CORSAIR did better job on cable design, more solid caps, heatsink size and warranty supports.
I think it’s because CORSAIR have higher standard and request on PSU OEM design.


The former CORSAIR PSU product lines only have HX620W/TX750W for high level; it’s not enough for high level segment products.
But when HX1000W comes out, I think this issue was no longer existed.
HX series is the best level segment of CORSAIR, totally have 520/620/1000W in this segment
CORSAIR in not long in PSU market field, but they did very aggressive to launch many series PSU products to fulfill different markets and customers.
That makes consumers to have 1 more high quality choice to consider when they want to purchase a new PSU product.

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