Corsair HX850W (850w) ATX PSU
Simulated Load Results
Published: 25th June 2009 | Source: Corsair | Price: £134 |
Simulated Load Testing
To provide accurate and consistent results in all of our PSU testing, Overclock3D uses professional grade DC electronic load equipment capable of placing a sustained load of 3690w across a total of six rails (including +5vsb and -12v) on the PSU! This is achieved by using a combination of SunMoon and Analogic electronic load equipment which allow us to adjust amperage loads in increments as small as 0.01A while also measuring voltage and wattage readings on-screen.
During today's tests, we will be placing the Corsair HX850W under 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% load levels at both room temperature and inside a hot box regulated to a temperature of around 50°C. Additional 'Cross Load' and a 'Max Load' tests will also be performed under these conditions to simulate how the PSU reacts to heavily uneven loads as well as running above its specified output.
Corsair HX850W Results @ Room Temperature | ||||||||||
| +3.3v | +5.0v | +12v | +5vSB | -12v | AC Watts / DC Watts | Efficiency | Intake / Exhaust | Δ Temp | ||
| Test 1 (Low) | 4.37A | 4.37A | 14.00A | 0.75A | 0.20A | 233w / 213w | 91.41% | 24.5°C / 25.5°C | 1.0°C | |
| 3.32v | 5.10v | 12.20v | 5.07v | -11.86v | ||||||
| Test 2 (Med) | 8.75A | 8.75A | 28.00A | 1.5A | 0.40A | 458w / 426w | 93.01% | 25.3°C / 26.1°C | 0.8°C | |
| 3.30v | 5.08v | 12.18v | 5.02v | -11.84v | ||||||
| Test 3 (High) | 13.12A | 13.12A | 42.00A | 2.25A | 0.60A | 684w / 637w | 93.12% | 25.5C / 26.2°C | 0.7°C | |
| 3.26v | 5.06v | 12.14v | 4.98v | -11.83v | ||||||
| Test 4 (Full) | 17.50A | 17.50A | 56.00A | 3.00A | 0.80A | 930w / 848w | 91.18% | 25.5°C / 27.2°C | 1.7°C | |
| 3.24v | 5.04v | 12.14v | 4.93v | -11.85v | ||||||
| Test 5 (x-load) | 17.00A | 16.00A | 1.00A | 0.00A | 0.00A | 176w / 149w | 84.65% | 25.0°C / 26.1°C | 1.1 °C | |
| 3.30v | 5.08v | 12.20v | 5.11v | -12.47v | ||||||
| Test 6 (x-load) | 1.00A | 1.00A | 69.40A | 0.00A | 0.00A | 910w / 850w | 93.40% | 24.5°C / 26.3°C | 1.8°C | |
| 3.29v | 5.06v | 12.14v | 5.06v | -13.08v | ||||||
| Test 7 (MAX) | 21.00A | 21.00A | 73.00A | 4.50A | 0.60A | 1201w / 1084w | 90.25% | 26.4°C / 28.7°C | 2.3°C | |
| 3.21v | 5.02v | 12.10v | 4.85v | -12.09v | ||||||
Starting with tests 1-4 (the ones you're most likely to see in real life) the HX850W has left me pretty much speechless. Not only was voltage regulation extremely tight all the way up to 848W load, but the efficiency...DAMN, the efficiency was simply amazing staying above 91% at all times. This clearly also had a knock-on effect on the exhaust temperature of the unit which rarely moved more than 1°C above the Intake temps, showing that there is VERY LITTLE energy wasted inside the HX850W during AC/DC conversion.
Moving on to the cross load tests 5 & 6, very little changed in terms of voltage regulation. In both tests the HX850W laughed in my face, keeping all rails totally in check like nothing was happening. Only in Test 5 did the testing manage to chip away at the stellar efficiency of the unit by bringing it down to 84.65%. Seriously though, this is still better than a lot of PSU's can manage on a good day!
Finally in test 7 the HX850W was hooked up to both of our load testing machines to try and bring the unit to its knee's. Did I manage it?...did I hell! With 21A on both the +3.3v and +5v rails and 73A on the +12v rail the PSU was still laughing at me while delivering rock solid voltages. That's 1084W by the way, 234W more than what it says on the box!
In one last off-the-record attempt to get one over on the HX850W I hit it with everything it could take on the +12v rail. 91 AMPS was the read-out on the load tester before the PSU finally decided safely power off. Even then the voltage readout was 12.12v right up to the end. Corsair - 1, Me - 0!
Corsair HX850W Results @ 50°C | ||||||||||
| +3.3v | +5.0v | +12v | +5vSB | -12v | AC Watts / DC Watts | Efficiency | Intake / Exhaust | Δ Temp | ||
| Test 1 (Low) | 4.37A | 4.37A | 14.00A | 0.75A | 0.20A | 233w / 213w | 91.41% | 50.4°C / 49.7°C | -0.7°C | |
| 3.32v | 5.10v | 12.20v | 5.07v | -11.86v | ||||||
| Test 2 (Med) | 8.75A | 8.75A | 28.00A | 1.5A | 0.40A | 460w / 426w | 92.60% | 51.2°C / 50.8°C | -0.4°C | |
| 3.30v | 5.07v | 12.18v | 5.02v | -11.84v | ||||||
| Test 3 (High) | 13.12A | 13.12A | 42.00A | 2.25A | 0.60A | 685w / 637w | 92.99% | 51.9C / 52.4°C | 0.5°C | |
| 3.26v | 5.06v | 12.14v | 4.97v | -11.83v | ||||||
| Test 4 (Full) | 17.50A | 17.50A | 56.00A | 3.00A | 0.80A | 933w / 848w | 90.88% | 50.7°C / 51.5°C | 0.9°C | |
| 3.24v | 5.04v | 12.14v | 4.92v | -11.87v | ||||||
| Test 5 (x-load) | 17.00A | 16.00A | 1.00A | 0.00A | 0.00A | 176w / 149w | 84.65% | 52.0°C / 52.8°C | 0.8 °C | |
| 3.30v | 5.08v | 12.20v | 5.09v | -12.47v | ||||||
| Test 6 (x-load) | 1.00A | 1.00A | 69.40A | 0.00A | 0.00A | 913w / 850w | 93.09% | 51.2°C / 52.5°C | 1.5°C | |
| 3.29v | 5.06v | 12.14v | 5.06v | -13.06v | ||||||
| Test 7 (MAX) | 21.00A | 21.00A | 73.00A | 4.50A | 0.60A | 1206w / 1084w | 89.88% | 49.9°C / 52.0°C | 2.1°C | |
| 3.21v | 5.02v | 12.09v | 4.85v | -12.09v | ||||||
Bumping up the ambient temperature to a toasty 50°C and re-running the room temperature results, hardy anything at all changed. In fact, aside from the odd +/-0.2v fluctuation on a couple of the rails and a few dips in efficiency, the results might as well be classed as identical. It really is beginning to look like nothing I can throw at the HX850W can phase it in any way, shape or form.
Corsair HX850W Scope Results @ 50c | ||||
| +3.3v | +5.0v | +12v | ||
| Test 1 (Low) |  |  |  | |
| Test 2 (Med) |  |  |  | |
| Test 3 (High) |  |  |  | |
| Test 4 (Full) |  |  |  | |
| Test 5 (x-load) |  |  |  | |
| Test 6 (x-load) |  |  |  | |
| Test 7 (MAX) |  |  |  | |
For the last part of the testing I analysed the ripple on the +3.3, +5 and +12v rails using a Rigol 25Mhz 400MSa/s oscilloscope. All readings were taken while the HX850W was installed inside the 50°C hot box to provide us with worst case scenario results.
Yet again the HX850W gave stunning results with the +3.3v and +5v rails staying below 10mV ripple in tests 1-6 and only hitting 12mV ripple in test 7. The +12v rail was also extremely clean with ripple starting at 10mV in test 1 and only increasing to 32mV by test 4. Test 7 saw the ripple hit 42mV, but this is still way below the maximum of 120mV as specified by ATX standards.
Most Recent Comments
Love the Corsair PSU's, always have and here is another wicked reason too <3
Oh my god! That's simply amazing! What an amazing efficiency and stability, it seems that Corsair knows how to improve even more the things that are really good.
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Originally Posted by name='uchihas'
Oh my god! That's simply amazing! What an amazing efficiency and stability, it seems that Corsair knows how to improve even more the things that are really good.
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1kW off a 850W unit without it even blinking O.o That is one rock solid unit right there.
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Originally Posted by name='monkey7'
1kW off a 850W unit without it even blinking O.o That is one rock solid unit right there.
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Here's an odd question, does it fit in the PSU bay of the dimas bench tables?
Ask because the kettle plug on my CM unit is situated very close to the edge, meaning it can't be used
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Ask because the kettle plug on my CM unit is situated very close to the edge, meaning it can't be used
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Originally Posted by name='Ham'
Here's an odd question, does it fit in the PSU bay of the dimas bench tables?
Ask because the kettle plug on my CM unit is situated very close to the edge, meaning it can't be used . |
feels a fight brewing Heck of an impressive unit. Price is a little arguable, but tbh it's a quality purchase.
U have to hand it to Corsair when it comes to packaging their psus.
U have to hand it to Corsair when it comes to packaging their psus.
why have the cost of psu's gone up so much??. a year ago the hx1000 was £140.
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Originally Posted by name='cl0ck_ed'
why have the cost of psu's gone up so much??. a year ago the hx1000 was £140.
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In the current market tho, £140 is actually very good for a decent 850w. I think the Enermax is closer to £180 which is mighy painful.
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Originally Posted by name='Ham'
Here's an odd question, does it fit in the PSU bay of the dimas bench tables?
Ask because the kettle plug on my CM unit is situated very close to the edge, meaning it can't be used . |
Companies used to have scaled templates on their sites for purposes like this, wonder if Corsair do ??
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Originally Posted by name='cl0ck_ed'
why have the cost of psu's gone up so much??. a year ago the hx1000 was £140.
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It's not quite how the UK economy works these days. Ever since the increase in customs control on imported items, especially from outside the EU - but alarmingly (in this "free trade" era) including the EU.
Their pricing considerations start with "what can we get away with charging" b4 they even think of US or EU prices. No thought what-so-ever of costing of production or shipping or anything logical that u might learn in economics.
The previous examples of supply and demand bringing about an equilibrium price are no longer applicable.
Their pricing considerations start with "what can we get away with charging" b4 they even think of US or EU prices. No thought what-so-ever of costing of production or shipping or anything logical that u might learn in economics.
The previous examples of supply and demand bringing about an equilibrium price are no longer applicable.
I like Corsair PSUs, have one, but those flat modular cables just doesn't go with me. Round ones would have been brilliant update on this PSU, in my opinion.
Sweet PSU...excellent review!
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Originally Posted by name='Jim'
Hmm not entirely sure as the kettle plug on the HX is also quite close to the edge. I'll give it a try ad let ya know.
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Originally Posted by name='mayhem'
Any info on this. would be interesting to hear as i need to upgrade my screaming PSU.
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Originally Posted by name='Jim'
"Both the Corsair HX620W and HX1000W PSU's were massive hits among enthusiasts, but how does the recently released HX850W perform? Today we find out."
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Originally Posted by name='gorilazm'
Few days ago purchase coolmaster 850 modular. i thought it will be quiet and many online test reviews say that, but the actual PSU make annoying noise like small transformer what make him louder then own cooler. can you,please, tell me is Corsair hx850w have any annoying cracking/bugnoise accept cooler. will you say it is really quite PSU.
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Originally Posted by name='e07'
Have to say that I have being using the HX850w for nearly two months now and I am kinda sorry that I bought it. It is much louder that my last psu ( tagen turbojet 900 ).Then all I could hear were the hard drives. Can get on your nerves after a while but I am stuck with it as I sold my tagen.
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The tagen for me was very quite.You could just about hear it when it was working hard but it had no anoying 'whine'. My HX850 on the other hand has an soft but noticable 'whine' that gets on my nerves. It just has a different sound that I dont like. But thats me and others may have no problem with it.
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Originally Posted by name='Jim'
I find that really surprising. Are you sure your HX850w doesnt have a faulty fan? The Tagan Turbojets are named that way for a reason...they sound like an airplane taking off.
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I've heard some complaints about the noise of the two new HX-Series Units.
Maybe you had the version with a Yate Loon fan and he had one with Ong Hua fan.
My HX750 is lovely and quiet.. Only thing I can hear is my pump vibrating against the foam I have it on. Hmmm have to sort that out.
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Originally Posted by name='Bungral'
My HX750 is lovely and quiet.. Only thing I can hear is my pump vibrating against the foam I have it on. Hmmm have to sort that out.
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That's great! That's quite a very informative post. Thanks for your share.
I myself own a HX850W , runs cool and quiet - amazing PSU .
The best PSU ever made i think !!! If u have noises seems u can stop the fan and PSU dont overheat 
And also seems it can handle even more than 1084W if u do something with protections ;-) Really verry nice PSU !!! I have it a couple of monts and will buy it again
And also seems it can handle even more than 1084W if u do something with protections ;-) Really verry nice PSU !!! I have it a couple of monts and will buy it again 
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Corsair HX850W (850w) ATX PSU