PSU tier list 2.0

[RobCrezz]

Not always, the CX750m has a worse rating, than an HEC built Evga 500b, due to build quality. I ignore the value ratings, as prices change too much, to make that relevant.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=416

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=351

Yeah so the HEC 500b gets a better score, does that make the CX750m a bad unit? no.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

I consider the old CX750M to be better than the EVGA 500B. In addition, for a true capacitor analysis you really have to go to the experts. Saying "Capxon, knock off points" is usually not good enough. Even if you know the exact model of capacitors used, you can't immediately assume that series is bad because in one particular unit they fail a lot. There are a lot of other conditions to be taken into account that affect the capacitor lifespan aside from how good the aluminum casing and electrolyte is.

The CX750M have over temperature protection which is wonderful. Of the fan fails, we know it will save itself.

 

[RobCrezz]

Iv already said it a bunch of times on here, but I think the CX units are classed unfairly. I know there are far better units, but they arent bad by any means and its a bit annoying when people say they arent good enough for gaming computers or overclocking, when that is just bullshit.

 

[Onus]

I'd have to dig them out, but the badcaps.org forums discussed them (the CX-600 was the particularly bad one though). Here's HardOCP's [X]FAIL[X] on the CX-750 though: http://www.hardocp.com/article/2015/01/21/corsair_cx750_750w_power_supply_review/9

 

[RobCrezz]

Well yeah but they run it at a 45'c ambient, its clearly not rated for that.

 

[Onus]

Well there you have it. The CX might be great for business machines in air conditioned offices (and even server rooms), but in the not-unrealistic environmental conditions that many end-users offer, where 40C-45C is typical, the CX may fall flat; that's why it's tier-4.

 

[RobCrezz]

Thats fair enough. It still totally fine for most people though, I dont know of many places where you'll have a 40'c ambient where you might be using one of these though. I would say it is pretty unrealistic to see 40'c ambient temps for many end users.

 

[Onus]

For the average consumer, who might have been sold a R5 240 or DDR3 HD7750 or GT630 as a "gaming card," that's likely true. It certainly beats the Logisys, Diablotek, and Dynex PSU-shaped objects that many vendors are still pushing. If you treat a PSU well (e.g. low temps, good airflow, clean input power, low output demand), it may very well perform better than its tier suggests. We've all seen enough dust-clogged HSFs and screens to know not everyone is so nice to their equipment.

 

[logainofhades]

Yea, I have seen plenty of systems that look like this.

 

[Karadjgne]

CX-M AND CX SERIES
CX-M and CX Series PC power supplies are an excellent choice for basic system builds and desktop PC computer upgrades. CX Series PSUs have 80 PLUS Bronze certified efficiency and are available in a variety of configurations to help you choose exactly the amount of power you need.

HXi SERIES
HXi Series power supply units are designed for gaming rigs with high-end graphics cards, overclocking systems, and any PC where rock-solid stability is essential. They have 80 PLUS Platinum certification and Zero RPM Fan Mode for cool, quiet and efficient operation, and Corsair Link Digital for performance monitoring and control.

Direct quote from Corsair. The HXi is the first to mention gaming, overclocking, high end gpus etc. Even the RMx doesn't. And their faith in the CX isn't that good either.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

CX-M AND CX SERIES
CX-M and CX Series PC power supplies are an excellent choice for basic system builds and desktop PC computer upgrades. CX Series PSUs have 80 PLUS Bronze certified efficiency and are available in a variety of configurations to help you choose exactly the amount of power you need.

HXi SERIES
HXi Series power supply units are designed for gaming rigs with high-end graphics cards, overclocking systems, and any PC where rock-solid stability is essential. They have 80 PLUS Platinum certification and Zero RPM Fan Mode for cool, quiet and efficient operation, and Corsair Link Digital for performance monitoring and control.

Direct quote from Corsair. The HXi is the first to mention gaming, overclocking, high end gpus etc. Even the RMx doesn't. And their faith in the CX isn't that good either.

Corsair's own power supplies are contradictory with their statements, because anything over 300W for a basic desktop PC is completely unnecessary, so they should either change their wording there or eat their words and get rid of the hypocricy and quit making budget units above 450W at most.

Not sure how they can make something like an 850W power supply and say it's perfect for basic systems...

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Yea, I have seen plenty of systems that look like this.

I'm guessing primarily in work-oriented locations? My PC would never get that ugly in my house. Take it to my old work, put it in there, wait just 1 month and it'll probably look like that.

 

[CTurbo]

The problem is that CX750, CX850, 700B, and VP700 psus exist. WTH is their target audience? Office uses? Nope.


Ask anybody who has spent a fair amount of time in a PC shop and they'll tell you all about how many CX psus they replace. That doesn't mean that every one will fail after 3 months.

 

[jimmysmitty]

The problem is that CX750, CX850, 700B, and VP700 psus exist. WTH is their target audience? Office uses? Nope.


Ask anybody who has spent a fair amount of time in a PC shop and they'll tell you all about how many CX psus they replace. That doesn't mean that every one will fail after 3 months.

That's the thing, at the shop I worked at we had very few CX series fail. Funny enough the owner started to mine bitcoins and setup multiple systems and racks with GPUs being put to 100% load 24x7 and they all used CX series PSUS and none failed.

I wouldn't have done it but I don't think the CX series is as horrible as people want to think it is. Not great but not perfect. So far only two PSUs that I know of could be considered even near perfect, the AX1500i and the Seasonic Titanium line.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

People say people have problems with their CX PSUs on forums, but I don't see it very often. The issues usually seem to be some other type of hardware or somebody tells them to change the PSU which does not fix whatever problem they are having. And for how many CX units people own, I'd say they seem to be pretty reliable enough.

 

[Karadjgne]

There's a considerable difference in usage. Loading down a 750w psu with 600w of bit coin mining in an almost constant load is way different than the up and down demands of gaming.

 

[jimmysmitty]

There's a considerable difference in usage. Loading down a 750w psu with 600w of bit coin mining in an almost constant load is way different than the up and down demands of gaming.

True to a point. The heating and cooling of tha caps will have a different affect. However 24x7 operation and much higher temps will push the PSU harder.

I was just relaying my experience with them. It is not the end all be all but I do think they got a worse rep than they deserve to have.

 

[andy1234569]

I completely disagree with the cx series as a tier 4, i have been using a cx 750m for 3 years on my "high end" gaming system, gtx 1080 g1 gaming, full custom loop, and a 6700k oced to 4.8 and ram oced to 3.2. and i had no troubles playing intense games like the witcher 3, batman and other, i believe that the cx series should be ranked as a 3rd tier series instead of a 4th. im not trying to be a fanboy, im just disagreeing with my experiences as for the 130$ pricetag on a 750 watt psu with bronze and semi modular, i belive you are paying that extra for something sturdy and durable

Your experience consists of simply you and the PSU are using. If we ranked PSUs like that, you know how many problems we would have? Somebody can come on here and say their Seasonic Platinum failed after 1 year so it should be tier 4. Should we also do that? Any PSU can last long and fail early.

When you are gaming, your system should be using about 300W. The CPU itself is not going to be fully utilized in games, so the overclock you have on that CPU probably won't exemplify its increased power within gaming scenarios. In addition, how long a PSU lasts depends on your ambient temperatures, your positioning of it in your computer, how often you use it, and even if it's on 115V or 230V since 230V is more efficient and has less waste heat. You'll see a unit like the Cougar LX500/600 have a 5 year warranty in Europe but not in the U.S. because of that, where it is 3 instead.

Also, I don't think you had a GTX 1080 in your system for 3 years.

well of course, i just got the 1080 like a month ago, but i used dual 970s before that

 

[RobCrezz]

People say people have problems with their CX PSUs on forums, but I don't see it very often. The issues usually seem to be some other type of hardware or somebody tells them to change the PSU which does not fix whatever problem they are having. And for how many CX units people own, I'd say they seem to be pretty reliable enough.

Same here.

Im not trying to make out they are amazing high end PSUs - its just crazy to see the posts telling people they need to replace their CX with a Gold rated Seasonic. Theres no doubt which is the better PSU, but 99% of the time there is no good reason to replace it.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Yea, I have seen plenty of systems that look like this.

I'm guessing primarily in work-oriented locations? My PC would never get that ugly in my house. Take it to my old work, put it in there, wait just 1 month and it'll probably look like that.

If you have ducted heating or aircon, then that sucks massive amounts of air through a decent filter.

Use something else for heating? No filtering. Fireplaces and pets also produce rather massive amounts of dust/hair.

Absolutely possible to get dust like that in a residential environment.

 

[MasterMace]

Huh. Good luck trying to sell me on the idea that Seasonic is no better than HEC Compucase, ATNG, InWin or some of the other OEMs that I can't even spell. Seasonic did sorta put out a tier 3 dud, if you want to call it that, but Seasonic bias is totally understandable. Repeat quality. May not always be the best, but at least it's good. Can't say that really about any other OEM, even SuperFlower has put out some junk.

I like Seasonic but they sometimes are not the best option. When I got my AX860i I looked at the 860W Seasonic Platinum and it was not better. It was cheaper but the Corsair was a betetr overall PSU. Plus they retroactively made all the AX series have a 10 year warranty so that was a pretty good buy.

The best PSU right now is still the AX1500i which has been out longer than come of the other new Titanium rated PSUs and that is a Flextronics built PSU.

The AX860i is a Flextronics, the AX860 is a Seasonic. Flex had a better 12v rail for regulation, but not by a lot, the Seasonic had better 5v and 3.3v, not by much. Techpowerup gave the performance edge to the Flex, but by 0.17%, which leads to a large performance per dollar advantage for the Seasonic (87.1% Flex by comparison to the Seasonic)
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Corsair/AX860/10.html

Seasonic has a lot of good units, which is why people view them favorably.

 

[Inkiad]

The reason for so much CX failing story is i think because how popular they are. Maybe they sell 3-4 times more than other psus.

If you have a big number of sample, absolute value of failed psus will be big too. 2% of 100 units is 2, but 2% of 1000 units is 20.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

The reason for so much CX failing story is i think because how popular they are. Maybe they sell 3-4 times more than other psus.

If you have a big number of sample, absolute value of failed psus will be big too. 2% of 100 units is 2, but 2% of 1000 units is 20.

Any person who is something like a statistics major or even as a job would probably say it's ridiculous how people make the assumption a lot of CX PSUs fail because of what they see in forums or their own personal experiences. I really don't see it that much even on forums to be honest. They are expected to fail after 3 years about like their warranty, and that's probably pretty accurate to when they fail for most people.

 

[superninja12]

So far from my personal experience on the forums, people say their corsair cx units fail AFTER an upgrade.
For instance 1 person was using a gtx 650 and upgraded to a mroe hungry gtx 960 and it broke.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

So far from my personal experience on the forums, people say their corsair cx units fail AFTER an upgrade.
For instance 1 person was using a gtx 650 and upgraded to a mroe hungry gtx 960 and it broke.

I don't see what that's going to do; a power supply does not recognize a hardware change like a motherboard BIOS.