*gasp* Corsair RM line fails review

Ridelynn

I'll be honest - Corsair was one power supply I hardly had reservations recommending on brand name alone. Largely because I couldn't recall a single unit being tested where it had a really poor review: even their budget line, while a bit lackluster and perhaps overpriced, as still a solid power supply and a safe bet.

http://hardocp.com/article/2013/11/13/corsair_rm750_750w_power_supply_review/

The RM line is from Chicony (the first PSU to be rebranded from there by Corsair afaik, although it's seen a lot of OEM use). It's supposed to be a ultra-low noise and 80-Gold rated PSU, with a passive mode that covers low load operation. It's going for around $125US right now.

While the unit had tolerable voltage specifications, they were a bit looser than less expensive competition (including the other 2-3 Corsair 750W models). The big problem was with the units passive mode. Apparently there is some low wattage (around 40-50% capacity) where the unit tries to stay passively cooled, but can't quite handle the load and trips off. If you go higher than that - the unit is fine, the fan picks up, but if you hover around that 50% mark and the fan doesn't pick up, the unit croaks.

A big design flaw. One that could be easily fixed with a bit more aggressive fan control, or changing the parameter that drives the fan, or making sure your case cooling is set up to help boost the passive ability of the low load profile. The real danger is, as you may have inferred, was that the danger spot occurs right around ~380W, which is right around where most gaming PCs are going to operate under moderate load.

Fixing the fan control, the unit still would have failed based on lackluster transient response, so it's not like the fan is the only problem with the unit. Admittedly, HardOCP reviews are extremely difficult to pass, but other Corsair units have passed in the past, and it was one of the big reasons I never (before now) had a reservation blanketly recommending that brand name.

This doesn't mean all Corsairs are bad, or that I stop recommending (other-than-RM) Corsair power supplies. The moral of this review is that you should always do some power supply research before purchasing - it may be a boring piece of hardware that doesn't impact FPS or load speed or anything else performance related, but it is the backbone of your entire system, and if it isn't solid, your system won't be either.

As Ronnie said "Trust, but verify".

miguksaram

This is why I always recommend you choose a PSU based on the OEM's reputation (if you can't get a reputable review of the specific PSU in question ahead of time) and not the company who slaps their name on it.

Quizzical

Originally posted by miguksaram
This is why I always recommend you choose a PSU based on the OEM's reputation (if you can't get a reputable review of the specific PSU in question ahead of time) and not the company who slaps their name on it.

Antec had a "high current gamer" power supply built by Delta fail Hard OCP's testing, too.

Many companies can make a variety of products, ranging from the high end to the low end.

And even companies that try to avoid releasing junk occasionally have a clunker of a product.

Iselin

The PSU is one of the most important if not THE most important component you buy for a successful, trouble-free build. If chosen well, it can stay with you for several builds (my Corsair HX-1000, made by Channel Well, is on my 3rd build.)

Just about all the Corsair PSUs are made by either Seasonic or Channel Well - both superb PSU manufacturers. It's the selection of those two companies that has given Corsair such a good name as a top-tier PSU vendor.

But not all are. Even within the same Corsair class. "HX", "VX", "RM" etc., there are different manufacturers for different models.

 

This database I'm linking is the best place to start when shopping for a new PSU. It tells you who made it, what its certification status is and has hyperlinks to known reviews (including the one Ridelynn linked):  http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page541.htm

 

Check that out before you buy.

 

PS: Corsair has acknowledged the issue, tweaked them and is offering replacements:  http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=123484