Corsair HX1000i Power Supply Review

The Corsair HX1000i has silent operation and top-notch build quality.

Corsair HX1000i
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

Because of a notable change at 12V in the 800-900W range, load regulation takes a hit. Load regulation should be within 1% at 3.3V, too. 

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is long and the power ok signal is accurate. 

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

The inrush current is low with 115V, but pretty high with 230V. 

Leakage Current

In layman's terms, leakage current is the unwanted transfer of energy from one circuit to another. In power supplies, it is the current flowing from the primary side to the ground or the chassis, which in the majority of cases is connected to the ground. For measuring leakage current, we use a GW Instek GPT-9904 electrical safety tester instrument.

The leakage current test is conducted at 110% of the DUT's rated voltage input (so for a 230-240V device, we should conduct the test with 253-264V input). The maximum acceptable limit of a leakage current is 3.5 mA and it is defined by the IEC-60950-1 regulation, ensuring that the current is low and will not harm any person coming in contact with the power supply's chassis.

Corsair HX1000i

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Leakage current is low.

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])Temps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
10%6.505A1.978A1.999A0.992A100.04689.194%0<6.044.37°C0.968
Row 2 - Cell 0 12.059V5.056V3.302V5.042V112.168Row 2 - Cell 6 Row 2 - Cell 7 Row 2 - Cell 8 40.02°C114.91V
20%14.047A2.968A3.001A1.191A200.0291.882%0<6.045.6°C0.99
Row 4 - Cell 0 12.039V5.055V3.299V5.039V217.762Row 4 - Cell 6 Row 4 - Cell 7 Row 4 - Cell 8 40.75°C114.89V
30%21.966A3.463A3.504A1.391A300.192.558%0<6.046.56°C0.996
Row 6 - Cell 0 12.020V5.054V3.297V5.034V324.298Row 6 - Cell 6 Row 6 - Cell 7 Row 6 - Cell 8 41.38°C114.87V
40%29.891A3.959A4.009A1.591A399.92892.621%0<6.047.29°C0.996
Row 8 - Cell 0 12.000V5.053V3.294V5.03V431.686Row 8 - Cell 6 Row 8 - Cell 7 Row 8 - Cell 8 41.6°C114.84V
50%37.486A4.95A5.016A1.791A499.63992.235%0<6.048.18°C0.996
Row 10 - Cell 0 11.981V5.052V3.29V5.025V541.709Row 10 - Cell 6 Row 10 - Cell 7 Row 10 - Cell 8 42.07°C114.81V
60%45.171A5.945A6.027A1.993A600.17691.485%61911.642.23°C0.997
Row 12 - Cell 0 11.963V5.048V3.286V5.019V656.013Row 12 - Cell 6 Row 12 - Cell 7 Row 12 - Cell 8 48.89°C114.79V
70%52.815A6.942A7.041A2.196A699.91290.601%80121.143.2°C0.998
Row 14 - Cell 0 11.943V5.044V3.282V5.012V772.614Row 14 - Cell 6 Row 14 - Cell 7 Row 14 - Cell 8 50.21°C114.76V
80%60.545A7.938A8.055A2.297A799.92489.825%119033.743.53°C0.998
Row 16 - Cell 0 11.925V5.041V3.278V5.009V890.584Row 16 - Cell 6 Row 16 - Cell 7 Row 16 - Cell 8 51.61°C114.73V
90%67.411A8.438A8.55A2.399A899.70588.972%131836.644.47°C0.998
Row 18 - Cell 0 12.123V5.039V3.275V5.005V1011.181Row 18 - Cell 6 Row 18 - Cell 7 Row 18 - Cell 8 53.67°C114.7V
100%75.186A8.937A9.078A3.005A999.73588.241%151340.445.86°C0.998
Row 20 - Cell 0 12.104V5.038V3.272V4.993V1133.056Row 20 - Cell 6 Row 20 - Cell 7 Row 20 - Cell 8 56.01°C114.67V
110%82.914A9.934A10.189A3.006A1100.35287.093%156140.947.34°C0.998
Row 22 - Cell 0 12.085V5.036V3.268V4.991V1263.625Row 22 - Cell 6 Row 22 - Cell 7 Row 22 - Cell 8 58.27°C114.65V
CL10.117A17.923A18.1A0A151.34983.929%69217.242.17°C0.986
Row 24 - Cell 0 12.054V5.04V3.293V5.081V180.36Row 24 - Cell 6 Row 24 - Cell 7 Row 24 - Cell 8 48.64°C114.88V
CL20.116A24.786A0A0A126.45582.12%70817.943.41°C0.982
Row 26 - Cell 0 12.063V5.045V3.304V5.109V154.035Row 26 - Cell 6 Row 26 - Cell 7 Row 26 - Cell 8 50.85°C114.89V
CL30.116A0A25.08A0A83.89675.728%104329.844.36°C0.933
Row 28 - Cell 0 12.060V5.054V3.289V5.046V110.757Row 28 - Cell 6 Row 28 - Cell 7 Row 28 - Cell 8 52.61°C114.9V
CL482.652A0A0A0A1000.22988.808%135537.345.91°C0.998
Row 30 - Cell 0 12.101V5.052V3.28V5.036V1126.268Row 30 - Cell 6 Row 30 - Cell 7 Row 30 - Cell 8 55.87°C114.67V

The PSU can handle heat, even when loaded beyond its official rating, but you should not overdo it, if you want to keep it healthy. 

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10% of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with power-saving features turned on.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])Temps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
20W1.232A0.493A0.499A0.197A20.01774.208%0<6.040.22°C0.676
Row 2 - Cell 0 12.073V5.068V3.309V5.065V26.999Row 2 - Cell 6 Row 2 - Cell 7 Row 2 - Cell 8 37.12°C114.93V
40W2.710A0.691A0.698A0.296A40.01780.983%0<6.041.53°C0.736
Row 4 - Cell 0 12.069V5.068V3.308V5.063V49.477Row 4 - Cell 6 Row 4 - Cell 7 Row 4 - Cell 8 38.22°C114.92V
60W4.190A0.89A0.899A0.396A60.01883.408%0<6.042.59°C0.756
Row 6 - Cell 0 12.066V5.059V3.304V5.052V71.944Row 6 - Cell 6 Row 6 - Cell 7 Row 6 - Cell 8 38.81°C114.93V
80W5.667A1.088A1.099A0.495A79.99387.255%0<6.043.14°C0.923
Row 8 - Cell 0 12.062V5.057V3.303V5.05V91.718Row 8 - Cell 6 Row 8 - Cell 7 Row 8 - Cell 8 39.2°C114.93V

There is no need for the fan to spin at loads below 100W, even at high temperatures. 

2% or 10W Load Test

From July 2020, the ATX spec requires 70% and higher efficiency with 115V input. The applied load is only 10W for PSUs with 500W and lower capacities, while for stronger units, we dial 2% of their max-rated capacity.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])Temps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
1.432A0.31A0.31A0.052A20.15973.983%0<6.027.8°C0.681
Row 2 - Cell 0 12.075V5.06V3.304V5.059V27.255Row 2 - Cell 6 Row 2 - Cell 7 27.44°C114.94V

The recommended 70% efficiency mark is easily passed, with a two percent load. 

Efficiency & Power Factor

Next, we plotted a chart showing the PSU's efficiency at low loads and loads from 10 to 110% of its maximum rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency, the less energy goes wasted, leading to a reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills. The same goes for Power Factor.

Efficiency is high on all load regions. 

5VSB Efficiency

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test #5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyPF/AC Volts
10.1A0.498W74.831%0.052
Row 2 - Cell 0 4.98V0.666WRow 2 - Cell 3 114.93V
20.25A1.245W78.254%0.121
Row 4 - Cell 0 4.975V1.591WRow 4 - Cell 3 114.93V
30.55A2.731W79.269%0.238
Row 6 - Cell 0 4.965V3.445WRow 6 - Cell 3 114.92V
41A4.95W78.682%0.359
Row 8 - Cell 0 4.949V6.291WRow 8 - Cell 3 114.93V
51.5A7.398W78.508%0.438
Row 10 - Cell 0 4.931V9.424WRow 10 - Cell 3 114.92V
63.001A14.64W77.091%0.53
Row 12 - Cell 0 4.879V18.991WRow 12 - Cell 3 114.92V

The cutting-edge platform that the HX1000i uses deserves a more efficient 5VSB rail. 

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mode12V5V3.3V5VSBWattsPF/AC Volts
Idle12.078V5.059V3.304V5.059V3.9120.239
Row 2 - Cell 0 Row 2 - Cell 1 Row 2 - Cell 2 Row 2 - Cell 3 Row 2 - Cell 4 Row 2 - Cell 5 114.95V
StandbyRow 3 - Cell 1 Row 3 - Cell 2 Row 3 - Cell 3 Row 3 - Cell 4 0.0210.002
Row 4 - Cell 0 Row 4 - Cell 1 Row 4 - Cell 2 Row 4 - Cell 3 Row 4 - Cell 4 Row 4 - Cell 5 114.95V

Vampire power is low. 

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37 to 47 degrees Celsius (98.6 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The fan speed profile is tuned to not deliver high noise output, even under harsh conditions with high loads at increased operating temperatures. 

The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.       

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

At normal operating temperatures, close to 30 degrees Celsius, the PSU is silent with up to 700W loads, regardless of the minor rails' load. With more than 700W, it remains below 30 dBA until around 770W. With higher loads, noise output is within 30-35 dBA. The PSU's large dimensions allow for good airflow, and the big fan allow low noise output.

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Aris Mpitziopoulos
Contributing Editor

Aris Mpitziopoulos is a contributing editor at Tom's Hardware, covering PSUs.

  • Co BIY
    Another nicely done review. Seems lots of people will need a 1000 Watt supply now.

    This is the first time I've heard about PCIe 5.0 having anything to do with the power supply ?

    Maybe in the next review you could explain this.
    Reply
  • jkflipflop98
    I picked up a 1kw cooler master PSU about 10 years ago or so. It's still going strong.
    Reply
  • escksu
    Co BIY said:
    Another nicely done review. Seems lots of people will need a 1000 Watt supply now.

    This is the first time I've heard about PCIe 5.0 having anything to do with the power supply ?

    Maybe in the next review you could explain this.

    Its not really about the PCIE 5.0 slot but the power connector for graphics card. New graphics cards are supposed to utilise the so-called "PCIE 5.0 16pin power connector" (again, nothing to do with PCIE 5.0 slot).

    Eg. the RTX4090 uses PCIE 5.0 16 pin power connector but its actually a PCIE 4.0 16x card.

    You do not need any special PSU in order to utlise the PCIE 5.0 slot on your board. Currently there are no PCIE 5.0 devices other than SSD.
    Reply