Corsair HX1200 PSU Review

Final Analysis

The HX1200 is another high-performance PSU from Corsair based on a CWT platform. You get the top-end semi-digital platform, remove the digital interface but keep the fan's micro-controller, drop the price a little, and change the model number.

Due the recent mining craziness, don't expect to find high-capacity HX PSUs readily available, especially at the official price tag of $230. That MSRP is quite good, considering Corsair's build quality, super-long warranty, and excellent performance. Given reasonable value, we expect the whole HX line-up to be successful for Corsair, similar to its RMx family. You see, not all enthusiasts are control freaks. Many don't mind if they can't monitor the status of their power supply or manipulate its operation.

On the other hand, we'd still spend a little more money on the HX1200i, even though it uses the older Type 3 cables without extra filtering caps. We actually think the HX1200i's ribbon-style cables are easier to work with. The main ATX, EPS, and PCIe cables of the HX1200 won't be so easy to route inside your case because they are bulky. That's the price to pay for in-cable filtering caps.

The HX1200 is fully modular, it offers high performance, and is incredibly quiet, putting to shame lower-capacity units in our noise output measurements. Even if Corsair's HX1200i is even quieter, we cannot ding the HX1200 for results under 25 dB(A). With the extra-long warranty that Corsair provides with its high-end PSUs, you won't have to worry about longevity, that's for sure.

Then again, if your plan is to drop this PSU into a mining rig and operate it under harsh conditions 24/7, we're thinking the 10-year coverage will eventually become a problem for Corsair. Several brands are already thinking about how to deal with mining, since when they decided to offer such long warranty periods, they didn't consider that there would be cases where the PSUs would be subjected to taxing loads around the clock, negatively affecting long-term reliability. Moreover, there is no way determine whether a PSU was used normally or for mining. To be frank, it'd look odd if a brand offered 10 years of coverage for light use and only one for mining. In our opinion, the PSU brands are engaging in an unrealistic warranty race. The health of a power supply depends on many external factors, and the guarantee behind it should be sustainable to protect the manufacturer from unexpected losses in the long run. If it gets bad enough, those can cause price increases, layoffs, or even bankruptcy. Marketing sometimes isn't the best consultant, and the main reason we have 10- and 12-year warranties is marketing.

Corsair HX1200

Pros

• Full power at 46°C
• Efficient
• Ripple suppression
• Full protection features set
• Load regulation
• Hold-up time
• Accurate Power Ok signal
• Build quality
• Silent
• Inrush current
• Fully modular
• 2x EPS & 8x PCIe connectors
• FDB fan
• Semi-passive mode
• Ability to switch to multi +12V rail mode
• 10-year warranty

Cons

• OCP at 5VSB
• Bulky ATX, EPS and PCIe cables

Verdict

This is another high-end Corsair PSU that, aside from great overall performance, also offers quiet operation (clearly indicated by the LAMBDA-A+ badge it carries). The collaboration between CWT and Corsair is paying off, and we appreciate that much attention is paid to the 5VSB circuit's efficiency. This doesn't seem to be as high of a priority to EVGA and Super Flower.

4/5

Review

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