Tom's Hardware Verdict
The Corsair RM650 is a very good choice in the mid-wattage market, but its slightly-superior sibling costs only a little bit more.
Pros
- +
Full power at 47 degrees Celsius
- +
High performance
- +
Quiet operation
- +
Fully modular
- +
Supports Modern Standby mode
- +
Efficient under light loads
- +
Ten-year warranty
Cons
- -
Only a few bucks/pounds less expensive than the RM650x
- -
No option to deactivate semi-passive operation
- -
The top-notch NR135L fan has been replaced by a Hong Hua one
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Specifications and Part Analysis
The Corsair RM650 has high performance in almost all areas and it is dead silent. Its only major downside seems to be the small price difference with the RM650x, which has better capacitors and a higher quality fan. Nonetheless, the RM650 scores higher efficiency under super-light loads and it also supports Windows 10's Modern Standby mode. If the price difference with the RM650x is close to 20 dollars (16 pounds) then the RM650 is a good deal, but with only 10 dollars (8 pounds) difference it will be a tough sale.
We have reviewed both the Corsair RM850 and RM750 so far, and we found them to be excellent. The time has come to take a detailed look at the smallest member of the line, the RM650, which as the model number implies, has 650W max power. The Corsair RM650 is a fully modular power supply, able to support a potent system thanks to the two EPS and four PCIe connectors that is equipped with.
The significant differences with the slightly more expensive RM650x come down to the cooling fan and the capacitors. The RM650 uses a 140mm Hong Hua fan and Chinese Elite caps, while the RM650x is only equipped with Japanese caps and the high-quality NR135L fan. Nonetheless, there are some areas where the RM650 takes the lead because it uses an updated platform. Its efficiency under super-light loads is high, and it also supports Windows 10's new Modern Standby mode, which allows the PC to boot reliably within a five seconds period.
Specifications
| Manufacturer (OEM) | CWT |
|---|---|
| Max. DC Output | 650W |
| Efficiency | 80 PLUS Gold, ETA-A (88-91%) |
| Noise | LAMBDA-A+ (15-20 dB[A]) |
| Modular | ✓ (Fully) |
| Intel C6/C7 Power State Support | ✓ |
| Operating Temperature (Continuous Full Load) | 0 - 50°C |
| Over Voltage Protection | ✓ |
| Under Voltage Protection | ✓ |
| Over Power Protection | ✓ |
| Over Current (+12V) Protection | ✓ |
| Over Temperature Protection | ✓ |
| Short Circuit Protection | ✓ |
| Surge Protection | ✓ |
| Inrush Current Protection | ✓ |
| Fan Failure Protection | ✗ |
| No Load Operation | ✓ |
| Cooling | 140mm Rifle Bearing Fan (HA1425M12F-Z) |
| Semi-Passive Operation | ✓ |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 152 x 87 x 162mm |
| Weight | 1.55 kg (3.42 lb) |
| Form Factor | ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92 |
| Warranty | 10 Years |
Power Specifications
| Rail | 3.3V | 5V | 12V | 5VSB | -12V | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. Power | Amps | 20 | 20 | 54 | 3 | 0.3 |
| Watts | 130 | 648 | 15 | 3.6 | ||
| Total Max. Power (W) | 650 |
Cables & Connectors
| Modular Cables | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Cable Count | Connector Count (Total) | Gauge | In Cable Capacitors |
| ATX connector 20+4 pin (610mm) | 1 | 1 | 18-20AWG | No |
| 4+4 pin EPS12V (650mm) | 2 | 2 | 18AWG | No |
| 6+2 pin PCIe (600mm+150mm) | 2 | 4 | 16-18AWG | No |
| SATA (500mm+100mm+100mm) | 2 | 6 | 18AWG | No |
| 4-pin Molex (450mm+100mm+100mm+100mm) | 1 | 4 | 18AWG | No |
| AC Power Cord (1420mm) - C13 coupler | 1 | 1 | 16AWG | - |
It is nice to see a pair of EPS connectors in a 650W power supply. The number of PCIe is adequate for this wattage category, and the same goes for the SATA and 4-Pin Molex connectors. The problem with the peripheral connectors is the short distance between them. Ideally, it should be 150mm.
Component Analysis
We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to understand better the components we're about to discuss.
| General Data | ||
|---|---|---|
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Corsair RM650 (2019) | Corsair RM650x |
| Manufacturer (OEM) | CWT | CWT |
| PCB Type | Double Sided | Double Sided |
| Primary Side | ||
| Transient Filter | 4x Y caps, 2x X caps, 2x CM chokes, 1x MOV | 4x Y caps, 2x X caps, 2x CM chokes, 1x MOV |
| Inrush Protection | NTC Thermistor & Relay | NTC Thermistor |
| Bridge Rectifier(s) | 2x GBU806 (600V, 8A @ 100°C) | 1x GBU1506 (600V, 15A @ 100°C) |
| APFC MOSFETS | 2x Infineon IPA60R190P6 (650V, 12.7A @ 100°C, 0.19Ohm) | 1x Infineon IPW60R125P6 (650V, 19A @ 100°C, 0.125 Ohm) |
| APFC Boost Diode | 1x Power Integrations QH08TZ600 (600V, 8A @ 95°C) | 1x Vishay 8S2TH061 (600V, 8A @ 120°C) |
| Hold-up Cap(s) | 2x Su'scon (400V, 330uF & 270uF each or 600uF combined, 2,000h @ 105°C, LZ) | 1x Nippon Chemi-Con (400V, 680uF, 2000h @ 105°C, KMR) |
| Main Switchers | 2x Infineon IPA60R190P6 (650V, 12.7A @ 100°C, 0.19Ohm) | 2x Toshiba TK18A60V(600V, 18A, 0.19 Ohm) |
| APFC Controller | Champion CM6500UNX & CM03X Green PFC Controller | Infineon ICE3PCS01G - CM03X |
| Resonant Controllers | Champion CU6901V | Infineon ICE2HS01G |
| Topology | Primary side: Half-Bridge & LLC converter Secondary side: Synchronous Rectification & DC-DC converters | Primary side: Half-Bridge & LLC Resonant Converter Secondary side: Synchronous Rectification & DC-DC converters |
| Secondary Side | ||
| +12V MOSFETS | 4x International Rectifier IRFH7004PBF (40V, 100A @ 25°C, 1.4mOhm) | 4x Sinopower SM4021NAKP (40V, 100A @ 100°C, 2.7 mOhm @ VGS=6V) |
| 5V & 3.3V | DC-DC Converters: 2x UBIQ QM3054M6 (30V, 61A @ 100°C, 4.8mOhm) & 2x UBIQ QN3107M6N (30V, 70A @ 100°C, 2.6mOhm) PWM Controllers: uPI SEMI uP3861P | DC-DC Converters: 2x QM3006D & 4x QM3004D FETsPWM Controller: APW7159 |
| Filtering Capacitors | Electrolytics: 7x Elite (2-5,000h @ 105°C, EK), 1x Elite (4-10,000h @ 105°C, EY), 1x Elite (2,000h @ 105°C, PF), 2x Su'scon (2-5,000h @ 105°C, MF), 3x Su'scon (4-10,000h @ 105°C, HG) Polymers: Suncon, Elite, NIC | Electrolytics: Chemi-Con (105°C, KZE & KZH series) Polymers: Nippon Chemi-Con |
| Supervisor IC | Weltrend WT7502 (OVP, UVP, SCP, PG) & LM393G | Weltrend WT7502 |
| Fan Controller | Microchip PIC16F1503 | - |
| Fan Model | Hong Hua HA1425M12F-Z (140mm, 12V, 0.36A, Rifle Bearing Fan) | NR135L (12 V, 0.22 A, Rifle Bearing) |
| 5VSB Circuit | ||
| Rectifier | 1x Unisonic Technologies 4N65L (650V, 4A @ 25°C, 2.5Ohm) | PFR20V45CT (45V, 20A, VF: 0.42V max @ 125°C) |
| Standby PWM Controller | On - Bright OB5282 | On-Bright OB5269 |
The RM650 uses an upgraded platform, provided by the same manufacturer (CWT) that made the RM650x. There several essential differences between those two platforms, as you can see in the table above. The areas where the RM650x wins are the higher quality Japanese caps and the NR135L fan. On the other hand, the RM650 uses a new resonant controller, allowing for higher efficiency under light loads, and it is equipped with an electromagnetic relay which enhances its inrush current protection. On top of that, it uses a micro-controller in the fan control circuit so Corsair can easily tune the fan's speed and provide the ideal fan speed profile.
We should note here that Elite caps, which are widely used in the RM650, might be manufactured in China, but Elite is a brand of Chinsan. The latter is a Taiwanese company, with factories in China, and provides products to several high-end brands including two well-known ones. This means that Elite caps are of good quality and you shouldn't be afraid, in any case, of their Chinese origin. Sure there are enough Chinese factories with low production standards, and when it comes to capacitors, this can lead to terrible results. Nevertheless, Elite products have been proven reliable so far, and this is why most brands prefer them when it is too expensive to use Japanese caps.
The soldering quality is good, as expected from CWT.
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