Corsair AX850 PSU Review: Top Performer and Dead Silent

Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time, Inrush Current, Efficiency and Noise

To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

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, 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.

The load regulation is tight overall. Nonetheless, the SSR-850TR performs even better here in all rails, but 5VSB.

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 much longer than 17ms, the minimum that the ATX spec requires, while 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 registered inrush currents are at normal levels.

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the AX850’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
Test #12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])Temps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
15.158A1.977A1.953A0.992A84.75991.742%0<6.046.67°C0.957
12.248V5.056V3.376V5.044V92.38839.72°C115.10V
211.302A2.967A2.932A1.191A169.27293.792%0<6.047.61°C0.983
12.244V5.054V3.374V5.040V180.47640.29°C115.11V
317.840A3.466A3.407A1.391A254.38294.374%0<6.049.13°C0.992
12.241V5.051V3.373V5.035V269.54741.23°C115.11V
424.390A3.960A3.912A1.591A339.65493.904%60913.641.66°C0.991
12.237V5.050V3.372V5.031V361.70450.10°C115.11V
530.609A4.955A4.893A1.791A424.97193.528%61714.042.11°C0.993
12.234V5.047V3.370V5.027V454.37751.54°C115.11V
636.766A5.947A5.877A1.991A509.48893.116%66516.342.74°C0.995
12.231V5.045V3.369V5.023V547.15752.67°C115.12V
742.992A6.941A6.857A2.192A594.80792.497%71818.943.20°C0.996
12.228V5.043V3.368V5.020V643.05853.46°C115.12V
849.224A7.936A7.841A2.393A680.17491.940%80424.043.49°C0.997
12.225V5.041V3.367V5.016V739.80654.50°C115.12V
955.856A8.436A8.319A2.393A765.11691.388%86525.944.59°C0.997
12.221V5.039V3.365V5.014V837.22155.93°C115.13V
1062.220A8.937A8.827A2.999A849.91590.836%92827.145.80°C0.997
12.218V5.037V3.364V5.002V935.65757.55°C115.13V
1169.177A8.939A8.830A3.001A934.70590.202%114133.746.60°C0.998
12.215V5.035V3.363V5.000V1036.23758.75°C115.13V
CL10.147A11.999A12.000A0.000A102.84789.010%77622.442.73°C0.969
12.245V5.052V3.369V5.076V115.54551.65°C115.14V
CL270.013A1.003A0.998A1.000A868.79491.108%90526.745.44°C0.998
12.217V5.040V3.369V5.028V953.58857.46°C115.13V

The fan profile is relaxed even under extremely tough conditions. Moreover, the unit's efficiency is high and strangely enough it peaks with 30% of the platform's max-rated-capacity load. Normally we measure the peak efficiency at the 40-50% load tests.

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the AX850's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10 percent 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
Test #12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])PF/AC Volts
11.170A0.493A0.471A0.198A19.42177.771%0<6.00.778
12.249V5.062V3.380V5.061V24.972115.09V
22.416A0.988A0.974A0.396A39.88187.016%0<6.00.901
12.249V5.058V3.377V5.054V45.832115.10V
33.588A1.480A1.449A0.594A59.32889.580%0<6.00.936
12.249V5.057V3.377V5.051V66.229115.10V
44.828A1.977A1.952A0.793A79.72191.555%0<6.00.954
12.248V5.056V3.376V5.048V87.074115.10V

Unlder light loads the unit's fan is not employed at all, even under >36°C ambient, and the efficiency levels are amazing! With 80W load the 90% mark is easily reached, while with 20W we measure close to 78% efficiency while other units in the same test struggle to stay above 70%.

Efficiency

Next, we plotted a chart showing the AX850’s efficiency at low loads, and loads from 10 to 110 percent of its maximum-rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency the less energy goes wasted leading to a reduced carbon footprint, besides lower electricity bills.

With normal loads the AX850 conquers first place, while with light loads it is second behind Seasonic's original platform.

5VSB Efficiency

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test #5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyPF/AC Volts
10.100A0.49673.700%0.064
4.956V0.673115.13V
20.250A1.23978.072%0.140
4.953V1.587115.13V
30.550A2.72280.342%0.250
4.948V3.388115.13V
41.000A4.94080.456%0.345
4.939V6.140115.13V
51.500A7.39580.582%0.401
4.929V9.177115.13V
63.001A14.70379.869%0.474
4.900V18.409115.12V

The 5VSB rail besides tight load regulation is also highly efficient.

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mode12V5V3.3V5VSBWattsPF/AC Volts
Idle12.237V5.067V3.382V5.067V7.1460.240
115.1V
Standby0.0480.005
115.1V

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37°C (98.6°F) to 47°C (116.6°F).   

As we already mentioned, the fan profile is highly relaxed under any operating condition.

The following results were obtained at 30°C (86°F) to 32°C (89.6°F) ambient temperature.   

The semi-passive operation lasts for quite long (up to 300W) and the fan's speed is kept low when it is engaged. 

MORE: Best Power Supplies

MORE: How We Test Power Supplies

MORE: All Power Supply Content

Contributing Editor

Aris Mpitziopoulos is a Contributing Editor at Tom's Hardware US, covering PSUs.