星期一, 1月 31, 2011

Hybrid Silent and High Efficiency Gold Metal PSU - CORSAIR AX750W Review






In the past 3 years, PSU market competition is on 80Plus.

All brands make own design be more green and get better certificate from 80Plus.

As per 80Plus level, it has platinum, gold, silver and bronze. It bases on energy efficiency.

Of course, this standard is not absolutely. The excellent PSUs also need other features.

I think components are also the key factors.



CORSAIR is a well-known memory brand from USA. They have very good reputation in DRAM products.

CORSAIR PSU product is just around 3 years. Their products are positioning at high quality and stability for mid-high end.







Previously, CORSAIR PSU has HX, TX and VX series. The highest one is 80Plius Silver certificate.

In months ago, they launched new AX, GS, and CX product series.

This review is most high end AX series, the 80Plus Gold level.

It belongs to Professional Series Gold. AX has 3 products, 750/850/1200W.

I use entry AX 750W to share this latest high end PSU.



First of all, let’s see the package. The box main symbols are spec and technical feature.

7 years warranty, 80Plus Gold certificate are 2 main features.





Accessories

Product manual, cable ties, CORSAIR sticker, screws and power cord





PSU body is packed by flannelette bag





Professional Series Gold AX750W Body





The shell is black matt baking for good quality.

Hybrid Silent Fan Control technology has Fanless mode, Quiet mode and Cooling mode.

When the PSU output below 20%, the fan is complete stationary and silent.

Quiet mode is working as PSU output between 20~50%.

The fan starts to work and the noise level is 16dBA.





High quality cable collecting pack and modulized cables

12 X SATA

8 X 4 Pin

2 X Floppy





1 X ATX 24 Pin

1 X EPS/ATX12V 8/4 Pin

4 X PCI-E 6+2 Pin





The back design is cell heating holes.

Active PFC spec for 110~240VAC





Product Spec

Model, CMPSU-750AX

Simplex +12V design. Total is 62A and max is 744W





Modulized cable connectors. It can be better if it’s with clearly indicate.

Even MB 24/8 Pin cable is also moduliozed. It’s very rare design.

I remember there is only X-SERIES 750W using this.





Take a look inside.(PS:Please don’t do it by yourself, due to it will be out of warranty.)

The fan is SANYODENKI 9S1212F404. 12cm dual balls bearing with temperature controller.





A bird’s eye view





Internal heatsink is black





The capacitors are solid and Japanese made to enhance AX750W stability and durability.





Double faced PCB design





I guess CORSAIR AX750W and my previous review, Seasonic X-SERIES 750W, should be from same design team.

Many designs and components are similar. However, after checking the detail, the PCB design is some different.

CORSAIR PCB and heatsink are black and heatsink is bigger.

Also PCB some layout is changed. AX750W could be X-SERIES 750W revised version.



I use MB GIGABYTE X58A-UD3R; due to X58 is the most high end Intel platform.

It supports On/Off Charge, USB 3.0/SATA3, Cloud OC and 2oz copper PCB.





The platform is X58A-UD3R with Intel Core i7-950.

The main reason is LGA1366 is the most power consumption platform so far. It’s very suitable for PSU loading test.





System Configuration

CPU: Intel Core i7-950

MB: GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R

DRAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR-GT CMG6GX3M3A2000C8

VGA: GIGABYTE GTX460 OC

HD: Intel X25-V 40GB RAID 0

POWER: CORSAIR Gold AX750W

Cooler: Mega Shadow Deluxe Edition

OS: Windows7 Ultimate 64bit





The test below is under default setup and OC CPU to 4140MHz to compare PSU output status in middle and high power consumption modes.



Default Setup

CPU 133.2 X 24 => 3197.7MHz

DARM DDR3 1865.2 CL7 8-7-20 1T





OCCT V3.1.0

POWER SUPPLY Mode





Enter to OS desktop - 153~156W





Run OCCT Power Supply Test Items

i7-950 default is 3.07GHz. 4 physical cores and 4 HT cores full load plus GTX460 - 392~418W。





Power Angel shows this X58 default mode max power consumption is 418W

According to 80Plus website,

output 50% transfer efficiency is around 90.80%

After transferring, 110V 418W is around 380W real output.



OCCT Test Result

CPU Voltage Variation

Disable Intel C1E in default mode. CPU clock and voltage both rise to highest.





3.3V

The highest is 3.34V and mostly it’s between 3.31~3.33V during test. The voltage wave is around 0.90%





5V

Mostly it’s between 4.84~4.89V. The voltage wave is around 1.02%.





12V

The highest is 12.37V and the mostly is 12.24V. The voltage wave is 1.05%.





3V and 5V voltage wave is around 0.9~1.02%. It’s very good condition.

Even 12V is only 1.05%. You can see this PSU in high load condition is still working excellent.



Using More Accurate Meter

Idle

5V testing result is 5.03~5.05V which is higher than board meterage 4.89V.





OCCT Full Speed

The voltage is 5.06V which is higher than idle condition.





Idle

12V testing result is 12.18~12.19V which is some different with board meterage 12.37V





OCCT Full Speed

The voltage is 12.17V which is lower than idle condition around 0.01~0.02V





5V is rising to higher voltage in full speed condition.

12V only has 0.01~0.02V small wave. This meterage is much lower than mainboard measurement.



OC System Setup

CPU 180 X 23 => 4140MHz

DARM DDR3 1800 CL7 8-7-20 1T





Enter to OS Desktop - 186~190W





Run OCCT Power Supply Test Items

i7-950 OC to 4.14GHz, 4 physical cores and 4 HT cores full load plus GTX460 - 596~636W。





Power Angel shows this X58 OC mode max power consumption is 636W

According to 80Plus website, there are only 20, 50 and 100% transfer efficiency.

I decide to use transfer efficiency at 100% and it’s about 88.11%

After transferring, 110V 636W is around 560W real output.



OCCT Test Result

CPU Voltage Variation

Disable Intel C1E in default mode. CPU clock and voltage both rise to highest.  





3.3V

The highest is 3.33V and mostly it’s between 3.28~3.3V during test. The voltage wave is around 1.50%





5V

Mostly it’s between 4.87~4.76V. The voltage wave is around 2.26%.





12V

The highest is 12.3V and the mostly is between 12.18~12.24V. The voltage wave is 0.96%.





3V and 5V voltage wave is around 1.5% and 2.26%.



Even 12V is only 1.05%. You can see this PSU in high load condition is still working excellent.



3V and 5V voltage wave is around 1.50 and 2.26%.

The wave range is higher than default mode. However, it’s still much lower than acceptable 5% tolerance.

12V is even lower. It’s just only 0.96%. You can see this PSU in 75% high load condition is still working excellent.



Using More Accurate Meter

Idle

5V testing result is 5.05V which is higher than board meterage 4.87V.





OCCT Full Speed

The voltage is 5.06V which is lower than idle condition around 0.01V





Idle

The voltage is 12.17~12.18V which is different with board meterage 12.3V





OCCT Full Speed

The voltage is 12.14V which is lower than idle condition around 0.03~0.04V





You can see no matter idle or OC, 5V is raising 0.1V

There is no 5V dropping 2.26% status in OCCT software.

12V wave is only 0.03~0.04V. Even though it’s bigger than default, it’s still only 0.33% wave.

These 2 factors are much lower than mainboard meterage.



CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX750W Conclusion

Good

1.Professional Series new packing and accessories are very good quality

2.CORSAIR provides 7 years warranty

3.Modulized design for better flexibility. The inner capacitors are Japanese made and solid caps.

4.80Plus Gold Certificate and the energy efficiency is 90.80%

5.5V is no dropping in meter test and 12V is only falling 1%. The voltage wave is very small.

6.It supports Hybrid Silent Fan Control technology which fanless below 20% output.



Weak

1.Suggesting they can add 6 X PCI-E 6+2 Pin

2.80Plus Gold Certificate and good components make the price be too high







Performance ★★★★★★★★★☆

Components ★★★★★★★★★★

Specification ★★★★★★★★★☆

Outlook     ★★★★★★★★☆☆

C/P Value   ★★★★★★★★☆☆



I used to review Seasonic X-SERIES 750W which is good components and performance Gold product.

You can see CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX750W should be ODM by Seasonic.

Before, Seasonic ODM PSU has better components than own brand one.

AX750W inner layout is very different with X-SERIES 750W. I think it should be the revised upgrade version.



There are some special parts within my test.

First is the fanless mode in Idle condition. The PSU body temperature is also low.

During CPU/VGA full speed running, fan rpm is controlled by output rate. I don’t hear any obvious noise.

PSU body temperature is always below 40 degree C. It’s good control for noise and temperature.



CORSAIR AX750W price is around 170USD.

The key concerns of buying PSU are components, 80Plus Level, price, warranty and brand awareness.

AX750W is high end components level. I think 80Plus level doesn’t equal to components.

For the price, many non-modulized or lower components grade PSU price will be much lower.

I hope this review can be reference for the users who want to own a Gold Certificate and high end components PSU.

windwithme will introduce more Gold Certificate PSU in near future. Thanks. :)

星期三, 1月 26, 2011

極靜音搭配高效率節能之金牌高階PSU - CORSAIR AX750W拆殼實測

近兩三年來有關於Power Supply的市場產品好像變成以競爭80Plus為主

各品牌無不希望自家的產品設計可以更節能,拿到80Plus更高的認證

經由80Plus的制度來分級,一共有白/銅/銀/金四種等級,以轉換功率的高低為區分標準。

當然這樣的節能標準並非絕對,優秀的Power Supply必須還有其他的特點

面子裡子都要兼顧到,所以個人認為用料的好壞也是很重要的一個環節







美商CORSAIR是一家歷史悠久的Memory品牌,在DRAM產品都有著良好的口碑

CORSAIR的產品線在Power Supply領域中並不算悠久,約略只有三年左右的時間

應該不難了解該品牌在產品定位上多是要求高品質與穩定為主要目標,走的是中高檔的路線



先前CORSAIR Power Supply擁有HX、TX與VX三系列的主要產品線,最高的80Plus認證等級達到銀牌。

最近幾個月又推出新產品線,主要分別為AX、GS、CX三個系列

此回的主角是三系列中認證等級最高的AX,也就是80Plus金牌的最高節能等級

屬於Professional Series Gold,目前AX一共有三種等級可以選擇,750/850/1200W

測試中以AX入門款750W來分享新規格的高階Power Supply產品



首先看到產品外包裝,主要標示產品規格與技術說明

七年保固、80Plus金牌認證為此產品的兩大特點





內附的配件

產品說明書、束線帶、CORSAIR貼紙、固定螺絲與電源線





Power Supply本體使用一個質感很好的絨布套包裹





Professional Series Gold AX750W本體





外殼使用黑色霧面烤漆,這部分質感相當不錯

Hybrid Silent Fan Control技術,以溫控的方式運用無響、靜音及散熱三種模式

在低負載20%以下時風扇並不會轉動,會形成完全沒有聲音的Power Supply

靜音模式是負載在20~50%時,風扇開始運轉,產生的聲音大小為16dBA





高質感的線材收納包與模組化線材

12 X SATA

8 X 4 Pin

2 X Floppy





1 X ATX 24 Pin

1 X EPS/ATX12V 8/4 Pin

4 X PCI-E 6+2 Pin





後方設計為市面上常見的蜂巢式散熱孔

Active PFC規格,適用於110~240VAC





產品規格表

代號為CMPSU-750AX

單路+12V設計,總共62A,最高可達744W





模組化線材接孔,此處如果有明確的安裝說明貼紙會更好

連MB所需要24/8 Pin都使用模組化方式,這方面倒是極少見的設計

先前的印象好像只有X-SERIES 750W有此設計





拆開內部一覽(註:一般來說拆開Power Supply會喪失保固,沒有必要請勿模仿)

風扇品牌使用SANYODENKI 9S1212F404,為一款12公分的雙滾珠溫控靜音風扇





鳥瞰整個內部構造





內部散熱片的顏色為黑色





內部使用電容鋁質固態電容與日系電容加強AX750W的穩定性與耐用度





雙面板PCB設計





猜測CORSAIR AX750W與小弟先前分享過的Seasonic X-SERIES 750W應屬系出同門

許多地方的設計、用料都很神似,比較兩款產品的內部PCB設計還是有些許不同

CORSAIR PCB與散熱片改用黑色,而且散熱片較多且面積也較廣

另外PCB內有些許佈線做過更動,AX750W有可能是X-SERIES 750W的改良版本



測試的主機板使用GIGABYTE X58A-UD3R,在Intel平台中屬於最高階的桌上PC平台

支援On/Off Charge功能、USB 3.0/SATA3、Cloud OC與2盎司純銅電路板等設計





以高階入門等級的X58A-UD3R搭配Intel Core i7-950為主要平台

原因是LGA 1366耗電量是目前較高的平台,適合做Power Supply負載測試





測試平台

CPU: Intel Core i7-950

MB: GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R

DRAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR-GT CMG6GX3M3A2000C8

VGA: GIGABYTE GTX460 OC

HD: Intel X25-V 40GB RAID 0

POWER: CORSAIR Gold AX750W

Cooler: Mega Shadow Deluxe Edition

OS: Windows7 Ultimate 64bit





以下測試將會以系統預設值與CPU超頻4140GHz兩種狀況的耗電量

主要目的是要比較出中度耗電與高度耗電下的電壓波動幅度



預設系統設定值

CPU 133.2 X 24 => 3197.7MHz

DARM DDR3 1865.2 CL7 8-7-20 1T





OCCT V3.1.0

POWER SUPPLY模式





進入OS系統桌面下 - 153~156W





執行OCCT中Power Supply測試項目

i7-950預設3.07GHz,四核實體加四核HT模擬滿載加上GTX460 - 392~418W。





Power Angel在這個X58預設平台的耗電量,顯示出來最高約418W

依照80Plus網站的資料,負載50%時轉換功率約90.80%

把110V 418W轉換後大約最高耗電量為380W



OCCT測試結果

CPU電壓變化

預設值下關閉Intel C1E節能技術,CPU時脈與電壓都會升到最高





3.3V

最高時3.34V,測試中大多在3.31~3.33V跳動,電壓跳動範圍在0.90%左右





5V

大約落在4.84~4.89V,電壓跳動範圍在1.02%左右





12V

最高時12.37V,測試中大多一直線落在12.24V,電壓跳動範圍在1.05%左右





3V、5V的電壓跳動範圍在0.9~1.02%左右,這兩個電壓數據的表現很好

就連12V的電壓落差也只有1.05%,對於此款Power Supply在中負載的狀況表現屬於高水準



使用比較精準的電表測量

待機時

5V測出來為5.03~5.05V,比起主機板測出來的4.89V還要高一些





OCCT全速運作時

電壓範圍5.06V,電壓數據在全速時比待機還要高一點





待機時

12V測出來為12.18~12.19V,比起主機板測出來的12.37V有些差異





OCCT全速運作時

電壓範圍12.17V,電壓在全速時降到比待機時低0.01~0.02V





5V表現在全速時反而升到比較高的電壓

12V也只有0.01~0.02V較小的波動範圍,這方面的數據都比起主機板軟體測出的電壓波動低上許多。



超頻系統設定值

CPU 180 X 23 => 4140MHz

DARM DDR3 1800 CL7 8-7-20 1T





進入OS系統桌面下 - 186~190W





執行OCCT中Power Supply測試項目

i7-950超頻4.14GHz,四核實體加四核HT模擬滿載加上GTX460 - 596~636W。





Power Angel在X58改為超頻平台的耗電量,顯示出來最高約636W

依照80Plus網站的資料,因為只有測試20/50/100%的轉換功率

最後決定採用負載100%時轉換功率,大約88.11%

環境中使用110V最高636W轉換後大約最高耗電量為560W



OCCT測試結果

CPU電壓變化

關閉Intel C1E節能技術,CPU時脈與電壓都會升到最高





3.3V

最高時3.33V,測試中大多在3.28~3.3V跳動,電壓跳動範圍在1.50%左右





5V

大約落在4.87~4.76V,電壓跳動範圍在2.26%左右





12V

最高時12.3V,測試中大多在12.18~12.24V跳動,電壓跳動範圍在0.96%左右





3V、5V的電壓跳動範圍各在1.50%與2.26%左右

這兩個電壓跳動範圍比預設值較多一些,比起一般可容許的5%電壓誤差值還要低上許多

12V的電壓落差比預設值更低,只有0.96%左右,在耗電量負載率75%的狀況下表現還是很好



使用比較精準的電表測量

待機時

5V測出來為5.05V,比起主機板測出來的4.87V還要高一些





OCCT全速運作時

電壓範圍5.06V,電壓數據在全速時比待機還要高0.1V





待機時

12V測出來為12.17~12.18V,比起主機板測出來的12.3V還是有點差異





OCCT全速運作時

電壓範圍12.14V,電壓在全速時降到比待機時低0.03~0.04V





可以得知不管在待機或是超頻時,5V的數據都是往上提升0.1V

並沒有OCCT使用軟體測試中,5V最高會掉2.26%的情況發生

12V也只有變為0.03~0.04V,雖然比預設值的範圍還要大,但只有0.33%的波動範圍

這兩方面電壓的數據都比起主機板軟體測出的電壓波動低上許多



CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX750W使用心得總結

優點

1.Professional Series的新包裝與附件都更有質感

2.CORSAIR提供高達七年的原廠保固服務

3.模組化的最高彈性設計,標榜內部使用固態電容與日系電容搭配

4.通過80Plus金牌認證,轉換功率高達90.80%

5.5V在電表測量中電壓沒有往下掉,12V的落差也在1%以下,電壓波動範圍很低

6.同樣支援Hybrid Silent Fan Control技術,20%低負載的狀況時,散熱風扇不會運轉



缺點

1.建議可以增加到6 X PCI-E 6+2 Pin

2.80Plus金牌認證加上優秀的用料,導致價格也偏高







效能比 ★★★★★★★★★☆

用料比 ★★★★★★★★★★

規格比 ★★★★★★★★★☆

外觀比 ★★★★★★★★☆☆

性價比 ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆



先前分享過Seasonic X-SERIES 750W,是一款用料與效能都相當高的金牌產品

看得出來CORSAIR Professional Series Gold AX750W也應該是由Seasonic代工

以往由Seasonic代工的Power Supply經常會比自家的產品用料還好

AX750W在內部佈線明顯與X-SERIES 750W不同,推測應為改良後的加強版



測試中比較特殊的地方,第一印象就是在於風扇的控制

在一般待機使用下,風扇不會轉動,此外Power Supply本體的溫度也不高

測試中CPU/VGA全速的狀態下,風扇也依負載率來控制轉速,也沒有聽到明顯的噪音

Power Supply本體的溫度也壓在40度以下,對於噪音與溫度這兩方面的控制表現的不錯



CORSAIR AX750W在台灣市場可以看到的普遍價位大約台幣8000元以上,約美金274元

算是高價位的750W,也希望未來的價位可以降到只比Seasonic X-SERIES 750W高一點會更好。

挑Power Supply大約會考慮到用料品質、80Plus節能等級、市場售價、保固與個人品牌喜好度等幾點。

AX750W屬於高階用料的等級,個人認為不要把80Plus認證等級高低與用料的好壞畫上等號

當然價位方面,目前有許多非模組化或是用料比較沒有那麼優秀的Power Supply,價格上會低上許多。

希望本篇文章可以提供給想要金牌認證又想要擁有高階用料的消費者做為參考

最近小弟windwithme會再陸續介紹幾款品牌的金牌Power Supply分享,謝謝 :)