Wednesday, August 26th 2020

Corsair Readies CX-F RGB Line of Entry-level PSUs Targeted at Gamers

Corsair is preparing to launch its CX-F line of entry-level PSUs with RGB LED lighting, targeted at gaming PC builds on a budget. A successor of the company's CX line of value PSUs, the CX-F series began surfacing on retailers such as PC-Canada. It comes in capacities of 550 W (model: CP-9020216-EU), 650 W (CP-9020217-EU), and 750 W (CP-9020218-EU), and color options of black and white (CP-9020225-EU, CP-9020226-EU, and CP-9020227-EU).

Under the hood, these PSUs offer single +12 V rail design, 80 Plus Bronze efficiency, active PFC, and LLC resonant converter. The RGB bling comes from a 120 mm fan that features a white impeller that doubles up as an RGB LED diffuser, and LEDs located in its impeller hub. The OEM appears to be HEC. The PSU talks to software over an ARGB header, so it could interface with the iCUE RGB software. PC-Canada asks $85 USD (converted) for the 550 W variant, $100 USD for 650 W, and $110 USD for 750 W.
Sources: Professional Review, PC-Canada
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35 Comments on Corsair Readies CX-F RGB Line of Entry-level PSUs Targeted at Gamers

#1
Searing
Could we just get ANY decent bronze silent PSU? Power supply prices are through the roof, the cheapest silent Gold is the Corsair RM650 and it is $150 in Canada. Not a single silent PSU under that.

Put a silent fan in your PSU, don't add RGB... jeeze... (spoken from a tired system builder).
Posted on Reply
#2
Wolfkin
SearingCould we just get ANY decent bronze silent PSU? Power supply prices are through the roof, the cheapest silent Gold is the Corsair RM650 and it is $150 in Canada. Not a single silent PSU under that.

Put a silent fan in your PSU, don't add RGB... jeeze... (spoken from a tired system builder).
Yes, I agree with you, if there's one place we don't need rgb it's on a PSU that 1, is often hidden and 2, in the big majority of cases the fan will be directed down into the floor of the case. Just put a good silent fan there.

Oh, and that RM650 PSU is $180 Canadian here in Sweden. ;)
Posted on Reply
#3
londiste
SearingCould we just get ANY decent bronze silent PSU?
Bronze is a bad place to start building a silent PSU from. Gold and above means making that silent part is a lot easier. Gold means the excess heat to cool is about 1/3 less compared to Bronze. Going from Gold to Titanium is about the same 1/3 decrease in excess heat.
Posted on Reply
#4
xman2007
londisteBronze is a bad place to start building a silent PSU from. Gold and above means making that silent part is a lot easier. Gold means the excess heat to cool is about 1/3 less compared to Bronze. Going from Gold to Titanium is about the same 1/3 decrease in excess heat.
So gold PSU's generate 1/3 less heat than Bronze PSU's? and titanium is 66% less heat generated than an equivalent Bronze PSU? no wonder my PSU is running at 90c and not 30c.... heard it all now :rolleyes: :kookoo:

And this advertorial... Entry level?? since when is $100 for a 650w classed as entry level?
Posted on Reply
#5
Searing
The problem isn't the heat generated, I mean the fans are just loud and low quality, with loud bearings. I'll take a "White" PSU with an excellent silent noctua fan.
WolfkinOh, and that RM650 PSU is $180 Canadian here in Sweden. ;)
Well your $180 includes tax, in Canada it is $150 before sales tax. But yeah, it completely kills my desire to build new computers. $300 for a decent case and PSU to start...
Posted on Reply
#6
AsRock
TPU addict
xman2007So gold PSU's generate 1/3 less heat than Bronze PSU's? and titanium is 66% less heat generated than an equivalent Bronze PSU? no wonder my PSU is running at 90c and not 30c.... heard it all now :rolleyes: :kookoo:

And this advertorial... Entry level?? since when is $100 for a 650w classed as entry level?
Since all the problems with and in China ?. Just looked up a seasonic 750w ( what i use ) and it's $40 more.
Posted on Reply
#7
-The_Mask-
@btarunr
This doesn't looks like a PSU build by CWT, it also isn't a PSU build by CWT. ;)

This is a Vengeance Silver with RGB fan build by HEC.
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#8
Chrispy_
When working on a tight budget, the buyer's key focus should be spending every single spare cent on PSU quality. It affects the stability and longevity of all other components in your PC.

I'm sure some people without this understanding will spend over the odds for a lower-quality PSU that has rainbow lights, but those are the prices of better-made, more efficient 80+ Gold modular units.

I'd not expect to pay more than $60 for a 550W Silver PSU. $85 is 600W Gold or better territory.
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#9
Wolfkin
SearingWell your $180 includes tax, in Canada it is $150 before sales tax. But yeah, it completely kills my desire to build new computers. $300 for a decent case and PSU to start...
Ah yes, you're right. Our sales tax is included in the list price, didn't think of that.
AsRockSince all the problems with and in China ?. Just looked up a seasonic 750w ( what i use ) and it's $40 more.
Yeah, that's another thing you can thank President Trump for, his trade war with China. That prices for most everything would go up was kept very quiet but hey, in Trumps own words, trade wars is easy to win....
Posted on Reply
#10
AsRock
TPU addict
WolfkinAh yes, you're right. Our sales tax is included in the list price, didn't think of that.


Yeah, that's another thing you can thank President Trump for, his trade war with China. That prices for most everything would go up was kept very quiet but hey, in Trumps own words, trade wars is easy to win....
Not his fault the previous leaders sold the US out.
Posted on Reply
#11
ExcuseMeWtf
SearingCould we just get ANY decent bronze silent PSU? Power supply prices are through the roof, the cheapest silent Gold is the Corsair RM650 and it is $150 in Canada. Not a single silent PSU under that.

Put a silent fan in your PSU, don't add RGB... jeeze... (spoken from a tired system builder).
Is be-quiet! available where you live?

Everything from Pure Power onwards is silent.

As for this Corsair, I really hope RGB is not an excuse for Corsair to sell outdated junk platforms marked up. Like some others do *cough*Thermaltake*cough*
Posted on Reply
#12
Wolfkin
AsRockNot his fault the previous leaders sold the US out.
Well the trade deficit has been ongoing since 1979 when US and China started trade relations again and have only accelerated since. That is a result of capitalism, China produce wares that US want to a lower price than anywhere else, including US. Sure you could get rid of the deficit and produce the wares in US but the price would be very high, like items would cost like 5-10 times what they do now.

But that's a whole other discussion and this is not the place so this is the last I will say about it.
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#13
FreedomEclipse
~Technological Technocrat~
-The_Mask-@btarunr
This doesn't looks like a PSU build by CWT, it also isn't a PSU build by CWT. ;)

This is a Vengeance Silver with RGB fan build by HEC.
Good. CWT made CX units tend to have questionable reliability.
Posted on Reply
#14
jonnyGURU
SearingCould we just get ANY decent bronze silent PSU? Power supply prices are through the roof, the cheapest silent Gold is the Corsair RM650 and it is $150 in Canada. Not a single silent PSU under that.

Put a silent fan in your PSU, don't add RGB... jeeze... (spoken from a tired system builder).
How do you know it's not RGB >>AND<< silent? ;)
ExcuseMeWtfAs for this Corsair, I really hope RGB is not an excuse for Corsair to sell outdated junk platforms marked up. Like some others do *cough*Thermaltake*cough*
The author pointed out that the PSU is LLC with DC to DC. Hardly outdated. The Thermaltake is double forward.
SearingThe problem isn't the heat generated, I mean the fans are just loud and low quality, with loud bearings. I'll take a "White" PSU with an excellent silent noctua fan.
So you want a PSU with shitty cooling that's going to overheat and shut down? Gotcha.
xman2007And this advertorial... Entry level?? since when is $100 for a 650w classed as entry level?
I know.... right? LLC with DC to DC, fully modular.... Entry level. What's an AX1600i? Mid level?
Posted on Reply
#15
ExcuseMeWtf
The author pointed out that the PSU is LLC with DC to DC. Hardly outdated. The Thermaltake is double forward.
I don't see a mention of DC-DC in the news piece itself, only LLC. By that could've still theoretically been group regulated.

But AFAIK you work for Corsair, so safe to assume you know best.
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#17
-The_Mask-
FreedomEclipse@jonnyGURU you should do PSU reviews for TPU.
He works for Corsair and Aris has much better equipment. So why exactly?
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#18
FreedomEclipse
~Technological Technocrat~
-The_Mask-He works for Corsair and Aris has much better equipment. So why exactly?
Because Corsair and Aris isnt TPU.
Posted on Reply
#19
-The_Mask-
FreedomEclipseBecause Corsair and Aris isnt TPU.
That doesn't make sense. Aris already makes reviews for TPU and has the better equipment. Why does a Corsair employee needs to make the reviews with worse equipment?
Posted on Reply
#20
jonnyGURU
ExcuseMeWtfI don't see a mention of DC-DC in the news piece itself, only LLC. By that could've still theoretically been group regulated.
Doh! Well... since there's no such thing as LLC group regulated, when I read that it said "LLC", by brain automatically inserted "DC to DC".
FreedomEclipse@jonnyGURU you should do PSU reviews for TPU.
Having a full time job at Corsair pays much better. :D
-The_Mask-He works for Corsair and Aris has much better equipment. So why exactly?
Bro.. I thought you knew me. I have MUCH BETTER equipment than Aris.

Well.. Ok... let's be fair. CORSAIR has much better equipment than Aris. :D

I've moved twice since quitting doing PSU reviews. I don't have ANY of my old equipment anymore.
-The_Mask-That doesn't make sense. Aris already makes reviews for TPU and has the better equipment. Why does a Corsair employee needs to make the reviews with worse equipment?
Bro... you're killing me with the "worse equipment" stuff. LOL!
Posted on Reply
#21
-The_Mask-
jonnyGURUBro.. I thought you knew me. I have MUCH BETTER equipment than Aris.

Well.. Ok... let's be fair. CORSAIR has much better equipment than Aris. :D

I've moved twice since quitting doing PSU reviews. I don't have ANY of my old equipment anymore.
I said your equipment, not Corsair's. ;) So I was talking about your Sunmoon (? Or was it TechRed?). Didn't know you didn't had them anymore. In that case Aris certainly has the better stuff. :p
Posted on Reply
#22
jonnyGURU
-The_Mask-I said your equipment, not Corsair's. ;) So I was talking about your Sunmoon (? Or was it TechRed?). Didn't know you didn't had them anymore. In that case Aris certainly has the better stuff. :p
Yes. Anything is better than nothing.

I had the SM-8800 + SM-220. It was Wolf that had the TechRed.
Posted on Reply
#23
Searing
jonnyGURUHow do you know it's not RGB >>AND<< silent? ;)



The author pointed out that the PSU is LLC with DC to DC. Hardly outdated. The Thermaltake is double forward.



So you want a PSU with shitty cooling that's going to overheat and shut down? Gotcha.



I know.... right? LLC with DC to DC, fully modular.... Entry level. What's an AX1600i? Mid level?
Jesus, I guess you don't know Noctua. Laughable. I want a PSU with a good heatsink and a good fan, don't care if it is bronze or gold, the problem is all the bronze ones have horrible cooling components.
Posted on Reply
#24
jonnyGURU
SearingJesus, I guess you don't know Noctua. Laughable. I want a PSU with a good heatsink and a good fan, don't care if it is bronze or gold, the problem is all the bronze ones have horrible cooling components.
Oh. I am VERY familiar with Noctua.

We use this machine to compare competitor's fans and found that Noctua is among the worst for static pressure:

www.tweaktown.com/news/26799/corsair_takes_fan_testing_seriously/index.html

Noctua relies heavily on misleading marketing. They only show you CFM vs. RPM with dBA data and say, "look! We're quieter!", but they leave out the data for static pressure (meansured in Ps, or mmAq). A true PQ curve graph has THREE plot points. RPM, CFM and Ps. In "free air" (eg: case fan) you can use a Noctua fan at it will be adequate and quiet. But in an application that requires higher static pressure (eg PSU, radiator, etc.), the RPM of a Noctua fan needs to be cranked up so high that the "noise advantage" is completely negated.

So yeah... putting a Noctua in a PSU is putting a shitty fan in a PSU. I mean... there are worse fans used in some low end PSUs, sure. But the Noctua is NOT the best choice for a PSU.
Posted on Reply
#25
Searing
jonnyGURUOh. I am VERY familiar with Noctua.

We use this machine to compare competitor's fans and found that Noctua is among the worst for static pressure:

www.tweaktown.com/news/26799/corsair_takes_fan_testing_seriously/index.html

Noctua relies heavily on misleading marketing. They only show you CFM vs. RPM with dBA data and say, "look! We're quieter!", but they leave out the data for static pressure (meansured in Ps, or mmAq). A true PQ curve graph has THREE plot points. RPM, CFM and Ps. In "free air" (eg: case fan) you can use a Noctua fan at it will be adequate and quiet. But in an application that requires higher static pressure (eg PSU, radiator, etc.), the RPM of a Noctua fan needs to be cranked up so high that the "noise advantage" is completely negated.

So yeah... putting a Noctua in a PSU is putting a shitty fan in a PSU. I mean... there are worse fans used in some low end PSUs, sure. But the Noctua is NOT the best choice for a PSU.
I'll just leave it at "I disagree". Noctua fans are very quiet at low RPM especially, and I am much less likely to get a broken fan in the box. Spending my life dealing with Gigabyte PSU's with fans that are broken in the box, or MSI fans in their cases, or Bitfenix HDB fans sounding wrong out of the box... Noctua excels at avoiding weird noises at low RPMs, sound that is not picked up on a decibel metre.

Getting side tracked, this all started with me just wanting a totally silent bronze PSU (since in Canada right now the cheapest silent Gold is $150 which is a lot to spend on every computer you build. Sadly the Corsair CV and CX and Gigabyte models (all of them) have been very loud.

Also what is with PSUs coming with broken thermal regulators? I've had 3 this year that ran at max speed even on low loads. Gold PSUs. One Rosewill, one Cooler master, one Gigabyte one. That clearly isn't 20 db out of the box. I want more than 2 out of 3 PSUs I unbox to be quality... under $150...

I basically just buy the RM650/X everytime I want problem free, but that cost adds up.
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