Introduction

We would like to thank Corsair for supplying the review sample.

Eight PSU lines apparently weren’t enough for Corsair, which is why another they say to be situated right below the fresh RM series has been added. According to Corsair, the CS-M line was designed for basic- and mid-range systems; however, it offers features and performance traditionally reserved for higher-end models. They are probably referring to the 80 Plus Gold certification which, although not at the top anymore, is still considered a certification only higher-end, more expensive PSUs feature.

All members of the CS-M series not only feature 80 Plus Gold efficiency, but also compact dimensions and a semi-modular cabling design, two things that will make their installation a breeze in even small cases. A fully modular design would obviously further increase the price, which had Corsair use a hybrid solution instead. Fine with us as long as only the absolute minimum in native cables are included, the CS-M line currently also consists of four members with capacities ranging from 450 W to 750 W.

In this review, we will take a closer look at the CS650M with, as its model number implies, a capacity of 650 W. Its single +12V rail can deliver up to 51 A, which can, along with the four PCIe connectors that equip the PSU, feed two mid-level VGAs for a SLI or Crossfire configuration. The CS650M's price also looks fair for what it offers, but we will put together a clear picture of its price/performance ratio once we finish all testing and have the necessary data in hand to precisely calculate the performance-per-dollar score. When it comes to commercial products like PSUs, the most interesting bit is the performance they offer in relationship to their price, and we really busted our heads to implement an algorithm that effectively calculates the pure performance of a PSU by taking into account all of our test data, but that is another story we already told here.