Channel Well Technology CSX 850M-G Review - The first PCIe 5.0 ready SFX PSU

Name: Channel Well Technology CSX 850M-G
Brand: Channel Well Technology

crmaris

on Sep 2nd, 2022,

in Power Supplies.

Manufacturer: Channel Well Technology

Fan Noise »

Efficiency

Using the results we gathered, we plotted a chart showing the PSU's efficiency at low loads and loads ranging from 10 to 110 percent of the maximum-rated capacity.

Efficiency needs boosting with normal loads and 40-100 W. Efficiency is high enough with 20-80 W and with a 2% load.

10–110 % Load Testing

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures and show how the fan-speed profile behaves under harsh operating conditions.

Load Regulation & Efficiency Testing Data - CWT CSX 850M-G
Test	12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	Power (DC/AC)	Efficiency	Fan Speed	PSU Noise	Temp (In/Out)	PF/AC Volts
10%	5.194A	1.977A	1.994A	1.002A	84.993W	85.311%	921 RPM	14.1 dB(A)	40.04°C	0.803
10%	12.204V	5.057V	3.309V	4.988V	99.627W	85.311%	921 RPM	14.1 dB(A)	44.54°C	230.34V
20%	11.417A	2.968A	2.993A	1.181A	169.913W	90.672%	921 RPM	14.1 dB(A)	40.33°C	0.896
20%	12.176V	5.054V	3.307V	5.078V	187.394W	90.672%	921 RPM	14.1 dB(A)	45.27°C	230.33V
30%	17.988A	3.465A	3.494A	1.38A	254.905W	92.068%	923 RPM	14.2 dB(A)	41.47°C	0.924
30%	12.167V	5.051V	3.305V	5.071V	276.861W	92.068%	923 RPM	14.2 dB(A)	46.85°C	230.32V
40%	24.566A	3.962A	3.996A	1.58A	339.978W	92.419%	927 RPM	14.3 dB(A)	41.86°C	0.941
40%	12.162V	5.049V	3.304V	5.064V	367.866W	92.419%	927 RPM	14.3 dB(A)	47.83°C	230.31V
50%	30.771A	4.956A	4.997A	1.78A	424.732W	92.352%	930 RPM	14.5 dB(A)	42.7°C	0.953
50%	12.162V	5.045V	3.302V	5.055V	459.907W	92.352%	930 RPM	14.5 dB(A)	49.26°C	230.3V
60%	36.877A	5.951A	6A	1.981A	509.271W	92.119%	934 RPM	14.6 dB(A)	42.97°C	0.958
60%	12.188V	5.042V	3.3V	5.047V	552.84W	92.119%	934 RPM	14.6 dB(A)	49.99°C	230.29V
70%	43.176A	6.947A	7.004A	2.182A	594.559W	91.687%	1746 RPM	34.3 dB(A)	43.12°C	0.962
70%	12.170V	5.039V	3.298V	5.038V	648.46W	91.687%	1746 RPM	34.3 dB(A)	50.61°C	230.28V
80%	49.507A	7.945A	8.006A	2.284A	679.412W	91.188%	2279 RPM	41.9 dB(A)	43.84°C	0.966
80%	12.150V	5.036V	3.296V	5.032V	745.076W	91.188%	2279 RPM	41.9 dB(A)	51.98°C	230.27V
90%	56.210A	8.444A	8.497A	2.387A	764.82W	90.645%	2811 RPM	46.2 dB(A)	44.97°C	0.969
90%	12.139V	5.033V	3.294V	5.025V	843.747W	90.645%	2811 RPM	46.2 dB(A)	54.34°C	230.25V
100%	62.665A	8.945A	9.018A	2.991A	849.643W	90.004%	3313 RPM	51.2 dB(A)	45.62°C	0.972
100%	12.128V	5.03V	3.292V	5.012V	944.013W	90.004%	3313 RPM	51.2 dB(A)	55.65°C	230.24V
110%	68.974A	9.947A	10.118A	2.995A	934.233W	89.329%	3494 RPM	52.9 dB(A)	47.03°C	0.975
110%	12.121V	5.027V	3.29V	5.006V	1045.831W	89.329%	3494 RPM	52.9 dB(A)	57.82°C	230.22V
CL1	0.113A	14.332A	14.442A	0A	121.277W	84.489%	936 RPM	14.7 dB(A)	42.36°C	0.866
CL1	12.222V	5.038V	3.302V	5.085V	143.539W	84.489%	936 RPM	14.7 dB(A)	48.44°C	230.33V
CL2	0.113A	19.853A	0A	0A	101.379W	82.503%	933 RPM	14.6 dB(A)	43.73°C	0.84
CL2	12.221V	5.037V	3.299V	5.09V	122.878W	82.503%	933 RPM	14.6 dB(A)	50.98°C	230.34V
CL3	0.112A	0A	19.947A	0A	67.368W	76.933%	931 RPM	14.5 dB(A)	44.64°C	0.773
CL3	12.231V	5.047V	3.308V	4.994V	87.567W	76.933%	931 RPM	14.5 dB(A)	52.93°C	230.34V
CL4	70.136A	0A	0A	0A	849.415W	90.779%	3086 RPM	49.7 dB(A)	46.3°C	0.971
CL4	12.112V	5.042V	3.295V	5.056V	935.707W	90.779%	3086 RPM	49.7 dB(A)	56.27°C	230.24V

I pushed the PSU hard during these tests, encountering no problems. As expected, the fan became loud during the full load and overload tests, exceeding 50 dBA.

Light-Load Testing

We measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10 percent of the maximum capacity—the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures. This is important when a PC is idle with its power-saving features turned on.

Light Load Efficiency - CWT CSX 850M-G
Test	12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	Power (DC/AC)	Efficiency	Fan Speed	PSU Noise	Temp (In/Out)	PF/AC Volts
20W	1.222A	0.494A	0.499A	0.2A	19.989W	74.451%	902 RPM	13.3 dB(A)	36.53°C	0.405
20W	12.139V	5.06V	3.308V	5.002V	26.85W	74.451%	902 RPM	13.3 dB(A)	39.66°C	230.35V
40W	2.690A	0.692A	0.698A	0.3A	39.989W	80.694%	908 RPM	13.5 dB(A)	37.49°C	0.609
40W	12.151V	5.059V	3.308V	4.999V	49.555W	80.694%	908 RPM	13.5 dB(A)	40.81°C	230.34V
60W	4.152A	0.889A	0.898A	0.4A	59.989W	83.274%	912 RPM	13.7 dB(A)	38.22°C	0.726
60W	12.167V	5.059V	3.308V	4.997V	72.037W	83.274%	912 RPM	13.7 dB(A)	41.75°C	230.34V
80W	5.599A	1.087A	1.097A	0.5A	79.929W	85.341%	916 RPM	13.9 dB(A)	39.41°C	0.791
80W	12.199V	5.058V	3.308V	4.995V	93.661W	85.341%	916 RPM	13.9 dB(A)	43.11°C	230.34V

The cooling fan is silent at light loads. The lack of passive mode doesn't bother me, as long as the fan spins at low speeds when thermal loads are not demanding.

Super-Light Load Testing

We measure the PSU's efficiency with a 10 W load if its maximum power is 500 W or less in the following tests. We apply 2% of its maximum-rated-capacity load if the PSU is stronger.

Super-Light Load Efficiency - CWT CSX 850M-G
12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	Power (DC/AC)	Efficiency	Temp (In/Out)	PF/AC Volts
1.199A	0.28A	0.28A	0.058A	17.167W	70.895%	32.21°C	0.817
12.122V	5.057V	3.306V	5.005V	24.211W	70.895%	25.79°C	115.16V

The PSU exceeds 70% efficiency with a 2% load.

5VSB Efficiency

5VSB Efficiency - CWT CSX 850M-G
Test #	5VSB	Power (DC/AC)	Efficiency	PF/AC Volts
1	0.1A	0.5W	70.623%	0.013
1	5.006V	0.71W	70.623%	230.33V
2	0.25A	1.25W	74.633%	0.031
2	5.004V	1.675W	74.633%	230.33V
3	0.55A	2.749W	77.642%	0.063
3	5.001V	3.541W	77.642%	230.33V
4	1A	4.994W	78.493%	0.11
4	4.995V	6.362W	78.493%	230.33V
5	1.5A	7.483W	79.057%	0.155
5	4.989V	9.464W	79.057%	230.33V
6	2.999A	14.906W	79.46%	0.255
6	4.971V	18.762W	79.46%	230.33V

The 5VSB rail achieves decent efficiency.

Power Consumption in Idle and Standby

Idle / Standby - CWT CSX 850M-G
Mode	12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	Power (AC)	PF/AC Volts
Idle	12.104V	5.057V	3.307V	5.007V	3.056W	0.057
Idle	12.104V	5.057V	3.307V	5.007V	3.056W	230.35V
Standby					0.1W	0.002
Standby					0.1W	230.35V