Corsair CX-M Series 450 W Review - Ideal for Small PCs

Name: Corsair CX-M Series 450 W
Brand: Corsair
Price: 60 USD

crmaris

on Sep 8th, 2022,

in Power Supplies.

Manufacturer: Corsair

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.

Despite the outdated platform, the CX450M is not far away from the CX450 and MWE Bronze 450, which use modern designs. The latter is also tuned for high efficiency with a 2% load; hence it achieves way higher efficiency than other units in the chart.

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 - Corsair CX450M
Test	12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	Power (DC/AC)	Efficiency	Fan Speed	PSU Noise	Temp (In/Out)	PF/AC Volts
10%	1.930A	1.993A	1.98A	0.989A	44.981W	81.997%	925 RPM	20.5 dB(A)	40.68°C	0.829
10%	12.121V	5.015V	3.333V	5.052V	54.857W	81.997%	925 RPM	20.5 dB(A)	45.53°C	230.25V
20%	4.880A	2.993A	2.974A	1.19A	89.988W	86.75%	929 RPM	20.6 dB(A)	41.21°C	0.921
20%	12.107V	5.012V	3.328V	5.04V	103.733W	86.75%	929 RPM	20.6 dB(A)	46.57°C	230.25V
30%	8.172A	3.494A	3.475A	1.392A	134.885W	88.289%	929 RPM	20.6 dB(A)	41.5°C	0.951
30%	12.094V	5.008V	3.323V	5.029V	152.777W	88.289%	929 RPM	20.6 dB(A)	47.29°C	230.25V
40%	11.486A	3.996A	3.977A	1.594A	179.954W	88.667%	931 RPM	20.6 dB(A)	41.92°C	0.965
40%	12.081V	5.005V	3.319V	5.018V	202.954W	88.667%	931 RPM	20.6 dB(A)	48.24°C	230.25V
50%	14.457A	4.999A	4.979A	1.798A	224.937W	88.554%	934 RPM	20.7 dB(A)	42.47°C	0.974
50%	12.066V	5.001V	3.313V	5.005V	254.01W	88.554%	934 RPM	20.7 dB(A)	49.25°C	230.25V
60%	17.436A	6.003A	5.985A	2A	269.904W	88.007%	1168 RPM	27.0 dB(A)	43.06°C	0.978
60%	12.051V	4.997V	3.308V	4.992V	306.684W	88.007%	1168 RPM	27.0 dB(A)	50.16°C	230.25V
70%	20.422A	7.009A	6.994A	2.208A	314.897W	87.289%	1525 RPM	36.5 dB(A)	43.61°C	0.981
70%	12.036V	4.994V	3.303V	4.979V	360.753W	87.289%	1525 RPM	36.5 dB(A)	51.21°C	230.25V
80%	23.461A	8.001A	8.002A	2.313A	359.856W	86.622%	1808 RPM	40.5 dB(A)	44.13°C	0.984
80%	12.021V	4.99V	3.297V	4.968V	415.433W	86.622%	1808 RPM	40.5 dB(A)	52.65°C	230.26V
90%	26.829A	8.52A	8.498A	2.419A	404.619W	85.9%	2159 RPM	45.4 dB(A)	44.88°C	0.985
90%	12.008V	4.987V	3.293V	4.959V	471.035W	85.9%	2159 RPM	45.4 dB(A)	53.94°C	230.27V
100%	30.001A	9.029A	9.027A	3.036A	449.46W	85.101%	2317 RPM	46.6 dB(A)	45.78°C	0.987
100%	11.993V	4.983V	3.289V	4.939V	528.15W	85.101%	2317 RPM	46.6 dB(A)	55.79°C	230.26V
110%	33.048A	10.038A	10.137A	3.042A	494.073W	84.289%	2317 RPM	46.6 dB(A)	47.01°C	0.987
110%	11.977V	4.98V	3.283V	4.93V	586.166W	84.289%	2317 RPM	46.6 dB(A)	57.88°C	230.26V
CL1	0.114A	13.207A	13.206A	0A	111.257W	82.359%	951 RPM	21.1 dB(A)	42.4°C	0.943
CL1	12.083V	5.012V	3.308V	5.03V	135.089W	82.359%	951 RPM	21.1 dB(A)	49.85°C	230.27V
CL2	0.113A	19.882A	0A	0A	101.373W	82.061%	949 RPM	21.1 dB(A)	43.83°C	0.936
CL2	12.096V	5.029V	3.315V	5.044V	123.534W	82.061%	949 RPM	21.1 dB(A)	51.91°C	230.27V
CL3	0.113A	0A	19.891A	0A	67.362W	75.531%	935 RPM	20.7 dB(A)	44.68°C	0.903
CL3	12.096V	5.002V	3.317V	5.042V	89.185W	75.531%	935 RPM	20.7 dB(A)	53.75°C	230.27V
CL4	37.425A	0A	0A	0A	449.339W	86.338%	2322 RPM	46.8 dB(A)	45.44°C	0.988
CL4	12.007V	4.989V	3.308V	5.016V	520.444W	86.338%	2322 RPM	46.8 dB(A)	55.37°C	230.27V

I pushed the small PSU hard, but I didn't have any drama. The CX450M handled high loads and increased temperatures without fault or explosions.

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 - Corsair CX450M
Test	12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	Power (DC/AC)	Efficiency	Fan Speed	PSU Noise	Temp (In/Out)	PF/AC Volts
20W	1.223A	0.498A	0.494A	0.197A	19.984W	72.025%	914 RPM	20.2 dB(A)	37.3°C	0.659
20W	12.131V	5.018V	3.338V	5.075V	27.747W	72.025%	914 RPM	20.2 dB(A)	40.41°C	230.27V
40W	2.695A	0.698A	0.692A	0.296A	39.984W	81.621%	920 RPM	20.4 dB(A)	37.92°C	0.807
40W	12.125V	5.016V	3.336V	5.069V	48.988W	81.621%	920 RPM	20.4 dB(A)	41.27°C	230.27V
60W	4.168A	0.897A	0.89A	0.395A	59.982W	85.2%	919 RPM	20.4 dB(A)	38.36°C	0.87
60W	12.119V	5.015V	3.334V	5.064V	70.402W	85.2%	919 RPM	20.4 dB(A)	41.99°C	230.26V
80W	5.638A	1.097A	1.089A	0.494A	79.915W	86.979%	920 RPM	20.4 dB(A)	39.21°C	0.907
80W	12.114V	5.013V	3.332V	5.06V	91.879W	86.979%	920 RPM	20.4 dB(A)	43.28°C	230.26V

The cooling fan is silent under light loads.

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 - Corsair CX450M
12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	Power (DC/AC)	Efficiency	Temp (In/Out)	PF/AC Volts
0.551A	0.5A	0.15A	0.1A	10.203W	59.516%	22.03°C	0.852
12.138V	5.021V	3.34V	5.084V	17.143W	59.516%	20.59°C	115.14V

The PSU reaches close to 60% efficiency with a 2% load.

5VSB Efficiency

5VSB Efficiency - Corsair CX450M
Test #	5VSB	Power (DC/AC)	Efficiency	PF/AC Volts
1	0.1A	0.508W	72.242%	0.03
1	5.084V	0.703W	72.242%	230.27V
2	0.25A	1.269W	76.835%	0.068
2	5.082V	1.652W	76.835%	230.26V
3	0.55A	2.791W	78.600%	0.135
3	5.076V	3.551W	78.600%	230.26V
4	1A	5.067W	80.501%	0.207
4	5.068V	6.294W	80.501%	230.26V
5	1.5A	7.585W	80.738%	0.259
5	5.057V	9.395W	80.738%	230.26V
6	2.999A	15.079W	80.138%	0.338
6	5.028V	18.816W	80.138%	230.26V

The 5VSB rail achieves high efficiency, not only for this category's (Bronze) standards.

Power Consumption in Idle and Standby

Idle / Standby - Corsair CX450M
Mode	12V	5V	3.3V	5VSB	Power (AC)	PF/AC Volts
Idle	12.141V	5.025V	3.344V	5.088V	3.948W	0.157
Idle	12.141V	5.025V	3.344V	5.088V	3.948W	230.27V
Standby					0.09W	0.003
Standby					0.09W	230.27V