Component Analysis

Before reading this page, we strongly suggest looking at this article, which will help you better understand the insides of a PSU.



Corsair used a CST platform as the base for its modifications. The design is modern, since digital controllers handle most circuits, and the build quality is top notch. Vishay and Infineon provide the FETs, while the capacitors are by Chemi-Con, Rubycon, and FPCAP. You cannot ask for more in a desktop PSU. On the primary side, an interleaved PFC is used for higher efficiency, and the full bridge topology is supported by an LLC resonant converter. On the secondary side, we find synchronous rectification and DC-DC converters for the generation of the minor rails.


The transient filter has all the necessary parts to suppress EMI emissions.


The discharge IC isolates the bleeding resistors from the X caps, providing a small efficiency boost.


There is an MOV for protection against power surges. An NTC thermistor handles inrush currents. A bypass relay supports the latter.


The pair of bridge rectifiers can handle up to 50 Amperes.


The interleaved APFC converters use two Infineon FETs and a pair of CREE boost diodes. The bulk caps are by Chemi-Con and have above 400 V voltage ratings.


The primary switching FETs are installed into a full-bridge topology, ideal for high power output.


All digital controllers and the unit's MCU are installed on a large daughter board.


Because of space restrictions, CWT used two smaller parallel transformers instead of a single, huge one.


12 Vishay FETs regulate the +12 V rail. They are installed on a board adjacent to the main transformers.


The VRMs handling the minor rails are among the few circuits in this PSU that use analog controllers.


The filtering caps are of high quality, both electrolytic and polymer ones.


The standby PWM controller is an On Bright OB5282CP IC.


Sockets fully occupy the modular PCB.


Soldering quality is good.


Some close-up photos of the main PCB.


The cooling fan uses a fluid dynamic bearing. This Corsair fan has proved its reliability through the years. It looks weird, though, that the lower grade in Corsair's portfolio of products, the RMx line, uses ML fans, which are considered of higher quality than FDB fans. Most likely, the latter provide lower noise output and are not so hard to make; hence their production cost is lower.