Introduction

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



As of right now, Corsair and EVGA are the most active companies when it comes to PSUs. Both companies regularly release new PSU lines to add to their already complete portfolio of PSU products. Corsair's latest releases are the RMx PSUs, which are digitally stripped down RMi units that cost less. The new RMx line also features a 550 W unit, a capacity the RMi line does not include. The RMx family consists of five members with capacities ranging from 550 W to 1000 W, all of them fully modular and 80 PLUS Gold certified. Corsair apparently thinks that not all users are fond of monitoring their PSU through software, which has them offer a basic version of the high-end RMi platform for those who simply want to install their PSU to forget about it afterward.

Since these units are very similar to the RMi units internally, we expect them to perform just as well, reliability included, which Corsair's seven year warranty reflects. Today's review subject will be the strongest RMx unit with a capacity of 1 kW. This PSU can easily support a high-end gaming system with multiple VGAs installed because of its many connectors. Featuring a very quiet operation at light and moderate loads because of a semi-passive operation and a slow fan, RMx PSUs also won't bother most users audibly. The RM line has always been considered among the top when it comes to operating silently, and the new RMi and RMx units are definitely no exception. You see, the days where users only cared for a PSU's performance are long past, and most now also care about how noisy their PSU is while performing well. Combining those two features is tricky with high-capacity PSUs, especially at higher loads. However, combine a highly efficient platform with an appropriate fan and good fan profile and you might just have a silent high-capacity PSU.

The following table is provided by Corsair and highlights the differences between the RM, RMx, and RMi lines.

Specifications

The RM1000x is 80 PLUS Gold certified, and given our experience with the platform, we expect high efficiency levels closer to Platinum than Gold. This PSU is also Haswell ready since it uses DC-DC converters for the generation of its minor rails. It is also rated at up to 50°C where older RM units are rated at up to 40°C.

We noticed that Corsair lists OCP (Over Current Protection) as a protection feature even though the PSU only has a single +12V rail. Corsair probably lists OCP since the minor rails are still covered by the feature. The FDB fan of the RM1000i has been replaced with a rifle-bearing fan, the NR135L Corsair now uses in many of its PSUs. It is a silent fan of good quality that will last for a very long time. However, it won't last as long as an FDB fan, but given this PSU's semi-passive operation, it won't be utilized as much, either.

At 18 cm, the PSU is rather long, but most cases will accommodate it without any compatibility issues. The seven year warranty Corsair provides clearly shows that this is a highly reliable product, and its asking price is fair price given the features and technical specifications.


The single +12V rail is powerful since it can deliver up to 83.3 amperes, while the minor rails are strong as well, with 150 W maximum power output combined. The 5VSB rail could be a little stronger since we are talking about a 1 kW PSU; however, the 3 amperes on this rail should be enough.

Cables & Connectors, Power Distribution

Corsair equipped the RM1000x with a lot of cables and connectors, including eight PCIe and two EPS connectors that are available at the same time. There are also twelve SATA and eleven peripheral connectors, which will power a ton of drives and peripheral devices. Corsair states that Type 4 cables are used with the unit, the same cables as for the RM1000i. These have additional capacitors on their PCIe and EPS cables for improved ripple suppression and four more pins on the 24-pin ATX connector for sense wires that improve load regulation. We should note here that even the high-end HXi line and older RM units use Type 3 cables that lack the filtering capacitors and additional wires on the 24-pin connector. The 24-pin ATX and PCIe connectors use 16AWG wires, the FDD adapter utilizes 22AWG gauges, and all other connectors use 18AWG wires.

We do not have anything to talk about when it comes to the PSU's power distribution since this PSU doesn't features multiple +12 V rails.

Packaging

The box is quite large and the model number has been put on its front, in large, black font on a yellow backdrop. Right above the model description are the capacity and two icons for the seven year warranty and the Gold-certified efficiency.


A brief list on this side covers the unit's most interesting features, which are its 80 PLUS Gold efficiency, exclusive use of Japanese caps, semi-passive mode, tight load regulation and its platform's high reliability, at least according to Corsair since this is something only time will either prove right or wrong.


As per usual, Corsair provides information on all available connectors and the cables' lengths on this side of the box.


Corsair again states the unit's most crucial features here, though only briefly. These include its high performance, premium components, and low noise output. Given our experience with the RM1000i, which is based on the same platform, the design offers very good performance and is quiet, and Corsair spared no expense since it uses nothing but high quality components.

You will also find the efficiency and fan noise curves on this side of the box, and according to the latter, semi-passive mode will be active with a load of up to 400 W at 25°C ambient. The graph doesn't provide the exact load distribution between the rails, and our findings show semi-passive mode to last for a very short period of time if the minor rails are pushed hard. However, a real-life scenario is unlikely to push the minor rails as hard, especially for prolonged periods of time.

Contents

Inside its box, the PSU is protected very well, by two thick pieces of packing foam. It has also been put inside a nice cloth bag.


The bundle includes a case badge, several zip ties, a set of screws, an AC power cord, and a pouch with all the modular cables. You will also get a user's manual that is the same for all RMx units and a warranty guide leaflet.