Component Analysis

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



MSI used a high-end and expensive platform by Channel Well Technology (CWT), with code name CTT. It is a semi-digital platform with a pair of Texas Instruments MCUs controlling the entire primary side and part of the secondary side. All parts are of high quality, including Infineon FETs, Japanese caps, and a Hydro-Dynamic bearing fan. On the primary side, an interleaved PFC is used, along with a full-bridge topology and an LLC resonant converter for higher efficiency. The secondary side uses a synchronous rectification scheme, with the +12 V rail feeding a pair of DC-DC converters, which generate the minor rails.


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


There is an MOV for protection against power surges. An NTC thermistor handles inrush currents with a bypass relay supporting it.


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


The interleaved APFC converters use two Infineon FETs and a pair of boost diodes from the same manufacturer. The bulk caps are by Nichicon and have 1240uF combined capacity. An SPN5003 FET is used to reduce vampire power by isolating the APFC converter when the PSU is on standby.


One of the Texas Instruments UCD3138A controllers, responsible for the APFC circuit.


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


The second Texas Instruments UCD3138A digital controller is installed on this board, along with the driver ICs for the main FETs.


The transformer is close to the +12 V board for lower power losses.


Six Infineon FETs regulate the +12 V rail.


The VRMs handling the minor rails use analog controllers.


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


The standby PWM controller is an On Bright OB2365T.


The main supervisor IC is a Weltrend WT7502R.


The modular PCB uses two large electrolytic caps and a large number of polymer ones for ripple filtering purposes.


Soldering quality is not the best I have seen from CWT because I had an early sample.

Some close-up photos of the main PCB.
Some more parts: an A1117B6 voltage regulator, an M3054M FET, and a P6SMB TVS diode.


The Microchip PIC32MM0064GPM036 handles USB communications, among others.


The cooling fan is by Power Logic and uses a hydro-dynamic bearing. This is a high-quality fan, and my only objection is that MSI should use a larger one, providing the same airflow at lower speeds with lower noise output.