Introduction

NZXT's newest entry in the high-capacity category is the C1200 Gold, which offers compatibility with ATX v3.0 and PCIe 5.0. It is equipped with a 600 W 12VHPWR connector, so it won't have a problem supporting an NVIDIA RTX 4090 with its power limit set to the max. This unit uses a Channel Well Technology (CWT) platform with the code name CSZ. CWT's CSZ platform is popular in today's market. So far, I have seen it in the Thermaltake GF3 line (up to 1200 W models) and the Montech Titan Gold line. All new PSUs should meet the ATX v3.0 spec and have 12VHPWR connectors if they want to stay in the game. It would be unwise getting an outdated PSU, even though only NVIDIA's new GPUs require 12+4 pin PCIe connectors currently, since AMD will also have to follow at some point in the future. You invest in a PSU and expect to keep it for years to come, so it is for the best to ensure the unit is future-proof, or else you might need to replace it soon and waste money.

The C1200 Gold has compact dimensions, given its capacity, measuring 150 mm long. I am not fond of compact PSUs because airflow takes a hit, affecting noise output. Given the Cybenetics Standard+ noise rating, I cannot say that the C1200 is a silent operating unit, but I will discuss this in detail on the noise measurements page. Moreover, NZXT states that at 50 °C, the unit cannot deliver full power continuously, but only 80% or 960 W. This is not a problem, though, since 50 °C is too high. I used to load PSUs at this temperature for prolonged periods, but I had to adjust my methodology eventually to 45-47 °C because I had so many failures.

Specifications

Photos

At the face of the box, you will find a photo of the PSU, the model number, and two icons, one for the 80 PLUS Gold certification and another for the ATX v3.0 compatibility.


The protection inside the box is adequate. Moreover, the purple pouch is a nice touch.


At the face of the PSU, next to the AC receptacle, there is a power switch and another button for toggling on/off the unit's semi-passive operation.


The unit's model number is depicted on the sides.


The power specifications label is installed at the bottom side.


The small modular panel has eleven (11) sockets.


This is a compact PSU measuring 150 mm in depth.


Here are some more photos of the PSU from various angles.

Cables and Connectors

There are enough connectors installed on long cables. Besides the four 6+2 PCIe connectors, there is also a 12+4 pin one for supporting high-powered modern graphics cards.


The PSU has eight SATA and four 4-pin Molex connectors on four cables. Moreover, the distance between the peripheral connectors is ideal.

Component Analysis

Before reading this page, look at this article, which will help you better understand the insides of a PSU.



This is CWT's CSZ platform, found in several high-end PSUs meeting the ATX v3.0 requirements. The build quality is high and thanks to the vertical boards holding the +12 V FETs and the minor rails, the PCB doesn't look overloaded with parts. A half-bridge topology and an LLC resonant converter are used on the primary side. On the secondary side, a synchronous rectification scheme is used for +12 V and a pair of DC-DC converters for the minor rails.


The input filter is fully equipped.


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 APFC converter uses three Infineon FETs and a single boost diode by SyncPower. The bulk cap is by Nippon Chemi-Con.


The main FETs are installed in a half-bridge topology. An LLC resonant converter is also used for higher efficiency.


Ten Infineon FETs regulate the +12 V rail.


The VRMs handling the minor rails use eight Infineon FETs and a single PWM controller.


The electrolytic filtering caps are of high quality by Nippon Chemi-Con and Nichicon. Many FPCAP and NIC polymer caps are also used, along with a single by Chemi-Con.


The standby PWM controller is an On-Bright OB2365T IC.


The modular PCB has two large electrolytic and many polymer caps installed for better ripple filtering.


Soldering quality is good.


The cooling fan uses a fluid dynamic bearing, and it is pretty strong, with 0.5 A max current output. Its controller is a Microchip PIC16F1503.

Test Setup