A Look Inside & Component Analysis

Before reading this page, we strongly suggest a look at this article, which will help you understand the internal components of a PSU much better. Our main tool for the disassembly of the PSU is a Thermaltronics TMT-9000S soldering and rework station. It is of extreme quality and is equipped with a matching de-soldering gun. With such equipment in hand, breaking apart every PSU is like a walk in the park!



CWT (Channel Well Technology) is this RM unit's OEM, and the same company builds nearly every other RM model. As mentioned, the RM850 and RM750 units are by Chicony. This platform, however, is very different and more advanced since it uses an LLC converter in the primary side for lossless switching and increased efficiency. The secondary side uses the for a modern PSU typical DC-DC converters for the generation of the minor rails, along with a synchronous design for the generation of the +12V rail. The relatively small and finless heatsinks for a PSU of this capacity are odd. We would have liked beefier heatsinks because of the unit's semi-passive operation.


The first part of the transient filter is on the AC receptacle and includes a pair of Y caps. The other components, two pairs of Y caps, a pair of X caps, two CM chokes, and an MOV, are on the main PCB. There is also an NTC thermistor for inrush protection, and its corresponding relay can be found near the APFC's converter.


The two parallel bridge rectifiers with model number GBJ1506 can handle up to 30 A of current, which makes them strong enough for this PSU.


The APFC converter utilizes two Vishay Siliconix SIHG30N60E fets and an SCS110AG boost diode. Both bulk caps are provided by Nippon Chemi-Con (400V, 390uF each or 780uF combined, 105°C, KMR series).


The APFC controller, an Infineon ICE3PCS01G, and a CM03X Green PFC controller are installed on a vertical daughter-board right next to the APFC's choke. The same board also contains the resonant controller, an Infineon ICE2HS01G IC.


Two Vishay Siliconix SIHG30N60E fets act as main switchers and are most likely arranged in a half-bridge topology. We also found an STF3NK80Z fet, which the 5VSB circuit probably uses, on the same heatsink.


There are no actual heatsinks in the secondary side, but the +12V fets are installed on vertical boards, and two bus bars not only transfer power but also help in cooling the fets down. This is a typical design for a modern CWT implementation; however, we don't know how effective of a solution it is for a semi-passive, high capacity PSU. Only time will tell whether it is reliable, but Corsair seems confident enough as they do provide a five year warranty. The six aforementioned fets are provided by International Rectifier, and their model numbers, in a fifty-to-fifty split, are 7004 C239P and 7004 C240P.


All caps except for a single polymer cap on the main board in the secondary are electrolytic, and every single cap is either by Taicon and CapXon, two Taiwanese companies. They are of decent quality and more affordable but inferior to Japanese caps.


The supervisor IC, a Weltrend WT7502 with only the basic protections, has been installed on the other side of this small PCB.


Both DC-DC converters are on this PCB. The PWM controller for both is an uP3861P IC, and each VRM uses three M3006D fets. As you can see, two very thick wires transfer power to the modular PCB.


Many cables go to the rear of the modular board.


On the modular PCB are a mixture of Apaq and Enesol polymer caps for some extra ripple filtering and several electrolytic caps by CapXon.


Soldering quality on the main PCB is pretty good, and we noticed three shunt resistors under the +12V area, so this PSU could have three +12V rails instead of one with a suitable supervisor IC.


The cooling fan is, according to Corsair, designed to operate quietly. This fan's model number is NR135L (12 V, 0.22 A), and it uses a rifle bearing, an improved sleeve bearing.