The CX550F is among the many greatest mid-level PSUs that includes RGB lighting. Corsair teamed with HEC for its CX-F line, and it used a contemporary platform together with a high quality fan with superior RGB lighting, that means that the manufacturing prices elevated; therefore, the CX550F prices greater than the class’s common. Nonetheless, apart from the eye-candy options, the unit additionally provides good efficiency and isn’t noisy underneath regular working circumstances.
When you do not care a lot concerning the RGB lighting, which is the principle purpose to spend extra and purchase the CX550F, you can even take a look at the Corsair CX550M and the XPG Pylon 550. Each use much less superior platforms than the CX550F but nonetheless provide larger general efficiency. If we had an RGB class in our greatest PSUs article for mid-level models, the CX550F may very well be included.
The Corsair CX550F is the bottom capability member of the corresponding line, which has three members. All of them function RGB lighting and are primarily based on a contemporary HEC platform. Furthermore, they arrive in two colours, black and white, and all their cables are modular. The CX550F is rated Bronze within the 80 PLUS customary and Gold by Cybenetics. It additionally has a noise score of Cybenetics-Normal++ (30-35 dB[A] common noise output). Normally, this unit goes for $90, so it is not precisely inexpensive. Nonetheless, in the course of the evaluate, Corsair supplied it at a lower cost of $65.
Corsair despatched us a white unit that appears nice with the identical coloration modular cables and the RGB lighting results of the fan. The RGB lighting may be managed by the non-compulsory Corsair iCUE RGB lighting controller or a appropriate mainboard by the included 5V ARGB adapter. When you do not need to purchase the Corsair controller and your mainboard would not assist RGB management/sync, you possibly can customise the PSU’s lighting by way of a push-button on the entrance.
To cycle by lighting modes, you should press and maintain the button talked about above for about three seconds. If the present mode is not rainbow, you press the button shortly to cycle by colours. You must also keep in mind that the push-button will not work if the PSU is in software program management mode, related to the Corsair controller or the mainboard.
The obtainable lighting modes are: rainbow wave, rainbow, rainbow breathe, rainbow blink, sequential, strong, single blink, and pulse. You even have the choice to disable the fan’s lighting.
Specs: Corsair CX550F RGB
|
Producer (OEM) |
HEC |
|
Max. DC Output |
550W |
|
Effectivity |
80 PLUS Bronze, Cybenetics Gold (87-89%) |
| Noise | Cybenetics-Normal++ (30-35 dB[A]) |
|
Modular |
✓ (Absolutely) |
|
Intel C6/C7 Energy State Help |
✓ |
|
Working Temperature (Steady Full Load) |
0 – 40°C |
|
Over Voltage Safety |
✓ |
|
Beneath Voltage Safety |
✓ |
|
Over Energy Safety |
✓ |
|
Over Present (+12V) Safety |
✓ |
|
Over Temperature Safety |
✓ |
|
Brief Circuit Safety |
✓ |
|
Surge Safety |
✓ |
|
Inrush Present Safety |
✓ |
|
Fan Failure Safety |
✗ |
|
No Load Operation |
✓ |
|
Cooling |
120mm Rifle Bearing Fan (NR120L) |
|
Semi-Passive Operation |
✗ |
|
Dimensions (W x H x D) |
150 x 85 x 140mm |
|
Weight |
1.34 kg (2.95 lb) |
|
Kind Issue |
ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92 |
|
Guarantee |
5 years |
Energy Specs: Corsair CX550F RGB
| Rail | 3.3V | 5V | 12V | 5VSB | -12V | |
| Max. Energy | Amps | 20 | 20 | 45.8 | 3 | 0.3 |
| Watts | 120 | 549.6 | 15 | 3.6 | ||
| Complete Max. Energy (W) | 550 |
Cables & Connectors of Corsair CX550F RGB
| Modular Cables | Cable Rely | Connector Rely (Complete) | Gauge | In Cable Capacitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATX connector 20+4 pin (610mm) | 1 | 1 | 18-20AWG | No |
| 4+4 pin EPS12V (650mm) | 1 | 1 | 18AWG | No |
| 6+2 pin PCIe (600mm+150mm) | 1 | 2 | 16-18AWG | No |
| SATA (450mm+115mm+115mm+115mm) | 1 | 4 | 18AWG | No |
| SATA (500mm+100mm+100mm) | 1 | 3 | 18AWG | No |
| 4 pin Molex (450mm+100mm+100mm+100mm) | 1 | 4 | 18AWG | No |
| iCUE RGB cable (500mm) | 1 | 1 | 28AWG | No |
| Motherboard ARGB cable (300mm) | 1 | 1 | 28AWG | No |
| AC Energy Twine (1380mm) – C13 coupler | 1 | 1 | 18AWG | – |
The PSU’s low capability would not enable for multiple EPS and two PCIe connectors, with the final put in on the identical cable. Nonetheless, the variety of peripheral connectors is ample.
All cables are lengthy sufficient, however as standard, we wish to see longer distances between the peripheral connectors. Nonetheless, the shortage of in-cable caps is sweet information for many customers Additionally it is good to see thicker 16AWG gauges as much as the primary PCIe connector for decrease voltage drops for the reason that similar gauges must deal with a pair of those connectors.
Part Evaluation of Corsair CX550F RGB
We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which gives worthwhile details about PSUs and their operation, permitting you to higher perceive the parts we’re about to debate.
| Basic Information | – |
| Producer (OEM) | HEC |
| PCB Kind | Single Sided |
| Major Facet | – |
| Transient Filter | 4x Y caps, 2x X caps, 1x CM chokes, 1x DM chokes, 1x MOV, 1x Discharge IC (CAP200DG) |
| Inrush Safety | NTC Thermistor SCK-037 |
| Bridge Rectifier(s) |
1x GBU10K (800V, 10A @ 100°C)
|
| APFC MOSFETs | |
| APFC Enhance Diode | |
| Maintain-up Cap(s) |
1x Hitachi (400V, 330uF, 2,000h @ 105°C, HU)
|
| Most important Switchers | |
|
APFC Controller |
|
| IC Driver | |
| Resonant Controller | MPS HR1001C |
| Topology |
Major aspect: APFC, Half-Bridge & LLC converter |
| Secondary Facet | – |
| +12V MOSFETs | 4x Nexperia PSMN8R3-40YS (40V, 50A @ 100°C, 16mOhm @ 175°C) |
| 5V & 3.3V | DC-DC Converters: 8x Potens Semiconductor PDD3906 (30V, 51A @ 100°C, 6mOhm) PWM Controllers: ANPEC APW7073 |
| Filtering Capacitors | Electrolytic: 12x Teapo (1-3,000h @ 105°C, SC) , 2x Nippon Chemi-Con (1-5,000h @ 105°C, KZE) Polymer: 16x Teapo |
| Supervisor IC | Weltrend WT7527 (OCP, OVP, UVP, SCP, PG) |
| Fan Mannequin | Corsair NR120L (120mm, 12V, 0.22A, RGB, Rifle Bearing Fan) |
| 5VSB Circuit | – |
| Rectifier | |
| Standby PWM Controller | Energy Integrations TNY290PG |
| -12V | – |
| Rectifier |
Corsair helped HEC construct this platform, which is superior for a merely Bronze unit within the 80 PLUS scheme. The CX550F manages to be a bit of above the bottom Gold effectivity threshold within the Cybenetics scale, incomes the corresponding effectivity certification. As a substitute of the standard double-forward topology we normally discover on this class, HEC used a half-bridge topology and an LLC resonant converter for elevated effectivity. Furthermore, we see a synchronous design and a pair of DC-DC converters for the minor rails on the secondary aspect.
The EMI filtering stage consists of all vital elements, so we count on low EMI emissions. There may be additionally a discharge IC to limit vitality losses on the bleeding resistors. Furthermore, there’s a MOV for voltage surges and an NTC thermistor for decrease inrush currents. The latter isn’t supported by a bypass relay, which is a bummer.
The one bridge rectifier can deal with as much as 10 Amperes.
The APFC converter makes use of two Infineon FETs and a single enhance diode supplied by the CREE. The majority cap is by Hitachi, which bought its capacitor enterprise to a Chinese language model.
The APFC controller is a Champion CM6500 IC. One other Champion IC, the CM03X, is used to limit vampire energy by reducing off the APFC converter throughout standby.
The principle FETs are organized in a half-bridge topology, whereas an LLC resonant converter boosts effectivity. It’s managed by an MPS HR1001C (opens in new tab) IC.
The FETs that regulate the +12V rail are on the solder aspect of the principle PCB. 4 Nexperia FETs are utilized in complete. The minor rails are generated by eight FETs and use an Anpec PWM controller.
The electrolytic filtering caps on the secondary aspect are largely supplied by Teapo, and belong to the SC line. A lot of polymer caps are additionally used for ripple filtering functions.
The 5VSB circuit makes use of a single SBR on its secondary aspect. The PWM controller is a Energy Integrations TNY290PG IC.
A number of polymer caps are put in on the modular board.
The supervisor IC is a Weltrend WT7527, supporting all important safety options however OTP (Over Temperature Safety).
Soldering high quality is sweet
The cooling fan makes use of a rifle bearing, so it is going to final a very long time. Its RGB lighting can be of excellent high quality.
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