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As we head into 2015 there are a staggering range of power supplies available in every price zone. The Corsair CS850M is a solid addition to the CS range – it doesn't excel in any area, but it also doesn't exhibit any particular weakness either.
There is no doubt the Corsair CS850M has been created to target the enthusiast audience building a new dual GPU SLi or Crossfire system – at a very specific price point.
CS850M ripple suppression is quite good, and load regulation results indicated solid performance across a wide range. Efficiency is strong, peaking around 92 percent between a 40 and 60 percent load.
Internally Corsair have cut a few corners to meet a price point. While they are using high grade Rubycon capacitors in the primary stage, they are the lower cost 85c variants. Secondary stage is primarily TEAPO – these cheaper Chinese caps help reduce production costs in the factory. I am not a big believer in these caps as we have seen several fail over the years in our labs.
One of the biggest issues that Corsair face however, is the bewildering options available in their own range of products.
Their flagship modular AX860i '80 Plus Platinum' unit is available for £169.99 at Overclockers UK. The AX860 (non ‘i' version) is priced at £149.99. The gold certified RM850 is priced at £124.99. These all ship with higher grade internal components, which is reflected in the extended 7 and 5 year warranty terms. Their platinum rated HX850i is fully modular and is priced at £124.99 at Overclockers UK. Finally, their budget bronze rated CX850W targets the lower end and is priced at £89.99.
Taking all this information into consideration, I was initially shocked to see the Corsair CS850M listed on the Corsair website with a recommended retail price of £139.99. At this price, the RM860W would make a much better buy – for £10 extra it seems like a no brainer. Additionally, the HX850i is only £125, Platinum certified and incorporates a fully modular design. With these two giving competition, the CS850M seems a less tempting offering at £139.99.
Overclockers however are selling the CS850M at £99.95 with a price reduction this week to £91.99. For a couple of quid extra, the CS850M is a much better proposition than the CX850W.
If the price holds at under £100 and your budget will stretch no further then the CS850M should be given some serious consideration.
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Pros:
- Solid all round performance.
- reasonably quiet below 600W load.
- good cabling.
- quality finish.
Cons:
- Not a fully modular design.
- 3 year warranty, not 5+
- Chinese capacitors in secondary stage.
- Corsair's range of power supplies and models is becoming very saturated.
Kitguru says: A solid unit which supplements Corsair's range of CS-M power supplies around the £100 mark.
