Corsair RMi Series 750W Review

1. Introduction2. Corsair RMi Series 750W (Bundle/Cables)3. Corsair RMi Series 750W (External)4. Corsair RMi Series 750W (Internal)5. High Res Gallery6. Testing Methodology & Results7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

Correctly testing power supplies is a complex procedure and KitGuru have configured a test bench which can deliver up to a 2,000 watt DC load. Due to public requests we have changed our temperature settings recently – previously we rated with ambient temperatures at 25C, we have increased ambient temperatures by 10c (to 35c) in our environment to greater reflect warmer internal chassis conditions.

We use combinations of the following hardware:
• SunMoon SM-268
• CSI3710A Programmable DC load (+3.3V and +5V outputs)
• CSI3711A Programmable DC load (+12V1, +12V2, +12V3, and +12V4)
• Extech Power Analyzer
• Extech MultiMaster MM570 digital multimeter
• Extech digital sound level meter
• Digital oscilloscope (20M S/s with 12 Bit ADC)
• Variable Autotransformer, 1.4 KVA

We test with the +12V in single rail mode.

DC Output Load Regulation
Combined DC Load	+3.3V		+5V		+12V		+5VSB		-12V
	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V
75W	1.24	3.36	1.19	5.05	4.95	12.08	0.50	5.03	0.20	-12.05
150W	2.16	3.35	2.83	5.05	10.07	12.05	1.00	5.02	0.30	-12.05
375W	6.17	3.35	6.06	5.03	26.17	12.03	1.50	5.02	0.50	-12.07
565W	10.31	3.34	10.85	5.01	38.34	11.98	2.00	5.01	0.60	-12.07
750W	10.71	3.33	13.85	5.00	53.60	11.93	3.00	4.99	0.80	-12.08

Load regulation rates as very good indeed.

Corsair RMi Series 750W	Maximum Load
	833W

We managed to reach around 833W before the unit would shut down gracefully. Or another 83 watts over the rated maximum.

Next we want to try Cross Loading. This basically means loads which are not balanced. If a PC for instance needs 500W on the +12V outputs but something like 30W via the combined 3.3V and +5V outputs then the voltage regulation can fluctuate badly.

Cross Load Testing	+3.3V		+5V		+12V		-12V		+5VSB
	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V
734W	1.0	3.35	1.0	5.05	60.0	11.88	0.2	-12.05	0.50	5.03
154W	15.0	3.32	15.0	4.99	2.0	12.09	0.2	-12.06	0.50	5.02

The unit passes our Cross Load testing with both +5V and +3.3V rails holding steady. The +12V rail drops a little when hit quickly with 60A, but is nothing to worry about.

We then used an oscilloscope to measure AC ripple and noise present on the DC outputs. We set the oscilloscope time base to check for AC ripple at both high and low ends of the spectrum.

ATX12V V2.2 specification for DC output ripple and noise is defined in the ATX 12V power supply design guide.

ATX12V Ver 2.2 Noise/Ripple Tolerance
Output	Ripple (mV p-p)
+3.3V	50
+5V	50
+12V1	120
+12V2	120
-12V	120
+5VSB	50

Obviously when measuring AC noise and ripple on the DC outputs the cleaner (less recorded) means we have a better end result. We measured this AC signal amplitude to see how closely the unit complied with the ATX standard.

AC Ripple (mV p-p)
DC Load	+3.3V	+5V	+12V	5VSB
75W	10	5	10	5
150W	15	5	10	10
375W	15	10	10	10
565W	15	10	15	10
750W	15	15	20	10

Ripple suppression is very good, and well within the industry tolerance levels. The +3.3V and +5V hit maximum levels of 15mV. The +12V rail peaks at 20mV when delivering the full 750 watts.

Edit: 6th July 2015: The +12V figure has been appended as we found that if we were using a USB oscilloscope,with the PSU’s Link interface plugged into a USB port on same system (such as a laptop) electrical noise from the laptop was introduced into the final result.

Efficiency (%)
75W	87.55
150W	91.20
375W	92.32
565W	91.66
750W	90.87

The power supply delivers great efficiency results, peaking at just over 92% at 50% load. This drops to around 91% at full load.

We take the issue of noise very seriously at KitGuru and this is why we have built a special home brew system as a reference point when we test noise levels of various components. Why do this? Well this means we can eliminate secondary noise pollution in the test room and concentrate on components we are testing. It also brings us slightly closer to industry standards, such as DIN 45635.

Today to test the power supply we have taken it into our acoustics room environment and have set our Digital Sound Level Noise Decibel Meter Style 2 one meter away from the unit. We have no other fans running so we can effectively measure just the noise from the unit itself.

As this can be a little confusing for people, here are various dBa ratings in with real world situations to help describe the various levels.

KitGuru noise guide
10dBA – Normal Breathing/Rustling Leaves
20-25dBA – Whisper
30dBA – High Quality Computer fan
40dBA – A Bubbling Brook, or a Refrigerator
50dBA – Normal Conversation
60dBA – Laughter
70dBA – Vacuum Cleaner or Hairdryer
80dBA – City Traffic or a Garbage Disposal
90dBA – Motorcycle or Lawnmower
100dBA – MP3 Player at maximum output
110dBA – Orchestra
120dBA – Front row rock concert/Jet Engine
130dBA – Threshold of Pain
140dBA – Military Jet takeoff/Gunshot (close range)
160dBA – Instant Perforation of eardrum

Noise (dBA)
75W	<28.0
150W	<28.0
375W	<28.0
565W	31.5
750W	32.2

The NR135P Fluid Dynamic bearing fan in the RMi 750W is very quiet, even when spinning to maintain the thermal curve under full load. Most of the time, it will be inactive, or spinning very slowly. It is only really in the last 20% of power output that it spins moderately around 1,000 rpm. A single case fan is likely to completely mask fan noise from the RMi 750 watt unit.

Temperature (c)
	Intake	Exhaust
75W	36	38
150W	38	45
375W	39	47
565W	45	53
750W	47	56

The large, high grade fan and high efficiency levels help the RMi 750W maintain a good thermal curve across the full range of load.

Maximum load	Efficiency
833W	89.84

For those interested, we measured efficiency when stressing the unit to breaking point. 89.84 percent efficiency at 833W … hardly practical, but interesting regardless.

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