Corsair AX 1200w ATX PSU Review

Packaging & Contents

At OC3D, we often get asked why we spend so much time describing the packaging of products that come in for review. After all, once your latest purchase is handed over by Mr Postie the time it takes for the box to be open, the manual thrown in the bin and the PC in bits on the floor can barely be measured by a stop watch.

However, when you're spending a pretty penny on something like a PSU or Graphics Card, you want to make sure that it arrives in perfect condition. Not only that but peeling back the layers of cardboard, styrofoam and soft velvet bags can add to the excitement much like getting beneath the wife's latest piece of lingerie. Or maybe that's just me?

If however you feel the same, then we're in for a treat. The AX1200 follows Corsair's usual standard of packaging with the unit being placed inside a plastic bag followed by a velvet drawstring bag to prevent minor scuffs and scratches. Then the unit is encased in custom made styrofoam inserts before finally being placed inside a double walled cardboard box. Even Uma Thurman with a collection of swords would find it immensely difficult to put a scratch on this PSU!

Next up is the goodies. To be honest it's very rare to get anything more than some cable ties and a key ring with a PSU purchase, as there's very little margin for profit as it is. However, the past has shown us manufacturers will do anything to win people over, even to the point of throwing in leather suitcases, keyrings, fans, lanyards and other pointless junk!

Corsair on the other hand have kept things 'Professional' by sticking to the basics and providing the AX1200 with some black case screws, a "Powered by Corsair" case badge, a handfull of cable ties and an oh-so-very important mains lead. Of course there's also a goddamn massive bag of modular cables, but I'll talk about that on the next page.

Appearance

Appearance-wise the AX1200 is pretty much the same as most of Corsair's previous units. It's not dolled up in a wacky colour such as orange, red or blue and it's not got an annoyingly glossy finish that collects finger prints faster than a CSI on amphetamines. It's just a plain and simple matte black powdercoat finish that feels durable and will blend in with your PC regardless of any colour scheme you may have going on.

The stickers on the side and top of the unit are tasteful and help to give it a slightly stylish edge over a completely black box. Corsair have also managed to avoid sticking CE and Hi-Pot stickers all over the unit, instead thoughfully placing them all on the main specification sticker.

The rear of the unit houses the mains power cord along with a rather beefy rocker switch. This is much more welcome than the smaller 'High school electronics project' style switches used on most other PSU's and should provide many years of reliable arc-free switching. Even if you are one of those people who insists on turning all appliances off at the switch every night before you can get to sleep at night.

Now we've covered every angle but the front of the PSU, let's move on to the next page and see what the modular interface has in store...