Compact Power! Corsair SF1000 Platinum SFX PSU Review
Power Efficiency and Ripple testing
Voltage Ripple and Efficiency Testing
When reviewing new power supplies at OC3D, we use our dedicated SunMoon PSU Tester, one of the most expensive (if not the most expensive) tools in the company’s arsenal. Here we can see exactly how well a unit functions. We look at both a PSU’s efficiency and power stability. To do this, we utilise bespoke PSU testing equipment to give us an in-depth look at each power supply’s performance. This kind of data collection is not possible when using a PSU with standard PC components.
Corsair SF1000 Power Efficiency
Given its 80+ Platinum and Cybenetics Platinum efficiency ratings, we knew that Corsair’s SF1000 was going to perform well on our SunMoon testing unit. This power supply sits amongst the best performing power supplies that we have ever tested. It stands above all over SFX-sized PSUs that we have ever tested efficiency-wise. That’s great news for anyone who’s energy conscious. That efficiency results in lower power bills and lowered PSU heat output. Both of those are great things.
At 20% load, this PSU was 93.7% efficient, at 50% load it was 94.4% efficient, and at 100% load it was 92.8% efficient. Exceptional results from such a small power supply.
When compared with Cooler Master’s V1300 and V1100 SFX Platinum series PSUs, Corsair’s new SF1000 unit is more power efficient at most loading levels. A solid result for Corsair. Even so, it is worth remembering that Cooler Master’s PSUs are higher wattage units.
Corsair SF1000 Voltage Ripple
Voltage ripple is often underlooked by consumers, being best described as the stability of specific voltages that the PSU delivers. A PSU with bad ripple will see voltages vary a lot more. In extreme cases, this can can damage components or shorten their lifespans. Voltage ripple stability is one of the many reasons why you should buy a high-quality power supply. That means buying from a reputable brand and avoiding anything that isn’t 80+ or Cybenetics certified.
An important thing to note here is that none of the PSUs in this graph are “bad”. Even bottom of the chart units like the original Corsair RM1000 (2014) bring usable within your system without any issues. We used this specific power supply within one of our main workstations for years, and we had no trouble with it. As we said before, only extreme levels of voltage ripple is dangerous.
Ripple-wise, Corsair’s new SF1000 delivers strong results. In terms of voltage stability, it performs similarly to Corsair’s other SF-series PSUs. Note that this PSU performs better than Cooler Master’s V1300 and V1100 SFX Platinum series PSUs in this regard. This applies to all loading levels.
