Corsair RM1000x ATX 3.1 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 impossible when using a PSU with standard PC components.

Power Efficiency

Honestly, I am a little shocked by the efficiency levels of Corsair’s new RM1000x. It matched Corsair’s HX1000i, an 80+ Platinum-level power supply. This PSU, while being marketed with a Cybenetics Gold efficiency rating, must be sitting at the upper end of this efficiency range. It is notably more efficient than older RMx units.

Voltage Ripple Testing

Voltage ripple is often overlooked by consumers. It is 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 damage components or shorten their lifespans. Voltage ripple stability is one of the many reasons you should buy a high-quality power supply. That means buying from a reputable brand and avoiding anything that isn’t 80+ certified.

An important thing to note here is that none of the PSUs in this graph are “bad.” Even units with the highest ripple in our charts, like the original Corsair RM1000 (2014), are 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 are dangerous.

When looking at the new Corsair RM1000x, we can see that voltage ripple results are reasonably good. The PSU sits around the middle of our charts. Voltage ripple only exceeds 20 mV at full load, and most users will not be pushing their PSUs this hard consistently.