Corsair TX850w ATX PSU
Simulated Load Testing
To provide our readers with the most accurate results, Overclock3D uses a professional grade SunMoon SM-268+ ATE load tester capable of placing a sustained load of 1690w across a total of six rails (including +5vsb and -12v) on the PSU. Unlike our previous resistor-based load tester, the SM-268+ gives us the ability to adjust amperage loads in increments as small as 0.01A while also measuring voltages and wattage readings on-screen.
During today’s tests, we will be placing the TX850 under 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% load levels at both room temperature and inside a hot box regulated to a temperature of 45-55°C. Additional cross load tests will also be performed under these conditions to simulate how the PSU would perform with a heavily uneven distribution of load.
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Corsair TX850 SM-268+ Results @ Room Temp
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| +3.3v | +5.0v | +12v1 | +12v2 | +5vSB | -12v | AC Watts / DC Watts |
Efficiency | Intake / Exhaust |
Δ Temp | |
| Test 1 (Low) |
3.75A | 3.75A | 14.50A | – | 0.75A | 0.20A | 244w / 213w |
87.29% | 26.5°C / 40.2°C |
13.7°C |
| 3.34v | 5.08v | 12.08v | – | 5.09v | -12.16v | |||||
| Test 2 (Med) |
7.50A | 7.50A | 19.00A | – | 1.5A | 0.40A | 480w / 429w |
89.37% | 26.7°C / 45.5°C |
18.8°C |
| 3.32v | 5.06v | 12.06v | – | 5.05v | -12.19v | |||||
| Test 3 (High) |
11.25A | 11.25A | 43.50A | – | 2.25A | 0.60A | 721w / 635w |
88.07% | 26.3°C / 46.2°C |
19.9°C |
| 3.30v | 5.04v | 12.04v | – | 5.00v | -12.22v | |||||
| Test 4 (Full) |
15.00A | 15.00A | 58.00A | – | 3.00A | 0.80A | 972w / 849w |
87.34% | 26.6°C / 52.2°C |
25.6°C |
| 3.27v | 5.03v | 12.01v | – | 4.97 | -12.25v | |||||
| Test 5 (x-load) |
20.00A | 20.00A | 1.00A | – | 0.75A | 0.20A | 207w / 182w |
87.92% | 26.4°C / 37.6°C |
11.2°C |
| 3.25v | 5.00v | 12.07v | – | 5.09v | -11.98v | |||||
| Test 6 (x-load) |
3.00A | 5.00A | 68.00A | – | 0.75A | 0.20A | 971w / 853w |
87.84% | 26.6°C / 48.6°C |
22.0°C |
| 3.29v | 5.03v | 12.02v | – | 5.05v | -13.80v | |||||
Starting off with the room temperature tests, the thing that immediately stands out in all the results is the 89.37% efficiency in Test 2. This is extremely impressive, especially considering the load level is close to what an average ‘Gamers’ PC is likely to utilise. Even at a low 213w load in Test 1, the unit still manages to give us 87.29% efficiency, lining the unit up for 80 PLUS Silver certification.
Voltage stability results are also extremely good across the board, with all rails staying above or extremely close to their ideal values (3.33v / 5.00v / 12.00v). Even in the gruesome cross load tests, the TX850 manages to keep all voltages fairly balanced and the only slight abnormality is on the -12v rail which shoots up to -13.80v in Test 6.
Interestingly, despite the high efficiency levels, the TX850 does run quite hot under load. In Test 4, the exhaust temperature hits 52.2°C – an increase of 25.6°C over the ambient/intake temperature, and similar results can also be seen in Test 6. In both of these tests, the 140mm fan did spin up significantly to combat the heat, making the unit rather noisy; however, in all other tests the fan remained at a fairly low and almost inaudible level.
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Corsair TX850 SM-268+ Results @ 45-55°C
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| +3.3v | +5.0v | +12v1 | +12v2 | +5vSB | -12v | AC Watts / DC Watts |
Efficiency | Intake / Exhaust |
Δ Temp | |
| Test 1 (Low) |
3.75A | 3.75A | 14.50A | – | 0.75A | 0.20A | 244w / 213w |
87.29% | 47.4°C / 53.7°C |
6.3°C |
| 3.34v | 5.08v | 12.07v | – | 5.09v | 12.16v | |||||
| Test 2 (Med) |
7.50A | 7.50A | 19.00A | – | 1.5A | 0.40A | 485w / 429w |
88.45% | 48.9°C / 61.3°C |
12.4°C |
| 3.31v | 5.07v | 12.05v | – | 5.05v | 12.20v | |||||
| Test 3 (High) |
11.25A | 11.25A | 43.50A | – | 2.25A | 0.60A | 726w / 635w |
87.46% | 45.3°C / 62.0°C |
16.7°C |
| 3.29v | 5.02v | 12.02v | – | 4.99v | 12.24v | |||||
| Test 4 (Full) |
15.00A | 15.00A | 58.00A | – | 3.00A | 0.80A | 979w / 849w |
86.72% | 46.5°C / 66.3°C |
19.8°C |
| 3.27v | 5.00v | 11.99v | – | 4.97v | 12.27v | |||||
| Test 5 (x-load) |
20.00A | 20.00A | 1.00A | – | 0.75A | 0.20A | 209w / 182w |
87.08% | 53.3°C / 58.4°C |
5.1°C |
| 3.25v | 4.98v | 12.06v | – | 5.10v | 11.98v | |||||
| Test 6 (x-load) |
3.00A | 5.00A | 68.00A | – | 0.75A | 0.20A | 979w / 854w |
87.23% | 50.1°C / 68.8°C |
18.7°C |
| 3.30v | 5.02v | 11.97v | – | 5.05v | 13.9v | |||||
Moving on to the hot box testing, which normally separates the men from the boys, we installed the TX850 inside an ATX case fitted with a 300w ceramic heating element, fans to circulate the heat and an industrial temperature controller. The average temperature inside the box is around 50°C, although as our setup is hardly lab grade, a deviation of 5°C in either direction is fairly normal.
The results are pretty amazing in all honesty, with very little difference in efficiency or voltage stability when running with an ambient temperature of up to 53.3°C. The fan inside the unit understandably goes into turbo mode in pretty much all of the tests and even manages to get itself heard above the noisy SM-268+ load tester, but we can forgive it for this considering it’s highly unlikely to ever find itself under this kind of stress in a real world scenario.
