The power supply is often that vital element that we don't pay enough attention to when we buy a PC, yet it can be said, without exaggeration, that it is the heart of any computer. We often skimp on its price when choosing it, which we don't usually do with the processor or the graphics card. But a poor choice can cause other components to malfunction, shorten the life of the machine and even cause chronic instability in the system.
It has to be said that it is increasingly difficult to find cheap and reliable modular power supplies of less than 750 watts, which is what I was looking for as the computer does not have a graphics card. The processor, a veteran and eternal i7 3770K, works very well with the integrated graphics, an Intel HD Graphics 4000. So with 550 watts it is more than enough in case one day I decide to install a modest graphics card.
Finally, the power supply chosen to rescue that old PC, which I brought back to life with Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021, was the 550W non-modular Corsair CX550 ATX 80 PLUS Bronze. At the time of publishing this, it was priced at around 55 euros and it's the second Corsair power supply I've bought because they tend to be very good.
The presentation is very similar in almost all units of this brand. A nice looking box with just enough inside. The power supply with its cables, the power cable and a safety information leaflet.
The power cable is chunky and well terminated, I wouldn't risk getting whipped with it.
The braided shielding of the main cable and other planes is also of high quality and relatively easy to tame.
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On the back it has only the power inlet and the on/off button. Most of the components can be seen through the grille.
These are the five wires coming out of the source. Enough for almost any installation.
A 24-pin ATX main cable (shielded) and an 8-pin EPS cable (4+4) for the CPU, both 600 mm long. For the graphics card, there is a PCIe cable with two connectors (6+2), also 600 mm long.
In terms of peripherals, there is a SATA cable with 3 connectors (total length 600 mm) and a PATA (Molex) cable with 2 slightly shorter 500 mm connectors. All cables, with the exception of the main ATX cable, have a flat design to facilitate space management in the case.
For the rest of the specifications you can consult the data sheet of this model on the manufacturer's website.
On the downside, it would have been appreciated if the ATX cable and the EPS had been at least five or ten centimetres longer because in some very large cases, with two or more chambers, they can be very tight. It is always advisable to measure your case well before buying the power supply so that you don't have to resort to botch jobs or have to leave the cable inside and interfere with the airflow instead of hiding it at the back.
The connectors are fine, they are connectors. You can't ask more of them than that they connect well. I don't think there is much room for manoeuvre here in terms of quality.
Yes, you can buy any other non-modular source at a lower price, even for less than half of what this one costs. But I wouldn't do that, stranger.
Buying a white label or "generic" power supply is playing Russian roulette with your hardware. Although they all look like metal boxes with cables on the outside, you could justify buying this Corsair CX550 or any other brand that ensures stability, durability, etc. for four reasons:
Quality of internal components
Cheap power supplies save costs by using low-quality capacitors that degrade quickly in the heat. Corsair's CX series uses components designed to withstand continuous operating temperatures. While a cheap power supply may begin to fail within a few months, these Corsair power supplies are typically built to last for years while maintaining the same performance.
Actual protections
If there is a power surge in your house, a €20 power supply will usually let the discharge through, burning out the motherboard, processor or graphics card. While this is no longer a common occurrence, the risk still exists. The CX550 includes real electronic protections(OVP, OPP, SCP, etc.). In the event of an electrical catastrophe, the power supply is shut down or sacrificed to save the other parts that cost ten times as much.
Voltage stability
Digital components need extremely precise voltage and cheap power supplies have a lot of electricalripple, which can cause micro-cuts, blue screens or reboots under certain loads. The Corsair offers clean and stable power delivery, which extends the life of your SSDs and motherboard.
Quiet and 80 PLUS Bronze efficient
80 PLUS Bronze certification is a standard that measures the power efficiency of the power supply. In simple terms, it indicates how much of the power coming out of the wall socket is actually converted into usable electricity for the PC and how much is lost along the way. An 80 PLUS Bronze power supply ensures that at least 82% to 85% of the power is used.
Cheap power supplies are often very noisy because their fans are always spinning at maximum speed to compensate for how hot they get due to their low efficiency. The CX550 is guaranteed to be more energy efficient, generates less waste heat and therefore the fan can spin at lower RPMs, making it much quieter. I can't tell you what the fan and components sound like because I haven't listened to it since I installed it.
