Corsair HX850 Gold Power Supply Review

Secondary Analysis

The Corsair HX850 Gold uses a synchronous design, meaning that the rectifiers were replaced with MOSFETs. Also, this power supply uses a DC-DC design, meaning that it is basically a +12 V power supply, with the +5 V and +3.3 V outputs being generated through two smaller switching power supplies connected to the +12 V rail. Both designs are used to increase efficiency.

The +12 V output uses six transistors: three IPD031N06L3 G MOSFETs, each supporting up to 100 A at 100° C in continuous mode or up to 400 A at 25° C in pulse mode, with a maximum RDS(on) of 3.1 mΩ; and three CEB6056 MOSFETS, each supporting up to 100 A at 25° C in continuous mode or up to 360 A at 25° C in pulse mode, with a maximum RDS(on) of 6.2 mΩ. These transistors are controlled by an SP6019 integrated circuit, and they are located on a small daughterboard.

Figure 16: The +12 V transistors

The DC-DC converters are located on the same printed circuit board as the modular cabling system. Both are managed by an APW7159 PWM controller, with each output using four AP72T03GH MOSFETs, each supporting up to 63 A at 25° C or 44 A at 100° C in continuous mode or up to 190 A at 25° C in pulse mode, with a maximum RDS(on) of 9 mΩ.

Figure 17: The DC-DC converters

Figure 18: The DC-DC converters

The outputs of this power supply are monitored by a WT7502 integrated circuit, which only supports over voltage (OVP) and under voltage (UVP) protections.

Figure 19: Monitoring circuit

This power supply uses a mix of Japanese electrolytic capacitors, from Chemi-Con, and solid capacitors to filter its outputs. See Figure 20.

Figure 20: Capacitors