Corsair AX1000 PSU
The kind of PSU you need for an RTX 30 build.
Power supplies are one of the most overlooked of PC components. It’s a component that buyers frequently skimp on in favour of that better CPU or GPU. With the release of the RTX 30 series of cards as well as new AMD CPUs and GPUs, a new upgrade cycle is here. If you’re looking to build a high-end system, you need a power supply capable of putting out some serious power and not just in terms of wattage. A 500-600W PSU simply isn’t enough to reliably power a 2020-era high end system, especially now that 350W GPUs are a new normal. You’re going to need something with more grunt. The Corsair AX1000 is the kind of unit that will easily power such a system.
As the name suggests, the Corsair AX1000 is a 1000W power supply. It comes with an 80 Plus Titanium efficiency rating, meaning it converts AC to DC power with a minimum efficiency of 90%, and up to 96% under a 50% load (a 500W power draw is easily possible with an RTX 3080). In the long run this means reduced electricity consumption and hence a lower bill. High efficiency means less waste heat, leading to cooler running, lower noise levels and a longer life span.
The Corsair AX1000 is a surprisingly compact fully modular PSU. We’re not really sure why the 24-pin connector is modular given that every system needs it but that’s nitpicking. It comes with enough connectors to power virtually any kind of consumer system, with dual 4+4 pin EPS connectors and a total of eight 8-pin PCIe power connectors. It’s one that crypto miners will want to consider. You also get a total of 16 SATA connectors and eight 4-pin Molex connectors.
We tend not to do many power supply reviews at APC due to the need for specialised (and expensive) test equipment. But, testing the efficiency of a power supply is easy thankfully. To do this, we powered up a system with an overclocked 10900K and RTX 3080 GPU and ran a 3DMark looping test. The 80 Plus Titanium rated AX1000 recorded a peak wall draw of 468W. This compares to an older Antec HCP1200 at 487W, a gold rated unit that was considered one of the best power supplies a few years ago. 19W might not seem like a lot but it adds up. The Corsair is also much quieter. Speaking of noise, there’s a button on the back that enables a ‘Zero-RPM’ mode though with an Australian summer coming, we’d be inclined to leave the fan running; it’s not like you can hear it under most circumstances anyway.
The Corsair AX1000 is one of the best power supplies on the market. At $439 it’s not cheap but buying one is more like an investment. It will see you through several rounds of upgrades and its quality output will benefit your system long term. The AX1000 is all about stability, reliability and efficiency. We have no hesitation in using it in our reference systems for some time to come. It’s an easy recommendation.
One of the best power supplies ever made.
“At $439 it’s not cheap but buying one is more like an investment. It will see you through several rounds of upgrades and its quality output will benefit your system long term.”