1200W PSU Roundup 2014

Corsair Professional Series AX1200i Review

Manufacturer: Corsair
UK price (as reviewed): £224.99 (inc VAT)
US price (as reviewed): $301.99 (ex Tax)

Besides increasing efficiency and stability and lowering ripple values, it seems it is hard for PSU manufacturers to innovate. Some time ago, Corsair found a way with its i-series of PSUs. The ‘i’ stands for ‘intelligent’, which in this case means you can adjust the AX1200i’s workings on the fly by dint of a USB connection and a nifty piece of software. Corsair Link Dashboard gives you insight into such things as your PSU’s current temperature and voltages as well as the option to adjust these values. The product also ties in to the brand’s other ‘Link’ offerings, which include a separate Commander unit as well as CPU coolers and LED lights. It’s a neat idea that's executed well and only recently has the competition started to catch on that this is the way forward.


Of course, the feature comes at a premium, and the AX1200i is one of the most expensive Platinum rated models you can buy at the moment. However, you get a tremendous amount of bang for your buck. Corsair includes 12 Molex connectors and 16 SATA connectors, all fully modular of course, as well as six 6/8-pin PEG plugs. Realistically speaking, that is plenty for a 1,200W PSU, as in our experience, four high-end GPUs will require an even heftier supply.


With both temperature and manual control options for the 140mm fan, a semi-passive mode and space-saving flat cables, the AX1200i ticks about every option on the list. Cable lengths are long, even if not excessively so. Speaking of length, at 210mm the PSU itself is the biggest model in this test, so make sure you have the clearance for it.


Thanks to the manual adjustment option in software, the AX1200i is ridiculously stable, as well as efficient (91.04 percent) and low on ripple. Sound production is extremely low as well, topping out at 26 dB(A) under 500W load. It’s a fantastic product and we heartily recommend it if you have the funds, but if you can live without being able to fine-tune your PSU’s performance to two decimal points, there are options out there that are similarly good (and in many aspects even better) and quite a bit cheaper.