I really like his pains-taking reviews.
I really like his pains-taking reviews.
Core i7 4770K @4.3GHz + iGPU | GA-Z87X-UD4H | 2x8GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3@1600MHz
Prolimatech Armageddon heatsink w/ 2 x 140mm NF-A14 PWM fans
Samsung 840 Pro 512GB SSD | WD Red 3TB backup disk | Seagate 1 TB SSD USB file drive
Fractal Design Define R5 case w/2 x NF-A14 ULN front fans | no exhaust fan; grill removed
PSU Seasonic X-650 Gold
Where were the thermistors located again? Just on the PFC sink, right?
Because I can say in the case of the HXi that the temperatures of the parts on the primary side would get far hotter than the secondary FETs. Put a heatsink and thermistor on there and, guess what? Nothing. When you program your fan controller to operate on a win/lose condition, the secondary side simply doesn't get hot enough to ramp up the fan. If you "loosen up" the fan profile more than it is, it's not the seconddary side that's going to overheat.... it's the primary side.
Core i7 4770K @4.3GHz + iGPU | GA-Z87X-UD4H | 2x8GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3@1600MHz
Prolimatech Armageddon heatsink w/ 2 x 140mm NF-A14 PWM fans
Samsung 840 Pro 512GB SSD | WD Red 3TB backup disk | Seagate 1 TB SSD USB file drive
Fractal Design Define R5 case w/2 x NF-A14 ULN front fans | no exhaust fan; grill removed
PSU Seasonic X-650 Gold
Not as >>I<< specified.. but as the PRD written by Corsair's engineers specified.
Corsair has two PSU engineers in the U.S. that alternate trips to China (three weeks there, three weeks back). There's also a Corsair QC and validation team in Taiwan, China and the U.S. that run products through different tests once the product is in EVT stage (everything from thermal to drop tests). Those guys find all sorts of crazy shit. Like finding out that the Mylar sheet used between the PCB and the PSU housing on the HX1200i didn't meet the thermal specifications laid out in Corsair's PRD. TBH: I know I would've totally missed something like that.
Maybe because I'm not a PM.
My job at Corsair has little to nothing to do with developing PSU product... or any product for that matter. I just support product after the fact. We write blogs, reviewer's guides, proof manuals, answer questions for tech support and the press, support the forums, etc. But I am very close with Corsair's engineers on a non-official capacity and like to question every decision they make during the development cycle (like not putting sinks on the secondary FETs) and try to drop in on as many PSU meetings as possible. But that's more of a "hobby" thing for me given my background than a requirement of my job.
Sometimes I feel like I'm pissing them off because "it's not my job", but other times I think they actually like talking shop so much that they don't mind at all.Nothing like getting sucked into a conversation about the advantages of Gallium Nitride over Silicon Carbide to make your morning a little more interesting.
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C'DaleRider (11-10-2014), ehume (11-08-2014), Philipus II (11-08-2014)