Now that we've looked at the unit as a whole and we've seen that it's as stable as Oklahoma Wolf's shrink let's see how this thing fares.
Big man, will you do the honors?
Oklahoma Wolf:
Performance - The performance of the VX550W is all kinds of awesome. Ripple stays where it should be. Voltage regulation is more stable than I am considering how full of sugar I am right now. Efficiency is great. I'd give 'er a 9.5 here.
madmat:
Good call. The unit has very clean power and it's one of the best regulated units I've seen. Very deserving of a 9.5.
Oklahoma Wolf:
Functionality - It was somewhat of a surprise to me to see the one 6+2 PCI-E connector on the unit as I had been expecting the old dual 6 pin arrangement shown on top of the box. But it was a good surprise. I do kind of wish the other one were set up in the same manner, but it's not that big a deal. Sleeving is pretty well done, though it doesn't go all the way up to the PSU itself. However, it's not hard to see why this is, as the cable outlet on the PSU enclosure is pretty crammed full o' wires. I'll toss out a 9 here.
madmat:
I hate to be a pain in the posterior here but I can't see any real need for dual 6+2 pin PCI-e connectors. From what I'm given to understand there won't be need for more than one per card so a second would be a waste since it's only single PCI-e revision 2 card compatible anyways. You bring up a good point about the sleeving but I'd like to point something out if I may. Most (all) PSU's that have the sleeving going into the PSU body use sleeving that's hot knifed and left bare with a common ziptie holding it all together. This system means that there's no worry about about a cut sleeving end coming loose and unraveling.
Oklahoma Wolf:
Value - At the moment, I'm seeing this brand new offering from Corsair here and there for around the $100 mark. Considering you get indy regulation, Japanese capacitors, and one solid Channel Well built unit for that price; you're not going to hear me complaining. 9.5.
madmat:
You've got that right. You know, with how well these units are constructed it makes me wonder how much better the older CWT Antecs would have been had they not been hobbled by weak caps coupled with poor cooling. Also makes me wonder if Corsair can sell a unit this solid for less than a c-note (or right at it) exactly how much Antec was soaking their buyers for with their budget caps.
Oklahoma Wolf:
Aesthetics - The VX550W just looks great. I like just about everything about it, from the heavy matte black enclosure to the spec label tastefully attached to the top of the unit leaving a general "I've got a Corsair, but I'm not going to brag about what it can do" sticker to be seen outside one's case window. I will take a half point off for the sleeving that doesn't go all the way up, even though I understand it would have been harder to do that. 9.5.
madmat:
Yeah, the Corsair VX550W is one slick looking unit. It would have been nicer to see a gloss paintjob but the black does tell you it means business. "I'm here to power your system and chew bubblegum and I'm all outta bubblegum."
Performance
9.5
Functionality
9
Value
9.5
Aesthetics
9.5
Total Score
9.5
Summary:
Oklahoma Wolf:
As we've seen from the load testing numbers and ripple, Corsair has it going on with the new VX550W. Stability - check. High efficiency - check. Ripple well in hand - check. Build quality - it doesn't get much better. Good value - at around the $100 mark I sure ain't complaining. The only possible nits I can pick with this one were the "not as tight as they could be" heatsink screws and the Leaning Transistor of PSU, but that's me looking really really hard for something to whine about (usually I don't have to look this hard). As I've mentioned, the screw thing is probably an isolated QC issue, and the transistor probably doesn't need bolting to the heatsink. The Corsair VX550W is certainly worth one's time and money to go out and buy.
madmat:
Yep, the Corsair VX550W definitely makes one contemplate what the term "budget PSU" really means. By far it's not a ripoff PSU instead it's a very competent solid performer that stacks the deck when it comes to value and has a few aces up it's sleeve. It brings enough to the table to contend with the big boys yet won't make you want to jump out of a casino window when you wake up and realize what you spent on it.
The Good:
Stable rails.
Ripple or lack thereof. They don't come much cleaner.
Value! $100? Madness, it's madness I tell you!
Strong good looks.
Fully sleeved (well, 99%) on a budget? Sweet!
Japanese caps FTW!
The Bad:
Loose screws? Not good.
The Mediocre:
Sleeving doesn't go all the way up.
Plastic deflector on the fan. What if it comes loose?
Leaning transistor of doom (nah, it's not that bad).
