Performance (40% of the final score) - and so we come to the scoring. This unit had some good stuff and some not so good stuff to talk about in this category. Ripple control was outstanding, holding excellent results at all times. No deduction will be made there. From there, we'll go dance around the elephant in the room. I call him "Lardbutt," and if you see anyone from the zoo around here you ain't seen nothin.' But seriously, we do have to score the voltage regulation now. Normally, this unit would have only gotten a half point deduction there because of the near excellent numbers I got in the hot box. But... this unit shut down in the hot box, dropping all outputs to zero. That means an automatic slide into the mediocre scoring bracket, which is a full two point deduction, the most deduction possible for load regulation issues under my current methodology. Sorry, Corsair, but I really need your power supplies to finish the hot box testing if you want them to do well. That said, efficiency gets a pass from me on both cold and hot tests, because it held up to Bronze numbers at every turn. Therefore, the performance score today will be an 8.

Functionality (20% of the final score) - there aren't many deductions to make here. The unit isn't fully modular, so half a point comes off there. We have some awful Berg connectors to bother with, so half a point there, too. Mustn't forget half a point for documentation. But I'm going to stop there because everything else is perfectly ok. We didn't get too many hardwired cables, the goody bag came with a decent amount of extra stuff for a value unit, the power cord was nice and sturdy, and this unit has more than enough connectors to get the job done. 8.5.

Value (20% of the final score) - $89.99 is what Newegg's got this listed at. Having made no secret about what I think about units not rated to at least forty degrees, and with clear evidence that this unit does not like forty degrees at full power, I really have no choice here but to compare this unit with 650-750 watt units that can handle some heat. Rosewill in particular has a number of units for the same price or much cheaper right in that power range rated to at least forty degrees. Not all of them are going to give you the same power quality, mind you, but the level of competition is staggering. Really though, it's the likes of the Thermaltake TPD-0750M that spells disaster for this unit, because that one is also semi-modular, good for forty degrees, and 80 Plus Gold for the same price. I recently tested the 850W version of that unit, and it was pretty darn good. Game over, Corsair. Even so, this is a perfectly good unit, it's just playing at a level it can't quite handle. So, I'll go with an average looking 5 here.

Build Quality (20% of the final score) - CWT really had an off day on this one, didn't they? The whole point for soldering comes off today, for some dreadful work to a level I don't usually see from them. Another point comes off for that big flake of whatever the heck it was on the PCB. Another point for sleeve bearings in the fan. Half a point comes off for second tier capacitors. Finally, half a point for the damaged wires. 6.

Summary

What we have here today, for most of us enthusiasts, is a decent performing 650 watt unit with a 750 watt number on the side. But this unit is not targeted at us enthusiasts, it's aimed at the budget crowd. For those folks, it's a perfectly decent unit and better quality than most of the units it competes against. And let's be honest - you can get the full 750 watts out of it over the long haul if you're careful about thermal management. However, the competition in the 650-750 watt market is so strong that Corsair just can't quite hold on to the ball this time. They almost pull it off, even with all that Rosewill competition, and the presence of a rebate definitely helps, but that Thermaltake... man. That bad boy is a problem that just rips the power cord right out of this unit's hands and whups it with it.

I honestly think you're better off as a consumer if you skip this one and go up another ten bucks to the CS series. Those units actually have a chance against that Thermaltake, are similarly marketed and rated, and they're not too much more cash. I've actually got a CS850M here for load testing... give me three weeks or so, and we'll see how that one comes out. I liked my CS550M enough to keep using it, so I'm hoping for more of the same with some extra power. But this unit? I'd pass. It's not bad at all, in fact it's very good for what it is... it's just not that competitive at this point in time.

The Good:

• very good voltage regulation
• excellent ripple control
• semi-modular
• affordable

The Bad:

• some CWT build quality blunders

The Mediocre:

• doesn't like heat
• a few so-so capacitors