Corsair CX430M Review

[flibberdipper]

I'm finally posting all of my reviews that I've been meaning to, so that's why I'll be posting a lot of them. Just in case you were wondering.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

I bought this PSU, since it was one of the better modular ones at the price that I was actually willing to spend. And I can’t be happier.

 

LOOKS

Well, if you buy a Corsair power supply, you will get the Corsair treatment. The power supply itself looks nice, and it has a nice looking fan grille. The 24-pin cable has a decent sleeve, up until the last few centimeters, then the rainbow starts to show. The 8-pin CPU cable and all of the modular cables are those nice flat black ones like on the RM series. Overall, it is a really nice looking unit, especially when put up against some of the other power supplies at this price.

 

RELIABILITY

This is probably the big one for most people. Let me say… This thing is the Chuck Norris of power supplies. My grandma’s house (where this is used) has terrible power delivery (think of an “okay” job from the 50’s), and this thing delivered nice clean power. Not only was the power being delivered to it not the “cleanest,” it wasn’t the “smoothest,” either. There were frequent ups and downs in the power delivery, and there were quite a few mini-surges. And this unit has been able to put up with all of that for close to a year, and it’s been on nearly 24/7. I honestly expected that I would have to replace it but now, but so far it’s proving me wrong, as it’s outlasted 3 Dell power supplies (and those things are TANKS).

 

NOISE

This is where things get weird. Initially, this thing was super quiet (whisper quiet, almost silent, honestly). At the beginning of the year, the fan started to develop a knock. A hard hit and a shutdown/bootup later, it was fine. Now the knock is gone, but the fan spins up super fast (almost instantly) and it is a touch louder. Why this happened, I don’t know. But it’s working fine, and it will be the quietest component in my entire computer (once I get two more molex cables for it).

 

CONNECTIVITY

The power supply is semi-modular, and always has a 24-pin motherboard power connector and an 8-pin CPU connector attached (that’s the not-so-modular part). The modular cables are as follows:

• (1) 6+2 PCIe power cable
• (2) SATA power cables (2 device)
• (1) Molex + floppy cable (3 molex, 1 floppy)

I wish they would have included another molex + floppy cable, but that’s just because of what I’m going to be using it for right now. For most people it will not be that big of a deal, however.

 

CONCLUSION

Overall, this is a great power supply for the money. I honestly don’t think you can do that much better for a sub-$50 modular power supply. It has all of the connectors most people will need, it’s pretty good looking, it’s reliable, and (possibly the most important part) it’s pretty damn quiet.

 

IS IT WORTH IT?

Definitely. If you’re doing a build on a tight budget that uses about 400 watts, and you want something that’s modular, looks nice, and is really reliable, this is the first power supply you should really look at, in my opinion. I can pretty safely back up that, too.

[hawthorne]

Not going to buy one but I read it anyway.   Would love to see some more reviews 

[Askew]

Nice review man, I like the writing/formatting of these so despite the nature of the items not being ones I own or intend to buy (I do have a Corsair branded PSU though but it's an AX750) I'll still come and read them.

[flibberdipper]

Not going to buy one but I read it anyway.   Would love to see some more reviews 

Don't you worry about there being a shortage. I still have at least two more yet that I have to do. No spoilers though.

 

Nice review man, I like the writing/formatting of these so despite the nature of the items not being ones I own or intend to buy I'll still come and read them.

Thanks. I really appreciate the feedback.

[NInety]

Noice m8.

[NerdNinja]

Wanna get rid of that pesky fan noise?

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3881-how-to-change-the-fan-of-your-psu/

 

Also REALLY nice review. Very thorough and quick.

[flibberdipper]

Wanna get rid of that pesky fan noise?

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3881-how-to-change-the-fan-of-your-psu/

 

Also REALLY nice review. Very thorough and quick.

I had actually planned on getting another really nice fan for it and then hooking it up to my fan controller, however I need to get two more of the molex/floppy cables. It's actually not that loud right now. And thanks. I appreciate it.

 

Noice m8.

Thanks.

[The_Strict_Nein]

Nice. I use the CX500 non M model as I got it for £30 on ebay, as apposed to £50 retail. Love it,but all those cables do make cable management a bit of a pain.

 

One day I'll treat myself to a nice fully modular

[flibberdipper]

Nice. I use the CX500 non M model as I got it for £30 on ebay, as apposed to £50 retail. Love it,but all those cables do make cable management a bit of a pain.

 

One day I'll treat myself to a nice fully modular

Once you learn how to stuff cables away, it doesn't look that bad. Hell, I'll have to shove the 8-pin CPU connector somewhere and make it look clean, since HELIOS doesn't need one (only a 20-pin ATX connector). I'll have to post my results with everything done up in that one cable management show off thread.

[The_Strict_Nein]

Once you learn how to stuff cables away, it doesn't look that bad. Hell, I'll have to shove the 8-pin CPU connector somewhere and make it look clean, since HELIOS doesn't need one (only a 20-pin ATX connector). I'll have to post my results with everything done up in that one cable management show off thread.

I'll get a pic of mine tomorrow. I've managed to hide 3 unneeded cables in the gap at the very bottom of my case

[flibberdipper]

I'll get a pic of mine tomorrow. I've managed to hide 3 unneeded cables in the gap at the very bottom of my case

I'm hoping to get something up this weekend. I'll only be able to have 1 molex cable though, since I'll have to save up for a monitor then the cables. Here's the thread, BTW.

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/120850-post-your-cable-management/page-4

[Nickolas47]

Nice review keep them coming

[flibberdipper]

Nice review keep them coming

Thanks. I do have a few more, but after that it will probably go back to a bunch of old parts (like my grandma's APU).

[Dubesta11]

I had actually planned on getting another really nice fan for it and then hooking it up to my fan controller

How would you wire it?

[CowsGoRoar]

Corsair is the best power supply brand (I'm gonna try out Seasonic on my next build), hence, I'm using the TX650M. Dual-ball bearing fan and high quality components; made for extreme stress although the most I probably use is 60% and when I'm just scrolling on FB and LTT, maybe 25% because the fan doesn't spin at all (starts spinning at 35%) with Corsair 0 RPM Mode. 

[flibberdipper]

How would you wire it?

Just stick it out of the hole where the 24-pin ATX and 8-pin CPU connectors come out, then hook it up to the controller.

[Dubesta11]

Just stick it out of the hole where the 24-pin ATX and 8-pin CPU connectors come out, then hook it up to the controller.

 

For some reason I thought you were going to stick it out from the fan opening >.>

[flibberdipper]

For some reason I thought you were going to stick it out from the fan opening >.>

haha 1. That wouldn't work. 2. That wouldn't look as nice.

[Foxxer]

I like simple reviews just like that.

[Sauron]

Makes me want to *upgrade* my RM850 to this... almost B)

[flibberdipper]

I like simple reviews just like that.

Thanks.

 

Makes me want to *upgrade* my RM850 to this... almost B)

haha It would only be a minor downgrade.