Corsair TX vs. OCZ ZT 550W
by Martin Kaffei on March 26, 2012 9:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Corsair
- PSUs
- OCZ
- 550W
- 80Plus Bronze
- ZT
- TX
Comparison
Corsair TX550M vs OCZ ZT550W 550W
| Criteria | Corsair TX550M | OCZ ZT550W |
| Delivery Contents |
- Accompanying document - Four screws - Power cord - Cable ties - Corsair sticker |
- User manual |
| Cable configuration |
- 1x 24-pin (60cm) fixed |
- 1x 24-pin (55cm) modular |
| Warranty |
- 5-year warranty |
- 5-year warranty |
| Electronics |
- Japanese and Tw. all solid caps |
- Japanese and Taiwanese caps |
| Lowest / highest efficiency (115V) | - 69.44% / 86.76% | - 69.03% / 86.72% |
| Max. Ripple 3.3V/5V/12V |
- 3.3V: 13mV |
- 3.3V: 14mV |
| Fan |
- ball bearing (140mm) |
- ball bearing (140mm) |
| +12V rating |
- 540W (single rail) |
- 540W (single rail) |
| +3.3V/5V rating |
- 140W |
- 140W |
| Current price |
- $ 89.99 |
- $ 89.99 ($ 69.99 after mail-in rebate) |
Differences got a yellow marking.
We compared two power supplies in the 550W region today. With $ 89.99 both models are comparatively expensive but users should realize when buying a 550W power supply that it simply cannot cost just $ 30-40 and still deliver decent quality. We saw two very good models from Corsair and OCZ with excellent performance and 80Plus Bronze. It looks like they are copying ideas from each other since most features are absolutely identical. Both provide enough (and almost the same) connectors to support PC configurations with a powerful graphics card. One point of criticism is the large case Corsair and OCZ used. Furthermore we would like to see different fan brands since both bearings made an annoying noise. Sanyo Denki provides the best fans with ball bearing. Otherwise Corsair and OCZ could choose FDB fans to reduce loudness.
The TX series has flat cables while OCZ used a common sleeving. With six SATA and six HDD connectors both products are well equipped. As expected both PSUs have two 6/8-pin connectors and FDD adapters as well. As for performance and quality, all the results from our tests are very impressive. There is hardly any ripple and noise on any of the rails: OCZ reached less than 40mV on +12V while Corsair demonstrated even lower results on +3.3V and +5V. Up to 87% efficiency and a high power factor are the primary reasons for the costs; such results can only be reached with high quality devices, and those devices cost more than lesser offerings.
Performance-wise, the Corsair TX550M stands out today with more stable DC outputs, longer cables, and a slightly higher efficiency. In addition Corsair implemented a better main cap. Nevertheless the OCZ ZT550W is an interesting offer with fully removable cables, especially since the price is low ($ 69.99 after mail-in rebate at newegg.com). In summary, it can be stated that both brands are shaping up well. However, this time Corsair is ahead in terms of quality.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
41 Comments
View All Comments
Rookierookie - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
>I think the days of the 550 watt psu are over unless you only do single card gaming and don't use the highest end cards.That's like saying that the days of the graphics card is over unless you play games and turn on graphic features.
Other people do exist, you know.
retrospooty - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
" I think the days of the 550 watt psu are over unless you only do single card gaming and don't use the highest end cards."Off all gamers, PC gamers are the minority.
Of PC gamers, high end cards are the minority
Of high end cards, dual chip/SLI is the minority
You are talking about the minority, of a minority within a minority.
Of course this is a tech site and more of us here are likely to game on PC and have extreme setups and overclock to the highest possibility, but we are just a tiny fraction of the market.
bji - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
Not to dispute your point, but this is a PC component site so non-PC gamers are not reading these articles. Therefore your first categorization is irrelevant.It is true though that high end cards are in the minority in PC gaming, and SLI a minority within the high end card market. So the fraction we're talking about is still small, just not as small within the audience of Anandtech articles as you described.
To try to stay on point: one of these power supplies comes with a feature that would prevent me from buying it, no matter what: the OCZ badge on the case.
gamoniac - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
My OCZ Fatal1ty 550W's 4+4 pin was only 45cm, posing an issue reaching the farthest 12v ATX connector if I route it behind the motherboard (I had to get an extension). It looks like OCS has listened and increased the length to 60cm. Well done.Corsair TX seems like a good choice, but I am not sure why they need to include two FDD connectors to clutter up the case, especially if it is not a modular PSU to begin with. Does anyone still have an FDD on their PC, let alone two? I got rid of my FDD a few years ago after collecting dust in my garage for a few years.
HowQuaint - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
Could you be more specific about the "magnetic amplifier" you specify in the OCZ unit? Wikipedia has an article about it but it doesn't seem to be a power supply technology. Since mag amps use a transformer-like device I'd guess it's a forward or flyback converter, which is more commonly used for the primary, high-voltage stage but it still works for low voltages. But saying that it "has no DC-DC converters inside" is inaccurate because any sort of secondary step-down qualifies as a DC-DC converter regardless of topology, and with cross-load numbers that low it definitely uses a secondary converter.Martin Kaffei - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
Wikipedia is probably not the best source for information like this. As you might see there are two chokes with a black core between the 5VSB and main transformer. Those are the chokes for regulation directly behind the windings. During saturation the voltage comes through. During the (let's call it) "high impedance mode" a part of the voltage pulse gets cut.I didn't say there are no DC-to-DC converter. I know it is the most famous an easiest converter type. But in this case I'm talking about step down converter for 3.3V and 5V, who get current from 12V. Each output voltage has it's own regulation. Most common PSUs regulate 5V and 12V with the same IC which is bad for crossload regulation.
Hope this was understandable since English is just my second language.
Leyawiin - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
The SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W is the exact same price as those two at Newegg and is a more robust and reliable power supply. I wouldn't touch one made by Great Wall or CWT when a superior SeaSonic built unit is available at that price, especially with a higher capacity.dubyadubya - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
+1 good catch I agree 100%. That Seasonic is a way better deal, Better quality, more power for the same price its a no brainer. I'd own a CWT PSU but its a step down from a Seasonic brand or built by Seasonic PSU for sure. Personally never seen a Great wall built PSU as far as I know.johan851 - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
Definitely. Pointing that out made me drop consideration for these - Seasonic makes a much better supply.TegiriNenashi - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
Objective noise measurement is easy: there is free sound meter programs both for iPad and android.