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.
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A5 - Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - link
I wouldn't really call an SPL Meter app coupled with a bad tablet/phone microphone "objective". To get true, repeatable SPL numbers, you need to have a special test setup like SPCR.MeanBruce - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
And the Corsair even looks better. Ok ok we all love Corsair PSUs, so is it now standard protocol for the company/groups on the bottom to offer new technology first and the group on top of the market to offer the same technology LAST? Am I the only enthusiast wondering where the Corsair Platinum PSU line-up is hiding? Is the strategy to wait and see what all other groups produce, then go to the drawing board simply to one-up the competition and stay on top of the market?johan851 - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
One nice thing about not gluing down the fan connectors is that it's easy to replace that cheapo fan if/when it fails. :)jabber - Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - link
Yeah I finally got round to replacing the horrendous fan in my Corsair TX750 MK1.Sounded like a leaf blower after about 15 minutes of use. Dont quite know why it had to blow at 3000rpm all the while.
Swapped it out for a low start power 1700rpm fan and its been a lot better.
Rick83 - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
I'm not really convinced that you can measure efficiency anywhere near a hundredth of a percent, accuracy wise, never mind that at that scale the slightest of atmospheric changes, input voltage changes, inter-series variation will void those results instantly.Especially using variations in those non-significant digits to mark advantages of one solution over another is a bit misleading. So unless you're absolutely convinced of those numbers, you should stick to values that you can reasonably expect to hold up under scrutiny.
Especially if your sample rates are 1, you should assume a certain variation, and ideally if over the course of testing you measure an average, also report the average std-dev.
Benchmarking is an engineering discipline!
ssj3gohan - Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - link
Wow, I never thought I'd meet somebody who I would agree with so much on this subject. Yes, measuring and properly representing your measurements is a key, key factor in benchmarking. Anandtech usually has their methods straight in other areas (although they consistently fail to include statistical parameters, really people, just because other sites don't show it doesn't mean you are allowed to omit them!) but power supplies are again (like I said in a lot of earlier PSU articles) their bastard child. Only results in table format, bad result representation in general, no methodology, no ambient conditions mentioned or tested against, very limited and unimaginative testing for that matter... it's like the exact opposite of, let's say, the SSD articles. As my go-to tech review site, this is extremely disappointing.Of course, I'm totally biased for being a PSU designer myself.
Chris Simmo - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
I have been using GW PSU's for years (OE) and while they may not be quite as efficient as is stated here, they are incredibly reliable. We have used approximately 3000 PSU's in the PC building company we work for and had less than 20 fail over 4 years. The Corsair PSU's have been rubbish and we refuse to sell them. I have had customers bring us parts for assembly. Of 5 PSU's, 3 were DOA (TX750, TX850, AX850). I don't give a rats arse how efficient they are, they are not worth the money with this horrid a failure rate! Seasonic make awesome PSU's too, but they cost a pretty penny in comparison to the GW PSU's. Good on OCZ for picking a reliable company, not just for efficiencyBeenthere - Monday, March 26, 2012 - link
Both OCZ and Corsair have a sketchy history with PSUs in addition to other products. I would recommend buying a Seasonic or PC Power and Cooling PSU if people want performance and reliability.Holly - Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - link
Page 6, first sentence says "Corsair uses a 140mm fan from Yate Loon with a ball bearing." ... shouldn't it be "OCZ uses..." ?And as for Seasonic PSUs... I have had 6 of those in my hands last year in time span of 6 months. Out of those 3 had to be replaced due to heavy instability (one caused frequent BSODs, one caused system restarts and one air fan was extremely loud) immediately, two other gradually caused high system temperatures and the last one simply didn't start up after about 2 months usage. They were calculated so the system wouldn't load them over 60% at peaks.
It might be just a bad luck or Seasonic commits low quality products in my country, but I would never recommend or buy them again. I have had variety of Corsair PSUs in my hands from CX, TX, HX, VX and AX line, had to replace only one CX 500W because of excessive fan loudness.
Martin Kaffei - Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - link
You have good eyesight. Fixed and thanks.