Corsair CX650 650W 80 PLUS Bronze ATX PSU vs NZXT C850 Gold ATX 3.1

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against power supplies at a similar price

The NZXT C850 Gold ATX 3.1 scores 6.7/10 overall, ahead of the Corsair CX650 650W 80 PLUS Bronze ATX PSU at 5.3/10.

The Corsair CX650 650W 80 PLUS Bronze ATX PSU leads on quality and protections.

The NZXT C850 Gold ATX 3.1 leads on efficiency, cabling and connectors, noise and warranty.

The biggest difference is cabling and connectors, where the NZXT C850 Gold ATX 3.1 scores 7/10 to the Corsair CX650 650W 80 PLUS Bronze ATX PSU's 4/10.

Corsair CX650 650W 80 PLUS Bronze ATX PSU

5.3/10verdict: good, not the best

The Corsair CX650 is a 650W ATX power supply with fixed cabling and 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency. It suits a single-GPU desktop or a small server with a few drives. It is less suited to builds that need modular cabling, a native 12V-2x6 cable or high efficiency.

Typically about £44.99 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

NZXT C850 Gold ATX 3.1

6.7/10verdict: good, not the best

The NZXT C850 Gold ATX 3.1 is an 850 W fully modular power supply for single-GPU builds. It suits buyers who want a native 12V-2x6 cable and a quiet fan at low and moderate loads. The 10-year warranty adds reassurance for a unit meant to stay in a case for a long time.

Typically about £110.74 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	Corsair CX650 650W 80 PLUS Bronze ATX PSU	NZXT C850 Gold ATX 3.1
Quality and protections	30%	6/10	5/10
Efficiency	20%	5/10	7/10
Cabling and connectors	20%	4/10	7/10
Noise	15%	5/10	7/10
Warranty	15%	6/10	9/10
Overall		5.3/10	6.7/10

Specifications

Spec	Corsair CX650 650W 80 PLUS Bronze ATX PSU	NZXT C850 Gold ATX 3.1
Rated output (W)	650 W continuous	850 W
Efficiency rating (80 Plus or Cybenetics)	80 PLUS Bronze	80 PLUS Gold and Cybenetics Gold; measured at 115 V: 85.8% at 10% load, 89.5% at 20%, 91.7% at 50%, 89.2% at 100%
Form factor (ATX or SFX) and ATX 3.x / PCIe 5.x support	ATX (ATX12V v2.31; ATX 3.x not stated)	ATX 3.1, 150 x 86 x 160 mm
Modular cabling (fully, semi or non-modular)	No (non-modular)	Fully modular
Graphics card connectors (12V-2x6 / 12VHPWR and PCIe 8-pin count)	2 PCIe 8-pin (6+2) on one cable; 3 SATA on one cable; 2 PATA 4-pin; no 12V-2x6 or 12VHPWR	1x 16-pin 12V-2x6 (rated up to 600 W per NZXT) and 3x 8-pin (6+2) PCIe
Fan size and zero-fan mode	120mm sleeve bearing, thermally controlled; zero-RPM mode not stated	135 mm fluid dynamic bearing, PWM, 2,300 RPM ±10%, maximum noise 44.5 dBA, Zero RPM mode; silent below 50% load
Warranty (years)	5 years	10 years

Strengths and weaknesses

Corsair CX650 650W 80 PLUS Bronze ATX PSU

+ 5-year warranty
+ 12V ripple of 48.6 mV at full load, within the limit
+ Compact 125mm body
− Non-modular cabling
− No 12V-2x6 or 12VHPWR connector
− 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency only

Skip it if:

Buyers whose graphics card needs a native 12V-2x6 or 12VHPWR cable
Anyone wanting modular cabling for a tidy build
Builders with many SATA drives or high-efficiency needs for an always-on PC

Read the full Corsair CX650 650W 80 PLUS Bronze ATX PSU review ›

NZXT C850 Gold ATX 3.1

+ 10-year warranty
+ Fully modular with native 12V-2x6 cable
+ Fan stays off below 50% load
− Only three 8-pin PCIe connectors
− Maximum noise rated at 44.5 dBA
− Efficiency drops to 85.8% at 10% load

Skip it if:

Builders running several GPUs that need more than three 8-pin PCIe connectors
Buyers who want Platinum-level efficiency at very low load
Anyone who needs published ripple and regulation data before buying

Read the full NZXT C850 Gold ATX 3.1 review ›

More comparisons

Compare all power supplies · Best power supplies