Introduction

We would like to thank Club 3D for supplying the review sample.

It seems the release of new power demanding high-end graphics cards motivated Club 3D to add a 1200 W model to their CSP PSU series. Indeed the CSP-X1000CS, which we tested in a previous review, although it is equipped with six PCIe, would have quite a hard time powering three GTX 580s and a highly clocked multi-core CPU along with a number of peripheral devices, fans etc. But with 1200 W under the hood things definitely get easier.

Contrary to the CSP-X1000CS, the 1200W model features Silver efficiency, so in the long run it will be more economic due to reduced power consumption. Also four +12V rails are available with 40A max each and 1020W combined power. As for other features, a semi-modular cabling system is utilized and the fancy blue fan still adds appearance points to the PSU. Finally, like all CSP models, the OEM of CSP-X1200CS is Andyson.

Specifications

The PSU has quite compact dimensions for a 1200W unit, with only 165 mm length. Regarding its protections only OTP (Over Temperature Protection) is missing, however this protection unfortunately is usually absent in most PSUs. Finally, the warranty is quite short at two years only.


There are four quite strong +12V rails but their max combined power is much lower than total power. We would like to see +12V to be able to deliver over 1100 W at least on a 1200 W PSU. Also 5VSB has average capacity for a 1200W unit, one or two Amps more would be ideal.

Cables & Connectors, Power Distribution

The PSU has six PCIe connectors (two on separate native cables and four on two modular cables) and two EPS connectors (one on a native cable and the other on a modular one). You cannot connect all PCIe and EPS connectors at the same time, since on the modular panel there are only two shared inputs for the PCIe & EPS cables. The main ATX connector uses 16 AWG wires while all other cables are equipped with 18 AWG wires. EPS and PCIe connectors in a 1200W unit should use 16 AWG wires. Also we would like to see two or three more SATA connectors.

This unit features four virtual +12V rails with not so optimal power distribution. First of all it is a mistake that you can connect the modular EPS cable to either of the two suitable inputs on the modular panel, because each one draws power from a different +12V rail. More specific, the bottom EPS/PCIe connector (with the fan facing upwards) on the modular panel draws from 12V2 rail, which also feeds 20+4 ATX, and the upper one from 12V4 which additionally powers the native EPS connector. So if you connect a PCIe or an EPS cable to the upper modular panel input then it will share the same rail with the native EPS connector, which is not the right thing to do. If you want to use two EPS connectors you should connect the modular one to the bottom modular panel input. If you want to use all six PCIe connectors, unavoidably 12V4 will be shared by the native EPS connector and two PCIe cables, something that could trip OCP on the specific rail. Also all SATA/peripheral connectors, modular or not, share the same +12V rail with PCIe connectors - not the optimal power distribution.