In an innovative and different offering in the power supply world, Corsairs RM850X Shift White is definitely something else in a market you might not think too much about. We take a look at what it has to offer in terms of whether it is the best PSU for the job and if it’s something you might even consider. Corsair has made a good name for itself across the board, but even in the power supply department it has become quite the common offering, so is the Shifted white model worthy?
- Wattage: 850W
- Form Factor: ATX (160mm L)
- Rating: 80+ Gold, Cybenetics Gold
- Design: Fully modular, side connectors
The Corsair RM850x Shift White brings plenty of innovation and uniqueness to the PSU market and updates the popular model. Bringing native ATX 3 support for Nvidia graphics cards but updating them for safer 12V-2×6 puts you a bit more at peace of mind. Alongside that a long-term warranty and fan choice with hybrid mode makes it last a while. With the build quality on offer that is a great thing to have for plenty of builds to come with an initial upfront premium.
- The latest model features ATX 3.1 standard with updated and safer native PCIe 5.1 cables
- Innovative and excellent side connectors in a less-seen white colorway
- Long 10 year warranty and using an FDB fan should last longer
- White zip ties and cables match the aesthetic
- Top build quality and quality components provide strong and quiet performance
- Smaller type 5 cables can be a bit finicky to use, although side access makes it easier
- Type 5 is less common so requires custom sleeve ordering for custom cables
- Power connector ports switch orientation for bigger connectors
- A more premium price for white and Shift model
Design
The design of the RM850x Shift is where all the excitement and innovation come from. But starting off with the packaging the PSU comes encased in plastic wrapping and cardboard protection ends, whilst the cables and accessories also come in plastic. We have seen Corsair moving on from this type of packaging as in our HX1000i review where that was mostly in cardboard packaging so it could be that moving on we’ll see the same in newer models.
Corsair RM850x Shift White box contents, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White box, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White connector ports, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White fan, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White info sticker top, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White on top of box, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White power input and switch, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White logo side, Image by PCGuide
The fully modular power supply comes with a range of cables to use in your build. They also come in white and so do the zip ties you get to match and cable manage your PC in a nice. Although neither the kettle plug nor the screws match the colorway but those aren’t as key to the white build you’re going for if you are with this model. Being an ATX 3 PSU as well it has native support for the latest Nvidia graphics cards with the 12VHPWR connector makes it a lot nicer to use without an adapter.
Even though it still has its own issues, looking at Corsair’s site it seems to also have been updated to an even newer standard. The newer ATX 3.1 standard with the 12V-2X6 spec from PCI-SIG is looking to stop all those burning power cables that have plagued Nvidia so you should have a bit more peace of mind.
Corsair RM850x Shift White brings plenty of innovation and uniqueness to the PSU market and updates the popular model
But the big thing with the unit is of course the side connectors. Moving it from the front where you may have a harder time working with it down the line, it’s now easier to change out the cables if you have the right case to support it. It also comes in white which is a bit less common in the PC market but it has its niche for those who want that white build and want to pay the premium for the extra.
With the shifted connectors they also don’t run in the same orientation either. As a PCIe connector and motherboard connectors are spun around, which doesn’t change too much apart from the look of the connections. They also utilize Type 5 Corsair cables which are a bit smaller and fiddlier but with a good separation between the ports it’s not the worst. But if you are after custom cables there are not really pre-done options from CableMod and the like so you have to custom order them making it a bit more of a faff unless Corsair’s own offering is sufficient.
With the 850W rating, you do get a good selection of cables already and should give you a good length utilization from the PSU. That goes for the build quality and components too. Utilizing a fluid dynamic bearing fan it comes with allows it to last a while and perform for years to come and do well for them too.
Size
The RM850x Shift is a standard ATX and doesn’t extend much further than the cube it is with a 160mm length. That makes it compatible with a lot of cases already but not quite an SFX size if you want a small build. Although it does require you to look into the PC case specs more closely, since most will be having the cables come out towards the side panel, you’re going to need a bit more clearance. Corsair recommends the case be at least 210mm (8.3″) wide and have enough space in the PSU basement to accommodate the cables.
Corsair RM850x Shift White in build, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White in PC, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White on top of box, Image by PCGuide
Performance
Powering up our test bench with the power supply we ran it at full power to see how well it did via HWinfo and tracking the power draw from the wall. Our setup is made up of the following components:
- Ryzen 9 7950X CPU
- ROG X670E Hero motherboard
- Corsair Dominator Titanium 64GB 6600
- ROG Ryujin II 360 AIO CPU cooler
- MSI Gaming X Trio RTX 3090
With a combined TDP of around 520W for the CPU and GPU, the recommendation is around 750W. That makes the RM850x Shift a safe choice for a powerful build even up to a 4090. Even then that is a good amount of power we expect to pull through the power supply and with the inefficiencies that can accumulate. For the testing, we put it through a full load via Furmark 2’s CPU and GPU stress tests to get the maximum power from it.
A strong choice for new builds for the latest hardware with future proof for any others down the line as well
Even without the full load, the idle power draw was around 126W as seen on our power meter below. But loading up the system and letting it settle it jumped up to 705W with the CPU and GPU combining to reach around 570W. As expected the PSU has no trouble keeping up with it. Plus with the fan spinning up it doesn’t produce a lot of noise at all and doesn’t make any noises that would make it stand out from your build already.
Corsair RM850x Shift White CPU and GPU power usage, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White testing setup, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White power draw at max utilization, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White power draw at idle, Image by PCGuide
Corsair RM850x Shift White power draw when off, Image by PCGuide
We also look at what the Cybenetics testing found about this power supply as well. As a newer standard, it brings a more in-depth testing setup to put power supplies through the paces and see how they perform. Although not our specific unit nor the white version it is the same model and should be a good indication of the performance expected.
At 115V the PSU achieved an average efficiency of 88.7%, with the 5VSB sitting more around 77.8%, while the noise output was indeed tested to only be around 22.84 dB(A). Whilst at 230V and what we ran it at it averages 90.8% efficiency with the 5VSB at 78.1%, and the noise was measured at a tad higher of 23.03 dB(A). All in all a good performance even though it does not quite reach the same efficiency levels as other Gold models it’s still acceptable.
Warranty
The RMx series gets long-term support from Corsair. That includes the RM850x which comes with 10 years of warranty, which is definitely a long-term choice for a power supply. This shows the high-quality build and components going into it as it is expected to last for many builds down the line, simplifying the decision process for those as well.
GPUs to pair with the PSU
With the power behind the RM850x Shift, there’s no GPU you can’t power in the consumer market right now. Even the top-performing RTX 4090, but you’re likely going to want to go for a white graphics card with plenty of power. In that case, the RTX 4080 Super is a good option like the ROG Strix White we have below. The other top choice is the RX 7900 XTX from AMD’s side, although it falls behind compared to the competition it still is a strong gaming graphics card for 4K performance. Although it’s a bit harder to find a white model for that one.
Conclusion
The Corsair RM850x Shift White is much like the RM1000x Shift we reviewed, just in a bit more compact and lower power form, oh and in a different color. But that just makes it the extra bit unique to the innovative Shift aspect of the power supply. A strong choice for new builds for the latest hardware with future proof for any others down the line as well.
But the two key aspects of this unit are what make it a more premium choice. Coming in at $169.99 is a premium tax for the color and design difference. So if it’s for a specific build where it can shine, then it makes the most sense otherwise a standard RM850x is also an appropriate choice and for less.
- Wattage: 850W
- Form Factor: ATX (160mm L)
- Rating: 80+ Gold, Cybenetics Gold
- Design: Fully modular, side connectors
