Corsair
HX1500i ATX 3.1
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Clara’s Verdict
Very GoodExcellent build quality and performance, but the high price means you're paying for more than most people actually need.
Best for: High-end gaming PC builders, Content creators with power-hungry systems, Anyone building a future-proof rig
Skip if: Budget-conscious builders, Mid-range gaming systems, Anyone wanting the best value for money
Ethan’s Verdict
Very GoodSolid build quality and feature set, but the $360 price tag demands better efficiency and performance than competitors offer.
Best for: high-end gaming builds, systems needing iCUE integration, users prioritizing warranty
Skip if: budget-conscious buyers, GPU-heavy setups requiring 12VHPWR, performance-per-dollar shoppers
Clara’s Pros & Cons
- +Silent operation with excellent cooling performance
- +Outstanding build quality and 10-year warranty
- +Reliable power delivery for demanding systems
- +Digital monitoring through iCUE software
- −Very expensive at $360, overkill for most builds
- −Missing 12VHPWR connectors for newer GPUs
- −iCUE software is complicated and not beginner-friendly
- −Better value alternatives available at lower prices
Ethan’s Pros & Cons
- +Silent operation with excellent thermal management at full load.
- +Top-tier build quality and 10-year warranty backing.
- +iCUE integration provides detailed monitoring and control.
- +Extremely low vampire power consumption and reliable full-load delivery.
- −Performance lags Titanium-rated competitors despite Platinum efficiency.
- −No 12VHPWR connectors limit compatibility with next-gen GPUs.
- −iCUE software is overcomplicated for most users.
- −Premium pricing doesn't align with competitive performance metrics.
Score Breakdown
Performance8.515% wt
Thermals & Noise9.010% wt
Build Quality9.015% wt
Compatibility7.010% wt
Features8.010% wt
Ease of Install8.020% wt
Value6.520% wt
Score Breakdown
Performance7.530% wt
Thermals & Noise8.520% wt
Build Quality8.515% wt
Compatibility7.015% wt
Features7.510% wt
Ease of Install8.05% wt
Value6.55% wt
Clara’s Full Review
A Premium PSU for Serious Builders
The Corsair HX1500i is genuinely excellent at what it does. This is a power supply that won't let you down, with top-tier build quality and reliable performance across the board. If you're building a high-end gaming rig or workstation and money isn't a concern, this PSU will keep your system running smoothly for years.
What makes it stand out is the combination of silent operation and excellent cooling. The fan is nearly inaudible, even under load, which is perfect if you're building a quiet PC. It stays cool at 47°C while delivering full power, so you're not dealing with thermal throttling or annoying fan ramp-up.
The modular design is practical for cable management, and you get tons of connectors to work with. The 10-year warranty shows Corsair's confidence in durability, which is reassuring for a $360 investment.
Here's the catch: 1500W is overkill for most people. Even high-end gaming builds typically need 750-1000W. You're paying a premium for power you probably won't use, plus the iCUE monitoring software is more complicated than it needs to be for casual builders.
The missing 12VHPWR connectors are also worth noting. Newer flagship GPUs are starting to use these, so if you're planning a future upgrade to the latest graphics cards, you might need adapters.
Competitors like the Thermaltake ToughPower TF1-1550 offer similar performance at lower prices, and the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 12 delivers comparable results without the premium cost.
Bottom line: This is a luxury PSU for people who want the absolute best and don't mind paying for it. For everyone else building a practical gaming PC, you can save $100-150 and get something that works just as well for your actual needs.
Ethan’s Full Review
A Premium Price Built on Solid Fundamentals, Not Superior Performance
The Corsair HX1500i occupies an awkward position in the market. It's technically competent, well-built, and feature-rich, but it's asking $360 for a power supply that doesn't outperform cheaper alternatives. That's the core problem with this unit.
Let's start with what Corsair got right. The HX1500i runs silent under load, maintains exceptional thermal control at 47°C under full stress, and boasts vampire power consumption so low it's practically nonexistent. The build quality is genuinely top-tier, with quality components throughout and a 10-year warranty that reflects real confidence in durability. These are the fundamentals of a premium PSU.
But here's where the business case falls apart: for $360, you can buy the Thermaltake ToughPower TF1-1550, which achieves Titanium efficiency (versus Corsair's Platinum) at a lower price. You can also consider the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 12 1500W, which delivers similar performance for less money. Corsair is charging flagship pricing for competitive, not superior, performance. That's a bad value proposition.
The performance numbers tell the story. Reviewers expected higher performance from the HX1500i, and that expectation is justified at this price tier. Ripple suppression is good but not exceptional. Power factor with 230V input could be higher. The overall efficiency gains don't justify the premium over Titanium-rated competitors. For a $360 PSU, you should get class-leading numbers, not middle-of-the-pack results with premium branding attached.
The feature set doesn't close the gap. iCUE digital monitoring is genuinely useful, offering real-time visibility and control, but the software is overly complicated for most users and adds cost that not everyone needs. It's a nice-to-have, not a must-have at this price.
Then there's the missing 12VHPWR connector. Corsair included tons of peripheral cables but skipped the connector that's becoming standard on next-gen GPUs. For a PSU positioned at the high end, this is a significant oversight that limits future-proofing. Short distances between connectors also complicate cable management in tight builds.
The HX1500i is a solid engineering product that will power demanding systems reliably for a decade. But Corsair is leveraging brand reputation and build quality to justify a premium that the performance numbers simply don't support. At this price, you're paying for the warranty and the iCUE integration, not superior power delivery. That's a tough sell when competitors offer better efficiency, missing connector gaps, and lower prices.
Specifications
| cables | ATX 3.1 12V-2x6 |
| modular | Fully |
| wattage | 1500W |
| features | Digital monitoring |
| warranty | 10 years |
| efficiency | 80+ Platinum |
Overall Rating
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Review History
Initial review from real source data
Initial review from real source data
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