Epilogue
The MSI MEG Ai1600T PCIE5 is the brand’s flagship PSU, offering good performance thanks to its semi-digital CWT platform, which is exclusive to MSI only. Nonetheless, given the high price tag and the high-end platform, I would like to see higher overall performance. Load regulation on the minor rails and the 3.3V rail’s lousy transient response remove some performance points and the APFC converter needs tuning for higher performance at 230V input. Moreover, although ripple suppression is good at 12V, the competition still fares better there, and the same goes for a transient response on the same rails at the demanding tests that the ATX v3.1 spec requires.
In noise output, the MEG Ai1600T is among the quietest PSUs I have evaluated. Still, its crazy loose fan speed profile makes me skeptical, especially since its protection features need tuning for larger OCP and OPP differences between normal and hot conditions. During this review, I had CWT’s lead engineer, the guy who designed this PSU, in my lab for a visit, and I expressed my concerns about the protection features. He told me that he would look into this for this unit and future designs. For the story, the same engineer designed the NZXT C1500, one of the best-performing units in this category. Speaking of protection features, it is unacceptable that such a high-end and expensive PSU doesn’t come with fan failure protection. For the record, most of its competitors have it, including the NZXT C1500 and the Seasonic PX/TX-1600 models.
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- Delivered full power at 47°C
- High enough overall performance
- Dead silent operation
- High build quality
- Good soldering quality
- Efficient platform
- Higher than 70% efficiency with a 2% load
- The unit operates properly under all ATX v3.1 transient response testing scenarios
- Excellent transient response (normal loads) at +12V
- Tight load regulation at 12V
- Good ripple suppression
- Long enough hold-up time
- Efficient 5VSB rail
- Low vampire power consumption
- Extremely low inrush currents
- Satisfactory power factor at 115V
- Alternative Low Power Mode (ALPM) compatible
- 2x EPS, 9x PCIe and 2x 12+4-pin PCIe connectors
- Quality FDB fan
- Very loose fan speed profile that makes me worry
- Protection features, OCP and OPP, need tuning
- No fan failure protection
- Weak 3.3V rail (loose load regulation and mediocre transient response)
- Low PF readings at 230V
When I saw the fan curve of this PSU from the Cybenetics report, I wasn’t expecting such a poor cooling solution for this PSU! With far better built (and cheaper!) noise-optimized ATX 3.1 PSUs in the market like the Seasonic Prime Noctua TX-1600 or the Cooler Master Silent X Platinum 1300, I really don’t see the point in throwing $699 USD for a PSU that doesn’t even come with fan failure protection.
Such a dissapointing PSU from MSI…
NZXT with price around $369 (it’s around $329 in Indonesia) outclassed MSI MEG A1600T with its price around $700
Really, MSI?