Corsair blog - Tech

The Neutron Series GTX SSDs are the flagship of the Corsair SSD lineup. In recent months we've moved from using 24nm NAND to 19nm NAND in these drives due to the industry transition to smaller process NAND. We also developed new firmware for both the existing 24nm based Neutron GTX drives and for the newer 19nm based Neutron GTX drives.

A report recently published over at the VR-Zone discussing the new 4th generation Intel Core processors, code-named "Haswell", and their ability to go into a lower power sleep state than any previous processor has caused some concern about PSU compatability with the new processor.

When an Intel Core (i3, i5, i7) processor is idle, it goes into a sleep state that requires less power than when the CPU is active. Since the motherboard voltage regulation modules that provide power to the CPU gets their power from the power supply's +12V rail, these sleep states can dramatically reduce the load on the power supply's +12V rail.

Corsair proudly brings you the Corsair SSD Toolbox. This helpful utility provides users with several powerful and useful tools for use with Corsair SSDs. Let's take a look.

The Corsair SSD Toolbox will run on:

• XP SP3 (32-bit)...(64-bit version not supported)
• Vista 32-bit w/ latest SP (all functions)
• Vista 64-bit w/ latest SP (all functions)
• Win 7 32-bit w/ latest SP (all functions)
• Win 7 64-bit w/ latest SP (all functions)
• Win 8 32-bit (TRIM is not supported, all others functions are)
• Win 8 64-bit (TRIM is not supported, all others functions are)

We have provided a detailed help file which can be accessed by clicking on the question mark symbol shown here circled in red on the upper left side of the screen.

When we originally introduced the Corsair Notebook Upgrade kit, we were really impressed with the Apricorn software. In fact, we used the term "chimple" to describe just how easy the kit was to use. It was so simple, a chimp could use it.

Customers related to us that they wanted a software cloning kit like this without having to buy the entire SSD based kit. So, we've created the new Corsair SSD & Hard Disk Drive Cloning Kit which utilizes the same great software but also has an improved USB 3.0 connector.

The kit includes a USB 3.0 to SATA connector and the Corsair Data Migration software CD. The original connector was USB 2.0 but the new connector shown here is USB 3.0. The new connector is much faster than the original allowing up to 180MB/s read and write speeds.

Many Corsair power supplies feature cooling fans with Zero RPM technology. Essentially, while the power supply is at lower loads and producing less heat, the intake fan is stopped, therefore producing zero noise. As the load on the PSU increases, the power supply produces more heat and that heat needs to be evacuated. A thermistor inside the power supply tells the fan to kick on. Once those temperatures drop to a level that is safe for the power supply to operate without active cooling, the fan cuts off and the power supply runs silently once again.

For my demonstration, I will be using an AX Series AX860i Digital ATX PSU and Corsair Link software to demonstrate how the PSU's power output and temperatures increase with load, and how the power supply fan speed increases and decreases with that temperature.

During the course of developing the Corsair Voyager Air, battery life was an area of great focus for us. We decided to put a very large capacity battery into the Voyager Air so that mobile users could get the most out of their devices under a variety of usage scenarios. The battery we chose is rated at 6200mAh or milliamp hours.

Here's one of my early prototypes. You can clearly see the battery sitting on top of the HDD.  

The Corsair Link Lighting Node is a component that comes with our Corsair Link Cooling and Lighting Kit, but many people do not know that can be used independently, without other Corsair Link components. The Lighting Node offers quick and easy lighting control for your system, and comes with everything you need to light up the inside of your case in a color of your choice. If you want to have more advanced functionality and control over the Lighting Node, there are some ways of linking it up with other hardware components, but first let's talk about the stand alone functionality of the Corsair Link Lighting Node.

It's completely logical that the Corsair Voyager Air and the Seagate Wireless Plus are frequently compared to each other. In fact, they were recently compared in a roundup at CNET. CNET Editor Dong Ngo compared several devices and declared the Voyager Air to be the most complete package on the market in this product class. He has a really informative Voyager Air video linked in the article also.

The long awaited update to Corsair Link V2 has arrived. After a period of extensive internal testing and ample feedback and bug reporting from the enthusiast community, the latest version (2.3.48.16) of Corsair Link is available for download. The new release adds support for Windows 8 and includes the following updates and bug fixes:

• Windows 8 Support
• New Hardware Detection and Monitoring Engine
• Firmware flashing to Commander units prior to firmware 2.06 now supported
• CPU temperature for all AMD platforms now supported
• Device Icon’s now have three selectable sizes
• Communication between multiple devices has been improved

If you would like to learn more about Corsair Link, please use the links below.

Corsair Link Resources:

• Corsair Link V2 Features and Functionality
• Using Link with a Corsair AXi Digital Power Supply
• Corsair Link functionality with H80i and H100i
• Corsair Link Forum

So how does a better PSU equate to a better computing experience? Consider this: If your power supply isn't doing a good job of regulating voltage and filtering ripple, what is?

The computer power supply essentially converts AC to DC. Older or more basic computer power supplies convert AC to multiple DC voltages (+12V, +5V, +3.3V) at the same time. Newer, more advanced power supplies, convert AC to +12VDC, while smaller DC to DC power supplies within the power supply's housing convert the +12V to lesser used +3.3V and +5V. The latter is more efficient because lesser used voltages are not converted unless they're required and converting DC to DC itself is more efficient than converting AC to DC as it requires fewer and smaller components.

After that voltage is converted, it's filtered with inductors and capacitors.