CORSAIR AX1600i SHIFT: Everything You Need to Know

The AX1600i SHIFT is the long-awaited sequel to our legendary AX1600i. Combining ultra-high wattage with our side-mounted SHIFT connections and the latest iterations of the iCUE LINK ecosystem into a compact ATX PSU, this is the jewel of the CORSAIR PSU lineup. Here’s the scoop.

While the ATX standard lays out a strict 150mm width and 86mm height, the length is not set. This means that high-capacity PSUs are often inconveniently long, however, this is not the case with the CORSAIR AX1600i SHIFT.

Because of the side mounted connections and more space-efficient Gallium Nitride transistors it’s only 170mm long, despite being able to deliver 1600W. So, it can easily fit in most mid-tower cases.

As GPUs and CPUs become more and more power-hungry, PCs must be able to provide enough capacity, especially at the absolute top end. The AX1600i SHIFT is more than capable of handling multi-GPU systems, with two native 12V-2x6 connections, both capable of outputting up to 600W of power simultaneously.

This in addition to four 8-pin PCIe / CPU connections, and three SATA / PATA ports and the motherboard connection means that the AX1600i SHIFT can handle basically any hardware configuration you could throw at it.

AX1600i SHIFT is made of state of the art materials. It's built with an extruded aluminum top plate and chrome plates for a premium look. Internally, it uses 100% Japanese capacitors, full GaN IC with bridgeless Totem Pole topology and digital structures producing impeccable electrical performance. AX1600i SHIFT also uses ultra-flexible individually sleeved cables which gives you a build the top of the line appearance and convenient cable management.

All that power and utility is easier than ever to access, too, thanks to our SHIFT side-mounted connections. Where a regular PSU has the connections on the end opposite to the power cable, SHIFT power supplies move them to the side so they’re immediately accessible when building. We introduced the side-mounted connections in 2023, but this is the first time we’ve implemented this design in an ultra-high-capacity power supply.

When it comes to the 12V-2x6 cable, we’re including two cables with 90-degree connectors for tidiness and convenience. Additionally, the GPU end has two-tone connectors so it’s easier to see if you’ve correctly and fully inserted the cable into the GPU and PSU.

With great power comes great responsibility, which is why the AX1600i SHIFT is equipped with comprehensive control and monitoring options via iCUE. You can do this via a USB Type-C to internal USB header cable, or by integrating it into the iCUE LINK ecosystem by connecting it to a iCUE LINK System Hub.

You can toggle between 12V single-rail OCP (over-current protection) and 12V multi-rail OCP, customize the trigger points for the different 12V rails, tune the fan speed to your liking and more. Additionally, all this can be monitored live via iCUE, so you like the idea of some additional peace of mind, then you can keep an eye on exactly what your PSU is doing at all times. Those who do a lot of benchmarking or enjoy getting into the technical details from all their PC parts will enjoy the abundance of data provided by the AX1600i SHIFT.