The new CORSAIR RM1200e arrives for 194.90 euros: how to distinguish it from the previous version

The price of 194.90 euros puts a commercial date on the RM1200e CORSAIR showed at Computex. The 1,200 W source is sold in black and white finishes, and its main technical feature is PinProtect, a system that individually monitors the power contacts of the 12V-2×6 connector of the graphics card. The brand announces its arrival at its store and authorized distributors.

It is advisable to look at the generation before buying it. CORSAIR already sold an RM1200e with the same name, but the new version includes PinProtect and Cybenetics Platinum certification. The European references of the current edition are CP-9020316-EU for the black one and CP-9020317-EU for the white one. The previous RM1200e, identified as CP-9020258-EU, has a different card and continues to appear in some catalogs.

What PinProtect does if it detects too much current on a pin

Native 12V-2×6 cable can supply up to 600W to a compatible graphics card. On this RM1200e, PinProtect measures the current flowing through each of the six power contacts. If any exceed the set threshold for too long, the source reduces the power available to the GPU and may cause it to shut down. CORSAIR describes this mechanism as a protective measure against abnormal current distribution in the connector.

The protection works from the source itself and does not require installing an application or adjusting its parameters. In its documentation, CORSAIR explains that modifies the status of the 12V-2×6 signal cables so that the card reduces consumption. The user can then see the black screen and hear the graphics fan at maximum speed. This behavior indicates that you have to check the connection, not turn on the equipment again without checking it.

The procedure outlined in the manual consists of turning off the computer, cutting off the power supply and examining the graphics connector. Then you have to insert it again correctly before starting. The included cable has two-color ends: The gray area should not be visible when it is properly fitted. It is also necessary to check the side connected to the source, because the cable has a connector on both ends.

PinProtect focuses on contact current. CORSAIR uses ThermalProtect on other RMe series sources to detect elevated cable temperatures, and reserves the PinProtect+ name for models with additional monitoring features. They are different mechanisms. None replaces correct cable installation or converts any possible connection problem into a necessarily detectable failure.

A 600W cable and connections for other components

The new source ATX 3.1 compliant and PCIe 5.1 ready. Includes a single 600W, 650mm, native 12V-2×6 cable for cards that use this connection. It also comes with a cable that starts from the 12V-2×6 port of the source and ends in two eight-pin PCIe connectors. The manual warns that the latter has a specific orientation and that reversing it can cause damage.

Three 6+2-pin cables are supplied for conventional PCIe connections. The equipment is completed with a 24-pin ATX cable for the motherboard, two 4+4-pin EPS for the processor and several SATA and peripheral branches. Being completely modular, you only have to mount the necessary cables. CORSAIR uses raised cables and low-profile combs to organize them inside the case.

The total power indicated is 1,200 W, available on the 12 V rail, whose nominal capacity reaches 100 A. This figure describes the output limit of the supply: the power needed by each computer depends on its components and their actual consumption. Compatibility with the modern connector also does not mean that a graphics card that uses eight-pin PCIe connectors needs to change its power system.

Platinum certification in a 150mm deep body

The brand declares certification Cybenetics Platinum for this generation and mounts a 140 mm fan with rifle type bearing. Zero RPM mode stops the fan under load allowing you to maintain cooling without it. The upper grille adopts a three-dimensional Y-shaped pattern, different from the design of the previous RM1200e. The brand also notes that it uses Japanese capacitors specified for 105°C.

Its measurements are 150 × 150 × 86 mm. The 150 mm depth helps to check if it will fit in a specific case, although you must also leave room to bend the modular cables and verify the maximum source length supported by the chassis. CORSAIR mentions in the note its usual electrical protections, including overvoltage, short circuit, overload and overtemperature. PinProtect adds specific monitoring to the GPU connector.

The recommended launch price in Europe is 194.90 euros. CORSAIR also reports $204.99 in the United States and £169.99 in the United Kingdom. The second generation RM1200e is offered in black and white through the brand’s website and its dealer network, with a ten-year warranty for both variants.

The marketing announcement does not ensure simultaneous stock in all countries or stores. It is also not advisable to confuse the offers of the previous RM1200e with those of this edition: to identify the version with PinProtect you must check the product reference, CP-9020316-EU or CP-9020317-EU, before comparing prices.