INTRODUCTION

    AMD, NVIDIA, Intel and even some emerging graphics cards chip manufacturers are expected to unveil their latest models in the coming months (early to mid-2026) and so I expect many PC users to be upgrading their systems sooner rather than later. The one hardware component that usually goes hand in hand with graphics cards is no other than the power supply unit and due to the vast number of available quality models in the market today, I don't think there's ever been a better time (not to date) for people to get their hands on one. Earlier this year MSI announced their latest flagship power supply unit, the MEG Ai1600T PCIE5 which found its way to the lab a while back.

    MSI is a world leader in AI PC, gaming, content creation, business & productivity and AIoT solutions. Bolstered by its cutting-edge R&D capabilities and customer-driven innovation, MSI has a wide-ranging global presence spanning over 120 countries. Its comprehensive lineup of laptops, graphics cards, monitors, motherboards, desktops, peripherals, servers, IPCs, robotic appliances, vehicle infotainment and telematics systems, and EV charger are globally acclaimed. Committed to advancing user experiences through the finest product quality, intuitive user interface and design aesthetics, MSI is a leading brand that shapes the future of technology.

    The Ai1600T PCIE5 power supply unit is part of MSI’s MEG (MSI Enthusiast Gaming) lineup and is currently available only with a power output of 1600W. This is a fully modular, ATX 3.1 & PCIe 5.1 compliant and 80 PLUS Titanium certified (up to 94% efficiency) power supply unit that features two 12V-2x6 power connectors (dual color, 600W), nine 6+2 pin PCIe power connectors single powerful +12V rail (133.3A) capable of delivering almost 100% of the units’ total power output (1599.96W) and has a peak power output of no less than 1738W (peak according to MSI is 3840W for up to 100ms - once again however this is not something I can test). The digital MEG Ai1600T PCIE5 also sports full bridge LLC topology with DC to DC module design, Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFETs in an interleaved topology, active PFC, zero fan mode for its 135mm fan (starts spinning after a specific load), high-quality server grade Japanese capacitors certified for use up to 105 degrees Celsius, individually sleeved cables and a full array of electrical protections including over-current (OCP), over-voltage (OVP), under-voltage (UVP), short-circuit (SCP), over-temperature (OTP), no-load (NLO), surge and in-rush (SIP), and over-power (OPP). Finally, MSI covers their flagship MEG Ai1600T PCIE5 power supply unit with an extremely generous 12-year limited warranty.