Skip to main content

Cooler Master's behemoth 1,200-watt power supply doesn't come cheap

Cooler Master Master Watt Maker 1200 MIJ .. A Made in Japan Beast !!!
The power supply unit may not be the most glamorous component, but it can mean the difference between a power efficient and cool computer, and a pile of fried components. That’s why it is wise to spend a little more and buy from reputable brands — Cooler Master, for example. The steadfast hardware manufacturer brought a limited edition PSU, the MasterWatt Maker MIJ, to CES this year and at $1,000 or more, it costs three to five times other 1200-watt PSUs.

Like other high-end power supplies, the MIJ runs at basically the highest efficiency level possible, 80 Plus Titanium. While that technically means 94 percent or higher efficiency, and Cooler Master says it’s usually over 95 percent, according to TechPowerup.

Apart from carefully selected electronics and custom chokes, the MIJ sports a number of useful connectivity and control features. The digital signal processor is ARM-based, and it has a streamlined 3D circuit design that helps keep heat down and energy loss to a minimum. The PSU is also Bluetooth connected, so users will be able to manage the minutiae of their hardware without taking up system resources. Cooler Master’s warranty covers the MIJ for seven years, a long time for a computer component.

So who would need a power supply of this magnitude? Only the most demanding systems packed with hardware demand anything near 1,000 watts of power. Multiple GPU setups can draw an immense amount of power, especially if you’re looking at running three or four at once. A lot of disk drives or open-loop cooling solutions can also draw a significant amount of energy. In general, even mid-tier gaming PCs get by with 500 Watts.

Cooler Master announced both this limited edition 1,200-watt version, as well as a 1,500-watt model on the way, which is likely to blow well past this model in price. The same TechPowerup report says there will be just a few thousand units of the MasterWatt Maker MIJ, so if only the best will do, keep your eyes peeled.

Editors' Recommendations

Brad Bourque
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad Bourque is a native Portlander, devout nerd, and craft beer enthusiast. He studied creative writing at Willamette…
The XPS 16 is fighting an uphill battle against the MacBook Pro
Dell XPS 16 sitting on desktop with flowers.

It took a few years, but Dell finally updated the design of its two largest XPS laptops. The XPS 15 gave way to the XPS 14, while the XPS 17 was replaced by the XPS 16. The latter gained the ultramodern look of the XPS 13 Plus, complete with a glass palm rest, a hidden haptic touchpad, and a row of LED function keys.

It's a significant update but places the XPS 16 in direct competition with the Apple MacBook Pro 16. That's an excellent matchup with proven performance and battery life and an elegant design that's solid, if a lot more conservative.
Specs and configurations

Read more
These 4K monitors are discounted at Best Buy — from $200
The Sony InZone M9 sitting next to a PlayStation 5.

A 4K monitor is a great way of enjoying an enhanced image as you work with more pixels, higher resolutions, and often better colors too. Over at Best Buy, there are some great monitor deals squarely focused on all things 4K. There are dozens of 4K monitors in the sale so the smart move is to hit the button below to see what’s there for yourself. If you want some help though, we’re here. We’ve picked out a few highlights in the sale so take a look for yourself.

What to shop for in the Best Buy 4K monitor sale
Samsung makes some of the best monitors around so why not start with the ? It’s currently reduced by $150 so it costs just $200. Its IPS panel looks great with AMD FreeSync support effectively eliminating screen tears and stutters. There’s also HDR support which brings with it some great looking colors while wide viewing angles mean it looks great from any perspective.

Read more
9 best processors for PC gaming: tested and reviewed
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D installed in a motherboard.

It's tough to find the right gaming CPU for your next PC. We've benchmarked dozens of processors to find the best CPU for gaming, and there's a clear winner right now: AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Although the latest chip from Team Red claims the crown, there are still several other great options on the market.

Whatever your needs and budgets, though, we have options from AMD and Intel that will be great performers. We're focused on gaming here, but if you want a processor that can game and get work done, make sure to check out our list of the best processors.

Read more