Corsair is launching two redesigned power supplies, the RM850e and the RM1000e, which now come standard with a ThermalPROTECT cable. The cable monitors the temperature directly at the graphics card’s 12V-2×6 connector and automatically cuts off the power supply at 65 °C before the connector or GPU is damaged. Both power supplies have been available in stores since August 18, 2026.
What’s new with the RM850e and RM1000e?
The two models replace the previous RMe series and upgrade from Cybenetics Gold to Cybenetics Platinum. Corsair specifies an efficiency of up to 91 percent. Despite the additional technology in the cables, the power supply’s 140-mm-wide chassis remains compact enough for most mid-tower cases.
Both power supplies are fully modular, ATX 3.1-certified, and support PCIe 5.1. Inside, Corsair uses capacitors with a temperature rating of 105 °C. Under low to medium loads, the fan remains completely stationary thanks to Zero-RPM mode; thereafter, a custom-tuned fan curve regulates the speed. For those who prefer a discreet look, the RM850e and RM1000e are available in black or white, and Corsair offers a seven-year warranty on them.
ThermalPROTECT: How the Cable Protects Your Graphics Card
The included ThermalPROTECT cable is rated for up to 600 watts via the 12V-2×6 connector and is therefore PCIe 5.1-compliant. The real highlight is located about 30 mm in front of the GPU-side connector: There, a sensor continuously measures the cable’s temperature. If it exceeds 65 °C, the cable sends a signal via the Sense pins of the 12V-2×6 connector to the graphics card, instructing it to immediately stop drawing power.
The entire process takes place passively within the cable itself. You don’t need iCUE or any software installation, and the power supply doesn’t even need to know it’s connected to a ThermalPROTECT cable. In addition, the connector is marked with two colors so that you can see at a glance during installation whether it’s fully seated—a common source of errors with the small 12V-2×6 and 12VHPWR connectors.
Why this is important right now
Since the switch to 12VHPWR and later 12V-2×6, there have been repeated reports of melting connectors on certain high-end graphics cards such as the RTX 4090 and RTX 5090, mostly caused by cables that aren’t fully seated and the resulting uneven current distribution across the individual pins. Corsair isn’t alone in this: Asus, MSI, Seasonic, and Thermal Grizzly now also offer their own monitored cables or external adapters. Corsair’s approach differs in that the detection mechanism is built directly into the cable and shuts down the graphics card via the existing Sense pins, without requiring any additional hardware on the case.
Incidentally, power supply safety isn’t an entirely new topic for Corsair: Back in 2020, the company launched a replacement program for SFX power supplies from certain production batches that were at risk of failure.
Technical Specifications at a Glance
| Model | Power | Efficiency | Certification | Length | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RM850e | 850 W | up to 91% | Cybenetics Platinum, ATX 3.1, PCIe 5.1 | 140 mm | 7 years |
| RM1000e | 1,000 W | up to 91% | Cybenetics Platinum, ATX 3.1, PCIe 5.1 | 140 mm | 7 years |
Compatibility: Does the ThermalPROTECT cable work with any power supply?
Since ThermalPROTECT operates purely passively, Corsair states that the cable generally works with any power supply and any graphics card that has a native 12V-2×6 connector, regardless of the manufacturer. However, if you already own a newer Corsair power supply, you don’t need to rush out and buy an RM850e or RM1000e right away: Corsair’s compatibility list includes, among others, the RM750x, RM850x, and RM1000x; the HX1000i/1200i/1500i SHIFT; the rest of the RMe series from the RM650e to the RM1000e; the WS3000, as well as the CX650M and CX750M from 2025.
There is one limitation: Older Corsair power supplies with Type 4 or Type 5 cables—which until now have been converted to 12VHPWR using a 2×8-pin adapter—do not currently support ThermalPROTECT. Corsair has announced that it will release its own adapter versions for this purpose.
Price and Availability
The RM850e and RM1000e are available now through the Corsair webstore and at authorized retailers.
| Region | RM850e | RM1000e |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | €139.90 | €174.90 |
| USA | $139.99 | 179.99 USD |
| United Kingdom | £119.99 | £149.99 |
Conclusion
With the RM850e and the RM1000e, Corsair offers two solid Platinum-rated power supplies, with the ThermalPROTECT cable being the real highlight. Especially for those planning to use—or who already own—a high-end graphics card with a 12V 2×6 connector, this provides a simple, software-free safeguard against one of the most well-known weaknesses of this type of connector. Since the cable is also available separately and is compatible with older Corsair power supplies, it’s worth checking out even if you aren’t currently planning to upgrade to a completely new power supply.
Sources: Corsair Newsroom,
