Asus TUF Gaming 450W Bronze Power Supply Review

The Asus TUF Gaming 450W is a low-power but high-performance PSU.

Asus TUF Gaming 450W
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

Tom's Hardware Verdict

The Asus TUF Gaming 450W is one of the best budget-oriented PSUs that you will find in today's market. If the native cables are not a problem, you should consider it for a low-energy consumption system.

Pros

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    Full power at 42 degrees Celsius

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    High overall performance

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    Efficient

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    Tight load regulation

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    Low ripple

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    Quiet operation

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    Alternative Low Power Modes support

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    Good soldering quality

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    Double ball-bearing fan

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    (Very) long EPS cable

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    Adequate distance between the 4-pin Molex connectors

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    6-year warranty

Cons

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    Short hold-up time

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    Mediocre transient response

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    High inrush currents

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    High OCP triggering points on the minor rails

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    Low PF with 230V

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    12V Voltage step during the turn-on transient tests

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The Asus TUF Gaming 450W Bronze is a low-capacity and affordable PSU destined for systems with low energy demands. If fixed cables are not a big issue, you should include it in your buy list since it offers high-performance thanks to the modern platform that it uses. If the price is right at any given time, it can compete with the best PSUs, including the value-conscious XPG Pylon 450. 

The lowest member of the Asus TUF-Gaming line has 450W maximum power, so it is ideal for office PCs or download stations with low energy demands. From the moment, Corsair decided to substitute the CX line with the semi-modular CXM units, which use a less advanced but still competent platform, Asus is the only one offering Bronze efficiency (Silver in Cybenetics) PSUs, featuring a half-bridge topology and LLC resonant converters. Corsair dropped this platform because of the increased cost. Other major brands, including XPG and Thermaltake, also used older designs with some updates to achieve similar performance. 

Similar to the TUF 550, the TUF 450 is 80 PLUS Bronze and Cybenetics Silver certified in efficiency. In noise, it received a Cybenetics A- rating, which is satisfactory for a low-capacity PSU. Lastly, the TUF 450 has a compact enough footprint with 150mm depth, allowing the installation of a 135mm fan. Given the unit's low capacity, the chassis could be smaller, but this wouldn't allow for a larger than 120mm fan, impacting noise output. 

Specifications of Asus TUF Gaming 450W

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Manufacturer (OEM)Great Wall
Max. DC Output450W
Efficiency80 PLUS Bronze, Cybenetics Silver (85-87%)
NoiseCybenetics A- (25-30 dB[A])
Modular✗ (fixed)
Intel C6/C7 Power State Support
Operating Temperature (Continuous Full Load)0 - 40°C
Over Voltage Protection
Under Voltage Protection
Over Power Protection
Over Current (+12V) Protection
Over Temperature Protection
Short Circuit Protection
Surge Protection
Inrush Current Protection
Fan Failure Protection
No Load Operation
Cooling135mm Double Ball-Bearing Fan (CF1325H12D)
Semi-Passive Operation
Dimensions (W x H x D)150 x 85 x 150mm
Weight1.91 kg (4.21 lb)
Form FactorATX12V v2.53, EPS 2.92
Alternative Low Power Mode (ALPM) compatible
Warranty6 Years

Power Specifications of Asus TUF Gaming 450W

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RailRow 0 - Cell 1 3.3V5V12V5VSB-12V
Max. PowerAmps202037.430.8
Row 2 - Cell 0 WattsRow 2 - Cell 2 110448.8159.6
Total Max. Power (W)Row 3 - Cell 1 Row 3 - Cell 2 450Row 3 - Cell 4 Row 3 - Cell 5 Row 3 - Cell 6

Cables and Connectors for Asus TUF Gaming 450W

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Captive CablesRow 0 - Cell 1 Row 0 - Cell 2 Row 0 - Cell 3 Row 0 - Cell 4
DescriptionCable CountConnector Count (Total)GaugeIn Cable Capacitors
ATX connector 20+4 pin (600mm)1118-20AWGNo
4+4 pin EPS12V (820mm)1118AWGNo
6+2 pin PCIe (620mm+100mm)1218AWGNo
SATA (420mm+110mm+110mm)1318AWGNo
SATA (410mm+110mm)1218AWGNo
4-pin Molex (400mm+150mm+150mm+150mm)1418AWGNo
Modular CablesRow 8 - Cell 1 Row 8 - Cell 2 Row 8 - Cell 3 Row 8 - Cell 4
AC Power Cord (1390mm) - C13 coupler1118AWG-

All cables are fixed. The good part is that they are long, especially the EPS cable. Moreover, the distance between the 4-pin Molex connectors is adequate at 150mm. Lastly, there are enough connectors for a 450W unit. 

Component Analysis of Asus TUF Gaming 450W

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

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General Data-
Manufacturer (OEM)Great Wall
PCB TypeSingle Sided
Primary Side-
Transient Filter4x Y caps, 2x X caps, 2x CM chokes, 1x MOV
Inrush ProtectionNTC Thermistor SCK-1R58 (1.5 Ohm)
Bridge Rectifier(s) 1x GBU1508 (800V, 15A @ 100°C)
APFC MOSFETs 1x Advanced Power AP30SL60WL (650V, 16.5A @ 100°C, Rds(on): 0.13Ohm)
APFC Boost Diode 1x STMicroelectronics STTH8S06FP (600V, 8A)
Bulk Cap(s) 1x Lelon (450V, 270uF, 2,000h @ 105°C, LSG)
Main Switchers 2x STMicroelectronics STF13NM60N (600V, 6.9A @ 100°C, Rds(on): 0.36Ohm)
APFC Controller Champion CM6500UNX & CM03AX
Resonant ControllerChampion CM6901X
Topology Primary side: APFC, Half-Bridge & LLC converter Secondary side: Synchronous Rectification & DC-DC converters
Secondary Side-
+12V MOSFETs2x STMicroelectronics STP100N6F7 (60V, 75A @ 100°C, Rds(on): 5.6mOhm)
5V & 3.3VDC-DC Converters
Filtering Capacitors

Electrolytic: 3x Elite (3-5,000h @ 105°C, EJ), 3x Teapo (1-3,000h @ 105°C, SC), 1x Teapo (1-2,000h @ 105°C, SZ), 1x Teapo (105°C, TB), 1x Teapo (105°C, TA) Polymer: 4x Lelon, 2x no info

Supervisor ICIN1S429I - DCG
Fan ModelChampion CF1325H12D (135mm, 12V, 0.6A, Double Ball Bearing)
5VSB Circuit-
Rectifier 1x SBR
Standby PWM ControllerPower Intergrations TNY278PN

This platform is too advanced for a mere Bronze unit, which is why it is more expensive. Great Wall, the OEM behind the TUF line, used a half-bridge topology and an LLC resonant controller. A configuration usually found in Gold and higher efficiency units, up to Titanium in some cases. The soldering quality is great, and to keep the cost down, GW used Elite and Teapo caps, which are the best alternative to Japanese caps. 

The transient/EMI filter has all require parts to get the job done. 

Asus TUF-Gaming 450

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The single bridge rectifier can handle up to 15A at 100°C.

The APFC converter uses two FETs and a single boost diode. The bulk cap is rated at 450V and 105°C, but its capacity is low, and to add insult to injury, it is by Lelon, a brand that doesn't have a good name in this section. 

The primary switching FETs are two STMicroelectronics installed in a half-bridge topology. An LLC resonant converter is also used for increased efficiency. 

Two FETs regulate the 12V rail and a pair of DC-DC converters handle the minor rails. 

The electrolytic filtering caps are mostly by Elite and Teapo. In the 550W unit, we found several Lelon caps, which are inferior to similar-spec Teapo and Elite caps. 

The standby PWM controller is a TNY278PN IC. The rectifier on the secondary side of this circuit is an SBR. 

Asus TUF-Gaming 450

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The main supervisor IC is an IN1S429I - DCG. 

Soldering quality is good.

The cooling fan uses a double ball bearing. We usually find lower-quality fans in budget PSUs. 

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Aris Mpitziopoulos
Contributing Editor

Aris Mpitziopoulos is a contributing editor at Tom's Hardware, covering PSUs.

  • Dark Lord of Tech
    You can buy the 650w version for $4.00 more. :unsure:
    Reply