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)

Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The TUF line is a good choice for systems with low-energy demands, where a good-performing and reliable power supply is required. The smallest member of the line, with 450W max power, is the performance leader in this category and looks to be the only choice should you need an advanced platform now that Corsair has replaced the CX450 with the CX450M. The latter uses an older platform with some modern touches (the DC-DC converters for the minor rails). 

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The competing offerings from XPG (Pylon 450), Corsair (CX450M), and Thermaltake (Smart BM2 450W) are close in overall performance. Actually, the Pylon 450 manages to take the lead, but this can easily change if GW tunes a bit the advanced platform that the Asus TUF 450 uses. 

The TUF-Gaming Bronze line consists of capable and affordable members, and the 450W unit is among the best in its category. This will be an ideal PSU for an office PC which you need to be as reliable as it gets, or a download or server station, with low-energy needs. If you need more power but your budget is limited, you can look at one of the stronger TUF-Gaming models. 

MORE: Best Power Supplies

MORE: How We Test Power Supplies

MORE: All Power Supply Content

Disclaimer: Aris Mpitziopoulos is Tom's Hardware's PSU reviewer. He is also the Chief Testing Engineer of Cybenetics and developed the Cybenetics certification methodologies apart from his role on Tom's Hardware. Neither Tom's Hardware nor its parent company, Future PLC, are financially involved with Cybenetics. Aris does not perform the actual certifications for Cybenetics.

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