Asus TUF Gaming 450W Bronze Power Supply Review

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). 

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. 

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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.