Bitfenix Formula Gold 650W PSU Review

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Cross-Load Tests & Infrared Images

Our cross-load tests are described in detail here.

To generate the following charts, we set our loaders to auto mode through our custom-made software before trying more than 25,000 possible load combinations with the +12V, 5V, and 3.3V rails. The load regulation deviations in each of the charts below were calculated by taking the nominal values of the rails (12V, 5V, and 3.3V) as point zero. The ambient temperature was between at 30°C (86°F) to 32°C (89.6°F).

Load Regulation Charts

Efficiency Chart

Although efficiency is high across the board, the sweet spot falls between 150W and 340W.

Ripple Charts

Infrared Images

We applied half-load for 10 minutes with the PSU's top cover and cooling fan removed before taking photos with our modified FLIR E4 camera that delivers 320x240 IR resolution (76,800 pixels).

Temperatures inside the BF650G are low. BitFenix places the secondary side's electrolytic caps away from hot components, so they never overheat.

FETs on the DC-DC boards get to around 60°C, while the bulk cap runs cool (operating at close to 40°C).


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Aris Mpitziopoulos
Contributing Editor

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

  • Dark Lord of Tech
    Great Review..Thanks!
    Reply
  • turkey3_scratch
    Man this one is great! Thanks for the review, I appreciate the hard work you put into them.
    Reply
  • Lutfij
    Was a great read for the weekend and an interesting one too. Keep up the good work Aris! ;)
    Reply