MSI MPG A650GF Power Supply Review

MSI's MPG A650GF power supply is ideal for a mid-level gaming system.

MSI MPG A650GF Power Supply
(Image: © Tom's Hardware, Shutterstock)

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Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

Load regulation is within 1% on all major rails, so it is tight enough. 

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is below 17ms, because of the low capacity bulk cap. The power-ok signal is accurate, but the delay is lower than 1ms, which is the minimum time that the ATX spec requires. 

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

Inrush current is low with 115V and at normal levels with 230V. 

Leakage Current

In layman's terms, leakage current is the unwanted transfer of energy from one circuit to another. In power supplies, it is the current flowing from the primary side to the ground or the chassis, which in the majority of cases is connected to the ground. For measuring leakage current, we use a GW Instek GPT-9904 electrical safety tester instrument.

The leakage current test is conducted at 110% of the DUT's rated voltage input (so for a 230-240V device, we should conduct the test with 253-264V input). The maximum acceptable limit of a leakage current is 3.5 mA and it is defined by the IEC-60950-1 regulation, ensuring that the current is low and will not harm any person coming in contact with the power supply's chassis.

MSI MPG A650GF

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Leakage current is low. 

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])Temps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
10%3.590A1.988A1.97A0.985A64.99886.401%73821.340.67°C0.955
Row 2 - Cell 0 12.086V5.03V3.351V5.078V75.229Row 2 - Cell 6 Row 2 - Cell 7 Row 2 - Cell 8 44.78°C115.1V
20%8.198A2.983A2.957A1.184A129.92990.098%73921.440.81°C0.973
Row 4 - Cell 0 12.079V5.028V3.348V5.07V144.208Row 4 - Cell 6 Row 4 - Cell 7 Row 4 - Cell 8 45.21°C115.1V
30%13.162A3.482A3.451A1.383A194.9491.259%74121.541.44°C0.979
Row 6 - Cell 0 12.071V5.026V3.346V5.062V213.613Row 6 - Cell 6 Row 6 - Cell 7 Row 6 - Cell 8 46.21°C115.1V
40%18.137A3.98A3.947A1.583A260.02591.433%74221.541.61°C0.981
Row 8 - Cell 0 12.065V5.024V3.344V5.053V284.387Row 8 - Cell 6 Row 8 - Cell 7 Row 8 - Cell 8 46.69°C115.1V
50%22.767A4.978A4.937A1.784A325.02591.14%74421.642°C0.982
Row 10 - Cell 0 12.058V5.022V3.342V5.045V356.62Row 10 - Cell 6 Row 10 - Cell 7 Row 10 - Cell 8 47.59°C115.1V
60%27.360A5.976A5.928A1.986A389.49590.719%74721.842.61°C0.981
Row 12 - Cell 0 12.050V5.02V3.34V5.036V429.343Row 12 - Cell 6 Row 12 - Cell 7 Row 12 - Cell 8 49.17°C115.1V
70%32.029A6.976A6.921A2.188A454.82489.395%118535.543.05°C0.979
Row 14 - Cell 0 12.042V5.018V3.338V5.027V508.78Row 14 - Cell 6 Row 14 - Cell 7 Row 14 - Cell 8 50.36°C115.1V
80%36.715A7.978A7.915A2.291A519.63388.717%151742.243.85°C0.98
Row 16 - Cell 0 12.031V5.015V3.335V5.022V585.72Row 16 - Cell 6 Row 16 - Cell 7 Row 16 - Cell 8 52.16°C115.1V
90%41.808A8.48A8.401A2.393A585.05988.038%173945.244°C0.981
Row 18 - Cell 0 12.020V5.013V3.333V5.016V664.554Row 18 - Cell 6 Row 18 - Cell 7 Row 18 - Cell 8 53.42°C115.1V
100%46.834A8.982A8.917A2.496A649.81387.364%174045.345.96°C0.982
Row 20 - Cell 0 12.012V5.011V3.331V5.009V743.803Row 20 - Cell 6 Row 20 - Cell 7 Row 20 - Cell 8 56.04°C115.1V
110%51.595A9.985A10.004A2.499A715.24286.51%174145.346.89°C0.983
Row 22 - Cell 0 12.005V5.009V3.328V5.004V826.78Row 22 - Cell 6 Row 22 - Cell 7 Row 22 - Cell 8 58.2°C115.1V
CL10.116A11.999A11.883A0A101.31585.138%75021.943.42°C0.968
Row 24 - Cell 0 12.086V5.018V3.34V5.09V119.001Row 24 - Cell 6 Row 24 - Cell 7 Row 24 - Cell 8 48.77°C115.12V
CL20.116A19.958A0A0A101.42383.217%75422.141.51°C0.969
Row 26 - Cell 0 12.090V5.012V3.352V5.094V121.878Row 26 - Cell 6 Row 26 - Cell 7 Row 26 - Cell 8 48.94°C115.12V
CL30.116A0A19.785A0A67.38877.718%73921.440.54°C0.958
Row 28 - Cell 0 12.086V5.034V3.335V5.091V86.708Row 28 - Cell 6 Row 28 - Cell 7 Row 28 - Cell 8 49.81°C115.12V
CL454.045A0A0A0A649.70388.287%174245.345.75°C0.982
Row 30 - Cell 0 12.021V5.026V3.342V5.075V735.905Row 30 - Cell 6 Row 30 - Cell 7 Row 30 - Cell 8 57.07°C115.11V

Despite the 40°C rating, the PSU didn't have a problem delivering full load, and even more, at 47°C. We would like to see higher PF readings, though, especially ay higher loads. 

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10% of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with power-saving features turned on.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])Temps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
20W1.228A0.497A0.492A0.196A19.99473.477%73220.937.45°C0.841
Row 2 - Cell 0 12.082V5.033V3.354V5.1V27.211Row 2 - Cell 6 Row 2 - Cell 7 Row 2 - Cell 8 40.53°C115.08V
40W2.705A0.695A0.689A0.294A39.99683.039%73321.138.06°C0.924
Row 4 - Cell 0 12.084V5.033V3.353V5.096V48.165Row 4 - Cell 6 Row 4 - Cell 7 Row 4 - Cell 8 41.41°C115.09V
60W4.182A0.894A0.886A0.393A59.99586.637%73421.238.16°C0.95
Row 6 - Cell 0 12.083V5.032V3.352V5.093V69.249Row 6 - Cell 6 Row 6 - Cell 7 Row 6 - Cell 8 41.9°C115.09V
80W5.654A1.093A1.083A0.491A79.94288.683%73521.239.53°C0.96
Row 8 - Cell 0 12.082V5.032V3.352V5.089V90.143Row 8 - Cell 6 Row 8 - Cell 7 Row 8 - Cell 8 43.59°C115.09V

Efficiency is high at light loads and the fan's speed is kept low. 

2% or 10W Load Test

From July 2020, the ATX spec requires 70% and higher efficiency with 115V input. The applied load is only 10W for PSUs with 500W and lower capacities, while for stronger units, we dial 2% of their max-rated capacity.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])Temps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
0.920A0.205A0.205A0.043A13.02462.293%71220.124.08°C0.779
Row 2 - Cell 0 12.049V5.03V3.352V5.106V20.908Row 2 - Cell 6 Row 2 - Cell 7 25.54°C115.12V

It is a great shame that the PSU cannot deliver more than 70% load with a 2% load. 

Efficiency & Power Factor

Next, we plotted a chart showing the PSU's efficiency at low loads and loads from 10 to 110% of its maximum rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency, the less energy goes wasted, leading to a reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills. The same goes for Power Factor.

Efficiency is high on all load ranges but with 2%. PF readings are low, though, especially with 230V input. 

5VSB Efficiency

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test #5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyPF/AC Volts
10.1A0.511W75.694%0.065
Row 2 - Cell 0 Row 2 - Cell 1 5.105V0.675W115.12V
20.25A1.276W78.735%0.147
Row 4 - Cell 0 Row 4 - Cell 1 5.102V1.621W115.12V
30.55A2.803W79.965%0.265
Row 6 - Cell 0 Row 6 - Cell 1 5.095V3.505W115.12V
41A5.085W77.742%0.367
Row 8 - Cell 0 Row 8 - Cell 1 5.084V6.541W115.12V
51.5A7.609W77.51%0.423
Row 10 - Cell 0 Row 10 - Cell 1 5.072V9.817W115.11V
62.5A12.624W76.172%0.472
Row 12 - Cell 0 Row 12 - Cell 1 5.049V16.572W115.11V

The 5VSB rail has decent efficiency. 

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mode12V5V3.3V5VSBWattsPF/AC Volts
Idle12.065V5.029V3.352V5.108V4.5140.314
Row 2 - Cell 0 Row 2 - Cell 1 Row 2 - Cell 2 Row 2 - Cell 3 Row 2 - Cell 4 Row 2 - Cell 5 115.11V
StandbyRow 3 - Cell 1 Row 3 - Cell 2 Row 3 - Cell 3 Row 3 - Cell 4 0.0470.005
Row 4 - Cell 0 Row 4 - Cell 1 Row 4 - Cell 2 Row 4 - Cell 3 Row 4 - Cell 4 Row 4 - Cell 5 115.11V

Vampire power is low. 

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37 to 47 degrees Celsius (98.6 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The fan speed profile is not so aggressive, under high operating temperatures. It could probably help if fan speed was higher at mid loads, for a more linear increase at high loads. 

The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.       

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

As expected, at normal operating temperatures close to 30 degrees Celsius, the PSU has a more relaxed fan speed profile than high temperatures. 

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Aris Mpitziopoulos
Contributing Editor

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

  • Ali_N
    Hi, that's a great PSU. However, I'm confused. MSI site
    https://www.msi.com/Power-Supply/MPG-A650GF/Specificationsays fan is 140mm FDB, but, the one in this review is DBB:rolleyes:.Is it possible?
    Reply