Tom's Hardware Verdict

The ROG Strix has high performance and silent operation, but it is notably more expensive than the competition.

Pros

+
Full power at 47 degrees Celsius
+
High performance
+
Efficient
+
Silent operation
+
Good build quality
+
Long cables
+
2x EPS & 4x PCIe connectors
+
Fully modular

Cons

-
Expensive
-
Transient response at 3.3V
-
Less than 70% efficiency with 2% load
-
Not compatible with the alternative sleep mode
-
Not efficient 5VSB rail
-
Small distance between peripheral connectors

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Specifications and Part Analysis

The ROG Strix 650 unit offers high performance since it uses the popular Seasonic Focus Plus Gold platform, and it features silent operation. Those benefits come at a high price, though, and with notably less money, you can get yourself either a Seasonic Focus Plus Gold with similar capacity, or a Corsair RM650x which achieves even lower noise output. Asus should try to lower this product's price and get closer to the competing offerings, to have an advantage over them.

The ROG Strix PSU line only has two members, for now, with 650W and 750W max power. In this review, we will evaluate the 650W model, which has enough power to meet the requirements of a system featuring a single high-end graphics card, and a strong, multi-core CPU with both clocked at stock speeds. If you plan to overclock heavily, you should get a much stronger power supply since power consumption increases higher-than-stock speeds.

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Product Photos

Although the ROG Strix 650 shares the same platform with the Seasonic Focus Plus Gold with similar capacity, it has larger dimensions because it uses beefier heat sinks, that requires a larger PCB. Thanks to the larger heat sinks, the fan speed profile can be much more relaxed and this leads to a low overall noise output, despite the use of a double ball-bearing (DBB) fan.

The DBB fans have high tolerance at increased operating temperatures, something that is not the case with Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) ones, but they also produce higher noise levels under the same conditions. This is why they are not preferred in power supplies, where FDB fans dominate. Nevertheless, if you can pair a DBB fan with an optimal fan speed profile, the outcome can be 100% satisfactory, as is the case with both ROG Strix models.

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Product Photos

Specifications

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Manufacturer (OEM)	Seasonic
Max. DC Output	650W
Efficiency	80 PLUS Gold, ETA-A (88-91%)
Noise	LAMBDA-A (20-25 dB[A])
Modular	✓ (Fully)
Intel C6/C7 Power State Support	✓
Operating Temperature (Continuous Full Load)	0 - 50°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	✓
Cooling	140mm Double Ball-Bearing Fan (FB14025BH)
Semi-Passive Operation	✓ (selectable)
Dimensions (W x H x D)	150 x 85 x 160mm
Weight	1.76 kg (3.88 lb)
Form Factor	ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Warranty	10 Years

Power Specifications

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Rail	3.3V	5V	12V	5VSB	-12V
Max. Power	Amps	20	20	54	3
Watts	100	648	15	3.6
Total Max. Power (W)	650

Cables and Connectors

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Modular Cables
Description	Cable Count	Connector Count (Total)	Gauge	In Cable Capacitors
ATX connector 20+4 pin (610mm)	1	1	18-22AWG	No
4+4 pin EPS12V (1000mm)	2	2	18AWG	No
6+2 pin PCIe (680mm+80mm)	2	4	18AWG	No
SATA (450mm+115mm+115mm+115mm)	1	4	18AWG	No
SATA (410mm+150mm+150mm+150mm)	1	4	18AWG	No
4 pin Molex (450mm+120mm+120mm)	1	3	18AWG	No
AC Power Cord (1400mm) - C13 coupler (EU)	1	1	18AWG	-
AC Power Cord (1370mm) - C13 coupler (British)	1	1	18AWG	-

The amount of provided connectors is satisfactory, and the ATX, EPS, and PCIe cables are long. The peripheral cables should be a bit longer, though, and above all, the distance between all corresponding connectors should be 150mm, at least. Currently, only one SATA cable has 150mm clearance between its connectors.

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Cable Photos

Component Analysis

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)	Seasonic
PCB Type	Double Sided
Primary Side
Transient Filter	4x Y caps, 2x X caps, 2x CM chokes, 1x MOV, 1x Discharge IC
Inrush Protection	NTC Thermistor & Relay
Bridge Rectifier(s)	2x GBU1006 (600V, 10A @ 100°C)
APFC MOSFETS	2x Infineon IPA50R190CE (500V, 15.7A @ 100°C, 0.19Ohm)
APFC Boost Diode	1x NXP BYC8-600 (600V, 8A @ 109°C)
Hold-up Cap(s)	1x Hitachi (400V, 470uF, 2,000h @ 105°C, HU)
Main Switchers	4x Champion GPT10N50ADG (500V, 9.7A, 0.7Ohm)
APFC Controller	Champion CM6500UNX
Resonant Controllers	Champion CM6901T6
Topology	Primary side: Full-Bridge & LLC converter Secondary side: Synchronous Rectification & DC-DC converters
Secondary Side
+12V MOSFETS	4x Nexperia PSMN2R6-40YS (40V, 100A @ 100°C, 3.7mOhm @ 100°C)
5V & 3.3V	DC-DC Converters:4x ON Semiconductor NTMFS4C028N (30V, 12.3A @ 80°C, 4.73mOhm) PWM Controllers: ANPEC APW7159C
Filtering Capacitors	Electrolytic: 3x Nippon Chemi-Con (105°C, W), 5x Nippon Chemi-Con (4-10,000h @ 105°C, KY), 5x Nichicon (4-10,000h @ 105°C, HE),1x Rubycon (3-6,000h @ 105°C, YXG) Polymer: 25x FPCAP
Supervisor IC	Weltrend WT7527V (OCP, OVP, UVP, SCP, PG
Fan Model	Everflow FB14025BH (135mm, 12V, 0.60A, Ball Bearing Fan)
5VSB Circuit
Rectifier	1x PFC P10V45SP SBR (45V, 10A)
Standby PWM Controller	Excelliance MOS EM8569

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Overall Photos

The ROG Strix line uses a modified Seasonic Focus Plus platform. The major differences are depicted on the larger dimensions of the PCB, which allows the installation of large heat sinks, and the different fan which uses double ball-bearings. The build quality is high and the same goes for the filtering caps, which is among the most important components in a power supply (and not only).

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Transient filter

The transient filter has all the necessary components to block all incoming and outcoming EMI noise, on paper at least.

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Bridge rectifiers

Both bridge rectifiers are bolted on the large, primary heat sink.

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

APFC converter

Right in front of the APFC converter's FETs and boost diode, we find the NTC thermistor and its bypass relay, which protect against large inrush currents.

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Main FETs and primary transformer

A full-bridge topology is utilized along with an LLC resonant converter, which boosts efficiency. Unfortunately, there is no burst-mode operation at light loads, so the efficiency with 2% of the PSU's max-rated-capacity cannot reach 70%.

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

12V FETs and VRMs

Four Nexperia FETs handle the +12V rail, which feeds a pair of DC-DC converters for the generation of the minor rails.

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Filtering caps

The majority of the filtering caps belong to good lines of Japanese manufacturers. Besides electrolytic caps, many polymers are also used.

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

5VSB Circuit

The 5VSB circuit uses an Excelliance MOS EM8569 standby controller along with a pair of SBRs, for the rectification in both its primary and secondary sides.

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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)