EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2 PSU Review

Tom's Hardware Verdict

The 650 P2 is another excellent EVGA PSU with very high performance in all areas, also featuring very silent operation. The PSU's only downside is its high price, but in this case you get what you pay for.

Pros

  • +

    4x PCIe & 2x EPS

  • +

    Amazing ripple suppression

  • +

    Efficient

  • +

    Full power at 46°C

  • +

    Fully modular

  • +

    Hold-up time

  • +

    Performance in Advanced Transient Response tests

  • +

    Semi-passive operation

  • +

    Silent

  • +

    Quality caps

  • +

    Warranty

Cons

  • -

    Price

  • -

    Short distance between peripheral connectors

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EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2 Power Supply Review

EVGA has an extensive PSU portfolio that consists of 11 distinct families including T2, P2, G2, B2, PS, GS, G1, GQ, B1, N1 and W1. The T2, P2, G2 and B2 lines are manufactured by Super Flower; the PS and GS by Seasonic; the G1, GQ by FSP; and the lower-end B1, W1 and N1 by HEC.

As you can see, EVGA works with multiple OEMs, which allows the company to remain flexible and effectively address market demands. For example, Super Flower and Seasonic are pretty expensive manufacturers, so they aren't great choices when it comes to mainstream products. On the other hand, HEC's mainstream platforms offer decent performance for their cost. And for its mid-range PSUs, EVGA chose to go with FSP.

The P2 line is currently second in EVGA's portfolio behind the flagship T2. It consists of six PSUs with capacities ranging from 650W to 1600W, covering the middle- and high-capacity segments. All P2 models meet the 80 Plus Platinum efficiency requirements, feature fully modular cabling and offer semi-passive operation, which you can disable if you want the PSU's fan to operate nonstop. All P2s are based on Super Flower's Leadex Platinum platform, considered by many to be one of the best currently available; at this time it ranks second among Super Flower's offerings behind the Titanium Leadex. In this review, we're taking a detailed look at the SuperNOVA P2 with 650W capacity, the smallest PSU in the P2 line.

Specifications

The PSU is Haswell-ready since it uses DC-DC converters for generating the minor rails. On top of that, it can deliver its full power continuously at up to 50 degrees Celsius ambient, as the ATX specification recommends.

When it comes to protection features, over-current protection is replaced by over-power protection, given the single +12V rail. A bigger concern is that over-temperature protection is missing as well; this is one of the most basic protection features, especially in PSUs that feature semi-passive operation. Super Flower should definitely add OTP to its future Leadex platforms.

A double ball-bearing fan is used for cooling. In light of its specifications and the semi-passive mode, we're preemptively assuming it'll operate quietly.

Finally, the PSU's dimensions are normal for its capacity, however, its price is on the high side. Then again, you do get a high-end PSU supported by the longest warranty available.

Power Specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Rail3.3V5V12V5VSB-12V
Max. PowerAmps202054.12.50.5
Watts100649.212.56
Total Max. Power (W)650

The single +12V rail can deliver up to 54A of current, easily meeting the needs of two high-end Nvidia graphics cards or a couple of AMD Radeon R9 Nanos. The minor rails have enough capacity for most of today's systems, while the 5VSB rail has the typical amperage for a contemporary PSU.

Cables And Connectors

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Modular Cables
DescriptionCable CountConnector Count (Total)
ATX connector 20+4 pin (600mm)11
8-pin (700mm) / 4+4 pin EPS12V (+150mm)11/  1
6+2 pin PCIe (700mm) / 6 pin PCIe (+150mm)22 / 2
SATA (500mm+100mm+100mm)39
4-pin Molex (500mm+100mm+100mm)26
FDD Adapter (+100mm)11

The P2 650 is equipped with two EPS and four PCIe connectors (half of which are 6+2-pin connectors, with the other half limited to six pins). Ideally, all PCIe connectors should be 6+2-pin type, but it seems that either EVGA or Super Flower wanted to play it safe in case someone tried to drive a couple of high-end Radeons and an aggressively overclocked CPU with this supply. For that combination, you need at least 850W, given that a stock R9 290 4GB consumes up to 320W in a worst-case scenario.

The PSU includes an appropriate number of SATA and four-pin Molex connectors, along with a floppy adapter. Cable length is sufficient, and the distance between the SATA connectors is ideal (hard drives are usually installed fairly close to each other). Conversely, the distance between four-pin Molex connectors should be at least 13cm, since peripheral devices like case fans fed through these connectors are typically farther apart from each other. Finally, the 24-pin ATX connector (along with the EPS and PCIe cables) use thicker 16-gauge wires for lower voltage drops under high loads. All other cables have standard 18-gauge wiring.

Power Distribution

Since this PSU features a single +12V rail, we do not have anything to say about its power distribution.

MORE: PSUs 101: A Detailed Look Into Power Supplies
MORE: How We Test Power Supplies
MORE: All Power Supply Articles MORE:
Power Supplies in the Forums

Contributing Editor

Aris Mpitziopoulos is a Contributing Editor at Tom's Hardware US, covering PSUs.

  • cst1992
    $120 is a good price for a Platinum 650W PSU. That used to be the price for Gold units with half the warranty a couple of years ago.
    Reply
  • TbsToy
    Your reviews are so jaded. Anything for the ad dollars, right? Not going to go all the way here but as an example but why didn't you compare the Antec EA 650 Platinum power supply for a more fair apples to apples test instead of the Bronze 80 one? Yeah, I, know why. You guys just keep going down hill.

    Walt Prill

    Reply
  • Aris_Mp
    Before you dive into conspiracy theories etc. can you tell me where you saw the bronze Antec unit? Last time I checked the Antec Edge 650 which is included in the comparison has Gold efficiency. Also I can only include PSUs which I tested with this setup and the EA 650 Platinum isn't among them. And even if it was it wouldn't do better than the EDGE 650 since it uses a budget, ACRF platform which offers average load regulation and ripple suppression.

    And a piece of advice, better have your facts straight before you jump into conclusions.

    Merry Christmas to all!
    Reply
  • cst1992
    @Aris_Mp I think he's talking about the EA-650 Bronze on the first page of the review. The EA-650 Platinum is also on Newegg, and it's actually cheaper than the EVGA by $6.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G28N5004&cm_re=antec_ea_650-_-17-371-056-_-Product

    Now that I think about it, none of the products on the first page are similar in price to this one while being Platinum, and the CoolerMaster is actually the wrong wattage. Why is that? The products should be similar in price, at least.
    Reply
  • Aris_Mp
    I have no control on the product prices shown on the first page. This is an automated script that looks on all PSUs mentioned in the review and depicts their prices. Also since I don't have so many PSU reviews with 115V input, I have to include into my comparison charts, at least in some cases, PSUs that have slightly different capacity and features than the one under test. Once I have a capable PSU database this won't be a problem any more.

    Also including a product in a pricing list is another thing with including it into a comparison chart. In any case I advice all of you not to lose the forest for the tree(s) and read the entire review before you draw any conclusions or make purchase decisions. Finally, in a PSU review the final rating is based on facts and numbers so the final rating is easily supported.
    Reply
  • PureBlackFire
    nice review.
    Reply
  • Take_Out
    I have been in electronic/electrical power distribution field since 1964 (old fogie, used slide rules {slip sticks} to study field effect transistors, heh) working/studying/troubleshooting in a large assortment of types and uses of devices for military and industrial and residential.

    In gaming computer type PSU builders (not brandnames put on them), I like Super Flower, Seasonic, Antec and used to like PC Power and Cooling before the takeover, donno now. Forgot some I am sure. Use the performance list here to make PSU decisions in a fair manner.

    I build gaming computers for family and friends and they kick ass for the cost and last a long time usually unless a part fails. 8800GT and 560ti video cards I liked. Now like GTX 970s and 960s for my money level. 750 and 750tis and some others nearby are only Direct X12 cards in 7 series lineup, go look it up in Wikipedia, despite deceptive advertising on Newegg that all 7 series cards are Direct X12 compatible, not like them. Must be nubies there for the holidays.

    HATE changing OS just cause engineers need something to do, darn it. I know I simplify it, but it is THERE that they make you spend money and worse, learn their "NEW" way to make it work, how utterly fantastic for them. I think engineers are behind a lot of viruses so they can fix some of them, although there are bad actors for sure out there with extremists.

    I think buying a well known brand (Lenovo, Dell, ASUS, etc) of regular NEW i5 4590 plain model cpu or so computer (absolutely NOT small form factor or s or t on end, ugh, regular-sized ATX board mid tower with 8 or 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB HrdDrve WD or Seagate included in price of about 500USD, then add a 240 or 500GB SSD recommended by Tom's, for OS and top games you play to load a lot faster by a wide margin, really. Steam takes up a LOT of room. Then put a good Nvidia GTX-970 or 960 into it and game away with a darn warrenty. Plus engineers have something to do with making all the parts work together, is quite a job........ really. People who make money depend on those types of puters to feed thier kids, they have to work right, not just having fun with them.

    Really like Intel cpus and Nvidia 900 series video cards right now, dem magic, was a time I liked 3DFX(VooDoo2)SLI and ATI(RAGE) cards, even AMD cpus a decade or so back with the X2 64bit Athlons that buried Intel for a while.

    TUROK Dinosaur Hunter is coming back, OMGosh. Game hooked me on 3D gaming for real.

    EVGA seems to be broadening their approach to vending PSUs. Might prove interesting.
    Usually the companies that have stayed in business for many decades are doing something right and it tells. EVGA hasn't yet, but seems to be trying hard, I like their brand of video cards and they support them well.

    seriously something wrong with me, I could keep going and going, sorry....

    Merry Christmas.
    Reply
  • f-14
    Reply
  • f-14
    too expensive a good PSU should cost $10 per 100w on average nd at the cheapest be the price of the amps on the +12v rail so in this PSU's case average price $65 and sale priced at $54.
    Reply
  • TomaszC
    I have a question regarding Fan RPM, Delta Temperature And Output Noise for load range 300W-400W - does the fan RPM changes smootchly in temperature/load function, or just switch from 0RPM to 800RPM?
    Reply