Load Regulation
| Test | 12V | 5V | 3.3V | 5VSB | DC/AC (Watts) | Efficiency | Fan Speed (RPM) | PSU Noise (dB[A]) | Temps (In/Out) | PF/AC Volts |
| 10% | 3.586A | 1.965A | 1.985A | 1A | 65.013 | 87.961% | 0 | <6.0 | 44.16°C | 0.934 |
| 12.105V | 5.09V | 3.326V | 5V | 73.913 | 40.46°C | 115.04V | ||||
| 20% | 8.187A | 2.949A | 2.98A | 1.203A | 129.958 | 90.143% | 811 | 20.6 | 40.83°C | 0.968 |
| 12.099V | 5.087V | 3.323V | 4.99V | 144.163 | 45.98°C | 115.02V | ||||
| 30% | 13.142A | 3.443A | 3.48A | 1.406A | 194.966 | 90.973% | 814 | 20.6 | 41.42°C | 0.987 |
| 12.091V | 5.084V | 3.319V | 4.98V | 214.301 | 42.76°C | 114.99V | ||||
| 40% | 18.110A | 3.937A | 3.981A | 1.61A | 260.055 | 91.266% | 815 | 20.6 | 41.69°C | 0.99 |
| 12.084V | 5.081V | 3.316V | 4.971V | 284.971 | 43.39°C | 114.97V | ||||
| 50% | 22.733A | 4.924A | 4.981A | 1.815A | 325.057 | 91.127% | 910 | 23.7 | 42.5°C | 0.992 |
| 12.077V | 5.078V | 3.313V | 4.96V | 356.706 | 45.08°C | 114.95V | ||||
| 60% | 27.312A | 5.913A | 5.983A | 2A | 389.366 | 90.653% | 1134 | 29.7 | 42.58°C | 0.993 |
| 12.069V | 5.075V | 3.31V | 4.949V | 429.518 | 45.39°C | 114.92V | ||||
| 70% | 31.973A | 6.903A | 6.988A | 2.228A | 454.778 | 90.113% | 1428 | 36.1 | 43.39°C | 0.994 |
| 12.062V | 5.072V | 3.306V | 4.938V | 504.648 | 46.39°C | 114.9V | ||||
| 80% | 36.638A | 7.892A | 7.993A | 2.334A | 519.561 | 89.525% | 1595 | 39.3 | 43.84°C | 0.995 |
| 12.055V | 5.069V | 3.303V | 4.929V | 580.348 | 47.2°C | 114.87V | ||||
| 90% | 41.708A | 8.389A | 8.484A | 2.439A | 584.985 | 88.928% | 1760 | 41.7 | 44.11°C | 0.995 |
| 12.047V | 5.066V | 3.3V | 4.921V | 657.841 | 47.8°C | 114.84V | ||||
| 100% | 46.719A | 8.886A | 9.007A | 2.545A | 649.7 | 88.206% | 1998 | 45.2 | 45.32°C | 0.995 |
| 12.040V | 5.064V | 3.297V | 4.913V | 736.579 | 49.51°C | 114.82V | ||||
| 110% | 51.470A | 9.879A | 10.108A | 2.548A | 715.111 | 87.409% | 2040 | 45.7 | 46.22°C | 0.995 |
| 12.032V | 5.061V | 3.294V | 4.906V | 818.077 | 51.31°C | 114.79V | ||||
| CL1 | 0.116A | 11.873A | 11.989A | 0A | 101.302 | 85.315% | 827 | 21.8 | 41.72°C | 0.941 |
| 12.098V | 5.07V | 3.311V | 4.995V | 118.739 | 44.26°C | 115.02V | ||||
| CL2 | 0.116A | 17.757A | 0A | 0A | 91.398 | 85% | 824 | 21.4 | 41.34°C | 0.937 |
| 12.101V | 5.068V | 3.325V | 5.007V | 107.532 | 43.14°C | 115.03V | ||||
| CL3 | 0.116A | 0A | 17.951A | 0A | 60.79 | 80.694% | 821 | 21 | 40.63°C | 0.934 |
| 12.098V | 5.087V | 3.309V | 5V | 75.316 | 42.1°C | 115.04V | ||||
| CL4 | 53.943A | 0A | 0A | 0A | 649.621 | 88.926% | 1965 | 44.6 | 46.27°C | 0.995 |
| 12.042V | 5.084V | 3.312V | 4.991V | 730.533 | 48.76°C | 114.83V |
Load regulation is within 1% on all primary rails.
| Test | 12V | 5V | 3.3V | 5VSB | DC/AC (Watts) | Efficiency | Fan Speed (RPM) | PSU Noise (dB[A]) | Temps (In/Out) | PF/AC Volts |
| 20W | 1.228A | 0.491A | 0.496A | 0.199A | 20.01 | 81.177% | 0 | <6.0 | 37.72°C | 0.617 |
| 12.107V | 5.091V | 3.327V | 5.023V | 24.645 | 36.33°C | 115.06V | ||||
| 40W | 2.702A | 0.688A | 0.694A | 0.299A | 40.009 | 86.156% | 0 | <6.0 | 38.41°C | 0.918 |
| 12.106V | 5.091V | 3.327V | 5.019V | 46.442 | 37.16°C | 115.05V | ||||
| 60W | 4.176A | 0.884A | 0.893A | 0.399A | 60.009 | 88.298% | 0 | <6.0 | 40°C | 0.931 |
| 12.104V | 5.091V | 3.327V | 5.016V | 67.978 | 38.63°C | 115.05V | ||||
| 80W | 5.646A | 1.081A | 1.091A | 0.499A | 79.963 | 89.616% | 0 | <6.0 | 42.28°C | 0.934 |
| 12.103V | 5.091V | 3.326V | 5.012V | 89.239 | 39.47°C | 115.04V |
A glance at the light loads table is always useful, as the PSU will typically operate at light loads. As you can see, the fan doesn’t spin at light loads, despite the high ambient temperatures that I applied.
Ripple Suppression
| Test | 12V | 5V | 3.3V | 5VSB | Pass/Fail |
| 10% Load | 18.4 mV | 18.3 mV | 15.5 mV | 11.1 mV | Pass |
| 20% Load | 23.0 mV | 18.8 mV | 15.8 mV | 12.6 mV | Pass |
| 30% Load | 15.5 mV | 20.3 mV | 16.1 mV | 9.9 mV | Pass |
| 40% Load | 16.3 mV | 19.1 mV | 15.6 mV | 10.2 mV | Pass |
| 50% Load | 16.4 mV | 18.5 mV | 15.2 mV | 10.9 mV | Pass |
| 60% Load | 17.4 mV | 19.3 mV | 15.8 mV | 14.1 mV | Pass |
| 70% Load | 18.2 mV | 19.2 mV | 15.3 mV | 13.6 mV | Pass |
| 80% Load | 22.8 mV | 21.0 mV | 16.3 mV | 13.7 mV | Pass |
| 90% Load | 26.4 mV | 21.0 mV | 17.1 mV | 14.9 mV | Pass |
| 100% Load | 23.6 mV | 21.1 mV | 17.4 mV | 14.0 mV | Pass |
| 110% Load | 26.6 mV | 21.6 mV | 17.1 mV | 14.3 mV | Pass |
| Crossload 1 | 21.2 mV | 21.5 mV | 16.4 mV | 14.3 mV | Pass |
| Crossload 2 | 20.2 mV | 21.3 mV | 15.3 mV | 14.9 mV | Pass |
| Crossload 3 | 18.0 mV | 19.0 mV | 17.4 mV | 14.0 mV | Pass |
| Crossload 4 | 24.1 mV | 21.2 mV | 17.1 mV | 15.7 mV | Pass |
Ripple suppression is decent overall. At 5V, it might appear mediocre because the PSU is at the bottom of my charts, but this is due to the tough competition. 21mV of ripple at 5V under full load and high ambient is not that high.
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We made the purchase based on your review. Installed into wife’s case, very quiet. MSI must have changed the fan (https://storage-asset.msi.com/datasheet/power-supply/us/MAG-A650GLS-PCIE5.pdf) to a 135mm FDB & also changed the profile. At 150W and it still did not switch on. Is it possible they are using thermal for fan speed?
they always use thermal info to control fan speed yes.
April 11, 2024.. on the XPG Core Reactor II VE 650W PSU Review.. you stated “The 600W setting of the 12+4 pin connector is overkill! It should normally be set at 300W.”
Because it used the 600W spec of 16AWG, you dinged it. Now because the MSI took your advice & used the 300W spec of 18AWG, you ding them.!!
I don’t ding the 16AWG gauge but the fact that they use 600W on a 650W PSU. For MSI’s case I had to talk directly with Intel to confirm that they are ok with 18AWG when the PSU has its port set at 300W.
So to wrap up, having a 600W set port on a 650W PSU is NOT good! This is what I said.
thank you for the clarification. i misunderstood the word connector as indicting cable, whereas you used connector in the context of the psu port.
i enjoy reading your reviews & opinions. great work.
glad to hear that standards are subject to interpretation. i did read your article on 12V-2×6 Cables? Are ALL The Same?. where it is summarized by Intel … According to Intel, using 18AWG gauges on a 12V-2×6 cable is incorrect, even if this is used by 750W/850W PSUs, where the maximum power setting is 300W. would it be possible to update that article to state your new conversation with Intel that it is ok with 18AWG on a port set at 300W?