XPG Core Reactor II VE 650W PSU Review

Epilogue

The XPG Core Reactor II VE 650W is the affordable version of the Core Reactor II with similar capacity. It has fewer cables, and you probably won’t need that many anyway. It also has less expensive capacitors and some other minor part changes. Like in the rest members of the VE line, the change of caps on the secondary side greatly affected the unit’s transient response performance, and this is something you should consider since the transient response is among the most important performance factors. The overall performance difference with the non-VE model is notable, especially at 115V input. The competition is not so tough in this Wattage segment since most brands don’t bother releasing 650W ATX v3.x compatible PSUs. Thus, the overall performance of the VE unit is competitive, achieving second place at 115V and third place at 230V. Moreover, besides the low price, a great asset of the VE unit is that it operates quieter than the non-VE unit with similar capacity. This will make happy users wanting a quiet operating 650W PSU.

The Core Reactor II 650 is preferred for performance freaks, while the VE line will appeal to users on tight budgets. If you need a more budget PSU and don’t care about modular cables, you could also look at XPG’s Kyber line.

Before investing in a new power supply, read my Best ATX v3.x PSUs article to check all alternative PSU offerings. You help me a lot by using my affiliate links, which don’t increase the product’s price. I get a commission from Amazon every time you do it, which can make a difference for me, especially now that I am on my own, working exclusively for my media and not for someone else.