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EVGA power supplies have been scoring well in our lab tests now for some time. Their partnership with design manufacturers Seasonic and SuperFlower is in no small part a factor to their continued success. EVGA sent us several of their new P2 models for analysis, and today we take a look at the 650 watt model which retails for around £100 inc vat in the UK.
This is the second EVGA 650 watt power supply we have reviewed in recent months – the 650GS model scored well in our lab tests back in May. The P2 model we are analysing today is a pure modular design and has 80 Plus Platinum certification. While the 650GS was a Seasonic OEM design, the 650 P2 is manufactured by Superflower. EVGA also offer a substantial 10 year warranty with these units, which is certainly reassuring.
EVGA SuperNOVA P2 Features:
- Unbeatable 10 Year Warranty and unparalleled EVGA Customer Support
- Highest quality Japanese brand capacitors ensure long-term reliability
- Fully Modular to reduce clutter and improve airflow
- NVIDIA SLI & AMD Crossfire Ready
- Double Ball Bearing fan for exceptional reliability and quiet operation
- Heavy-duty protections, including OVP (Over Voltage Protection), UVP (Under Voltage Protection), OCP (Over Current Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection), and SCP (Short Circuit Protection)
- 80 PLUS Platinum certified, with 92% (115VAC) / 94% (220VAC~240VAC) efficiency or higher under typical loads
EVGA box artwork is always very clean and simplistic – focusing on the product name and key features.
The power supply is protected inside two very thick pieces of foam and is wrapped in a felt bag. All the accessories are stored at the side of the box.
The bundle includes a user manual, mounting screws, cable ties, 24 pin test connector and a storage pouch for the cables.
All of the cables are high grade sleeved – rather than the more popular flat ‘ribbon' style which are easier to route. This does seem like a rather unusual decision in 2015.
The cables are long enough to support a large tower case and there is support for Crossfire and SLi system builds via the 6 and 8 pin power connectors.
The EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2 is an attractive power supply set in a simple two tone colour scheme. It measures 86mm (H) x 150mm (W) x 165mm (L). Build quality is excellent with rigid panels on all sides.
The unit passed our ‘screwdriver’ stress test, which involves running a Philip’s head driver down the side of the chassis with weak to modest pressure. How often have you accidentally hit a power supply with some tools during a system build phase?
.
A large 140mm fan is almost completely masked behind a cut out, featuring the EVGA logo in the center of the chassis.
The modular panel is arranged across two rows, one of which is only half width. There is an ECO mode switch at the bottom of this panel which you can disable to ensure the fan spins at all times – perhaps a good idea for a warmer environment. All of the connectors are labelled which will make the build phase straightforward.
The other end of the power supply is vented with a power connector and power button situated at one side.
| EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2 | |||||
|
DC Output
|
+3.3V
|
+5V
|
+12V |
-12V
|
+5Vsb
|
|
Max Output
|
20A
|
20A
|
54.1A |
0.5A
|
2.5A
|
| Total Power | 100W | 649.2W | 6W | 12.5W | |
| 650W | |||||
Power distribution is strong with 54 amps available from the +12V rail.
EVGA are using a Globe Fan (Model: RL4Z B1402512M). This is a double ball bearing design (12V, 0.3A, 92.16 CFM, 24.9dBA, 1200RPM).
This is a Superflower Leadex design. The AC receptacle has no line filtering. There are five Y caps, two X caps, two coils and a TVS Diode on the main board. Soldering quality is very high throughout, as we would expect from Superflower.
All capacitors in the supply are high grade 105c Japanese, Nippon Chemi Con. The primary capacitor is from their KMR series rated 400v 680uF.
On this page we present some super high resolution images of the product taken with the Canon 1DX camera and Canon F2.8 24-70mm lens. These will take much longer to open due to the dimensions, especially on slower connections. If you use these pictures on another site or publication, please credit Kitguru.net as the owner/source. You can right click and ‘save as’ to your computer to view later.
Additional technical assistance: Peter McFarland and Jeremy Price.
Correctly testing power supplies is a complex procedure and KitGuru have configured a test bench which can deliver up to a 2,000 watt DC load. Due to public requests we have changed our temperature settings recently – previously we rated with ambient temperatures at 25C, we have increased ambient temperatures by 10c (to 35c) in our environment to greater reflect warmer internal chassis conditions.
We use combinations of the following hardware:
• SunMoon SM-268
• CSI3710A Programmable DC load (+3.3V and +5V outputs)
• CSI3711A Programmable DC load (+12V1, +12V2, +12V3, and +12V4)
• Extech Power Analyzer
• Extech MultiMaster MM570 digital multimeter
• SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa)
• Digital oscilloscope (20M S/s with 12 Bit ADC)
• Variable Autotransformer, 1.4 KVA
|
DC Output Load Regulation
|
||||||||||
|
Combined DC Load |
+3.3V
|
+5V
|
+12V
|
+5VSB
|
-12V | |||||
|
A
|
V
|
A
|
V
|
A
|
V
|
A
|
V
|
A | V | |
|
152W
|
2.05
|
3.32
|
2.04
|
5.04
|
10.12
|
12.22
|
0.50
|
5.00
|
0.20
|
-12.05
|
|
270W
|
3.03
|
3.32
|
3.05
|
5.04
|
19.14
|
12.19
|
0.50
|
5.00
|
0.30
|
-12.07
|
|
400W
|
4.05
|
3.32
|
5.02
|
5.03
|
29.18
|
12.16 |
1.00
|
4.99
|
0.30
|
-12.09
|
| 523W |
6.09
|
3.30
|
7.04
|
5.02
|
38.18
|
12.14
|
1.50
|
4.99 |
0.30
|
-12.09
|
|
650W
|
8.00
|
3.29
|
9.00
|
5.02
|
48.00
|
12.12
|
2.50
|
4.99
|
0.30
|
-12.10
|
Load regulation is excellent across the output range.
| EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2 |
Maximum Load |
| 733W |
We managed to get the PSU to deliver 733 watts before it would shut down, delivering around 83 watts more than the rated specifications.
Next we want to try Cross Loading. This basically means loads which are not balanced. If a PC for instance needs 500W on the +12V outputs but something like 30W via the combined 3.3V and +5V outputs then the voltage regulation can fluctuate badly.
| Cross Load Testing | +3.3V | +5V | +12V | -12V | +5VSB | |||||
| A | V | A | V | A | V | A | V | A | V | |
| 590W | 1.0 | 3.32 | 1.0 | 5.04 | 48.0 | 12.11 | 0.2 | -12.05 | 0.50 | 5.00 |
| 145W | 12.0 | 3.27 | 15.0 | 5.00 | 2.0 | 12.22 | 0.2 | -12.03 | 0.50 | 4.98 |
The unit passed our cross load test without a sniff of a problem.
We then used an oscilloscope to measure AC ripple and noise present on the DC outputs. We set the oscilloscope time base to check for AC ripple at both high and low ends of the spectrum. ATX12V V2.2 specification for DC output ripple and noise is defined in the ATX 12V power supply design guide.
|
ATX12V Ver 2.2 Noise/Ripple Tolerance
|
|
|
Output
|
Ripple (mV p-p)
|
|
+3.3V
|
50
|
|
+5V
|
50
|
|
+12V1
|
120
|
|
+12V2
|
120
|
|
-12V
|
120
|
|
+5VSB
|
50
|
Obviously when measuring AC noise and ripple on the DC outputs the cleaner (less recorded) means we have a better end result. We measured this AC signal amplitude to see how closely the unit complied with the ATX standard.
| AC Ripple (mV p-p) | ||||
| DC Load | +3.3V | +5V | +12V | 5VSB |
| 152W | 5 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| 270W | 5 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| 400W | 5 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| 523W | 5 | 10 | 15 | 5 |
| 650W | 10 | 10 | 15 | 5 |
Ripple suppression is class leading and as good as we have seen from any supply in the last year.
|
Efficiency (%)
|
|
|
152W
|
91.12
|
|
270W
|
94.02
|
|
400W
|
93.88
|
|
523W
|
92.34
|
|
650W
|
91.79
|
Efficiency is excellent – peaking around 94% at 50% load. At full load this drops to just under 92%.
We take the issue of noise very seriously at KitGuru and this is why we have built a special home brew system as a reference point when we test noise levels of various components. Why do this? Well this means we can eliminate secondary noise pollution in the test room and concentrate on components we are testing. It also brings us slightly closer to industry standards, such as DIN 45635.
Today to test the Power Supply we have taken it into our acoustics room environment and have set our SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa) one meter away from the unit. We have no other fans running so we can effectively measure just the noise from the unit itself.
As this can be a little confusing for people, here are various dBa ratings in with real world situations to help describe the various levels.
KitGuru noise guide
10dBA – Normal Breathing/Rustling Leaves
20-25dBA – Whisper
30dBA – High Quality Computer fan
40dBA – A Bubbling Brook, or a Refrigerator
50dBA – Normal Conversation
60dBA – Laughter
70dBA – Vacuum Cleaner or Hairdryer
80dBA – City Traffic or a Garbage Disposal
90dBA – Motorcycle or Lawnmower
100dBA – MP3 Player at maximum output
110dBA – Orchestra
120dBA – Front row rock concert/Jet Engine
130dBA – Threshold of Pain
140dBA – Military Jet takeoff/Gunshot (close range)
160dBA – Instant Perforation of eardrum
|
Noise (dBA)
|
|
|
152W
|
<28.0
|
|
270W
|
<28.0
|
|
400W
|
<28.0
|
|
523W
|
31.9
|
| 650W | 33.4 |
To say the EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2 is quiet would be an understatement. With ECO mode enabled, the fan doesn't spin up until around 500W is demanded! At a full 650W load we measured 33.4dBa from a meter away.
|
Temperature (c)
|
||
|
Intake
|
Exhaust
|
|
|
152W
|
36
|
38
|
|
270W
|
39
|
41
|
|
400W
|
42
|
43
|
|
523W
|
43
|
48
|
|
650W
|
45
|
54
|
The very high efficiency levels of the power supply ensure that the fan never has to work that hard – its a cool running unit as well.
The EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2 is the latest in a long line of success stories for the company. The SuperFlower Leadex platform has proven to be one of the technically proficient on the market and while we went into this review with high expectations, there is no doubt the unit delivered in all areas.
Load regulation is solid as a rock and the unit passed the demanding cross load test without a hitch. Low load efficiency is also noteworthy – beneficial if you are running a system at idle for long periods of time.
Technically, these units are without fault – ripple suppression is class leading – falling within the top 5% of supplies we have ever tested. The high Platinum efficiency levels ensure that the large 140mm cooling fan is idle most of the time and internal temperatures are very low indeed – even under sustained full load conditions.
Internally soldering quality is exceptional and no corners have been cut to save pennies – both primary and secondary stages adopt high grade Japanese 105c rated Nippon Chemi Con capacitors. Long term, these have proven extremely reliable and are key to sustained overall reliability.
The EVGA SuperNova 650 P2 is a quiet, efficient, cool running modular power supply which ticks all the boxes. We are surprised the company didn't opt for the more popular, easy to route flat ‘ribbon' style cables, however it seems like a rather minor point when the unit is so remarkably accomplished in all areas.
With a full 10 year warranty, EVGA are confident these power supplies will be delivering quality power for a very long time.
Buy direct from Overclockers UK for £99.95 inc vat HERE.
Discuss on our Facebook page, over HERE.
Pros:
- quiet running.
- load regulation.
- class leading ripple suppression.
- very high efficient levels.
- good quality of paintwork.
- 10 year warranty.
Cons:
- Expensive.
- no flat modular cables.
KitGuru says: The EVGA SuperNOVA 650 P2 is one of the most capable mid power output supplies we have tested. Expensive, but in this case you get what you pay for.
