Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into the Antec B650 80+ Bronze power supply unit (PSU). If you're building a new PC or upgrading your current one, the PSU is one of the most important components you'll need to consider. It's the heart of your system, providing power to everything from your motherboard and CPU to your graphics card and storage devices. A reliable PSU ensures stable performance, protects your components from power surges, and can even impact the overall efficiency of your build. The Antec B650 aims to strike a balance between affordability and reliability, making it a popular choice for budget-conscious builders. In this review, we'll take a closer look at its features, performance, and overall value to help you decide if it's the right PSU for your needs.

Unboxing and First Impressions

Okay, let's start with the unboxing experience. The Antec B650 comes in a fairly standard cardboard box, typical of PSUs in this price range. Inside, you'll find the PSU itself, neatly wrapped in protective packaging, along with a power cord, mounting screws, and a user manual. Nothing too fancy, but everything you need to get started is included. The first thing you'll notice when you take the PSU out of the box is its weight. It feels substantial, which is usually a good sign, indicating that it has decent-sized heat sinks and quality components inside. The exterior has a matte black finish, which looks clean and should fit well in most PC builds. The overall build quality seems solid, with no obvious signs of cheap materials or poor construction. The cables are sleeved, which is a nice touch, making them easier to manage and improving the overall aesthetics of your build. However, they are not modular, which means all the cables are permanently attached to the PSU. This can make cable management a bit more challenging, especially in smaller cases, but it's a common trade-off for more affordable PSUs. The included user manual is clear and concise, providing all the necessary information for installation and troubleshooting. It's always a good idea to give it a quick read before you start installing the PSU to avoid any potential issues.

Features and Specifications

Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty details of the Antec B650's features and specifications. This PSU is rated for 650 watts of continuous power, which should be sufficient for most mainstream gaming and general-purpose PCs. It carries an 80+ Bronze certification, meaning it's at least 82% efficient at 20% load, 85% efficient at 50% load, and 82% efficient at 100% load. While not the highest efficiency rating available, it's a solid choice for its price point, helping you save on electricity bills compared to non-certified PSUs. The Antec B650 features a single 12V rail design, which is capable of delivering the majority of its power output. This is beneficial for modern systems that rely heavily on the 12V rail for components like the CPU and GPU. It also includes a comprehensive set of protection features, such as Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Under Voltage Protection (UVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), Short Circuit Protection (SCP), and Over Temperature Protection (OTP). These protections are crucial for preventing damage to your components in the event of a power surge or other electrical issues. The PSU is equipped with a 120mm silent fan, which is designed to keep the PSU cool and quiet during operation. The fan speed is automatically adjusted based on the PSU's temperature, ensuring optimal cooling performance while minimizing noise. In terms of connectors, the Antec B650 includes a standard ATX 24-pin connector for the motherboard, an 8-pin (4+4) EPS connector for the CPU, two 6+2 pin PCIe connectors for graphics cards, six SATA connectors for storage devices, and three Molex connectors for older peripherals. This should provide enough connectivity for most mid-range PC builds. Overall, the Antec B650 offers a solid set of features and specifications for its price range, making it a competitive option in the budget PSU market.

Performance Testing

Alright, let's talk about performance testing. While I don't have a professional PSU testing lab, I put the Antec B650 through its paces in a real-world PC build to see how it performs under load. I paired it with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and a couple of SSDs. This setup represents a typical mid-range gaming PC, which should push the PSU to a decent load without exceeding its limits. During gaming sessions and other demanding tasks, the Antec B650 performed admirably. The voltage remained stable, with minimal fluctuations, even under heavy load. This is crucial for ensuring the stability and longevity of your components. The PSU also stayed relatively cool, with the fan effectively dissipating heat. The noise levels were also acceptable, although the fan was audible under heavy load. However, it wasn't overly loud or distracting. I also tested the PSU's protection features by simulating various fault conditions, such as overvoltage and short circuits. In each case, the PSU successfully shut down, preventing any damage to the connected components. This provides peace of mind knowing that your system is protected in the event of a power issue. While my testing is not as comprehensive as a professional review, it gives a good indication of the Antec B650's real-world performance. Based on my observations, it's a reliable and capable PSU that can handle a mid-range gaming PC without any issues. However, if you're planning to build a high-end system with power-hungry components, you may want to consider a higher-wattage PSU with a higher efficiency rating.

Pros and Cons

Let's break down the pros and cons of the Antec B650 to give you a clear overview of its strengths and weaknesses.

Pros:

• Affordable Price: The Antec B650 is one of the most budget-friendly 650W PSUs on the market, making it a great choice for cost-conscious builders.
• 80+ Bronze Certification: The 80+ Bronze certification ensures decent efficiency, helping you save on electricity bills compared to non-certified PSUs.
• Stable Performance: The PSU delivers stable voltage and reliable performance, even under load, ensuring the stability and longevity of your components.
• Comprehensive Protection Features: The Antec B650 includes a full suite of protection features, such as OVP, UVP, OPP, SCP, and OTP, protecting your components from power surges and other electrical issues.
• Sleeved Cables: The sleeved cables improve cable management and aesthetics, giving your build a cleaner look.

Cons:

• Non-Modular: The non-modular design can make cable management more challenging, especially in smaller cases.
• Audible Fan Noise: The fan can be audible under heavy load, although it's not overly loud or distracting.
• Limited Connectivity: The number of connectors may be limited for some high-end builds with multiple storage devices or peripherals.

Alternatives to Consider

If the Antec B650 doesn't quite fit your needs or preferences, here are a few alternatives to consider:

• Corsair CX650M: The Corsair CX650M is a popular semi-modular PSU with an 80+ Bronze certification. It offers better cable management than the Antec B650, but it's also slightly more expensive.
• Seasonic FOCUS GX-650: The Seasonic FOCUS GX-650 is a high-quality fully modular PSU with an 80+ Gold certification. It offers excellent performance and efficiency, but it's also significantly more expensive than the Antec B650.
• EVGA 650 BQ: The EVGA 650 BQ is a semi-modular PSU with an 80+ Bronze certification. It's a good alternative to the Antec B650, offering a balance of price and performance.

Final Verdict

So, what's the final verdict on the Antec B650 80+ Bronze PSU? Overall, it's a solid and reliable PSU that offers excellent value for its price. It delivers stable performance, includes comprehensive protection features, and has a decent efficiency rating. The non-modular design and audible fan noise are minor drawbacks, but they are common trade-offs for more affordable PSUs. If you're building a budget-friendly gaming PC or general-purpose PC, the Antec B650 is a great choice. However, if you're planning to build a high-end system with power-hungry components, you may want to consider a higher-wattage PSU with a higher efficiency rating and fully modular design. Ultimately, the Antec B650 is a well-rounded PSU that offers a good balance of price, performance, and features, making it a worthy contender in the budget PSU market.