Antec NeoPower 650 Blue

It was not so long ago I was in the market for a new power supply, and after long consideration, I settled on the original Antec NeoPower 480W.  The original NeoPower is legendary for its stability, and the unit I have still runs strong in my secondary rig.  So, when I found out I had the opportunity to jump on the next generation NeoPower, I naturally took it.  Does it live up to the name of NeoPower? We will find out. 

First Impressions:

First off, we like to take a look at the packaging.  The box in this case is much like the power supply within; the colors are a bit muted in comparison to many of the products on the market today, with only a splash of blue to keep things interesting.   The front advertises that this unit is quiet, as well as "Dual Graphics Cards Ready". 

The side of the box shows off many of the units features, including; input voltage of 100V-240V, convertible 6-pin/8-pin PCI-E connector, Quad Core capable, Power Factor Correction, Triple 12V rails, 4 SATA connectors, ATX12V 2.2 and EPS12V compliance, as well as "Industrial Grade Protection". 

The rear of the box shows off some of the basic features, as well as the rail layout and the connection configuration.  The back of the box also shows off the various certifications as well.

Specifications:

Features:

• NVIDIA SLI certified
• High Efficiency, Super Quiet Operation
  Highly efficient (up to 85%) with one blue LED super-silent 120mm fan keeps NeoPower cool
• Advanced Cable Management System
  Improves internal airflow and reduces system clutter by allowing you to use only the cables you need
• Universal Input with Active PFC
  Use anywhere in the world without worrying about input voltages, Active PFC to reduce electrical waste
• Dedicated Power Circuitry
  Delivers safer, more reliable output to your system’s delicate components. Includes dedicated voltage outputs, triple +12V output circuits, voltage feedback circuitry, and tighter ?% regulation for improved system stability
• Low-speed 120mm blue LED fan delivers whisper-quiet cooling and ensures quiet operation by varying fan speed in response to load and conditions
• Three +12V output circuits provide maximum stable power for the CPU independently of the other peripherals
• Accurate power rating allows NeoPower to deliver its full rated power, 24 hours a day rated at 50ºC
• One 8 pin and one 6 pin PCI Express graphics card power connectors
• Four SATA connectors for your Serial ATA drives
• Industrial grade protection circuitry prevents damage resulting from short circuits (SCP), under voltage protection (UVP), power overloads (OPP), and excessive voltages (OVP)
• AQ5 - 5 year warranty

Above is the cable layout configuration. While the above image from Antec's website shows a total of four PCI-E connectors, (two each of 6-pin and 8-pin varieties), the spec sheet and visual analysis of the unit only show one apiece.  This means that while it still natively supports SLI/Crossfire configurations, it will only work on low-end or midrange dual card configurations, such as the 8800GT. 

The contents of the package include the power supply, the screws and various cables.   Physically attached to the PSU are the 24-pin ATX cable, the 4-pin ATX cable, an 8-pin PCI-E cable, and the 8-pin EPS cable.