Conclusion

It is good to go into a review without any expectations about the product you are reviewing because then you won’t be disappointed by any results you get. On the flip side of the coin, it is a real treat to have zero expectations and have a review unit simply blow you away with its poise and performance; that is exactly what happened with the Antec Neopower 650W Blue. Considering its price of less than $140, it represents a phenomenal value for the performance it provided right across all of our tests. At lower loads, it is the most efficient power supply we have ever tested even though its efficiency decreased as load increased. The voltage regulation and ripple suppression are beyond reproach and really highlight how well the Neopower can handle nearly anything you can throw at it. To make matters even better, Antec provides a 5-year warranty. The final icing on the cake is the inclusion of an 8-pin PCI-E connector which we have seen far too little of on power supplies which are above the Neopower Blue in terms of price.

Now for the one thing that stops this power supply from being an absolute winner in our books: cable length. I just can’t wrap my mind around the fact that the cables enthusiasts are most likely to use (8-pin CPU and 8-pin PCI-E connector) are the shortest ones on this power supply. When trying the Neopower in a friend’s Antec P182, the 8-pin CPU connector would not reach its alloted place on the 680I motherboard without making a beeline straight over the graphics card. In short, this could be a deal-breaker for people looking to buy this power supply. Also, if you are turned off by the blue LEDs, opt for the standard Neopower 650W which retails for a few bucks less than the one reviewed here.

With amazing performance, a great warranty and a completely quiet acoustical footprint the Antec Neopower Blue 650W is a near perfect power supply. On the other hand, the cable lengths slightly sour a great experience. Thus, coupled with the amazing price this power supply gets a 4.5/5 rating and our Dam Good Value Award.


Pros:
- Good voltage regulation
- High efficiency
- Great ripple suppression
- 5-year warranty
- Quiet performance

Cons:
- Cable length of ATX, CPU and 8-pin PCI-E cables
- Blue LEDs may not be for everyone
- No bag for unused modular cables