ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply Review

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The Delta Electronics VPF650 is a low-cost power supply unit that offers good performance for the money. The EarthWatts Green series is used to market the VPF devices in the US.

Finding a PSU in this price range that only uses Japanese capacitors is quite challenging. The ANTEC VP650P Plus Power Supply, along with its American counterpart, the EA-650 PSU, provides good performance and earns a high performance-per-dollar rating because to its reasonable price.

At this year’s Computex, we first learned about the new VP units with 350 to 650W capacity and 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency. The current attempt from Antec is aimed at the typical customer who needs a dependable, cost-effective PSU for a mid-range system.

Representatives of the company informed us that they had opted against using the VP name in the American market. Instead, the EarthWatts Green brand sells the VP series. The name on the boxes and labels is the only distinction between products marketed in Europe and the US, claims Antec. The VP supplies sell for a reasonable price in Europe (about $57 for the VP650); in the US, the EarthWatts Green series costs a little bit more, with the EA-650.

The ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply new generation is built for quality, performance, and amazing value.

This entry-level option is certified to the 80 PLUS® 230V Standard and has a power range of 500W to 700W. It saves energy thanks to its excellent efficiency of up to 85%.

ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply 2

ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply Specs & Performance

The VP line’s most potent model, with a maximum output of 650W, is what we’re testing today. This device just has the main ATX cable sleeved in order to reduce manufacture costs. Modular cabling is not used in this device. The remaining cables are left unprotected, which seems odd considering that even the most budget-friendly PSUs—at least the branded ones—have sleeving throughout.

However, considering that Delta Electronics is the biggest and one of the top PSU manufacturers in the industry, this is not a cheap supply. Its implementations are not inexpensive. Currently, Delta only produces desktop PSUs for Antec. That’s probable because only Antec was able to maintain a working contract with the company while Delta lost interest in the market.

The upgrade to Bronze makes a big difference because the prior VP series carried a simple 80 PLUS certification. With its four PCIe ports, the VP650 can also accommodate up to two premium graphics cards. Additionally, it is compatible with the sleep states made available by Intel’s Haswell CPUs (S6 and S7). This means that while the +12V load is very modest (Intel’s test method only calls for 0.1A), it can give the full load on the minor rails (5V and 3.3V) without any issues.

The VP P PLUS series, which uses active PFC and provides efficiency at both high and low loads, delivers up to 85% efficiency, living up to the performance standards for which we are renowned.

The ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply may operate at maximum power on two +12V rails. The minor rails are therefore controlled by DC-DC converters, and their maximum combined power is sufficient for the demands of a modern PC that mostly uses the +12V rail.

ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply 3

Antec provides this low-cost PSU with enough connectors to easily provide its full power, operating a system with up to two potent graphics cards, even though all cables—aside from the main ATX cable—are not shielded. The SATA connectors are also sufficient for this capacity.

However, we did find it a little odd that the same cable had a single SATA, three four-pin Molex, and an FDD connector placed on it. Regarding cable length, it would be preferable if the ATX cable was 55 centimeters long and the EPS connector was at least 60 centimeters away from the power supply. However, the current connection length shouldn’t be a problem since this PSU will probably be fitted in a medium-sized case.

Finally, standard 18-gauge wire is used in all connectors.

The single EPS connector is not intermingled with the PCIe connectors and is powered by a separate rail. Definitely take this route. However, we object to the 12V1 rail having too many connectors while the 12V2 rail only has the one EPS to worry about. If it were up to us, all PCIe connectors would be powered by 12V1, and the remainder by 12V2. The load would be considerably more evenly distributed this way.

ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply 4

SPECIFICATION

Product NameVP650P PLUS
Model NameV3000A204H-18
ModularNon-Modular
Dimension (W x L x H)140(D)*150(W)*86(H)
Warranty3 years
Input Voltage200-240 VAC ±10%
Input Current5A
Input Frequency Range50-60Hz
PFCActive PFC (>0.9 typical)
Power Good Signal100-500ms
Efficiency85% Typically
ProtectionOVP/SCP/OPP/NLO
Output Capacity550W
RegulatorycTUVus/TUV/CB[IEC62368 Compliant] /CE/KC
Fan120mm Silent Fan
Certifications80 Plus
Connector1 x MB 24(20+4) Pin
1 x 8(4+4) Pin EPS 12V
2 x 8(6+2) Pin PCI-E
7 x SATA 
2 x Molex
1 x FDD
Net Weight1.71 Kgs
Gross Weight2.10 Kgs
UPC#0-761345-11539-1 VP650P Plus AU
0-761345-11672-5 VP650P Plus EC
0-761345-11673-2 VP650P Plus GB

ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply Conclusion

Since Delta is regarded as one of the best and most costly companies, its implementations typically come at a steep cost. Thankfully, Antec (currently the only business that collaborates with Delta in the production of desktop PSUs) is able to strike a favorable contract, resulting in the introduction of its budget-friendly VP line.

Antec abandoned cable sleeving and all modular cables in order to reduce the price of the VP series. Inside the PSU, however, where premium Japanese capacitors are employed for greater dependability, no concessions were made.

Such high-quality capacitors, especially polymer ones, are quite rare to obtain in an affordable unit. In addition, the platform includes DC-DC converters for creating the minor rails, making it simple for it to pass Intel’s strict criteria for Haswell compatibility.

The ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply had a solid performance, although we preferred to see greater efficiency scores across the board. However, the PSU performed admirably in areas that are crucial for the longevity of the components it will power, such as ripple suppression and turn-on transient performance—not just when compared to similarly priced but also against considerably more expensive alternatives.

ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply 5

Our most concerning findings in terms of the design’s drawbacks were the readings for the inrush current. Delta should investigate this issue and most likely employ a suitable NTC thermistor to reduce strong inrush currents that could harm switches, relays, and other parts.

Additionally, there was no usage of a metal oxide varistor in the EMI/transient filtering stage. In the event of voltage spikes, this affordable component can protect not only the PSU but the entire system. This is why, in the event that you cannot afford an uninterruptible power supply, we always advise utilizing the ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply (as well as any PSU that lacks a MOV or a TVS diode) in conjunction with a surge protector.

In conclusion, the Antec VP650P PLUS Power Supply, along with its American equivalent, the EA-650, provides reliable performance at an affordable price. There is still room for development, though. The OEM for the VPF series, Delta, can somewhat improve efficiency by incorporating a MOV and suitable inrush current protection into the platform, which results in a superior end product.

Is Antec VP650P PLUS Power Supply enough for Ryzen CPU?

As previously stated in other reviews, you can utilize an online calculator to see whether you have adequate power for your system. You can determine the PSU you need by adding up all of the components and their power requirements. For some semi-power-hungry gaming setups, the Antec VP650P PLUS Power Supply is enough. Without extreme overclocking, however. With this PSU, you won’t be able to run an RTX 3090Ti, but you can make some excellent gaming setups.

So let’s use the RTX 3070 and Ryzen 5 3600 as an example.

I believe you are on the cusp of 650W.

Let’s practice math.

Ryzen 5 3600 – 80 w RAM – 10 w HDD – 10 w SSD – 5 w RTX 3070 – 220 w

CPU Cooler: 10W 4 Fans: 20W USB Accessories: 20W

375W total under load.

With a good PSU, you could accomplish this.

650w is the recommended minimum for a 3070, and for good cause. Your PSU’s lifespan will be shortened and he’ll experience issues like instability and reboots if you push it to the limit. You may, however, have enough room to operate here and not really require a larger PSU.

Is Antec VP650P PLUS Power Supply enough for an Intel CPU?

We can apply everything we said about Ryzen to Intel builds. Your choice of PSU is influenced by more than just your CPU. GPU uses the most energy.

Here’s an example with an RTX 3070 and an i7 11700.

Barely safe. That setup would not be comfortable for me. I would opt for at least 850W.

When properly installed, the 11700 is a 200W CPU. The 3070 GPU is rated at 300W.

You’re already at 500W, and that’s without any additional components like a motherboard, SSD, fans, RAM, and so on. When you add them all together, you get 600W of peak power consumption.

Typically, I size my power supply with at least a 25% margin of safety above peak power consumption. In your case, the bare minimum power supply I would recommend is 750W. Though 850 is my recommended power supply because it is just on the edge.

With a 650W power supply, a full CPU and GPU load can trip your power supply and shut down your system.

With that said, we can confidently state that if you intend to use an i7/i9 processor in conjunction with a power-hungry GPU, you will undoubtedly require a more powerful power supply. However, if you’re building an i5/RTX 3070, the Antec VP650P PLUS Power Supply is enough.

Can you do overclocking with Antec VP650P PLUS Power Supply?

Hello there, depending on your hardware, that could be sufficient or overkill. All power supplies have efficiency curves that dictate how much power they can realistically deliver. You can estimate system draw under load using an online power calculator, but keep in mind that most psus only deliver about 600 watts. When overclocked, depending on the architecture and how hard you push your chip, a 65w processor can easily exceed 100-130 watts. You should be fine if you focus on keeping that hardware cool. 

So, for example, with Antec VP650P PLUS Power Supply you can overclock an i3/i5 and pair it with an RTX 2060 and be fine, but you won’t be able to overclock some higher-end components because they require much more power. 

Antec VP650P PLUS Power Supply rating

At this year’s Computex, we first learned about the new VPF units with 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency and capacities ranging from 350 to 650W. Antec’s latest effort is aimed at the average user who wants a low-cost, reliable power supply for a mid-range system. According to company representatives, they have decided not to use the VPF nomenclature in the US market. Instead, the VPF series is marketed as EarthWatts Green. According to Antec, the only difference between European and American units is the name on the boxes and labels.

The new VP650 PLUS generation is designed for quality, performance, and incredible value.

Antec VP650P PLUS Power Supply is rated from 500W to 650W and is 80 PLUS® Standard certified, saving energy through its high efficiency of up to 85%.

The VP PLUS series employs active PFC and provides efficiency at both high and low loads, living up to the performance standards for which we are known. They stand behind the VP PLUS Power Supplies’ quality and safety by providing a 3-year parts and labor warranty as well as unlimited access to our unparalleled technical support and customer service.

The 120 mm Silent Fan is ideal for quiet computing and is built to last, ensuring hours of operation. It has a Thermal Manager, an advanced low voltage fan control for optimal heat and noise management, and will keep your power supply at a comfortable temperature.

What connectors are on ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply?

ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply connectors are:

  • 1 x MB 24(20+4) Pin
  • 1 x 8(4+4) Pin EPS 12V
  • 2 x 8(6+2) Pin PCI-E
  • 7 x SATA 
  • 2 x Molex
  • 1 x FDD

Two +12V rails can support the VPF650’s maximum power output. Therefore, DC-DC converters are used to regulate the minor rails, and their maximum combined power is adequate to meet the demands of a modern PC that primarily uses the +12V rail.

Antec provides this budget-friendly PSU with enough connectors to easily deliver its maximum power, operating a system with up to two potent graphics cards, despite the fact that all cables—aside from the main ATX cable—are not insulated. Additionally, the SATA connectors are adequate for this capacity. We did think it was a little strange that the same cable had an FDD, three four-pin Molex, and a single SATA connector on it. The EPS connector should be at least 60 centimeters away from the power supply, and the ATX cable should be at least 55 centimeters long. However, given that this PSU will likely be installed in a medium-sized chassis, the existing connection length shouldn’t be an issue. Lastly, common 18-gauge wire is employed.

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ANTEC VP650P PLUS Power Supply
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