Performance (40% of the final score) - onwards and downwards I go. While I would like to say some good things about what is clearly a decent 500W design, the Black Magic 650W is not a 500W unit. But, I can't quite call it a piece of crap either. Still, with voltages going out of spec, the overrating, the loud fan, the questionable capacitors, and the blowing up in the hot box there's no way this thing isn't losing points here. Yeah, it aced the new overshoot tests and the ripple suppression was nice, but there's just not enough there to turn a turkey into a goose. However, I have tested units lately that did much worse, so I'll hand out a 5.
Functionality (20% of the final score) - things go a little better for the Black Magic here, for I do like those flat cables. Easy to route, easy to hide, and they're modular. If I have to complain about anything, it would be the nonsensical ATX12V adaptor that has another EPS12V connector on it. But, I can't help but think something's missing. Like the power cord, owner's manual, and maybe a box. I'll bring back the old 8 from the 850W review.
Value (30% of the final score) - I know not of where you can get these in North America yet, so I'm heading to the UK where Scan Computers has these for £64.57 including VAT. Want to know what else can be found there at around that price? Corsair TX650. Xigmatek NRP-MC651. Antec freakin' Earthwatts 650W. Are you kidding me? An overrated group regulated design competing with these three independently regulated high quality units that really can do 650W reliably? Fail. I'll do a 5, but only because none of those kick ass units are modular. You don't want to know how I'd score this if it didn't have at least modularity going for it.
Aesthetics (10% of the final score) - just like 850W big brother, this is a good looking unit. I'm a sucker for matte black, so I'm going to hand out the same score as big brother. 9.
Performance
5
Functionality
8
Value
5
Aesthetics
9
Total Score
6
Summary
The NorthQ Black Magic 650W came into my hands with a lot to live up to, and unfortunately failed to do so thanks to that old exploding power supply trick. This could so easily have turned out better had the unit not been overrated, but really what we have here is no more than a decently performing 500W unit being passed off as a 650W. If I were NorthQ, I'd be asking my suppliers some hard questions. Questions like, "why can't we have one of Kingnod's 650W units to market as a 650W unit instead?" NorthQ and Kingnod have shown themselves to be very capable in the past with the 850W Black Magic, but unfortunately this unit turned out to be a major dud. No recommendation this time.
The Good:
not bad regulation for a group design
excellent ripple suppression
keeps itself cool
modular, flat cabling
The Bad:
missing owner's manual, power cord, box
5V/12V adjusted too high leading to out of spec voltages
inefficient
The Mediocre:
tends to blow out the PFC MOSFET if you actually ask for 650W
