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be quiet! Pure Power 12 550W vs Thermaltake Smart BX3 650W: Comparison
be quiet! Pure Power 12 550W and Thermaltake Smart BX3 650W separate most on warranty: be quiet! Pure Power 12 550W at 10 years, Thermaltake Smart BX3 650W at 5 years, 50% in favour of be quiet! Pure Power 12 550W. Wattage splits them by another 15%, this time favouring Thermaltake Smart BX3 650W. They match on 9 other specifications, including atx standard, form factor and single +12v rail.
Specs
| Specification | ![]() | ![]() |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | be quiet! | Thermaltake |
| Wattage | 550 W-15% | 650 W |
| 80 PLUS Rating | Gold | Bronze |
| ATX Standard | ATX 3.1 | ATX 3.1 |
| Form Factor | ATX | ATX |
| Single +12V Rail | Yes | Yes |
| 12V-2x6 Connectors | 1 | 0 |
| Hold-Up Time | 16.6 ms-2% | 17 ms |
| Zero-RPM Mode | No | Yes |
| Sleeved Cables | Yes | No |
| PCIe 8-pin Connectors | 2 | 2 |
| Connector Count | 1x 24-pin ATX, 1x EPS 4+4, 1x 12V-2x6, 2x PCIe 6+2-pin, 5x SATA, 1x Molex (all fixed) | 1x 24-pin ATX, 2x EPS 4+4, 2x PCIe 6+2-pin, 4x SATA, 4x Molex (all fixed) |
| Fan Size | 120 mm | 120 mm |
| Fan Model / Bearing | 120mm be quiet! fan, rifle bearing | 120mm FDB (fluid dynamic bearing) fan with Smart Zero Fan |
| OEM / Platform | HEC | CWT |
| EPS 8-pin Connectors | 1 | 2 |
| SATA Connectors | 5 | 4 |
| Molex Connectors | 1 | 4 |
| Cable Lengths | 24-pin 600mm, max cable length 550mm | 24-pin 500mm, EPS 500mm, PCIe 450mm, SATA 500mm |
| Length | 160 mm | 140 mm |
| Colour | Black | Black |
| Fan Bearing | Rifle | Fluid Dynamic |
| MTBF | 100000 hours | 100000 hours |
| Modularity | Non-Modular | Non-Modular |
| Protections | OTP, OCP, OPP, SCP, OVP, UVP, SIP | OCP, OVP, OPP, OTP, SCP, UVP |
| Warranty | 10 years | 5 years-50% |
| Model | Pure Power 12 550W | Smart BX3 650W |
| Typical Price | $74.99 | $74.99 |
| Source URL | https://www.bequiet.com/en/powersupply/5684 | https://thermaltakeusa.com/products/smart-bx3-bronze-650w-ps-spd-0650nnfabu-3 |
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Pure Power 12 550W | Thermaltake Smart BX3 650W |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $74.99 View on Amazon | $74.99 View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
be quiet! Pure Power 12 550W
7.8 / 10 Expert Rating
A quiet, Gold-rated 550W unit that's the right call for mainstream builds that don't need full modularity.
Thermaltake Smart BX3 650W
7.3 / 10 Expert Rating
One of the most affordable routes to a native 12V-2x6 connector, at the cost of Gold-tier efficiency and acoustics.
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