We had to wait quite a while for another NZXT PSU, which made the release of the E series a nice surprise. As it seems, NZXT tried to offer something unique instead of just a product re-labeling. Personally, I do appreciate the effort and time both NZXT and Seasonic put into giving the Focus platform the ability to communicate with the system through a digital interface. The CAM software is feature-rich and provides lots of information, and the E650 performs well and has a distinctive looks, which will probably satisfy users who even want their PSU to look good. That said, there are still some things I would like to see improved, which I will go over in the following paragraphs.

For starters, many users won't appreciate the extra features of the E650 and will whine about its notably higher price tag compared to the Seasonic SSR-650FX with the same platform but without the digital controllers. If you don't need the extra information the NZXT unit provides, there is no reason at all to spend more than on the Seasonic equivalent to get it. It is also a shame that there is no information on power draw, which would allow the software to provide efficiency readings as well. Once your goal is to offer something close to a digital platform, you should go all the way and provide the full package. With only DC watts information and no AC watts readings from the wall, there is no way to tell users how efficient the platform is in normal use.

Another major downside of this unit is the noisy operation under high loads. The fan profile is aggressive even with the fan speed profile set to Silent in the provided software. I know that a ten-year warranty is very long, so NZXT had to make sure the platform will outlast it, but I bet many users would prefer a lower warranty period and more relaxed fan profile for a quiet PSU. Times have changed and even power supplies have to be silent now, especially under increased loads.

When released, all E series model had very high price tags; however, I noticed that NZXT significantly cut prices, so the E650 dropped from $140-$150 to $110. It is still more expensive than the similarly performing SSR-650FX, but given the extra features of the E650, I believe the price difference to now be fair if you care about the extra features the CAM software has on offer.

Finally, given this is a high-end 650 W unit, it would be nice if there were two EPS connectors for strong, power-hungry CPUs, like AMD's Threadripper. I know that a 650 W PSU is probably on the verge in terms of capacity for a potent CPU and a high-end graphics card, but it is nice to at least have the option to do so if you want to try. Speaking of connectors and cables, the peripheral connectors should be further apart as well.