The Mushkin Enhanced XP-650 power supply is definitely very pretty and user friendly. With its glossy finish, it's the perfect match for that pimped out gaming rig.

At the rear of the power supply, we find the 115/230V voltage selector, the hard power supply switch, power cable connector, 80mm exhaust fan and what Mushkin likes to call its 'Rail Fusion Active green LED.' The LED light indicates whether the voltage rails are healthy or too low, a useful feature for enthusiasts trying to diagnose errors.

The sides of the power supply are totally plain and it's on the front of the PSU where all the action is. You'll find one of the two 80mm fans, main ATX power connector along with the ATX12V connector and system ground cable as well as the eight modular 6-pin cable connectors. The only rule you need to remember is that the blue connectors are for videocards which require additional external power, it doesn't matter how you connect the other six up.

Modular cables, every which way!

Mushkin wraps its power supply cables in wire loom, and uses heat shrink at the ends to keep things tidy. The cables that Mushkin uses are easily moldable, so feeding them around the obstacles in a case is not too challenging. The unit gets top marks for user friendliness.

All major power cables (ATX, ATX12V) are 550 mm in length while the molex, Serial ATA power connector and six pin 12V power cables are 450 mm to the first connector. There are a total of eight Serial ATA power connectors, six molex, two floppy and two 6 pin 12V videocard connectors. The 120V/AC power plug has gold plated contacts, an RF coil and the same kind of wire meshing that the rest of the internal cables have received.

To help you keep the insides of your computer system tidy, Mushkin also includes five Velcro cable ties and a zip tie. If you hate to have a rats nest inside your box, these additional ties will help out. The beauty of the modular cable system is that you only need to install as many cables as the system requires - if you're PC is light on power hungry hardware you can leave the cables out and keep system clutter in check.

Next, PCSTATS will crack the Mushkin Enhanced XP-650 power supply open and take a look around inside.