In the conventional dc-dc converter, a pair of additional diode and the adjacent passive component capacitor/inductor can be added to the circuit with an X-shape connection, which generates a family of new topologies. The novel circuits, also called diode-assisted dc-dc converter, enhance the voltage boost/buck capability and have a great potential for high step-up/step-down power conversions. This paper mainly investigates and compares conventional dc-dc converter and diode-assisted dc-dc converter in wide range power conversion from the aspects of silicon devices, passive components requirements, electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and efficiency. Then, a comprehensive comparison example of a high step-up power conversion system was carried out. The two kinds of boost dc-dc converters operate under the same operation conditions. Mathematical analysis and experiment results verify that diode-assisted dc-dc converters are very promising for simultaneous high efficiency and high step-up/step-down power conversion in distributed power supply systems.