Antec EarthWatts

PSUs: The source of DC power for all components in the PC & often a big noise source.

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KorruptioN
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Antec EarthWatts

Post by KorruptioN » Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:55 pm

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=27430

- 80PLUS Certified
- Single 80mm fan + very open rear panel
- Active PFC
- It is definitely a Seasonic, judging from the rear panel picture

Seems very similar to the TruePower Trio, other than the different fan, and the 80PLUS certification.

NeilBlanchard
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Post by NeilBlanchard » Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:08 pm

Hello,

How is this different from the Neo HE, I wonder?

MikeC
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Post by MikeC » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:38 pm

It's probably a NeoHE with components tweaked to pass 80 Plus and compliant with the latest EU environmental regulations (like RoHC, etc.) -- which all Seasonic-made units would be by now anyway.

But the move to 80+ from the standard NeoHE is pretty big -- the best efficiency point was just barely 80% in the middle with sags down to 75-76% at 20% and 100% loads. It would have to be improved by 4-5% at the extremes, which is not trivial.

BrianF
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Post by BrianF » Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:27 am

How is this different from the Neo HE, I wonder?
Going by what is on their site, two 12V rails instead of three, 3 year warranty instead of 5, no detacheable cables. Probably rated to 25deg like all their other stuff (the NeoHEs are the only one rated to 50deg).

Tibors
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Post by Tibors » Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:34 am

BrianF wrote:Probably rated to 25deg like all their other stuff (the NeoHEs are the only one rated to 50deg).
  • Nope!
Probably because these and the NeoHE's are made by Seasonic and all the rest by CWT.

BrianF
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Post by BrianF » Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:45 am

Thats just the "opperating environment" (the temp range they can be used in). I was refering to the spec'ing of the units output: Virtually all PSUs, including all of Antec's (except the NEO HEs) are quoted as delivering their rated output at 25deg (with a MTBF of 80,000 hours at that temp). These new ones might be rated like the HEs but we wont know until they publish a full spec sheet.

I just hope they dont have the same (apparently still ongoing) issue with min-startup loads...

KorruptioN
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Post by KorruptioN » Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:53 am

MikeC wrote:It's probably a NeoHE with components tweaked to pass 80 Plus and compliant with the latest EU environmental regulations (like RoHC, etc.) -- which all Seasonic-made units would be by now anyway.
But it doesn't have the same heatsinks as the NeoHE. From the picture Antec has provided, you can see that it has those "branched" heatsinks, rather than the solid aluminum bars seen in the NeoHE.

Tibors, most of Antec's more recent models are Seasonic. This includes the NeoHE (as you mentioned), the new Earthwatts, and TruePower Trio.

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Post by MikeC » Sat Oct 14, 2006 8:23 am

KorruptioN wrote:But it doesn't have the same heatsinks as the NeoHE. From the picture Antec has provided, you can see that it has those "branched" heatsinks, rather than the solid aluminum bars seen in the NeoHE.

Tibors, most of Antec's more recent models are Seasonic. This includes the NeoHE (as you mentioned), the new Earthwatts, and TruePower Trio.
You're right. Perhaps it's an adaptation of the Energy+ S12 for the 80mm fan design.

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Re: Antec EarthWatts

Post by Goldmember » Sat Oct 14, 2006 9:30 am

EarthWatts: Now contains Whole Grains and 8 grams of fiber!

Seriously, this sounds like a great choice if:
1) It works.
2) It costs less than the NEO and TRIO.
3) It has the same quiet ADDA fan and fan controller of the NEO (or better).
4) It has sleeved cables (seems to be partially sleeved).
5) It doesn't use environmentally-unfriendly cheap capacitors that leak acid all over the place because Antec wants to save $0.25 per power supply.

FWIW, I saw this post a month ago that says that the Seasonic-made Antecs use cheaper components compared to Seasonic's own-brand PSUs.

In closing, an EarthWatts 430w pic that was found here:
http://www.hkgolden.com/articles/article.asp?id=1580

jaganath
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Post by jaganath » Sat Oct 14, 2006 11:17 am

5) It doesn't use environmentally-unfriendly cheap capacitors that leak acid all over the place because Antec wants to save $0.25 per power supply.
LOL, that's just what Antec needs, another batch of faulty PSU's! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Saving 25c per PSU will probably end up costing them 50c in RMA costs. :roll:

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Post by qviri » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:32 pm

SPCR has had contact with this PSU. The Lab Clearance sale features:

Antec EarthWatts 430 - 80+ (R) -- $50

Also, the recommended PSUs page features the EarthWatts, but the "Reviewed" link goes to the NeoHE article.

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Post by MikeC » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:54 pm

qviri wrote:Also, the recommended PSUs page features the EarthWatts, but the "Reviewed" link goes to the NeoHE article.
corrected

qviri
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Post by qviri » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:28 pm

I searched for the article discussion thread, but must have overlooked it. Hrm :/.

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