Antec NeoHE 430 @ $58 vs. Seasonic S12-430 @ $98

mharder · Post by **mharder** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:49 am

I was about to order the Seasonic S12-430 from NewEgg, which is currently $98 including shipping. Then I noticed buy.com has the Antec NeoHE 430 for only $58 with free shipping (after $20 Google checkout discount).

I've got an older system (ASUS A7V333, Athlon 2000+, GeForce 4200), and I am getting a new power supply to reduce my system noise. According to the SPCR reviews, both of these units should have a similar noise level at my power draw levels.

At nearly half the price of the S12-430, the NeoHE 430 is a great deal. However, the reported poor reliability of the NeoHE is holding me back. Between the NewEgg reviews and the poll viewtopic.php?t=27863, the NeoHE looks like a real lemon.

So, would you roll the dice and get the NeoHE for $58, or spend $98 for the S12-430? Thanks.

Longwalker · Post by **Longwalker** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:50 am

Given the price discount, there's fair odds that buy.com is dumping old stock. Given that the earlier NeoHEs have major problems, it's not worth the savings.

mharder · Post by **mharder** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:08 am

My thoughts exactly. I found the S12-430 on sale for $75 at case-mod.com and jumped on it.

SebRad · Post by **SebRad** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:21 am

Hi, I had to make a similar choice a while ago for my system between NeoHE and Seasonic S12. NeoHE was my prefered option as it's straigh-through airflow would have fitted with the blow-hole intake duct I had on my old PSU. Here in the UK the Seasonics are a little cheaper but I actually went with the Seasonic in the end as the NeoHE has very low rated 3.3 & 5V rails and my Athlon XP 3200+ in Asus A7N8X powers the CPU from the 5V rail and I'm not sure the NeoHe would have handled it.
Some K7 motherboards do use the ATX12v conector and power CPU from 12V, Abit NF7 series for example.
Seb

pqyrz · Post by **pqyrz** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 1:36 pm

Fry's has the Antec TruePower Trio 550 for $69.99. I read somewhere they might be rebranded Seasonics but not 100% sure.

Stereodude · Post by **Stereodude** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:53 pm

To further complicate your decision, you can get the Corsair HX520W for ~$96 shipped free from buy.com after the $20 google checkout discount.

mharder · Post by **mharder** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:50 pm

Actually buy.com has the HX520 for $88.40 now. I already got the S12-430, and it's perfect except I would have preferred modular cables. But then again, people seem to be having more issues with the modular power supplies lately, while non-modular is a tried and true technology.

merlin · Post by **merlin** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:58 pm

mharder wrote:Actually buy.com has the HX520 for $88.40 now. I already got the S12-430, and it's perfect except I would have preferred modular cables. But then again, people seem to be having more issues with the modular power supplies lately, while non-modular is a tried and true technology.

I don't think modular is the issue at all. It's really the PSU design and power compatability with motherboards. Jonnyguru tested and found that good modular cables have extremely low loss of voltage.

In terms of the choices, it's all a matter of the psu and cost. If you feel safe enough that Antec's psu will work out fine and the specs are to your liking, no reason to avoid the cheap choice. My friend went the Antec way and he seems to like it, then again he got it at Frys during the $40 deal.
I'm personally feeling a bit different and would be more comfortable with a Seasonic Energy or Corsair HX.