Seasonic vs Antec?

adqttr · Post by **adqttr** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 2:32 pm

hey,
I was looking to get a psu for my microfly case. I want something that is efficient and quite. I want something with modular cables because the case is small so the less cords in it the better. Let me know which of these you would buy.

Seasonic 500w - 135.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817151029

Antec SmartPower 2.0 500w - 69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817103937

Antec NeoHE 430 w - 84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817103939

kater · Post by **kater** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 2:44 pm

What kind of system do you have? If it's not a strong gaming rig you won't need more than 350W. If it's strong but not SLI/CF you won't need more than 400W. If it's SLI/CF... it won't fit in your case. Me genius

Seriously now. What's your specs? Knowing that, it'll be easier to pick sth good for you.

From the ones you've listed, Antec NeoHE 430 would be the best option. Especially if you can duct it. If the case is small and the PSU will have warm air all around, there's a chance it'll ramp up and won't be quiet anymore. How about a 380W NeoHE? I don't know if it's as quiet as its bigger version, but I'd guess so.

adqttr · Post by **adqttr** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:03 pm

My Specs are as fallows:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 65w
evga GeForce 7600GT 256 MB
2 GB Patriot Ram
Microfly MicroFly Case

Thanks for the help. The reason that i didn't go with the 340 model is because it doesn't have the detachable cables that i wanted.

z3r0 · Post by **z3r0** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:42 pm

I would recommend aginst the Antec NEO and Smart Power, the reason being is they are not standard sized ATX power supplys. (They are about 1/2 inch longer then ATX specification.)
Now I'm not saying the Antec's will not work, but unless you take measurements first I would not chance it.
http://www.antec.com/specs/NeoHE500_spe.html

But in your computer case I think a PSU with a 120mm fan is better for cooling, and it matches the air flow pattern of your computer case better. If you want modular you could also consider the Corsair 520w, and if you do not absolutely need modular then a Seasonic 380w would be more then enough power for your system.

kater · Post by **kater** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:57 pm

Another modular PSU that made it to SPCR recommended list is Be Quiet Dark Power 430. You could also try Enermax Liberty 400. Now I won't swear it's SPCR-quiet but I've read v favorable opinions on it. And I can't say if any of them will fit in your case.
Another thing that makes NeoHE 430 less attractive is that people are stil having compatibility issues with it, although these problems just seem to have been dealt with :/ Read here
Oh, and you would be fine with a 300W PSU, still having lots of headroom

glazer1972 · Post by **glazer1972** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:34 am

I second the Corsair HX520W reccomendation.

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:56 am

I have Be Quiet! Dark power Pro 430W! Best PSU I have had so far. Although Seasonics should be excellent too. I have never heard much bad from Corsairs either.

SockToy · Post by **SockToy** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:25 pm

Antec PSU's seem to be suffering a serious Quality control problem recently, going by the reports from mass system builders on ArsTechnica recently.

I'd avoid, and go with the Seasonic. you might want to look at a slightly overspecced PSU if modular cabling floats your boat, I guess.

RaptorZX3 · Post by **RaptorZX3** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 12:14 pm

get a Seasonic S12 430W, you can't go wrong with this one

Michael Sandstrom · Post by **Michael Sandstrom** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 3:04 pm

Another strong vote for Seasonic for two reasons. 1) Seasonic is reliable, efficient and quiet 2) Antec is unreliable.

RaptorZX3 · Post by **RaptorZX3** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 3:05 pm

Antec is good only for computer cases (without PSU inside!)

Seasonic is specialized in power supplies only, and they use only quality and reliable components, that's why their PSUs are so good!

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 3:22 pm

z3r0 wrote:I would recommend aginst the Antec NEO and Smart Power, the reason being is they are not standard sized ATX power supplys.

Agreed, but also: Antecs Smart power series is famous for breaking down easily. Was it that over 12% (not sure but ridiciulously high per centage it was ) Smart Powers and Smart Power 2.0 per 100,000 units would breake down or suffer problems (and with NeoHE Antecs per centage was 4,3%?), while Seasonics average similar score was 0,13 or 0,38%? I really need to dug that up. I have link somewhere here...

glazer1972 · Post by **glazer1972** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:13 pm

I just had an Antec 300w quit on me.

RaptorZX3 · Post by **RaptorZX3** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:35 pm

even famous companies making PSUs for them lessen the quality of the PSU, surely cos it's Antec.

the Truepower Trio is made by Seasonic, but like in the review, Seasonic have put less quality in that PSU. Antec seem to be cursed with bad PSUs

kaange · Post by **kaange** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:06 pm

RaptorZX3 wrote:Seasonic have put less quality in that PSU. Antec seem to be cursed with bad PSUs

According to the JonnyGuru reports, the cheaper Antec PSUs use Fuhjyyu (a brand, not a type) capacitors which apparently are fine at low temps but don't last well at high temps. All the reports of Antec PSU failures seem to have started since Antec began making their PSUs low noise which would make sense as the PSU temps would almost certainly have risen so the capacitors that used to be OK are now flaking out in short times.

Antec would have made a decision either with design or costing that would make Seasonic use the Fuhjyyu capacitors since Seasonic don't use them on any of the other PSUs they build.

RaptorZX3 · Post by **RaptorZX3** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:54 pm

Seasonic should try to talk to Noctua to put quiet reliable fans in their PSUs, and then do some tests if it holds well or not.

or maybe use Nexus fans in their PSUs, so we won't have to void the warranty to modify our PSU...

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:02 pm

or maybe use Nexus fans in their PSUs, so we won't have to void the warranty to modify our PSU

the original S12's had Yate Loon D12SL-12 inside, which is basically the same thing as Nexus, but Seasonic changed to ball-bearing Adda, presumably for better longevity.

Antec would have made a decision either with design or costing that would make Seasonic use the Fuhjyyu capacitors since Seasonic don't use them on any of the other PSUs they build.

Interesting...this is why I am cautious about other brands which are made by Seasonic, we know they can make quality PSUs but if the budget only allows inferior components....

adqttr · Post by **adqttr** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:33 am

Do you think that if i got the seasonic 330w psu that i would be ok? I dun want to run close so i want to make sure i have some extra power just in case of emergency.

Aris · Post by **Aris** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 5:08 am

adqttr wrote:Do you think that if i got the seasonic 330w psu that i would be ok? I dun want to run close so i want to make sure i have some extra power just in case of emergency.

your system that you listed will probably draw around 150w peak power at full load.

as for the vote. No one makes a better PSU than seasonic. Mabey Delta Electronics, but they dont sell to end users.

Lucifiel · Post by **Lucifiel** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:25 pm

kaange wrote:
RaptorZX3 wrote:Seasonic have put less quality in that PSU. Antec seem to be cursed with bad PSUs
According to the JonnyGuru reports, the cheaper Antec PSUs use Fuhjyyu (a brand, not a type) capacitors which apparently are fine at low temps but don't last well at high temps. All the reports of Antec PSU failures seem to have started since Antec began making their PSUs low noise which would make sense as the PSU temps would almost certainly have risen so the capacitors that used to be OK are now flaking out in short times.

Antec would have made a decision either with design or costing that would make Seasonic use the Fuhjyyu capacitors since Seasonic don't use them on any of the other PSUs they build.

Ouch... this might explain why I've had 1 Antec PSU fail within 1 year and why my system is acting bonkus now: plenty of high low sirens at first and then, system shut down.

Now when I try to turn it on, there's this high pitched whine and then a short pause, then the pc will try to start up, with some beeps and then it shuts down. And sometimes, the pc won't even start up. Got a huge suspicion that the psu was causing the cpu to act strangely.

Note: the first was one an Antec Truepower 1.0 480W and then the next one was an Antec Truepower 2.0 480W.

Pfft... what a waste of money.

merlin · Post by **merlin** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:21 pm

Lucifiel wrote:
kaange wrote:
RaptorZX3 wrote:Seasonic have put less quality in that PSU. Antec seem to be cursed with bad PSUs
Note: the first was one an Antec Truepower 1.0 480W and then the next one was an Antec Truepower 2.0 480W.

Pfft... what a waste of money.

The psu's you mention there are extremely old, not even seasonic made antec's (which are newer), those are channel well. Although there are also plenty of issues with seasonic based ones too just by reading comments in this forum

RaptorZX3 · Post by **RaptorZX3** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:26 pm

yes but most problems are with the 330W and 380W Seasonic S12 PSUs.

and PSU problem mostly come from main board incompatibility.

Lucifiel · Post by **Lucifiel** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:31 pm

merlin wrote:
Lucifiel wrote:
kaange wrote: Note: the first was one an Antec Truepower 1.0 480W and then the next one was an Antec Truepower 2.0 480W.

Pfft... what a waste of money.
The psu's you mention there are extremely old, not even seasonic made antec's (which are newer), those are channel well. Although there are also plenty of issues with seasonic based ones too just by reading comments in this forum

Yeah, computers get old really fast, don't they?