Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: eskimo2 on August 25, 2007, 10:58:52 PM
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I know that they have a great reputation; until you dig deep. I just got my shipment today and assembled my machine, with an Antec Truepower Trio 550W. After running for 5 minutes the machine started clicking. I opened the case and determined that the noise was coming from the PSU. I shut it down and did some research. This is one of many problems known from Antec. I’ve been reading Antec horror stories for the past hour. Some customers have paid more in shipping back and forth a few times than the POS is worth. Their customer service apparently sucks; many customers have been given the run around. Many customers have complained about all kinds of problems.
The worst part is that I bought it from Mwav in a retail box. Their policy for retail box items is that you deal with the manufacturer. Antec says deal with the retailer if within a month or two. I don’t want an Antec replacement after what I’ve read; I want something else. I have a feeling I’m just going to eat this $82 (+ shipping) piece of %#*.
My PSU research left me more frustrated than all other parts combined; nothing sounded surefire. Antec is one of many with a good reputation: until you dig deep.
Before you buy Antec, read what all consumers are saying, not just the lucky ones.
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It is a shame. Antec used to have some of the best power supplies on the market, then they moved their manufacturing to China and the quality of their product has gone into the toilet.
Design wise, they are still good supplies. It is the components and manufacturing where they are hurting themselves.
The Trio line is probably the worst of thier product line.
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Yep I read all about this on newegg before buying .
I got the one Eagle told me too . Nice so far :)
Seasonic 500 watt .
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Originally posted by Skuzzy
It is a shame. Antec used to have some of the best power supplies on themarjet, then they moved their manufacturing to China and the quality of their product has gone into the toilet.
Designed wise, they are still good supplies. It is the components and manufacturing where they are hurting themselves.
The Trios line is probably the worst of thier product line.
In that case:
China Sucks!
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In China you don't get a raise for good work. Instead your name is taken off the 'organ donor' list...
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Clicking is one of the common side-effects of having a PFC controlled PSU..
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How to choose a power supply (http://www.devhardware.com/forums/power-supply-units-98/how-to-choose-a-power-supply-94217.html)
It's an older site, so ignore the "Antec" on the "good products" list. It might help you find one that's good for you.
Can't you return for a refund, rather than a replacement? Won't the store do that?
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I just bought a CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX from Comp USA. $180-$20 mail in rebate. It's pretty slick and got great reviews:
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/958/4
"Corsair HX620W Modular PSU - The best Power Supply ever?
...
SUMMARY: We could quite possibly be testing the best Power Supply we've ever seen. Is Corsair's HX620W Modular model for you?"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002
Most importantly, windows is loading now and my PC isn't clicking, smoking, or shooting out flames.
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My last antec (430w) was purchased 4 years ago , it still runs like a champ in my wifes machine . I've steered clear of them since that due to some of the tests ive seen online , it really is sad because they used to be rock solid . The Thermaltake 680 (REV.2!)psu i'm using now has been steller , despite the bad rep they got when they launched the Rev.1's that were terrible. It's been running my overclocked AMD's for the last 2 years along with a water cooling setup. If i had to buy a PSU today i would look at PC power and cooling .
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I replaced my PSU with a "MAD DOG Sure Power" 430W
$59 and comes with a 5 year warranty
So far Im very pleased with it
Suckers quiet as hell too
http://mdmm.com/products.php?categoryid=21 (http://mdmm.com/products.php?categoryid=21)
Supports Intel Pentium 4, AMD Athlon XP, Athlon 64 and Opteron
Intel ATX 12V Specification 2.03 & 1.3 Compliant
PCI-Express Adapter
Dual SATA Power Connectors
Automatic Fan Speed Control
120mm Cooling Fan
I/O Short Circuit & Overload Protection
5 Year Warranty
Model Number
MD-430WPS
Application ATX +12V Power Supply Design
Guide Ver. 2.0
ATX 2.03 and 1.3
Intel BTX 1.0a
Input Voltage 115VAC / 230Vac (Select Switch)
Input Frequency 50 Hz - 60 Hz
Input Current 10 / 5 Amps
Peak Power Output
480 Watts
P.G. Signal
100 ~ 500 ms
Over Voltage Protection
+12V trip point <+15.6V
+5V trip point <+6.8V
+3.3V trip point <+4.5V
Cooling
One (1) 120mm Sleeve Bearing Fan
Noise
22 dBA @ 1700 RPM (AUTO)
Dimensions
5.59" (L) x 5.9" (W) x 3.35" (H)
Weight
4 lbs
Connectors
20 + 4-pin BTX/ATX (Motherboard) x 1
4-pin 12V (Motherboard) x 1
PCI-E Graphics Cards x 1
Molex Multi-use x 6
Floppy Drive x 2
SATA x 2
Cables 6-pin PCI-Express Adapter Cable
Safety
CUL, cRUus, FCC, CE, CSA and TUV
MTBF
100,000 Hours
Limited Warranty
5 Years
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Heres the onfo for the 650 W version $129
Supports Intel Pentium 4, AMD Athlon XP, Athlon 64 and Opteron
Intel ATX 12V Specifications 2.03 & 1.3 Compliant
Intel BTX 1.0a Specification Compliant
Modular Power Rails
EMI Shielded Dual PCI-Express Connector to Support SLI and CrossFire Dual Graphics Technology
Dual SATA Power Connector
Automatic Fan Speed Control
Redundant Cooling System
I/O Short Circuit & Overload Protection
5 Year Warranty
Model Number
MD-650SCPS
Application Intel BTX 1.0a
ATX +12V Power Supply Design
Guide Ver. 2.0
ATX 2.03 and 1.3
Intel BTX 1.0a
Input Voltage 100~120Vac / 200 ~ 240Vac (Select Switch)
Input Frequency 47Hz ~ 63Hz
Input Current 10.7 / 6.2 Amps
Hold-up Time > 16 ms
Normal Power Output 650 Watts
Peak Power Output 700 Watts
P.G. Signal 100 ~ 500 ms
Over Voltage Protection +12V trip point 13.2V - 14.4V
+5V trip point 5.7V – 6.5V
3.3V trip point 3.7V – 4.1V
Cooling One (1) 92mm Ball Bearing Fan
One (1) 80mm Ball Bearing Fan
One (1) 60mm Ball Bearing Fan
Noise 22 dBA @ 1700 RPM (LOW)
26 dBA @ 2100RPM (NORMAL)
34 dBA @ 3300 RPM (HIGH)
Dimensions 6.4" (L) x 5.9" (W) x 3.35" (H)
163mm (L) x 150mm (W) x 85mm (H)
Weight 5.5 lbs.
Connectors
20 + 4-pin BTX/ATX (Motherboard) x 1
4-pin 12V (Motherboard) x 1
PCI-E Dual Graphics Cards x 2
Molex Multi-use x 9
Floppy Drive x 2
SATA x 2
Cables 6-pin (2 PCI-E) x 1
4-pin (3 IDE) / (1 Floppy) x 2
4-pin (3 IDE) x 1
15-pin (2 SATA) x1
Safety CUL cRUus, FCC, CE, CSA and TUV
MTBF 100,000 Hours
Limited Warranty
5 Year
(http://mdmm.com/imgsize.php?h=150&img=images/products/MD-650SCPSoob800.jpg)
(http://mdmm.com/imgsize.php?h=150&img=images/products/MD-650SCPS_800.jpg)
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The only problem I've ever faced with powersupplies was when 6 workstations at my work blew due to a short circuit in the powersupply.
Each one had a catastrophic failure full with smoke and sparks. All data lost, all hardware blacked out and dead.
The manufacturer never admitted it was a hardware problem even though just one exact type of PSU blew every time. To their defense this happened at an industrial area which is fed directly with 20 000 volt lines and which can have serious spiking in the voltage due to massive processing equipment.
But still only this one type of boxes blew out. All 6 in about 6 months time.
As a sidenote It's quite interesting to climb into a 20kV transformer station to clean it. Yes it was switched off, yes it was safety grounded but still it makes one go kinda hmm.. :rolleyes:
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Eskimo, I have an Antec Smartpower 2.0 NIB that I would have mailed you for nothing in return. I believe it is either 500 or 550W. Also, it isn't made in China.
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The pre-China manufactured power supplies are really good supplies.
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Originally posted by Masherbrum
Eskimo, I have an Antec Smartpower 2.0 NIB that I would have mailed you for nothing in return. I believe it is either 500 or 550W. Also, it isn't made in China.
That's very kind of you!
The system is up and running well though; a heck of a lot over budget but running well.
Thanks.
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Originally posted by eskimo2
I just bought a CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX from Comp USA. $180-$20 mail in rebate. It's pretty slick and got great reviews:
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/958/4
"Corsair HX620W Modular PSU - The best Power Supply ever?
...
SUMMARY: We could quite possibly be testing the best Power Supply we've ever seen. Is Corsair's HX620W Modular model for you?"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002
Most importantly, windows is loading now and my PC isn't clicking, smoking, or shooting out flames.
Eskimo, I hate to bust your bubble but the Chinese made Antecs are made by Seasonic. Guess who makes the Corsair PS? Seasonic. :) Made in China in the same factory where they make Antec stuff and their own brand (which isnt bad either btw).
Antec is simply giving Seasonic cheaper design specs to try to save money so they can stay competetive, hoping they can get by on their name.
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Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Eskimo, I hate to bust your bubble but the Chinese made Antecs are made by Seasonic. Guess who makes the Corsair PS? Seasonic. :) Made in China in the same factory where they make Antec stuff and their own brand (which isnt bad either btw).
Antec is simply giving Seasonic cheaper design specs to try to save money so they can stay competetive, hoping they can get by on their name.
The workers in the Antec side of the factory are all grade school drop outs. They ride rusty old bicycles with steam bent bamboo "tires" to work and are paid thee cups of rice and half a small herring a day. The workers in the Corsair side of the factory all have PHDs. They ride shiny new bicycles with real pneumatic tires and three speeds to work and are paid two pounds of rice and three small herrings a day. They also get a 15 minute tea break.
:)
Most importantly 205 Newegg customers' reviews gave the Corsair 620HX:
5* = 93%
4* = 5%
3* = 1%
2* = 0%
1* = 1%
The Antec that I bought; 205 Newegg customers' reviews gave the TP3-550:
5* = 55%
4* = 13%
3* = 10%
2* = 8%
1* = 14%
I should have looked at the 84 Newegg reviews (I got it through Mwave). I based my decision on a "research" test - online somewhere...
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Now that your system is running...
When will we be seeing yer obnoxious butt online?
:)
Your Squadmate,
Wabbit
Morals & Manners Officer
Whitey's Buccaneers
5th Army Air Corps
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Originally posted by wabbit
Now that your system is running...
When will we be seeing yer obnoxious butt online?
:)
Your Squadmate,
Wabbit
Morals & Manners Officer
Whitey's Buccaneers
5th Army Air Corps
I can send you a picture of my obnoxious butt anytime; I didn't know that you wanted to see it?
Right now I'm building the computer shelf/cabinet downstairs and we a remodeling our water damaged basement bathroom because my parents are coming to visit (and it needed fixing). I downloaded the game and hauled my old flight sim chair upstairs. Assuming the game works, I should be on soon.