Antec Power Supply failures

shizzzon · June 28th, 2005, 02:18 AM

I am thinking about building another pc and would like advice on either answers as to why Antec power supplies, in my experience, are not good at all, or why they fail and what is wrong? Right now, I use a PowMAX and it has outlasted 2 Antecs twice the time.

I had 2 TrueBlue 480w PSUs and both, after about 3 months, started to run hot 24\7. After 6 months, it would eventually just die by means of constant restarting of pc. I got it replaced and exactly 6 months later, the replacement went out.
The second time, they said i wasnt distributing power evenly?!?! I got an ammeter and measured current draws and not 1 wire got above 1\4 of it's rated amperage load capacity!

This is how i got it wired-

First molex connector line - runs 3 cd rom drives and 1 fan
Second molex connector line - runs 3 hard drives, 1 floppy.
Third molex connector line - runs 1 hard drive, 3 fans and 2 inverters to power exterior lights
12v accessory line powers 2 fans
4 of 5 pci slots are full, Geforce Ti4600, AMD xp2100 ,256mb ram(1 stick), Audigy 2 - Pci and front bay hookup,

Thats what i use and it damaged the first one. I then disconnect the 2 inverters and all fans except for 2 and leave everything else in tact and 2nd one burns out and they blame me over the phone for not distributing properly?!?!

I then install a Powmax and NEVER had a problem since for over 1.5 years now. I've heard Powmax is real bad and other pc stores have told me that Antec is real good but they dont last for me.

IS there any advice for a better PSU company or any insight as to why i would have failure with my setup?

Sweeper · June 28th, 2005, 06:12 AM

Eneramax

JPMiller · June 28th, 2005, 06:24 AM

Our PSU sticky has some good info on what to look for and what to stay away from...
http://www.techimo.com/forum/t124252.html

usslindstrom · June 28th, 2005, 08:13 AM

Stay away from Antec.

Just lost a mobo and HD due to it's "True Power." Only had the thing about a year. A few people warned me about it when I bought it, but I didn't listen. I agree whole heartidly. After I tested it with a LED tester, I realized that the thing was a PIECE O' CRAP. Two voltages were incorrect. That thing was feeding my computer bad juice all along, until it just couldn't handle it anymore.

Got a new (DIFFERENT) Power supply, and never gonna' look back.

Sweeper · June 28th, 2005, 09:31 AM

I use to rely on Antec until my 350w True Power blew up (literally) throwing pieces in my case..... Never used them since. Sounded like a gun went off next to me. I was lucky everything survived and only the PSU was dead.

muarrif · June 28th, 2005, 10:10 AM

I just purchased a TRUE POWER 550 on recomendation from a friend at work
and also everyone on here encouraged me to go for Antec

You lot are scaring me

JPMiller · June 28th, 2005, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muarrif

I just purchased a TRUE POWER 550 on recommendation from a friend at work
and also everyone on here encouraged me to go for Antec

You lot are scaring me

Don't worry...
NOTHING is infallible.. no brand has zero problems or NO lemons...
Antec overall is a good company and its products are considered good by the majority of its customers....
It did go through a period where they had problems with a couple of its models , probably due to using some faulty component/s
In my opinion Antec is over-rated, and overpriced for what it is... there are better more affordable options, but they are still a good PSU company.
I'm sure some Fan-Boys are gonna chime in soon with grandiose praise for Antec being the hands down best thing to happen to PSU's, but ALL opinions should be taken with a grain of salt...

PresterJohn · June 28th, 2005, 04:27 PM

>>I am thinking about building another pc and would like advice on either answers as to why Antec power supplies, in my experience, are not good at all, or why they fail and what is wrong? Right now, I use a PowMAX and it has outlasted 2 Antecs twice the time.

i have 3 antec case w/antec PS's and they're all working perfectly. two of the three systems are running FAD 24/7 for over 1 1/2 years and are loaded boxes, (either dual cpu or p4 3ghz processors, 3-5 hard drives, 2 cdroms)...no problem.

i find it hard to believe that you haven't had problems with Powmax. That is easily the worst (cheapest) power supply that i've ever laid eyes on. friend of mine blew out two of their power supplies powering a dual MP system within 2 weeks. the powmax power supply are as light as a box of kleenex.

[edit] if you're looking for a good ps that won't cost an arm or a leg, check out the thermaltake 420w. newegg regularly has them on sale for <$38. in fact, today it's $36, free shipping. highly recommended for anything short of a dual xeon or dual opteron system.

shizzzon · June 28th, 2005, 05:31 PM

well, when it comes to pcs, i dont go the price to performance ratio technique.

My last pc i built, i threw in $4,000 worth of equipment in it all from pricewatch.

The powmax i got weighs just as much as the antec does...

Some calculator i used which i found a link to it on this site said my max draw is somewhere around 430 or 440w of power.

Some people has also suggested i use 2 power supplies, 1 for pc and 1 for accessories. I'd do that if i could find a way to "turn it on".

njolakoski · June 28th, 2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shizzzon

well, when it comes to pcs, i dont go the price to performance ratio technique.

My last pc i built, i threw in $4,000 worth of equipment in it all from pricewatch.

The powmax i got weighs just as much as the antec does...

Some calculator i used which i found a link to it on this site said my max draw is somewhere around 430 or 440w of power.

Some people has also suggested i use 2 power supplies, 1 for pc and 1 for accessories. I'd do that if i could find a way to "turn it on".

Thats good that your powmax worked, but they are the crappiest of the crappiest psu's, you might as well get a Ultra X-Connect PSU