Great review, Mike. But the PSU looked a bit generic under the skin. Could you not have weighed it to see how it fits into the Power PC & Cooling scale of weights? And if you look at the curves, their system is not all that clever. If the standard straight line thermistor kicked in later, it would virtually follow the end section of their curve. And I would have posted this several hours ago if it wasn't more difficult to log into SilentPC than Fort Knox!!! <BR> <BR>Paul
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>>the Power PC & Cooling scale of weights??? <br> <br>Not sure what you mean there. I think it weighs around 5 lbs -- will check & confirm; don't have anything that reads accurately above 1 kg. <br> <br>Their curve is not "that clever" but it's one that no one else has been smart enough to apply, as far as i know. As I reported, after an hour of full system loading, the fan drive voltage never even got to 5V. It's very different behavior, subjectively and sonically, than others. Will confirm with future PSU reviews. <br> <br> <br>Fort Knox, huh? <IMG SRC="modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif"> Hear that Kurt? he's working on a big upgrade...
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If you check out the Antec "TruePower" power supplies, they claim to use much the same system with some additional benefits like the ability to control your other case fans as well. I don't have one yet, but if and when I get one (I need an excuse first) I'll be sure to relay if the marketing is true. Or, you could put one on your review list <IMG SRC="modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">. <br> <br>There is and <!-- BBCode Start --><A HREF="http://www.antec-inc.com/p_truehome.html" TARGET="_blank">Antec Site</A><!-- BBCode End --> about them, and in it a <!-- BBCode Start --><A HREF="http://www.antec-inc.com/pdf/truepower_%20inclusion.pdf" TARGET="_blank">pdf</A><!-- BBCode End --> including a diagram very similar to the one from from your review. <br> <br>-- Joel
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You're right -- the Antec fan curve looks the very similar to that of the Seasonic. I have asked them for review samples; none forthcoming yet.
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antec does use an exponential curve as well, and it does come with 2 4-pin connectors for fan control for case fans. the 4-pin connectors start around 5.5 VDC to 6 VDC at ambient and rise to the full 12 VDC when the PS gets too hot. i've never gotten it to go to 12 VDC yet, though. the temperature curve is fairly aggresive (like most other PS fan control). <br> <br>external temperature controller fan headers are a great idea. however, here's a feature that i would like to see- temperature control based upon a thermistor or thermal diode inside the PS is great for the internal fans, but i'd like to see an external thermistor for remote sensing. that is, if the external fan headers are for case fans, then wouldn't it make more sense to control the speed of the case fan based upon some remote location (remote to the PS) to measure ambient local case temp to base the case fan feedback on? of course, this would require a second sensor and fan control circuit which equals more money. <br> <br>still, i'm comfortable with my PS temps that at least in my system, moving the single thermal sensor to a remote location shouldn't jepordize my internal PS temps. i've opened my antec supply a preliminarily looked for the thermal sensor but i haven't found it yet. i may give it another look. if i find it, i may cut the leads and extend the thermisor wire (if it is a thermistor) so that i can locate it outside the PS. if someone knows where the thermistor is, please tell me so you can save me some time.
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I recently got an Antec True Power and was impressed that after about an hour of Prime95, it didn't seem any louder, unlike other thermistor-controlled PSU's I've tried. It's much better than the Zalman 3000BLP which I ditched because within a few minutes it was noisy. I haven't tried the new Zalman yet. I think that so far the Antec True Power is on a par, noisewise, with my PC Power and Cooling PSU modded with a Pabst 12 dBA, 20 cfm 80mm fan.
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Have an Antec TP380 on the bench now. It's pretty quiet, but with 2 fans, a bit noisier than either the new Zalman or the Seasonic. Haven't had a chance to push it yet to see what happens to fan speed under load. Look for the full review soon. I'm surprised what you say about the Pabst 12 dBA modded PSU, hmsrolst.
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I'm just testing with my ear, and so far, not even by observing the PSU's sequentially in the same machine in the same position. I'm looking forward to your more objective review.
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