I'm building a new Core 2 Duo system and have to decide on a PS. I've had a
good luck with Antec (quiet and reliable) but I've read many posts about
Antec's PS quality going down (less quiet and unreliable). How about
Zalman's power supply units? I guess they must be very quiet. Has anyone had
experiences with Zalman?

Fidelis K wrote:
> I'm building a new Core 2 Duo system and have to decide on a PS. I've had a
> good luck with Antec (quiet and reliable) but I've read many posts about
> Antec's PS quality going down (less quiet and unreliable). How about
> Zalman's power supply units? I guess they must be very quiet. Has anyone had
> experiences with Zalman?

Hi, I don't have any advice for you, but was wondering if you have any
advice for me on how to size the PS for a home-built system? I'm also
planning to use a Core 2 Duo processor.

"MikeB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> Fidelis K wrote:
>> I'm building a new Core 2 Duo system and have to decide on a PS. I've had
>> a
>> good luck with Antec (quiet and reliable) but I've read many posts about
>> Antec's PS quality going down (less quiet and unreliable). How about
>> Zalman's power supply units? I guess they must be very quiet. Has anyone
>> had
>> experiences with Zalman?
>
> Hi, I don't have any advice for you, but was wondering if you have any
> advice for me on how to size the PS for a home-built system? I'm also
> planning to use a Core 2 Duo processor.
>
Anything over 450W is sufficient. My current system has a 430W PS and I've
never had an issue. I have 2 DVD drives, 3 HDs, 1GB ram, P4 2.8GHz, Radeon
X850 Pro, 3 additional PCI cards, and a bunch of fans.

Fidelis K wrote:

> I'm building a new Core 2 Duo system and have to decide on a PS. I've had a
> good luck with Antec (quiet and reliable) but I've read many posts about
> Antec's PS quality going down (less quiet and unreliable). How about
> Zalman's power supply units?

I have no experience with Zalman, but they're made by Fortron-Source,
which is good.

Antecs are made by two different companies, Channel Well Technology
(TruePower, SmartPower, Neo) and Seasonic (NeoHE), and Seasonic is one
of the best manufacturers anywhere. The CWT Antecs are also good, but
unfortunately CWT uses Fuhjyyu brand electrolytic capacitors, and if
you check at www.badcaps.net you'll find that this is one of the worst
brands. However Fortron-Source is also using Fuhjyyus in some of their
models, so Zalman could be affected by this as well.

To find the best power supplies, check websites like www.jonnyguru.com,
www.tomshardware.com, www.xbitlabs.com, and the forums at
www.overclockers.com, www.hardocp.com, www.extremeoverclocking.com, and
www.xtremesystems.com.

"Fidelis K" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I'm building a new Core 2 Duo system and have to decide on a PS.
> I've had a good luck with Antec (quiet and reliable) but I've read
> many posts about Antec's PS quality going down (less quiet and
> unreliable).

Where have you read many posts like that?
My guess is you/they/whoever are talking about a specific power
supply. Maybe Antec built a lemon, it happens.

All of the TruePower 2s are popular and highly rated on NewEgg.

I recently purchased an Antec TruePower 2.0 TP-II 380.

Current voltage level readings:

1.42
3.30
5.00
11.90-11.97 (fluctuates)

I'm sure those are not perfectly accurate readings,
but they are readings.

Sorry, I can't tell if it's noisy because I can't hear it


I wish they would route the wires neatly, but I guess none do.
Functionally it doesn't really matter.









>
>
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> From: "Fidelis K" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> Newsgroups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
> Subject: Antec vs Zalman Power Supply
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In the last year, I bought 16 Antec SLK1650B cases with 350watt
SmartPower
power supplies in them. So far, 8 of them have failed ... all the same
way ..
2 x 1000microfarad electrolytics in the startup supply become leaky and
swell and burst. I repaired 4 of them myself, and they work fine. I
sent 4
of them back to Antec for warranty repair .. primarily to see if they
would
actually do it ... and they came back repaired under warranty. In
several
other machines, I have used the TruePower power supplies, and none
of them have failed, and they are in the same crappy environment.

johns

Fidelis K wrote:
> I'm building a new Core 2 Duo system and have to decide on a PS. I've had a
> good luck with Antec (quiet and reliable) but I've read many posts about
> Antec's PS quality going down (less quiet and unreliable). How about
> Zalman's power supply units? I guess they must be very quiet. Has anyone had
> experiences with Zalman?
>
>
Just to throw another hat into the ring, check out the Corsair HX620 (or
520)

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=945

After reading a few reviews and owners feedback, it's what I'll be
replacing my
Antec with for an upcoming upgrade.

Fitz

"johns" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
> In the last year, I bought 16 Antec SLK1650B cases with 350watt
> SmartPower power supplies in them. So far, 8 of them have failed
> ... all the same way .. 2 x 1000microfarad electrolytics in the
> startup supply become leaky and swell and burst. I repaired 4 of
> them myself, and they work fine. I sent 4 of them back to Antec
> for warranty repair .. primarily to see if they would actually do
> it ... and they came back repaired under warranty. In several
> other machines, I have used the TruePower power supplies, and none
> of them have failed, and they are in the same crappy environment.

My last supply was a 350W SmartPower and seemed to work just fine.









>
> johns
>
>

> My last supply was a 350W SmartPower and seemed to work just fine.

I'm guessing crappy environment .... student lab .. hot
in summer .. dusty. Even Antec can't build for that.
I went after the Air Conditioner dudes, plus setup
"hibernate" function after 45 minutes idle time. That
seems to be holding pretty well, but my TruePowers
had no problems. They have the big fans. Those
Smart supplies are built too tight, I think.

johns

"Fitz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Fidelis K wrote:

> Just to throw another hat into the ring, check out the Corsair HX620 (or
> 520)
>
> http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=945
>
> After reading a few reviews and owners feedback, it's what I'll be
> replacing my
> Antec with for an upcoming upgrade.
>
> Fitz

I was just about to suggest the same. I just bought the Corsair 620 the other day but haven't even turned it on yet, as I'm still
waiting for a processor. It is made by someone else (can't remember, but I think perhaps Seasonic?) - there are only 3 attached
cables, and the rest are attached only if you need them (I think that the Zalman had a similar design, that was my second choice).
The fan is on the inside to decrease noise.

Jeff



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