Antec Neo vs. PC Power & Cooling

[SirMoby]

I'm buying a new system and I have a chance to get the following power supplies for about the same price.

Antec NeoPower 650 PC
PC Power & Cooling S610EPS

My system will probably be
1 x GIGABYTE GA-EX38
1 x Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz
1 x MSI NX8400GS-TD256E GeForce 8400GS 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card
1 x OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
1 x Thermalright Ultra-90(P4LGA-775) CPU Cooling Heatsink
1 x Scythe DFS922512M-PWM 90mm Case Fan
8 Internal SATA Drives

I'd like to over clock to 3.0 - 3.6 and I'll be doing mostly video and photo editing. Not a lot of games if any at all. I want a PSU that's quiet, cool and can run 24/7 for the next 5 years. It's all going into an Antec P180 which needs longer cables so I assume that the Antec PSU is ready for that but the PC Power is 80+ Certified and that might mean something when running 24/7.

Thoughts?

 

[SirMoby]

Doh!

That PC Power won't work at all in this system will it? It's EPS.

OK, any conerns about the Neo? I've been running a NeoPower 500 for 2.5 years with no problems on my AMD system

 

[Deathviper]

A couple of months ago I put the PC Power & Cooling 610 EPS in an Antec P180b.

It is an inch or two longer then the ATX. It was a very tight fit between the fan in the bottom and the powersupply cables. I was able to get the power supply in the case and leave in the bottom fan.

I believe that the PC610EPS only has 6 sata power cords, so you would have to get an adapter.

If you are planning to run the 24pin cable behind the motherboard it will be a very tight run, you may have to get an extension. Mine reached but just barely and I mean just barely.

I have a GA-EP35-DS3R.

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

Wow, Sirmoby has no idea what he is talking about, no offence, but that is a terrible misunderstanding. The PC P&C 610w is an EPS12v, and if it wasn't, it could not power that system. The Antec can not power a quadcore, only a 4-pin CPU connector. Also the PC P&C 470w-750w series are the best power supplies in that range of watts. Get the PC P&C 610w and do not look back.

 

[blackened144]

EPS12v I think is just referring to the 8pin CPU plug which the GA-EX38 takes as opposed to the older 4pin CPU power.

 

[stoner133]

Hey if your looking for a power supply to run it all, by that I mean either those three nVidia cards in SLi or those four ATi cards in Crossfire. Koolance has the psu for you, its a 1700w continuous power supply thats liquid cooled. Just be prepaired to call the electrician cause your gonna need a 220v line to feed it from. LOL my god almost the power to run that flux capacitor as well.

 

[aevm]

8 (EIGHT) internal SATA drives???

I'm not sure you can put that many disks in the P180. Even if you can, it will be kind of hot for 24/7 work and overclocking. If you haven't bought the case yet, look at the Thermaltake Armor or CoolerMaster Stacker or Silverstone TJ09. That is, something in the full tower category with really good cooling.

The GA-EX38-DS4 only has 6 SATA ports. You'd need the GA-EX38-DQ6 (8 ports). That gives you 7 hard drives and a burner. You could also get 8 hard drives and a USB burner, I guess.

As for the PSU, PC P&C is the best out there IMO. I'm very happy with my 750W PC P&C. I did have to buy an adapter ($7) to add my 6th and 7th drive though, and I'll need yet another one when I add #8.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

From Newegg spec sheets

Antec 650 Blue
ATX12V / EPS12V
1 x Main connector (20+4Pin)
1 x 12V(P4)
1 x 12V(8Pin)
6 x peripheral
4 x SATA
2 x Floppy (No "designated" floppy power on PCP&E)
2 x PCI-E
5 year warranty

PCP&C 610
ATX12V / EPS12V
1 x Main connector (24Pin)
1 x 12V(4Pin)
1 x 12V(8Pin)
8 x peripheral (has 2 more than Antec but Antec has 2 floppy power)
6 x SATA (has 2 more than Antec)
1 x Floppy
2 x PCI-E
5 year warranty

Big difference appears to be the extra 2 SATA connectors but as you said, will cables reach ?

Also same price is the Antec EA650 ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 650W Power Suppl

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

It's not Crossfire or SLI certified tho (no idea if it's pending or not) .


Sidenote: If you getting Vista Ultimate (32 bit) there's a combo deal with the Antec P180 silver....saves ya $10

 

[pokemon]

If I had 8 internal drives there is no way I would put them into a mid tower. But if you must, I would look at the Antec 900 or CoolerMaster 690. For a power supply, the PC P&C 610W should do just fine, or if you can find a Seasonic S12, seeing as they are practically the exact same build quality. Seeing as you don't have a whole lot in terms of power requirements, but you want to do 24/7 for 5 years, I think anything above 600W would be perfect. The Antec stuff will definitely be the most quiet, but not that you can really tell the difference from a Seasonic or a PC P&C in the case you have.

 

[Lord Gornak]

One more vote for the PCP&C 610.

 

[Gravemind123]

The Antec Neo and the Silencer are both SeaSonic built, the Silencers seem to be said to have slightly higher quality components. The Antecs modular cables are of decent length, but may be too small for a P180, I wish I had a ruler at hand so I could measure for you, but the cables seem to be at most 21" or so for the PCI-E connector and the final molex on the wire. I'd vote for the Silencer 610.

 

[Shadow703793]

Wow, Sirmoby has no idea what he is talking about, no offence, but that is a terrible misunderstanding. The PC P&C 610w is an EPS12v, and if it wasn't, it could not power that system. The Antec can not power a quadcore, only a 4-pin CPU connector. Also the PC P&C 470w-750w series are the best power supplies in that range of watts. Get the PC P&C 610w and do not look back.

Agreed. Or a Corsair 520HX

 

[badgtx1969]

^ True Seasonic builds the Silencer for PCP&C, however, the design and engineering is all done by PCP&C. Also PCP&C tests every power supply that Seasonic builds for them and includes the test sheet in the box when they send the PSU out for retail.

 

[cisco]

For just 30.00 more you can get the PCP&C 750w Quad Silencer, it's one of the best on the market. I own one and love it. If that's more than you can spend then get the 610w. I have owned a lot of brands over the years and My personal favorites have been PCP&C, Silverstone, and SeaSonic.

 

[SirMoby]

Wow, Sirmoby has no idea what he is talking about, no offence, but that is a terrible misunderstanding. The PC P&C 610w is an EPS12v, and if it wasn't, it could not power that system. The Antec can not power a quadcore, only a 4-pin CPU connector. Also the PC P&C 470w-750w series are the best power supplies in that range of watts. Get the PC P&C 610w and do not look back.

I can accept the fact that I'm confused on PSUs. That's why I asked. The Neo has an 8 pin adapter. Why won't it power a Quad Core?

 

[SirMoby]

Currently Newegg has the Antec for $99 and the PC Power for $119. The sale ends tomorrow.

I'm currently running 8 SATA drives in my P180. I purchased 2 Hardcano 14s. My burner is IDE. Since I like the case I was planning on buying a smaller case, putting my current Asus MOBO and Antec Neo 500 in the new case and make it my wife's PC.

Then I'd put all my new goodies in my older P180. It's a nice case.

I am getting the DQ6 version of the board. I may also just go with the P35. I haven't decided but I'm not sure that matters that much. It's going to be a few weeks before I can get the processor and order the entire system but wit the PSUs on sale I think I'll go ahead and get one now.

 

[SirMoby]

I'm having a hard time finding a document that describes the exact difference between EPS and ATX PSUs. There's nothing about it in the great PSU FAQs at the beginning of this forum and Google brings up a lot of noise.

Will both type work fine with a Quad Core and the Gigabyte X38 and P35 boards?

If this is a clueless question then I'm clueless.

 

[Lord Gornak]

P180 would be fantastic for the build, plenty of horizontal and vertical drive bays. Go for the PCP&C for $119.00, it's well worth the extra $20.00.

 

[Lord Gornak]

I'm having a hard time finding a document that describes the exact difference between EPS and ATX PSUs. There's nothing about it in the great PSU FAQs at the beginning of this forum and Google brings up a lot of noise.

Will both type work fine with a Quad Core and the Gigabyte X38 and P35 boards?

If this is a clueless question then I'm clueless.

From Antec:

What is EPS12V? EPS12V is a special, non-ATX standard adopted by the Server System Infrastructure (SSI) group to provide a more powerful and stable environment for critical server-based systems and applications. EPS12V equipment is not compatible with standard ATX or ATX12V PCs found in homes and offices. Power supplies built to the EPS12V standard include a 24-pin motherboard power connector and an 8-pin +12V connector.

 

[level101]

go with PC Power & Cooling
$119 with free shipping until 4/5 at Newegg

 

[JackNaylorPE]

If I had 8 internal drives there is no way I would put them into a mid tower.

me too....I'd have em in an NAS or two

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Storage/ReadyNASNVPlus.aspx

or in one of these

http://www.granitedigital.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=325

 

[S2759]

I wish you the best of luck with the Gigabyte board. i have had 3 in the last year and I am very dissapointed in their performance. Maybe the X38 chipset will be better. I have the GA-965P-DS3 board and it is not stable at stock settings.
As far as the PsU is concerned, I would go for the PC P&C.
Good Luck!

 

[SirMoby]

After measuring my case, it seems like the PC Power & Cooling S610EPS will be an almost impossibly tight fit in the P180.

The PSU, 4 Drives and 120 mm fan all sit in a separate compartment and there's not a lot of room between the PSU and that 120mm fan.

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

It comes down to, if one or two of the cables does not fit, then buy extensions, the PC P&C is MUCH more stable and reliable than anything else on the market in that wattage range, let alone that average Antec PSU. Also you will not have to worry about a DOA PSU, unless the box is torn to shreds and the PSU is in an abnormal shape, because PC P&C tests all their PSUs before shipping and ships the test resaults to you with the PSU. No other company does that, and a DOA PSU can still take half your system with it on the first power up. There is NO sensable reason to leave it to chances, and I have never heard of anyone having cable length problems with the PC P&C 610w in a P-180, which is similar in size to a 900 and I have more than enough room with my PC P&C 750w, and the cables are almost exactly the same size.