Which is better? Corsair 430CX V2 or Antec EA-380D?

Hi TidalWaveOne!
COuld you liSt youR SpeCs?

My specs? For the PC I am wanting to build with this PC? Basically it will be an i5-2500K with the on-board video (no discrete card) and a couple of disk drives... and of course some cooling fans. No overclocking.

hI aGain!
HeRe iS thE effIecency raTings oF the Antec EA-380D
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supply-psu-80...
herE iS a rEviEw of tHe Antec EA-380D
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3902/


i cAnT fiNd V2 rEvIeW buT sOme meMBeRs comMeNted a whIle back aboUt V1 pSu:
HerE dA liNk:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/296573-28-first-proba...

If you are not adding a video card and overclocking , both will be more then enough power. On paper, they both have the same +12 volt rating(336 watts)

The i5 2500k is very power friendly for its performance.

If you are not planning to overclock, you may save a bit by getting a i5 2500(without the K)

It still has turbo and all that other good stuff.

Yes, I know it will be enough power... but I was mostly interested in which PS has the better quality components and which is more efficient. It seems hard to tell.

ghnader hsmithot, thanks for the links. They were useful but didn't really answer my questions as to the better unit.

I think the Antec may actually be better as it is rated "80 PLUS BRONZE" instead of just "80 PLUS" and seems to have better reviews on Newegg (5 eggs vs 4)... but not too many reviews for the Corsair as compared to the Antec.

While energy efficiency is an admirable goal, other than minimizing the heat generated and it's effect on the components (easily mitigated with cooling), it really has very little to do with the quality and stability of the components.

Ya may like some of these:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/Recommended_PSUs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Personally, I set 650 watts as the minimum PSU size in my builds as there really is no real cost savings below that size in amount quality units and PSU's are moist efficient at 50% load. \\But between the two, I'd go with the Antec EA...Here's a review of the Antec 500 watter (9.5 perofrmance rating) and the Corsair 430 CX V2 (9.0)

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=...
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=...

They both use cheap components because they are both low budget power supplies. See the tear-downs in the reviews for component and assembly quality.

Antec Earth Watts EA-380D Green
OEM : Delta Electronics
PCIe 6-pin : One
Max. Load +12V : 336 Watts (28 Amps)
Warranty : 3 Years
Efficiency : 80 PLUS BRONZE
Only the 24-pin cable is sleeved
All other cables unsleeved

Anandtech - Antec EarthWatts EA 380D Green 380W review
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3902/antec-earthwatts-ea-...


Corsair Builder Series CMPSU-430CXV2
OEM : CWT (Channel Well Technology)
PCIe 8-pin : One
Max. Load +12V : 336 Watts (28 Amps)
Warranty : 3 Years
Efficiency : 80 PLUS Standard Certification
All Cables Sleeved

Hardware Secrets - Corsair CX430 V2 Power Supply Review
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Corsair-CX430-V2...

JonnyGuru - Reviews - Corsair CX430 V2 430W
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=...

My personal choice would be the Corsair CX430 V2.

just get whatever is cheapest.

The OP is in possession of both of them.

I would get the Antec EA-380D. Doesn't it have a higher temperature rating? To me that indicates higher internal build quality and component choice. So in my opinion it meets both of the criteria you set out in the OP, it certainly has the more efficient crown.

@Jacknaylor, there isn't going to be a graphics card in this, so 650W in that case would be complete overkill.

Interesting point on the temp rating. I was thinking I'd go with the newer Corsair, but now that you mention the temp rating, the Antec (which I've had over a year sitting around, BTW) may have better components and be longer-lasting plus a little bit more efficient. I don't think I can go wrong with either though.

But I can't find the temp rating in the manuals though at least one review complained about it a bit (the Corsair's).

techPowerUp's Corsair Builder CX430 V2 430 W test review comment on Corsair's temperature rating :

Corsair's new Builder CX430 V2 power supply really impressed me. At first, when I saw that Corsair rated it for full power only at 30°C, I was troubled and thought that my 50°C hot box would really give it a hard time. However I was dead wrong, the PSU not only worked at over 50°C ambient but performed really well, especially if we take into account that it belongs to the low end category.

Best answer selected by TidalWaveOne.

I think I will go with the Antec now (in part because of the slightly higher efficiency)... and keep the Corsair for backup.