The big question: Enermax vs Antec

[RobD]

OK, my brother in law has justed asked me to spec up a machine to replace his recently fubar'd PIII. Bad power in their new house (50+ years old, just 2 days away from a complete re-wire! Bummer) nuked the PSU, mobo and cpu sofar as I can tell. Maybe more.

Anyway, he wants a real kicking system, so I'm speccing it up. He asks me about components etc and drops the big "overclocking" one me, he's read about it and he wants to do it. So I advise him about PSU's, cooling etc. Now he wants the best PSU he can get. Here starts the debate....

Now I have an Antec TruePower 480 in my rig, and I'm very happy with it. I would have gone with an Enermax could I have found one, but they are a bit thin on the ground in the UK. He's been reading and want's an Enermax. I initially told him he couldn't have one as I couldn't locate one, but now, alas, I have found a supplier (overclockers.co.uk). Now I'm in a quandry!

I WANT THE ENERMAX MYSELF! I am real tempted to put my Antec into his machine, and have the shiny new Enermax for myself. There's very little in cost difference, so the overall cost to him wouldn't alter.

What should I do? I'm really struggling here, crisis of conscience. Help guys. I really want to do the right thing, but <i>my god I want that PSU!</i>

 

[jihiggs]

well, id be a hipocryte if i told you it was wrong, i have upgraded parts from my own computer and gave the hand me downs to people i was building computers for. i cover the additional cost though. theres not too much difference between them, but im an enermax fan myself. i guess the difference between what you want to do and what i did is in your case, he knows what he wants and why, in my case, they could care less. so if he wants an enermax specifically i wouldnt give him your antec, it would be a different story if he just needed a power supply, didnt care if it were enermax or antec or whatever.

my computer is so fast, it completes an endless loop in less than 4 seconds!

 

[Auburn9698]

Gee, you said you were "very happy with" your current PS. So why would you risk starting a quarrel with your bro-in-law when he finds out you kept the PS he specifically asked for? Seems like a no-brainer.

 

[RobD]

Well, he's been reading and just latched onto the Enermax name. I initially recommended Antec because of my good experiences with it. But when I bought the Antec, I lusted after an enermax but couldn't find one. And now I can. Dumb luck!

He's not really up on the latest and greatest, but reads a lot of mags (not many 'net forums tho), so I may just quote him for the Antec and get the Enermax. The Antec is barely 6 weeks old.

I'll see if I can talk him round...!

 

[RobD]

He doesn't know that I can now get them (<i>I</i> did't know until earlier today!). So, as far as he's concerned, Antec looks like the choice. That's what I told him I could get.I ain't stiffing him, the Antec is proven working (in my rig), so I <i>know</i> it'll be OK. I just love the Enermax!

 

[Civilized]

If you want the best go with an Enermax 465AX-VE (FMA)...the +12V power is superior to the antec.

<A HREF="http://dnadesignz.kicks-ass.net" target="_new"><b><font color=green>MY SYSTEM</b></font color=green></A>

 

[upec]

Another vote for Enermax.

 

[upec]

I would keep the Enermax and give him the Antec at lower price. I have been sales my older parts to family and friend for a long time.

 

[orbz]

I think maybe you should have given him a lower price for the antec. Since you said you had experience with antec and he finds you have a enermax, then he might get mad.

<i><font color=blue>There is no failure when you believe in success.</font color=blue></i>

 

[camieabz]

I recommend Antec, as I have experience of them (excellent), but I have no exp of Enermax. :frown:

Sorry.

<b><font color=blue>~ <A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?act=ST&f=41&t=324&s=58e94ba84a16bedfebbf0f416d5bac48" target="_new">Nice sig 81.</A> ~<font color=blue></b>

 

[mattburklund]

Tom did a review on powersupplies a while back and the antec true power rated better than the enermax.

 

[Crashman]

All of my Antec's are garbage. None are true power.

<font color=blue>Watts mean squat if you don't have quality!</font color=blue>

 

[Crashman]

I recomend Enermax because Antec's basic supplies are garbage. I hear their True Power series is excellent, but I've never owned a True Power. I've gone through some grief over their more basic supplies, so I bear a grudge against the company.

<font color=blue>Watts mean squat if you don't have quality!</font color=blue>

 

[camieabz]

That thread of Grub's seems to point out the generic 400W supply is crap next to the 300W non-True Antec though.

or is it a question of:

CRAP
Not so CRAP
True



<b><font color=blue>~ <A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?act=ST&f=41&t=324&s=58e94ba84a16bedfebbf0f416d5bac48" target="_new">Nice sig 81.</A> ~<font color=blue></b>

 

[AMD_Man]

I have an Enermax Whisper 430W and an Antec TruPower 430W, both perform roughly the same. They're both excellent. It doesn't really matter whether you have Enermax or Antec.

Intelligence is not merely the wealth of knowledge but the sum of perception, wisdom, and knowledge.

 

[Crashman]

And there's the problem with generics, you don't know what you're getting. Many of my "generics" do better than my low end Antecs. But when you're dealing with generics, your results will vary depending on manufacturer. So "good" generics are better than low end Antec, while "bad" generics are worse.

<font color=blue>Watts mean squat if you don't have quality!</font color=blue>

 

[RobD]

You're right, it's the best way. I've offered it him at a (very) nice price and he's happy. I get the Enermax, everyone's a winner!

 

[RobD]

Well, when I first decided to upgrade the PSU, I read Tom's PSU review, and all the forums etc. Although the Antec TruePower 330 (or was it 380?!) came out as best overall, I had this longing for the enermax after reading all about it.

The Antec is good, but there's this nagging sense of what might have been (And I'm a greedy bastard who likes shiny new stuff..). So when I found the Enermax in this country, it was like "ohshit". I am a bad luck person (list of gear owned includes.... ECS K7S5A, Fujitsu HD (x2, yes, both of the faulty batch), IBM Deathstar..You get the picture)!

It's a bit like wanting a R9700pro and finding you couldn't get one and having to settle for a R9500pro. Now, that's not to say there's nothing wrong with the 9500, it's a great card, but when you've built yourself up for the 9700, everything else kinda seems lame in comparison. Do you get what I mean!? Sorry to go on a bit!

 

[RobD]

It's a TruePower 480 that I have in my rig at the mo', that's poised to go in his (now I've offered it him at a very reasonable price). I know you're feelings on Antec Crash, and I'm pretty sure we've spoke about them on other occasions!

Enermax was the one I wanted all along, and most people in here have backed up my initial thoughts on them. Now, I'm gonna get it!

 

[AndrewT]

I love my 550W Enermax, running cool and silent, never owned an Antec. But if I were him then I would invest into a back up like APC, the good ones take care of bad lines keeping your setup safe. Mine kicked in a lot since I got it last year, no more reboots from brownouts. It was a great investment.

<b><font color=blue>Press 1 if you want to be on hold, 2 for disconnect, 3 for a representative who will put you on hold before disconnecting.</font color=blue></b>

 

[lhgpoobaa]

Another vote for enermax. Ive got the 550W enermax with temp variable fans... better than the manually adjust one. Runs cool and quiet even with serious overclocks.

P.S. ever considered getting a UPS? it could have prevented that system burnout that your bro experienced.

<b>"If spam wasn't totally bogus, Hotmail users would be well-endowed, slim people with hair who make big money working at home and having great sex provoked by free porn and herbal Viagra.</b>

 

[Javic]

I've got an Antec True Power 550W in my server rig and am very happy with it. Although I have no experience with Enermax, so I can't really compare.

 

[Javic]

I've got an Antec True Power 550W in my server rig and am very happy with it. Although I have no experience with Enermax, so I can't really compare the two.

 

[RobD]

That's not a bad call actually. Seeing as how all I know on UPS's you could write onto a stamp with a BIG magic marker, could you guys give me some advice on the subject?

AndrewT, your help also too, as you said the same!

Oh, and the bro-in-law is happy to have the Antec!
Enermax, here I come!

 

[lhgpoobaa]

With the thumping bit 550W PSU's you most likely arnt going to be running anything near full load, so the diffs between enermax and antec are probably ah heck all.

Regarding UPS's, i believe they are godsends if you live in an area with dodgy power, frequent blackouts or you live in an old house with suspect wiring.

The day i decided to get a UPS was the day when I experienced a 1-2 second blackout that took 3-4 hours of windows repairing and debugging to fix!
I WAS NOT a happy camper.

There are a number of brands, all about the same quality wise, the ones i know of are APC and Belkin.
UPS's are basically a box that monitors and filters line power, with a smallish battery to provide continuous power should mains become unstable or nonexistant.

For small to medium powered systems a 200 or 300VA UPS should be sufficient.
The larger the 'VA' number the more powerful computer it can support for a longer period of time should you suffer an extended blackout.

My ACP 500VA unit is good for at least 5 minutes, probably more, even with my 25% overclocked AMD system.
While obviously i can run for hours on the battery, it gives me heaps of time to do a orderly CONTROLLED shutdown or Hibernate.
And since getting it the unit has saved my system dozens of times.

An investment that has more than paid for itself.





<b>"If spam wasn't totally bogus, Hotmail users would be well-endowed, slim people with hair who make big money working at home and having great sex provoked by free porn and herbal Viagra.</b>