Antec HCG-400 or Neo Eco 450

[BernardP]

Hi, I'm selecting a PSU for a non-gaming build that will be built around i5-2500K, 8 GB of RAM, Nvidia GT240 (re-used from my current system), one SSD and 3 HDD's. I will only do a mild overclock on stock voltage, let's say 3,6 GHz base and 4,0 GHz max Turbo.

I have narrowed down my choice to either the Antec HCG-400 or Neo Eco 450. The Neo Eco 450 has higher 12V rated power (34A), and is 80 Plus, while the HCG-400 has a Bronze rating but only 30A 12V power. These PSUs would cost me about the same.

Is the Bronze rating worth taking the power penalty? What about the respective construction quality of thse two PSUs? I understand both are made by Seasonic.

http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MjQ1Ng==

http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=NzA0NDEw

 

[lehtv]

I would pick the stronger +12V output over the better efficiency.

But wouldn't it be more balanced to build a gaming system with i3-2100, 4GB RAM and a new video card? Or drop the SSD, and get 2400/2500K.

 

[BoomerD]

They're both Seasonic builds, so go with the one that (a) has more power, (b) has the cabling that works best for you, or (c) is the cheapest. (if price is any consideration)

HOWEVER, why choose Antec with only a 3-year warranty when many other Seasonic-built PSU's have up to 5 year warranties?

 

[lehtv]

Seasonic's own 380W and 430W 5-year warranty units are more expensive than the Antec-branded ones. Corsair's Seasonic lineup starts at 650W, and XFX 450W has relatively poor +12V regulation even though it's Seasonic.

 

[BernardP]

I would pick the stronger +12V output over the better efficiency.

But wouldn't it be more balanced to build a gaming system with i3-2100, 4GB RAM and a new video card? Or drop the SSD, and get 2400/2500K.

Thanks lehtv for your advice. As I mentionned in my OP, it's not a gaming build. If it was, I would agree with you.

My interest in "Bronze" vs "Plus" ratings is more related to build quality, reliability and durability than efficiency. I assume there are certain components that are "better" in the Bronze-rated PSU to attain the (somewhat ) higher efficiency.

.

 

[lehtv]

Oh, for some reason I read "non-gaming" as "gaming". Selective eyesight Sorry bout that

My interest in "Bronze" vs "Plus" ratings is more related to build quality, reliability and durability than efficiency. I assume there are certain components that are "better" in the Bronze-rated PSU to attain the (somewhat ) higher efficiency.

That is true, but to my knowledge the better quality of efficiency-related components doesn't necessarily translate to improvement in any other power characteristic like ripple, noise, voltage regulation in general - or to reliability, certainly not build quality. The only potential problem I can foresee is the slightly increased waste heat production of an 80 Plus unit compared to 80 Plus Bronze. But in a relatively low power system, I don't think this is going to impact the lifetime of the power supply noticeably.

You should see about 81-82% efficiency in the Neo Eco, perhaps even 83%, while the HCG-400 can probably do up to 85-87%. This is based on measurements in different units of the series, see here and here.

In the end, you can't really go wrong with either of those.

 

[Zap]

Go with the cheaper one. If they are the same, go with the HCG-400. It has a bigger 135mm fan and comes with a power cord which the Neo Eco doesn't. Got a bit extra efficiency, plus I think is built on a slightly updated Seasonic platform versus the older Neo Eco.

 

[BernardP]

lehtv, thanks again for the link to the review on Guru3D. It's very informative. I had seen the one on Anandtech about the HCG-520.

And Zap, good comment about the HCG-400 being built on an updated platform.

I managed to find a relatively exhaustive German review of the HGC-400. Any particular observations?

http://translate.google.ca/translat...-experience.de/wbb2/thread.php?threadid=31349