Antec TrueControl tuneable 550W PSU... why does this scare me ;)

[mechBgon]

Check it out

Product flyer in PDF format

Thinking about the very inaccurate voltage readings I get from Asus Probe on my A7V333-RAID, I wonder if this is prudent. If I adjusted the PSU until Asus Probe thought my 12V line was at 12V, it would probably end up down around 10.5V in reality.

edit: now, if their front-panel thingamabob had a digital voltmeter readout (ooo, or lighted analog would be cooler yet) then maybe it would be less of a loose cannon.

 

[RanDum72]

The PSU basically has adjustable POTS inside. They just made connectors so you can adjust them externally without getting inside the PSU. I think its a great idea though.

 

[farmercal]

I think it's a great idea also. I fix main frames and the power supply units are all adjustable but you do have to have a reliable voltmeter to ensure they are adjusted properly.

 

[IanthePez]

Great idea...only $169 after shipping from that sight.

Seriously though, this is a feature that many people would love to have I'm sure.

 

[Baronz]

I hope it has some sort of protection...I can see people's kids running up to the comp and twisting it as high as they could and burning things out

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Baronz
I hope it has some sort of protection...I can see people's kids running up to the comp and twisting it as high as they could and burning things out

:Q !

It looks to me like the twisters are for adjusting fan speed while there are recessed pots for the voltages. Oh hey, there is an external 5V and 12V terminal on the rear too And that would be for what, exactly...?

 

[IanthePez]

for people who continually have low 5v or 12v rails causing crashes. Just turn it up a bit....

 

[WyteWatt]

mechBgon i saw that a while ago. Pretty cool though !

 

[mechBgon]

See, but that's my point. How do the users determine that their rails are, in fact, low or high? They use software, combined with onboard sensors, and as I pointed out with my A7V333-RAID example, that method can be very inaccurate. If I believed Asus Probe, I would crank my 12V rail down to 10.5V. Asus Probe would report everything's peachy, but my hard drive would be trying to make do with 10.5V on the 12V rail. Bye bye, hard drive...

I think Antec is going to regret this, because most people are not going to do reality checks with a voltmeter, they're going to rely on possibly-inaccurate software.

 

[BG4533]

I agree with you 100% mech, but the average desktop user, nor even most power users will be buying the Truecontrol 550. Hopefully most people who buy it for these features will be smart enough not to completely trust their motherboards for temps or voltages.

My MSI KT3-Ultra2 on reports about the same voltages as a pretty good multimeter.

Brian

 

[Auric]

Brilliant...





...marketing!

 

[chizow]

mech, I understand your argument, but I kinda see this as a tool for the extreme user/enthusiast who isn't concerned as much about accurate to the "T" voltage readings, but rather an instrument to maximize their rail voltages w/out performing surgery on their PSUs. I mean who else would want that thing sticking out of a 5 1/4 bay? Antec prides itself on accurate voltage delivery, so if you set your BIOS Vcore to 1.9V (max in most BIOS') but wanted to go the extra distance with your prommie, you could turn that little pot a bit higher and get more juice without a voltmod to your mobo or PSU. I didn't fully read the specs/tech doc, but I'm thinking that would be possible (I think )

Chiz

 

[iZero]

I thought a good PSU controls the voltages on it own... Is there really a need for this besides trying to overload the power supply?

 

[eplebnista]

 

[blade]

It looks to me like the twisters are for adjusting fan speed while there are recessed pots for the voltages. Oh hey, there is an external 5V and 12V terminal on the rear too And that would be for what, exactly...?

The adjustments for the voltages are recessed so no one can change them accidently. You do need either the included mini screwdriver or a small precision screwdriver for changing the voltages.

Here's some pics of it. Just got it so I haven't done much testing yet. But the voltages were all set on max. The fans in the psu are not quiet but the fan control does work well. It goes from 1500-3000 rpm's and is only quiet at around 1600-1700 rpm's. As with the truepower line of power supplies it also has two fan-only connectors. Great thing is the fan control also controls any fans connected to those fan-only connectors.

 

[AntecCSR]

There is a max that the voltages can be tuned, 5% of spec either way.

The voltage adjusters are recessed and you need a screwdriver or the tool that's provided to make the adjustments.

The fan speed know is not recessed.

People already rely on unreliable software and return/RMA perfectly fine PSU's (or send long complaint filled e-mails about how the voltage rails suck on their new TP, compared to the generic they just replaced etc etc). It's been only the last 3-5 months when people are starting to say "check your software readings with a volt meter".

AntecCSR