Antec TruePower 2.0 TP2-550 EPS12V ATX12V 550W Power Supply $87AR

[imported_caf2461]

$97 Shipped Free Newegg weekend special. EPS12V and backward compatable. Sli ready and known to work for A8n SLI here:
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/38623/

recommended for high end systems here also:
http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/MHGSBG/article.php/3567566

Newegg does not provide the link for the $10 rebate so I will provide it for you.
http://images.pricegrabber.com/rebates/39260-280.pdf

Edit: Newegg dropped the price $3 from when I bought it - DOOH!

 

[Jaxidian]

Linkie

I have one of these and I would STRONGLY recommend this PSU. I bought one from Fry's and the darn thing ended up blowing up after a few days. But this is the FIRST time I've EVER had a PSU blow up without taking anything else with it! I've had 3-4 other PSU's go bad and EVERY ONE of them has taken out some combination of mobo, cpu, and/or ram. The Antec TP2 simply powered off before it fried anything else! Good piece of equipment.

 

[Drizzy]

In the market for a new PSU and have 2 questions:
1 - what is the difference between the one you have posted and this PSU here:
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10405472&adid=17662
2- Would you recommend this PSU over this Fortron I was looking at here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustRatin...817104934&SortField=0&Pagesize=&Page=2

Thanks

 

[imported_caf2461]

I dwelled on the same ones you listed. It is not much different than the Antec you listed other than:
It has dual fans that run sequentially based on load. The EPS12V format also means dual 4-pin/8-pin ATX 12V connectors for both standard motherboards and newer dual-core Intel boards. This model also is proven to work well in critical server applications and with the Asus A8n per several sites. I intend to use the second rail to drive my video cards seperately as some on the first link above have done.

You should do well with the models you listed depending on application. The Fortron has weaker 12v rails.

I am no expert on power supplies. I bought this one to minimize risk and provide future compatability.

 

[tickyour]

I have had the Fortron for 10 months now, it has performed flawlessly. I would recommend it.

 

[ir0nw0lf]

EXCELLENT power supply. I use these when I build up dual Opteron servers in 4U cases for a client of mine.

 

[Acanthus]

The 500w version of this PSU is a gem, i very highly reccomend it.

Rails are dead on, and its an antec, so youre getting quality components.

hot :thumbsup:

I prefer the smartpower II to the Truepower II because of the cable management system, but the internals are identical for the equal PSU ratings.

 

[smage]

What's the point of getting an EPS compliant PSU at this point (short of those few individuals actually building home servers)? Just curious.

 

[EvilHomer]

I just grabbed one of these for my comp because my older Antec 430 PSU started going bad...I have the Asus A8N-SLI ..so the reviews sold me ..thanks OP

 

[EvilHomer]

Sorry double post

 

[id3dwiz]

Who ever is looking for this PSU Monarch has it for $87 without rebates.

LINK

However, there are mixed reviews of Antec. I myself bought this from monarch and had it delivered. Unfortunately, I've learned of bad reports only after it's been shipped.
Decide for yourself, there are a lot of recommendations for Antec, at the same time, there is some bashing.

 

[EvilHomer]

this pSU got a bad review from anandtech

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/07/11/stress_test/page10.html

 

[imported_caf2461]

Both Tom's Hardware and Anandtech test the standard Truepower model.

Anand's 4 power supply test reached this conclusion:
Overall, the Antec TruePower provided the best all around performance. Feature-wise, it could not compete with the Enermax EG465 or the Vantec Stealth Aluminum, but the performance benchmark showed it has a slight edge over the other units. The selling point on the TruePower is its availability and price. The TruePower is the most aggressive marketed of all the units, pricing under 100USD, at least 10USD less than the other PSU's we reviewed.
http://www.anandtech.com/casecooling/showdoc.aspx?i=1774&p=9

Tom had a bad example of the standard TPII, but reached this conclusion:
Because we determined that the ripple tests can remain entirely within spec in the present models and that the other values were flawless, the Antec devices still earned positive test grades.

The example EPS12V I installed today is running fine and extreemly quiet:
Asus A8N - SLI
2 dvd burners
1 dvd drive
floppy
2 sata drives
1 ide drive
3 case fans - two Smartpower quiet controlled, one thermal controlled
Zalman gpu fan
1 7800GT
2 printers

I would put more faith in test's and recommendations on the EPS-12V model. Maybe they have the adult workers in China assemble them because they would not want to piss off their server customers.