OCZ Modstream 520W vs Antec TP2.0 480W

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I'm currently deciding between a:

OCZ Modstream 520W from Monarch which is $74
and
Antec TP2.0 480W $99 from Newegg

My worry with the OCZ PSU is that it's single rail and has a louder fan I heard? Furthermore, it's not as good with voltage ripples as the Antec.

However, I like the OCZ for its sleeved + twisted cables. Awesome stuff. The light is nice too.

I trust Antec for stability, quietness and great stability under load. Furthermore they have dual rails.

Is there a SIGNIFICANT difference between single and dual rails? Which do you prefer?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

With the specs that you have in your sig, I'd say the Modstream. If you are going to be upgrading to something that uses a lot more on the +12V, I'd say the Antec, and get some modding stuff.
Tas.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: tasburrfoot78362
With the specs that you have in your sig, I'd say the Modstream. If you are going to be upgrading to something that uses a lot more on the +12V, I'd say the Antec, and get some modding stuff.
Tas.

Sorry I should say that I'm not using this for the system in my sig. My 300W can handle this already. You think I would bust out $100 for this crap? HAHAHA.

Yea, this will be for an X2 3800+, 7800GT or X800XL, DFI LP NF4, etc etc... a typical $2000 system im builidng

 

[rise]

either will be fine but i'd get the antec over a modstream anyday, pretty looks and all

now if you were matching the powerstream it would be a tougher call.

anyway, i've got 2 tpII550s running similar systems (see sig) and they are unbelievably solid. using a dmm on the 2 12v rails, both units vary ~.01 from idle to load. truly impressive.

 

[Bad Dude]

Originally posted by: rise4310
either will be fine but i'd get the antec over a modstream anyday, pretty looks and all

now if you were matching the powerstream it would be a tougher call.

anyway, i've got 2 tpII550s running similar systems (see sig) and they are unbelievably solid. using a dmm on the 2 12v rails, both units vary ~.01 from idle to load. truly impressive.

How well does the TP2 helps your system cooling? I heard the gap between the fan and PSU cover reduced the pressure of drawing hot air out of the case significantly.

 

[rise]

only one guy reported that, larva at oc forums i think. hes very knowledgeable but i nor anyone else i've spoke with about it could recreate what he experienced. somehow he got his fan running around 1800rpm which lead to his "non recommend". my fan spins at max 1100 under full load, like my 24 hour prime test, and typically 800-900rpm.

so from my experience as well as many other reviews about this psu around the net, its completely a non-issue. perhaps he got a bad psu or installed it in an air tight acrylic case next to a space heater or something

 

[Bona Fide]

The Antec PSU is better for several reasons.

- Tighter maintainence of voltages (+/-3% flux)
- Longer cables (always helps in servers and weird cases)
- Dual 12V rails
- Antec quality

Btw...have you looked at the Smartpower 2.0 series?

 

[rise]

the smart power line doesn't have the feedback circuitry that the tpII line has so the volts won't be as tight.

 

[rickn]

i'd recommend the ocz if you don't have a huge tower case. I had an antec truepower 550 die on me after only 2yrs. Antec's MTBF ratings are based on 25c, Modstream is rated at 40c. That suggests to me Modstream is a better unit

 

[Icepick]

The hardwired cables in the Antec will provide power more efficiently than the modular ones. The dual rail power source is better than the single rail alternatives for providing sufficient power to all components. Since you asked, my opinion is go with the Antec for these two reasons.

 

[Cheezeit]

The fortron blue storm 500 owns both

its got sleeved cables like the modstream, dual rails like the tp2, and its got awesome efficiancy plus fortron is one of the best companies.

it can be had for 73 dollars at ewiz

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

But Antec has like +/- 1% voltage regulation in tests.

I doubt many others can compete with that.... Yea Bluestorm 500 is nice.. but dunno..

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
But Antec has like +/- 1% voltage regulation in tests.

I doubt many others can compete with that.... Yea Bluestorm 500 is nice.. but dunno..

They do not have +/- 1%. I dont believe even PCP&C has that.

Well the Antec is going to have a little more power.

THe OCZ will be slightly quieter, and have a little less power.

Build quality should be about the same.

-Kevin

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: DLeRium
But Antec has like +/- 1% voltage regulation in tests.

I doubt many others can compete with that.... Yea Bluestorm 500 is nice.. but dunno..

They do not have +/- 1%. I dont believe even PCP&C has that.

Well the Antec is going to have a little more power.

THe OCZ will be slightly quieter, and have a little less power.

Build quality should be about the same.

-Kevin

I saw a benchmark. Reads were done through multimeter and it was 1% all the way until full 100% load.

Anyways, they compared it head to head with a Modstream which was a respectable 3% or so and up to 5% at load.

Edit: Here's a review I found, although not the one I initially saw..

http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/reviews/cases/Antec_TPII-480Blue_6.html

1%..

 

[Gamingphreek]

Just because it stays within 1% on those tests does not mean it has +/- 1% voltage regulation. Also i would trust SilentPCReview above almost anyone for PSU reviews.

-Kevin

 

[rise]

heres my 12v on load. idle is the same. the other rail, the 12v2 is the same 11.99 idle, 11.98 load.

the second one i just got is the same thing, a bit higher though- 12.04 idle 12.03 load.

5v and 3.3 runs the same.

i know thats not a 100%, 535 watt load thrown on it but its about all i could think of. any other ideas i'll do the same.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: rickn
i'd recommend the ocz if you don't have a huge tower case. I had an antec truepower 550 die on me after only 2yrs. Antec's MTBF ratings are based on 25c, Modstream is rated at 40c. That suggests to me Modstream is a better unit

seems like the Antecs I've had last about that long too.. they're decent, but they don't last as long as I'd hoped. So far so good on my OCZ Modstream 450W.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Just because it stays within 1% on those tests does not mean it has +/- 1% voltage regulation. Also i would trust SilentPCReview above almost anyone for PSU reviews.

-Kevin

Ok well there you go .... the guy below just showed you it is WELL within 1% fluctuation

 

[SVT Cobra]

mod stream

also Xbit labs has great in depth PSU reviews