POLL: Thermaltake TR2 430W or Antec Earthwatts 380W?

[AnitaPeterson]

Hi there,

Some time ago, I posted a thread about my Antec SmartPower dying shamelessly on me... I RMA'd the sucker, and Antec has sent me a new Earthwatts 380 instead.

Since I've already bought a Thermaltake 430W, I'm now wondering which one I should keep in my main workhorse rig...

According to the calculator found here ( http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine ) I need 296 Watts to adequately power my machine. So either one of these would do just fine (and the TR2 is actually a 380W PSU, according to some reviews, so they're absolutely comparable)...

I have TWO needs:
1) Reliability; and
2) Lowest possible noise (Which one is quieter?)

So, please, cast your votes and give me your opinions on these two.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Earthwatts should be a very quiet PSU. It's only $20 AR @ NewEgg. I think your actual load will be under 250 watts. Earthwatts 380 will be fine.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Another vote for the earthwatts.

 

[Super Nade]

If the TR2 is built by CWT (likely), it is going to be full of the dreaded Fujjhuyu crapacitors.
If it is built by HEC, you are going to have an almost empty secondary side...lol

Either way, it is a lose-lose..

 

[Keitero]

I have the ThermalTake 430W and it works great for me (yes for the price you get a lower build quality than other 430W PSUs) but knock on wood, it as kept my server up for 9 months without a single minute of downtime.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Originally posted by: Super Nade
If the TR2 is built by CWT (likely), it is going to be full of the dreaded Fujjhuyu crapacitors.
If it is built by HEC, you are going to have an almost empty secondary side...lol

Either way, it is a lose-lose..

Interesting... how do I go about checking this out?

 

[Super Nade]

My analysis: <Apologies for the shameless self-promotion>
http://www.overclockers.com/articles1483
The article says CWT, but it is NOT a CWT build. I made a mistake by reading off from the WRONG PCB. I had an antec TP sitting right by it and read the marking off of that one instead.
More pics that needed to be added:-

PCB says HEC:
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1972/tt430wrecap003te1.jpg

Refurbished secondary. Note the space constraints that forced me to use a lone Panasonic FM in there. Usually I like to keep everything from one series (i.e either UCC/NCC KY or KZE or Panasonic FM), but space constraints can dictate otherwise.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6936/tt430wrecap001cg7.jpg
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1594/tt430wrecap002po5.jpg

X-Bit's review:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...ke-psu-roundup_18.html

I would peek into the secondary side. If you see a daughterboard it is likely CWT:-
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...-roundup_23.html#sect0

Bottomline:
It is a crap PSU good only for what the PCB says, i.e 300W.

 

[justinm]

I've got the Antec PSU in my website computer. It is quiet and perfect for what I use it for.

 

[Super Nade]

She was asking about keeping the unit in her main workhorse rig. I would advise against it.

 

[requiem1]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16817371006

only 29.99$

Antec Earthwatts W430! =) I just bought one my self!