Thermaltake Vs. Antec

[coejus]

Owning one power supply (whether it's Antec or Thermaltake) and basing your opinion of the entire line of products from your one experience is a bad idea. I had a 350 watt Deer power supply, which is the absolute shittiest power supply you can buy, for over a year and a half and I never had a problem. Would I recommend a Deer? Hell no.

I'd personally go with Antec between the two. I've read of too many problems with reliability and fluctuation to be really confident in Thermaltake's PSUs, but I've also seen a lot of problems with Antecs over last summer. I imagine they had a bad run of components, but I would guess that the problems are gone now.

Your best bet might be to go with another brand entirely- Fortron/Sparkle, Seasonic, Enermax, Zippy, or Vantec are all solid choices (although I think you'd be fine with either an Antec or a Thermaltake).

 

[fstime]

This is the best bang for the buck, if you wanted the next step up, you would probaly spend 85 for a 480 watter which isnt that much better, for 55 bucks you cant go wrong.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: BouZouki
Like I said, ive left my pc on for weeks and the low has never gone lower then 11.90, usuauly 11.92. hey man, I dont know about you but most people dont play games for 5 hours, I cant say for myself since i dont play games for 5 hours but im 99% sure this psu can take 5+ hours of game play. I pass prime95 and 3dmark loop tests JUST FINE. anything anything above 11.87 is pretty much okay, as you go below that then I would start to worry but this psu never even hits 11.80's. And btw, why would you run prime95 all the time, thats pointless...... Just run it once, pass/fail, your done. Thats just pretty stupid to me.

I never said that i ran games for 5 hours a day. I say i run Seti 24/7 and sometimes i run Seti, Prime 95, Do some browsing leave the window open and play a game.

Im not saying it is horrible power wise but it is ONLY for the entry level PC. ANything else you are going to want more power, more stable power, as well as peace and quiet. Thermaltake doesn't make one quiet product to my knowledge (yes i have owned numerous).

TT isn't bad buth they are strictly for entry level and people who like the flashiness, they do not have the quality that Antec, Lian-Li (Casewise), and OCZ etc have.

-Kevin

 

[fstime]

You have no proof to back that up, I provided you with proof of a HIGH entry system, higher then yours with great results, I even got 2 people saying the same thing.

D-E-F-E-C-T

 

[Kishan]

I would get antec.

 

[batmanuel]

I'd also go for an Antec True 380 or 420 over both of the PSUs listed. Also, as far as amps go on the Antecs, they seem to be phasing in newer revisions of their PSUs with beefier 12V rails. I recently bought a Sonata and it didn't have 18A on the +12V like is listed on Newegg's product description page, but rather 24A. Of course, I've heard of people buying them at the same time I did and getting just 18A though, so it is the luck of the draw at the moment.

I've heard reports of other True Powers shipping with upgraded 12V rails, but right now it is hard to tell ordering online which one you will wind up with. Know of any way to tell by looking in the box at a B&M store which ones are the upgraded models?

 

[w00t]

if you are going to oc dont get either of them you want at least 24 12+ rails.

 

[Mik3y]

Originally posted by: w00t
if you are going to oc dont get either of them you want at least 24 12+ rails.

wrongo. antec makes some of the best psu's you can buy. you'll normally want at least 24a on the +12v rail, but that isnt always the case. this just shows that the psu can handle the extreme power requirements given off from the components. other factors also determine the quality and power of the psu.

 

[looper]

I would recommend you also consider the PC Power & Cooling 510 Deluxe power supply...

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/pdf/Turbo-Cool_510_vs.pdf

 

[Mik3y]

Originally posted by: looper
I would recommend you also consider the PC Power & Cooling 510 Deluxe power supply...

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/pdf/Turbo-Cool_510_vs.pdf

that's perhaps the most powerful psu around, but it is noisy as hell. that's one psu i'll never buy.

 

[fstime]

This psu is fine for ocing. I doubt it would affect it. I was running a 300 mhz oc at one point fine.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Mik3y

Originally posted by: w00t
if you are going to oc dont get either of them you want at least 24 12+ rails.

wrongo. antec makes some of the best psu's you can buy. you'll normally want at least 24a on the +12v rail, but that isnt always the case. this just shows that the psu can handle the extreme power requirements given off from the components. other factors also determine the quality and power of the psu.

my bad mikey

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: BouZouki
You have no proof to back that up, I provided you with proof of a HIGH entry system, higher then yours with great results, I even got 2 people saying the same thing.

D-E-F-E-C-T

How many times do i have to tell you. You are not coming near to stressing yours as i am mine. You dont understand do you? I am running MAX load 24/7 thats the CPU. EVERYTHING is overvolted.

Edit: As for the PCP&C i dunno. THe OCZ gives it a real good run for its money. Its close, remember the OCZ set the world clock speed record (TeamAkiba @ 6.xx ghz)

-Kevin

 

[jterrell]

I would gladly buy a TT to run someone else's system but not my own.

Buy a fortron blue storm for a very reliable under 100 dollar psu.
There are a million threads on here about which psu's are good, better, best.
TT isn't even into the good category.

A psu may work fine 98% of the time then when it fries your mobo you realize the 20 bucks you saved was pretty stupid.

 

[fstime]

Fries your motherboard? I loled to that.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: coejus
Owning one power supply (whether it's Antec or Thermaltake) and basing your opinion of the entire line of products from your one experience is a bad idea. I had a 350 watt Deer power supply, which is the absolute shittiest power supply you can buy, for over a year and a half and I never had a problem. Would I recommend a Deer? Hell no.

I'd personally go with Antec between the two. I've read of too many problems with reliability and fluctuation to be really confident in Thermaltake's PSUs, but I've also seen a lot of problems with Antecs over last summer. I imagine they had a bad run of components, but I would guess that the problems are gone now.

Your best bet might be to go with another brand entirely- Fortron/Sparkle, Seasonic, Enermax, Zippy, or Vantec are all solid choices (although I think you'd be fine with either an Antec or a Thermaltake).

The bolded would explain why my second antec true 480 PSU (one I have now) every once in a while when you turn on the machine, the PSU would make a grinding/whining sound. I would and still do have to turn off the machine everytime it happens and turn it back on hoping the sound goes away, sometimes it take 10 times before it goes away. The first Antec PSU I got I accidentally fried because the case was dark and thought I put the FDD power cable on correctly but was off a pin (fried my new 120GB maxtor drive) I later RMA'ed the items and got replacements and that grinding PSU I now have is the replacement PSU I got (agian only happens every once in a while when I turn on the system). Overall I love the power supply, ever since I changed it I not only get stable rails but my overclocks are also much better (in sig).

If you guys want I can take a screen cap of MBM5, its got about 48,000 readouts (been on for a few days). Then you guys can see for you self how stable the rails are. FYI I have the computer hooked up to a battery backup unit so it would have more stable voltages coming in.

Edit: Remember guys, the best way to check to see if your rails are good is to check the rails your self. I used a multimeter on my 12 and 5V rails because MBM5 was reporting the 5V rail was at 4.89 which scared me, turns out they were right on the mark at 5V and same with the 12V rail...

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: BouZouki
Fries your motherboard? I loled to that.

Why it happens.

OCZs Powerstream PSU had been damaged in some flood a while back (those versions have been recalled and are no longer on the market) and fried a ton of systems. (Yes they bought the people all new systems for free, the right thing to do)

-Kevin

 

[fstime]

Yeah, they f*cked up there. I would have been pissed. Luckly this problem is no comman at all.

 

[looper]

Actually, it's not...

 

[jterrell]

Originally posted by: BouZouki
Yeah, they f*cked up there. I would have been pissed. Luckly this problem is no comman at all.

Actually its not uncommon. Take a little trip to the technical support forum here.

There was a time not long ago when 200 watts would easily power any system. So the generic 300 watt psus were fine. They offered maybe 220 watts of real power but it was enough. Now systems are using more power and you need better psu's.

I just changed out the mobo, vid card and psu on my parent's pc after their psu fried the mobo and vid card.
I gave them my 400 watt fortron and they are running faster with the same mobo and vid card newly purchased and put in place.

The electrical engineering geeks will only recommend zippy, fortron, powerpc&c, and antec.
Even Ocz is a bit too new for their tastes. They like psu's that have been on the market a year at least.

Thermaltake and many other companies don't actually manufacture their own parts they use others and rebrand. Power pc uses Fortron and Zippy parts but then makers them even better by adding features to quiet the psu.

The fancy ultra x connects for example are just rebranded powmax which are really crappy low end makers. Many people have givent hem glowing reviews and cried foul when they get bashed but lo and behold maximum pc tested a bunch of psu's and the ultra x failed all the tests and actually proved to be dangerous to your system with horrid spikes. They gave it a 2 out of 10.

I wouldn't trust a rig worth a grand or more to a 50 dollar psu. There are better places to cut corners and save money. Anyone who has really tested psu's will tell you to skip lunch a couple of days and buy an 80 dollar psu minimum.

 

[The J]

Originally posted by: coejus
Owning one power supply (whether it's Antec or Thermaltake) and basing your opinion of the entire line of products from your one experience is a bad idea. I had a 350 watt Deer power supply, which is the absolute shittiest power supply you can buy, for over a year and a half and I never had a problem. Would I recommend a Deer? Hell no.

I'd personally go with Antec between the two. I've read of too many problems with reliability and fluctuation to be really confident in Thermaltake's PSUs, but I've also seen a lot of problems with Antecs over last summer. I imagine they had a bad run of components, but I would guess that the problems are gone now.

Your best bet might be to go with another brand entirely- Fortron/Sparkle, Seasonic, Enermax, Zippy, or Vantec are all solid choices (although I think you'd be fine with either an Antec or a Thermaltake).

You make a very good point here which I think applies to many of us. My ThermalTake PSU replace and old PowMax PSU that seemed okay (except for the sparking; worked fine aferward), but I would never tell anyone to buy that either. Like I said, my ThermalTake power supply has been fine for my needs; however, I also said that I've read good things about Antec. There will be others who say the exact opposite. Some of us had good experiences and bad experiences with each brand (I hate my Volcano 9!!), but your mileage will vary. Just because a few people on a forum with too much time on their hands say one brand is best and the other sucks doesn't make it so. Remember that these are opinions and should be taken as such. Do more research and don't just trust us.


jterrel: Do you know who manufactures the ThermalTake PSUs? I though I've read it was Enlight, but I'm not sure. Also, is there a link available for that 10 power supply comparison Maximum PC did? I'm just curious on both points. Thanks.

 

[flexy]

these are some WEAK PSUs....16A...18A on the 12V ? 18A might cut it for your system...but not much room for upgrading. (Both of these PSUs..they're just weak)

 

[Gamingphreek]

Maximum PC is full of BS. They rated the Neopower the best. Neopower is not very good if you google for a couple of reviews.

Just because a few people on a forum with too much time on their hands say one brand is best and the other sucks doesn't make it so. Remember that these are opinions and should be taken as such. Do more research and don't just trust us.

I would weigh your words very carefully. Also we do not make opinions on which PSU is best we make it on data and tables as well as word of mouth.

Enlight does indeed make Thermaltake PSUs.

-Kevin

 

[The J]

After reading what I wrote, my words do seem a little harsh. I did not intend for that to happen and I'm sorry if I did offend anyone. However, I do hope that the OP does not purchase a power supply based only on what we have said. Like I said, my ThermalTake has been fine for me, but it definately hasn't been for you and may not be the OP. Perhaps I should have substituted "opinions" with "experiences"? By the looks of things now, though, it seems that people have had an all-around better experience with Antec's power supplies, so I'd say go with one of those.

 

[Markfw]

First, anyone who believes what MBM or any other software like that says, IS WRONG ! Use a VOM !

That said below is my list in order of quality top to bottom:
PC Power and cooling (exspensive, but good)
Antec (good and won't break the bank, and quiet, I have 8)
OCZ (only heard good about them, never owned)
Fortron (same, only heard they were good but cheap)