Antec Neo HE 550 Power Supply

**Hardware Secrets Team** · 08-04-2006, 12:17 PM

There has been a new article posted.

Title: Antec Neo HE 550 Power Supply
URL: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/361

Here is a snippet:
"Neo HE is a high efficiency power supply series from Antec, hence the name “HE”. According to Antec, power supplies from this series have an efficiency of up to 85% (compare to 50% on regular power su..."

Comments on this article are welcome.

Best regards,
Hardware Secrets Team
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com

Phynesse · 08-11-2006, 02:03 PM

Thanks for this great review. very interesting to have a look inside and see whats there. I just received mine yesterday from Antec as a replacement for my Neo480, which has appearently become unavailable! at first i was disappointed, but it seems that this is really an upgrade.

I was surprised to learn about the virtual rail concept, and that the 12V rails are really not seperate at all. that begs a question: is it safe to assume then that there should be no harm when I connect 3 harddrives to a single molex cable?? common sense would lead me to believe that i should spread the load across 2 or even three cables?

**Gabriel Torres** · 08-14-2006, 05:32 AM

Oh yeah, separating them makes sense. Even though they are connected together on the power supply PCB, each wire has its own current limits due to its gauge. So when you install two HDD on different cables you are lowering the current on each individual cable, even though the total current will still be the same.

Cheers,
Gabriel.

**Gabriel Torres** · 02-08-2008, 04:51 PM

Just to let you guys know that I "upgraded" this article to a full review, adding results of our load tests.

I also corrected and expanded the explanation about the +12V virtual rails pointed out above.

Enjoy!

Thanks,
Gabriel.

casanova · 02-12-2008, 07:33 AM

Great review, as always. Were you able to tell the OEM of this PSU? I believe the popular assessment is Seasonic but just wanted to hear your opinion.

Spectre · 02-12-2008, 09:30 AM

It is a low end Seasonic.

georgew · 05-21-2008, 03:14 PM

Just FYI...

this power supply is junk.

It comes with a 5 year warranty, however the thin sheetmetal case flexes as you hold it, and the warranty-void sticker tears itself because of the flex of putting the power supply in the case, and installing the screws. (No, I did not overtighten them, I used a small hand-powered driver, and there was no need to make them very tight). So when the power supply dies before the first year is up, you have no warranty.

This unit costs way too much for the quick failure and crappy case and self-voiding warranty. The store I bought it at went out of business to boot...

thanks alot Antec!

Who makes a good eps12v power supply that lasts more than a year for a reasonable price?

George

**Gabriel Torres** · 05-21-2008, 08:31 PM

Hi,

On the 500 W range I personally liked these three:

Antec EarthWatts 500 W:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/526

Corsair VX450W (internally identical to the above unit)
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/540

Silverstone Strider ST-50F 500 W
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/548

Enermax PRO82+ 525 W is outstanding, but far more expensive than the above models:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/551

There should be more good PSU's around, I can only comment on the ones I actually tested.

Cheers,
Gabriel.

08-04-2006, 12:17 PM	#1
Hardware Secrets Team Administrator Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,952	Antec Neo HE 550 Power Supply There has been a new article posted. Title: Antec Neo HE 550 Power Supply URL: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/361 Here is a snippet: "Neo HE is a high efficiency power supply series from Antec, hence the name “HE”. According to Antec, power supplies from this series have an efficiency of up to 85% (compare to 50% on regular power su..." Comments on this article are welcome. Best regards, Hardware Secrets Team http://www.hardwaresecrets.com

08-11-2006, 02:03 PM	#2
Phynesse Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1	Virtual Rails Thanks for this great review. very interesting to have a look inside and see whats there. I just received mine yesterday from Antec as a replacement for my Neo480, which has appearently become unavailable! at first i was disappointed, but it seems that this is really an upgrade. I was surprised to learn about the virtual rail concept, and that the 12V rails are really not seperate at all. that begs a question: is it safe to assume then that there should be no harm when I connect 3 harddrives to a single molex cable?? common sense would lead me to believe that i should spread the load across 2 or even three cables?

02-12-2008, 07:33 AM	#5
casanova Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	Good review Great review, as always. Were you able to tell the OEM of this PSU? I believe the popular assessment is Seasonic but just wanted to hear your opinion.

02-12-2008, 09:30 AM	#6
Spectre Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 17	It is a low end Seasonic. __________________ Paul Johnson [H]ardOCP PSU Editor

05-21-2008, 03:14 PM	#7
georgew Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1	junk power supply Just FYI... this power supply is junk. It comes with a 5 year warranty, however the thin sheetmetal case flexes as you hold it, and the warranty-void sticker tears itself because of the flex of putting the power supply in the case, and installing the screws. (No, I did not overtighten them, I used a small hand-powered driver, and there was no need to make them very tight). So when the power supply dies before the first year is up, you have no warranty. This unit costs way too much for the quick failure and crappy case and self-voiding warranty. The store I bought it at went out of business to boot... thanks alot Antec! Who makes a good eps12v power supply that lasts more than a year for a reasonable price? George

08-14-2006, 05:32 AM	#3
Gabriel Torres Administrator Join Date: Oct 2004 USA Posts: 2,553	Oh yeah, separating them makes sense. Even though they are connected together on the power supply PCB, each wire has its own current limits due to its gauge. So when you install two HDD on different cables you are lowering the current on each individual cable, even though the total current will still be the same. Cheers, Gabriel.

02-08-2008, 04:51 PM	#4
Gabriel Torres Administrator Join Date: Oct 2004 USA Posts: 2,553	Just to let you guys know that I "upgraded" this article to a full review, adding results of our load tests. I also corrected and expanded the explanation about the +12V virtual rails pointed out above. Enjoy! Thanks, Gabriel.

05-21-2008, 08:31 PM	#8
Gabriel Torres Administrator Join Date: Oct 2004 USA Posts: 2,553	Hi, On the 500 W range I personally liked these three: Antec EarthWatts 500 W: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/526 Corsair VX450W (internally identical to the above unit) http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/540 Silverstone Strider ST-50F 500 W http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/548 Enermax PRO82+ 525 W is outstanding, but far more expensive than the above models: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/551 There should be more good PSU's around, I can only comment on the ones I actually tested. Cheers, Gabriel.

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