New Antec NSK-series PSUs feat. OST

[Aleksi]

Hi guys,

got myself the Antec NSK6500 case for my new AM2 build. I'm a bit of a silencing freak, so one of the first things I did was a PSU fan swap. Here's some overall pics of the PSU, secondary side OST caps and the fan swap.

Besides the OST caps, I was a bit disappointed with their fan choice. The high speed sleeve bearing ADDA they used is not a good choice for a PSU.

BR,
Aleksi

[Shroomie]

Re: New Antec NSK-series PSUs feat. OST

These are two positive departures from the ordinary for Antec. They normally use low speed fans, some of which go off during normal use. Combine this with the poor quality Fuhjyyu caps used by Antec's usual supplier, Channel Well, and you've got a dead PSU.

These OSTs will likely be all right with a lower-speed fan, though. Looks like a Seasonic built unit. (I could be wrong, though.)

And does that PCB really have a date of July 15, 2003?

[Aleksi]

Re: New Antec NSK-series PSUs feat. OST

Hi Shroomie,

To be accurate, I'm really not unhappy with the OST caps as this could have been another Fuhjuyy / CWT disaster from Antec. But the PSU is made by Seasonic and they have some proper caps in their own S12 etc. power supplies.

Generally speaking ADDA is better than the Top Motor/Dynatron/Dynaneon fans found in the older Antecs. However I personally dislike using a sleeve bearing to exhaust hot air. Also the fan seemed to have really poor pressure capability. OK these things might be irrelevant to most users, I prefer to go with proper stuff like NMB-MAT (Panaflo, NMB) or Papst.

I didn't even notice that date on the PCB until you mentioned it. Yes that might well be accurate. The PSU layout seems identical to the Seasonic Super Silencer PSUs that came out in...2003 or 2004?

-Aleksi

[Shroomie]

Re: New Antec NSK-series PSUs feat. OST

Ahh, that's true. A ball-bearing fan would be more reassuring since if the PSU fan fails, it can cause serious damage, unlike a standard case fan (normally). Same story with the CPU fan, of course, to a lesser extent. I personally would stick in Delta, Nidec, or yes, Minebea (NMB) replacements, since they're some of the better fans I have around. Noise isn't normally a concern to me, though.

I admit I haven't bought an Antec myself - I've looked over other people's, though. The only CWT I have, a 350w or so, is fortunate enough to have Teapo capacitors throughout. I replaced its original Jamicon fan with a 0.30a 80mm Delta from a HP Pavilion, and it's run cool and stable ever since. It was a bit warm before.

[PeteS in CA]

Re: New Antec NSK-series PSUs feat. OST

The main transformer has what looks to be a May, 2006 date code - "0619", and I think I can discern a February, 2006 ("0607") date code on one of the Ost caps. It may well be that the PCB was laid out in July of 2003, and they have been able to use the same PCB, but with different components and heatsinks for a variety of models and power levels. I know Delta used the same daughter cards for different models and customers, sometimes not utilizing all the features of the daughter card by not populating some sections or connecting to the card's O/P pins. A new PCB design is expensive and proliferates inventory.

[Aleksi]

Re: New Antec NSK-series PSUs feat. OST

Hi Pete,

thanks for the reply and information re: dates. Didn't know those dates were printed on the caps and transformer.

Recycling the PCB makes sense, especially if you only have the make minor changes to go from ATX1.3 to ATX2.xx. Not sure how the multiple 12V lines are implemented and if they thought about that back in the day when they designed the Super Silencer PCBs. So might have required an "update HW round".

I wonder if there's a revision printed somewhere on that board.

-Aleksi

[willawake]

Re: New Antec NSK-series PSUs feat. OST

looks like a well built unit.

heres a look at the case
http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums...asc&highlight=
that cooler master centurion looks rather crap next to it.