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Techno Pride replied to Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

02-08-2012, 08:03 PM
Re: Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

Thanks all.

Unfortunately, review sites are where I can possibly get high res pictures of the PSU innards. So I'm stuck with them.

By the time reports of problems start cropping up, the Rev B is probably on the shelves by then. Nigh impossible to get the Rev A. Who knows whether the new one incorporates cost-cutting or bug fixes?

Antec's probably going to say "[I]It's nothing personal, Jack. It's just good business[/I]." Just like [I]that [/I]movie.

Most likely,...

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Techno Pride replied to Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

02-08-2012, 07:20 PM
Re: Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

I purchased the PSU after reading the SPCR review and well-knowing that it had a 80mm fan. If it is important to you that I had somehow bought into the big fan hype, then fine. I stupidly purchased a 80mm fanned PSU while buying into the stupid hype that PSUs need big fans. And then it had a bulging RLX cap, which must be my fault too.

The infamous AntecRep isn't even here yet.

Anyway, tried to do some research for the Seasonic X560 which I'm thinking of purchasing. I read the jonnyguru review. Then, I was...

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Techno Pride replied to Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

02-08-2012, 06:29 PM
Re: Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

?

What ad hype? Just pointed out that the PSU was running a low power rig. Never saw 50% of its rated wattage. And that a single product line can have different specifications (both 80mm and 120mm cooling). Prudent to do basic research before purchasing, but when makers change their specifications, the glowing reviews published months ago which you read about an earlier version no longer apply.

It's the retail DIY consumers who are gobbling up the ad hype. PSU makers simply make the products and give the...

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Techno Pride replied to Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

02-08-2012, 05:36 PM
Re: Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

To be specific about the rig this EA430 was running, it never saw anything more than an AMD Athlon X2 2.5GHz (45w energy-efficient) and an AMD 4670 graphics card (<75w, no PCIE power connector). I even ensured that the PSU was not competing for airflow with the CPU fan using some ducting.

This Earthwhat dud is using a straight-thru cooling system and a 80mm fan. Some of the higher powered Earthwatts use a right-angled airflow system and 120mm fan IIRC. Not sure about the newer EA-xxxD Deltas.

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Techno Pride replied to Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

02-08-2012, 11:35 AM
Re: Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

sorry for the whining, but Antec and their minion AntecRep are awful

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Techno Pride replied to Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

02-08-2012, 11:17 AM
Re: Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

Hi all,

the Earthwatts is Seasonic-built as well. Someone somewhere decided to save one dollar or so and put lousy caps on there.

I'll go with a Seasonic-branded this time round. Most likely an X560.

430w is enough to power a stock i7-2600S (65w, 2.8GHz) + integrated graphics, but no, Antec had to be a cheap fuhyuu, and now I've to buy an overpowered PSU.

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Techno Pride replied to Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

02-08-2012, 10:20 AM
Re: Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

Hi,

thanks for the suggestion. I don't have the skills to do a re-cap. Besides, the messy wires are pissing me off. Makes cable management a pain.

Thankfully, no components fried by the Earthwhats.

I'll probably pick up one of the modular Seasonic branded PSUs instead. I want the new i7 setup to last 4-5 years as well.

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Techno Pride replied to Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

02-08-2012, 09:55 AM
Re: Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

More pictures for your amusement. Fuhyyuu Antec....

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Techno Pride started a topic Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

02-08-2012, 09:46 AM
Antec Earthwatts EA430 with fathead RLX

Recently I sold off my 45w Athlon X2 processor and Abit motherboard. Wanted to reuse the Antec Seasonic-made Earthwatts for a new Intel i7 setup.

[URL="http://www.silentpcreview.com/article684-page1.html"]SilentPCReview and Antec Earthwatts 430[/URL]

Since the warranty for the Earthwatts has apparently expired (purchased April 07), I decided to open up the PSU and check for bad caps. Lo and behold, a bulging RLX staring at me.

The previous Abit motherboard which had 100% Rubycons showed no similar signs upon a visual inspection. All...

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Techno Pride replied to Power supply build quality pictorial.closed.use part 2

in Troubleshooting Power Supplies and Power Supply Design

04-30-2007, 09:21 PM
Re: Power supply build quality pictorial

FSP Bluestorm 350w w/ Passive PFC (FSP350-60THN-P)

[URL=http://forums.hardwarezone.com/showthread.php?t=997121]FSP Bluestorm fanswap[/URL]

I swapped out the noisy fan for a 1200rpm max fan the moment I got it. The quiet fan is connected to the PSU's onboard controller. This has been running with a quiet fan for over 2 yrs. It has been in service in a casing with very low/bad airflow. I opened up the PSU a few days ago. All caps look fine. Never regretted the purchase!

Here are the pictures.Re:...

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