As we’ve said before, the power supply is the most overlooked component when buying or building your own computer. Whether your computer is a simple email machine or calculates real-world weather patterns, all of your hardware depends on what is providing the power. It only takes one time to experience a catostrophic failure to a power supply to learn your lesson; and you’ll never buy a cheap power supply again.
One of the problems with computers is the heat they produce. The only reason that the current generation of computers are as powerful as they are is because they are more efficient than the previous generation. All CPUs and chipsets eventually reach a thermal limit, and the only way to get around this is to make the processor more efficient, either by rearchitecture, reducing its power consumption (by reducing its size), or both.
The same is true with power supplies: the more efficient the power supply, the less heat it produces. Or more accurately, the heat produced by electronics is the byproduct of wasted energy. Until the past few years, most power supplies have been anywhere from 65% to 75% efficient, which translates into additional heat, which results in a larger electricity bill.
Over a 5 year period, nearly $70-$100 can be spent on wasted electricity from one power supply. Many in today’s digital lifestyle have multiple computers, or computerized appliances, so even a 5% improvement over all of your equipment can mean hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars over time. I’m not an Al Gore-wannabe; I’m just pointing out that a slow leak of money adds up after a while. And it doesn’t make sense to buy an exhorbitantly expensive power supply to combat the problem, because that’s money out of your pocket, too.
Antec has introduced their EarthWatts line of power supplies to address this issue. These power supplies are available in three highly efficient models—380 Watt, 430 Watt, and 500 Watt—and are all 80 PLUS certified (the newest standard in power supply efficiency).
It isn’t easy being green, so let Antec’s EarthWatts power supply line give you a hand. These ATX12V 2.2 power supplies are 80 PLUS® certified, making them among the most efficient power supplies on the planet. Not only do they save you money, but they also save the environment!
- 80 PLUS® certified—the newest standard in power supply efficiency
- High efficiency saves power, saving you money on your electrical bill
- Universal power input and active Power Factor Correction—so it automatically works on any power grid in the world
- Dual 12V output rails
- 80mm low noise cooling fan
- Dual 12V outputs: 12V2 for Motherboard and peripherals; 12V1 for processor
- Industrial-grade protection circuitry prevents damage resulting from short circuits, power overloads, over voltage, and under voltage
- 80 PLUS® certified
- 4 SATA connectors
- PCI-E connector: one for 380W and 430W, two for 500W
- Safety approvals: UL, CUL, FCC, TÜV, CE, CB, C-tick, CCC
- Universal input
- Active Power Factor Correction (PFC)
- PF value up to 99%
- AQ3 Antec Quality three-year parts and labor warranty
Dimensions:
- 3.39″(H) x 5.91″(W) x 5.51″(D)
- 8.6cm(H) x 15cm(W) x 14cm(D)
- Net Weight: 3.48lbs. (1.58kg)
Output
| DC output | +5v | +3.3V | +12v | -12v | -5VSB | |
| Max | 34A | 36A | 12A | 17A | 0.8A | 2.5A |
| Min | 0.3A | 0.5A | 1A | 1A | 0A | 0A |
Antec Company Overview
Antec began in 1986, long before the tech boom of the late 1990’s, in Fremont, California. Now operating offices in the United States and Europe, Antec offers products to 25 countries worldwide. Presently, Antec maintains a popular range of products in: computer cases, power supplies, cooling fans, lighting components, and accessories. Antec is the original High Performance Upgrade company, which created the PC upgrade replacement category at retail. Their enclosures and power supplies have been the #1 seller by far in North American distribution and retail channels for five years running.
Upon first opening the box, you will see that the PSU is protected not by earth-hating wasteful styrofoam, but environmentally-friendly tree-hugging wood-pulp (the same stuff egg cartons and fast food drink holders are made from). These formed recycled paper holders barely hold the power supply in snugly in the box, so there is potential for slippage.
The unit itself looks rather dull and bland, just like a power supply before the modding craze. There are no plated or anodized metal for the PSU case, and there are no modular wires or cable groups to speak of. Even a standard 80mm exhaust fan is used. Even though this product is meant to emphasize quality power over presentation, many units incorporate a 120mm fan because they are more efficient and are quieter.
The EarthWatts is an economy design both inside and out, and is not made with the gamer or hardware enthusiast in mind. Aluminum heatsinks are used instead of heavier (and more expensive) alternatives, mainly because the active PFC naturally keeps temperatures low.
Here is some information about the “80 Plus” Initiative, straight from Antec themselves:
Fully equipped with universal input, EarthWatts automatically works on any power grid in the world. And the built-in Active PFC makes EarthWatts the ideal way to reduce electrical waste and protect the environment.
What does 80 PLUS Certified mean?
80 PLUS® Certified is the new standard in power supply efficiency. It means at any load between 20%-100% the power supply is working at at least 80% efficiency. Standard non-certified 80 PLUS power supplies can vary from 65% up to 85% efficiency depending on load and temperatures, but typically run at top efficiency only at high loads.
Why is high efficiency good for you? Why should you buy an 80 PLUS Certified power supply?
High efficiency saves you money every month on your electrical bill, reduces heat in your computer’s system and prolongs its life. With an 80 PLUS® Certified power supply you know that no matter what it is working at a very high efficiency level. This requires less power from the power grid, meaning less resources are used to produce the power for your computer. Plus your power supply will be running cooler which allows the use of lower speed fans, making for a quieter computing experience.
Is there a connection between cooling and efficiency?
Yes. The more efficient a power supply is the less heat it produces. This means a highly efficient power supply runs cooler and can lead to a cooler running system.
What is Antec doing to make 80 PLUS® Certified power supplies available to everyone?
Antec has been striving to deliver high efficiency power supplies to the world for the past couple of years. The time has come to utilize this independent certification so that all customers can be sure of what they’re getting and that it isn’t just marketing hype.
Antec’s first 80 PLUS certified power supply line is the EarthWatts line of power supplies. But since we care, this is only the first of Antec’s 80 PLUS certified lines of power supplies. Watch for more to come.
80 Plus is an innovative, electric utiltfy-funded incentive progream to integrate more energy-efficient power supplies into desktop computers and servers. The 80 plus performance specifications require power supplies in computer and servers to be 80% or greater energy efficient. THis makes an 80 plus certified power supply at least 33% more efficient that current power supplies.
- Achieve energy savings, up to $70 over the life of the desktop computer
- Reduce a room’s cooling load, increasing comfort and saving up to 30%
- Increase computer system reliability and save on maintenance costs by as much as 40%
- Minimize the need for noisy fans, creating a quieter environment
- Save on construction – saves hundreds of dollars in electrical system upgrades
- Allow more computers on the same branch circuit
- Save the environment – prevent pollution by reducing energy consumption
What You Get
- Antec EA-500 EarthWatts 500W Power Supply Unit with 80mm fan
- Standard 4′ Grounded Power Cord
- ATX12V v2.2 Connection
- 12V2 for Motherboard and peripherals
- 12V1 for processor
- 4 SATA connectors
- PCI-E connector: one for 380W and 430W, two for 500W
- AQ3 – Antec Quality three-year parts and labor warranty
The Antec Earthwatts was installed into one of our standard mid-tower cases for testing. Because the cables are not modular, we had to do extra work so that the unused cables didn’t get in the way or impede airflow. Basically once you identify the cables you will need, tie the others off with a rubber band and stuff them in a incospicuous area of the case, like the hidden area between the PSU and the case.
The main motherboard line is the only cable that is sleeved, which keeps it from tangling with all the other loose wires. The 500W version of the EarthWatts also includes two PCI-E connectors (lesser models only have one). The cables are of adequate length for a mid-tower or desktop case, but may be too short for a full tower.
The Antec Earthwatts was allowed to “burn in” for one week before testing. Load was simulated by running 3dMark 2006 in a continuous loop, and load was measured using a power consumption gauge. A digital multi-meter was used to record accurate voltages from the PSU, as many software solutions can be very inaccurate, often outside a 10% threshhold. Since this PSU claims to be more efficient, the exhaust temperature was measured with an IR thermometer and compared against another major 500W power supply.
Test System
- Foxconn 975X7AB Motherboard
- Intel E6600 Core 2 Duo Socket 775
- 2GB OCZ XTC DDR2 PC2-4200 Gold Dual Channel memory
- XFX GeForce 7800 GT PCI Express Video card
- Zalman CNPS9700 NT Heatsink
- 3x Western Digital SATA Hard Drives
- Lian Li V1000 Black Aluminum Case
- Operating System: Windows Vista
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Based on these readings, the Antec EarthWatts power supply has very tight tolerances at all load levels. The 12v line dips into 2% tolerance levels, but just barely. Ultra, on the other hand, has variations up to 10%, which is the most a power supply should fluctuate. Ultra’s 12v lines are rather stable, which is what uses most of the power, and the margins for a 3.3v rail are razer thin. The exhaust of the EarthWatts was measured at 102 degrees, and the Ultra measured 104 degrees under full load.
Antec’s Earthwatts 500 (SKU EA-500) doesn’t have alot of frills that many hardware enthusiasts look for these days, but it is a solid power supply that is rather efficient and produces little heat. Available for around $50 online, it is a real bargain considering that cheap power supplies cost about the same. Sure, you can buy a no-name PSU for $10 less, but who wouldn’t want a name-brand proven power supply for just a little more. Everyone wants quality, but usually you have to pay a premium to get it.
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