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
