Antec is really upsetting me

[uberwoot]

So i bought a 1000 watt antec psu for my rig and one would think it should be a qualty psu right? Well its not and my old FSP 400 watt could run my rig no problem but this pos cant even run it. Turns out they cant power 8800GT or any G80 or G92 gpu's at all.


So what am i to do? Im going to call up Antec and see if they will make me happy since this is totaly un acceptable for a psu of this calaber and price and if they offer to rma it without sending me a replacement out first and next daying it "mind you this psu is not even 12 hours old" then i will be takeing it back to the store and getting a PC Power and Cooling silencer since they are about 10X better and cheaper. I will also be starting a boycot on all antec products since they know about this problem yet failed to list it on their site for the psu.



This was my first antec product and i will tell you this. If they dont fix this the way i want and make me happy this will be the last and i will try to keep everyone i know away from their products.



Also the 12 volt rails are all 11.95volts. Seems a little low for a "high end" psu i was wanting to see somthing like 12.01votls or somthing.







But after work i will be calling antec to see how they will fix thei and amke me happy and keep me as a customer but i dought they can make me happy but i will give them that chance. I will also ask them why they are selling defective psu's without listing on their site that they do no work with any G80 and G92's. I feel cheated.

[hafa]

Hey, uberwoot

I hope they fix you up, man.

I was a loyal Antec customer for years, but quit buying Antec products after the introduction of the Trio series and a subsequent 50% DOA rate. I simply don't like bright flashes accompanied by huge clouds of black smoke in close proximity to $2K of new hardware.

FWIW, they used to be very good about RMAs; let's hope that at least has stayed consistent.

[Audioaficionado]

My Antec TP550 EPS12v died from crap caps in less than 3 years and I'm out over a C note.
I never loaded it past 50%
I love my PCP&C :santa:

[djrussell]

So what am i to do? Im going to call up Antec and see if they will make me happy since this is totaly un acceptable for a psu of this calaber and price and if they offer to rma it without sending me a replacement out first and next daying it "mind you this psu is not even 12 hours old" then i will be takeing it back to the store and getting a PC Power and Cooling silencer since they are about 10X better and cheaper. I will also be starting a boycot on all antec products since they know about this problem yet failed to list it on their site for the psu.

i would just do that in the first place.

[uberwoot]

Done. Running my 1kw and i must say, impressed Good job pc power and cooling.


Ok so i called ancrap today and its like talking to a 3 year old. You know theirs problems with the psu and G92 core gpus right? No im sorry i thought your psu wasent total and utter crap. Its sli certafied meaing it can run 2 gpus i thought it could run 1 but i guess i was wrong. What would you like us to do? Stop lieing about your sli cert and stop selling pos psu's and scamming people ya trolls.


So there is a problem with this psu. It runs everything but G80's and G92's....thats sad that its this big of a pos and best of all they still cant fix it!!



So avoid all things that have the Antec name on them like a unclean woman offering you a two for one deal. Also the 12 volt rails were 11.80 volts idle without a 8800gt getting full power lol this psu is total crap.



ps their rma's went down the crapper to.

[ancalime]

Wow it can't power a G80 or G92? Why not? That is really absurd if true.

I still like Antec. Their cases are among my favorite and their Earthwatts line is very good. :)

[uberwoot]

Ok the rig in my sig oc'ed to those specs kicked that psu in its nuts hard core. 11.8 volt rails and couldent supply power to my one stock clock 8800GT. My old trust 400watt FSP powered that rig without a problem and i was useing more than 400 lol. caps all look good and she powered it fine for over a week of hard core gameing. Took her out and checked it all and shes still fine and the rails are perfect and never dip below 12.1volts on that rig in my system.


but i got my turbo cool 1kw and i must say i love it. This psu is the second best psu i ever had. The first beaing my FSP aka old trusty. Shure she isent the most powerfull but when i was in a pinch she powered my rig just fine and will sill give me fafthfull service on a smaller rig im building.

[Tebore]

I know what you guys mean.

I've been using Antec's since back in the day when they only made the huge server towers and lately their quality is just complete and utter crap.

I've gotten a 70% DOA rate with their PSUs and their cases are poorly made. The design in the case is there but the metal is thinner the mounts aren't as precise as they'd use to be, a lot of uses of plastic of once metal parts like the latching mechanisms on the doors.

It's sad because $100-200 used to get a good PSU and Case now it doesn't at least with Antec is doesn't.

Their Customer support still seems ok but not as good as it used to be either. I had a few RMA's where they just "forgot" to mail it out where as they used to overnight stuff to me before asking for the old parts back.

[Audioaficionado]

...their cases are poorly made. The design in the case is there but the metal is thinner the mounts aren't as precise as they'd use to be, a lot of uses of plastic of once metal parts like the latching mechanisms on the doors.I love my CM Stacker 810 :santa:

[hafa]

I know what you guys mean.

I've been using Antec's since back in the day when they only made the huge server towers and lately their quality is just complete and utter crap.

I've gotten a 70% DOA rate with their PSUs and their cases are poorly made. The design in the case is there but the metal is thinner the mounts aren't as precise as they'd use to be, a lot of uses of plastic of once metal parts like the latching mechanisms on the doors.

It's sad because $100-200 used to get a good PSU and Case now it doesn't at least with Antec is doesn't.

Their Customer support still seems ok but not as good as it used to be either. I had a few RMA's where they just "forgot" to mail it out where as they used to overnight stuff to me before asking for the old parts back.

Yup, that's why we shifted to Lian Li for cases and Enermax, and lately Corsair for PSUs.

It's a shame, as Antec used to make some great equipment. We still have dozens of smartpower 350s in the field, most of which are pushing 5 years old and are still going strong.

[El<(')>Maxi]

Recently RMA'd a 480W Neo, the RMA was fast and easy. Too bad the PSU didn't even last a year.

[JamesXP]

WTH?



I can't see WHY it can't power 8800GT it is certainly capable(It's a CWT build if i'm correct, same as VX450/TX750(I think...))

I don't see what the problem is rather weird if you ask me....


Hope you enjoy your loud PSU :)


How many notes did it set you back?


(and maxi the neo should've lasted longer than that damn, although they are low end seasonic builds, i'd expect them to last alot longer.. o.o...)

[uberwoot]

Spoke with a laywer since Antec is doing nothing about this and hes going to check into this and see if a class action is in order since they know about this problem and dont list it on their web site. Also they state it as sli cert. but it cant run one card. Hes going to look into this because this is false advertisement and maybe everyone who got suckered by antec's 1,000 watt psu will be getting a nice check :)


Anywho the 1kw ran me $280 for a banrd spankin new unit. It weas a display but never powered on. Cant beat a pc power and cooling psu for $280 out the door :)

[Mikecdm]

That's a shame that a big psu like that one can't power one 8800gt. You'd figure, at that price it should be able to push just about anything.
Even my old antec true power 430 can power an 8800gt.

[uberwoot]

Well is simple. The psu is total trash and antec is stuck with thems o lets just sell them and say nvidia has to fix the problem and were working on it. hate to tell them its false advertisement and now they will pay for their trolly ways.

problem is not listed on the psu's man page.

psu says its sli cetafied but i dont know how since it dosent run a single 8800GT GTS GTX or Ultra.


This could of been avoided if they would send me a postage payed box to send this pos back to them. but when they say well since were a troll and we sold you a pos psu that we know has problems you pay to send it to us. Well that stuff just aint flying and now the good ol American judical system is going to have a go with antec :)



But when i get word back from the laywer about how he will be handeling this "hopeing for a big class action" i'll make a post so everyone who owns one of these psu's can get in on it.

[BmanG15]

sucks to hear Antec has gone down the drains. I have sworn by their PSUs when I built my computer over 5 years ago, that has been on for 5 staight years[ never on standby either ] powered by a 350W antec power supply in a sweet Antec case. I guess I won't go with Antec after hearing all these issues. :(

I always get disappointed when hearing of once great companies now ****ing their customers.

[ratbuddy]

Wow. Chill out a little. You don't need to badmouth the whole company just because you got a bum PSU. Saying that it cannot power an 8800GT/GTX/Ultra/whatever is just plain wrong. You maybe got a defective one, or didn't hook it up right, but spitting venom at Antec based on a single bad experience is just childish. You even mention Antec asked you 'What would you like us to do?' which is exactly what they SHOULD say.

Calling Antec "trolls" in this case is pretty ironic..

[Goshawk]

Well is simple. The psu is total trash and antec is stuck with thems o lets just sell them and say nvidia has to fix the problem and were working on it. hate to tell them its false advertisement and now they will pay for their trolly ways.



Did you ever try the supply in a different system entirely?

This might seem unrelated, but read anyway ;)

I think there might be an issue here that was overlooked... Does anyone remember back when the NeoHE line of power supplies ( when it was JUST released ) had a problem with a certain few high end Asus boards? specifically the P5N32-SLI and A8N32-SLI boards? Antec had to revise the power supply because these motherboards would not post at all with the supplies connected.... they just weren't compatible in they're current state.

Fast forward a few months later, Intel released they're VIIV home theater boards... specifically the DG965WHMKR and the DG965OTMKR. The same issue arose again, no post with NeoHE power supplies.

I ended up talking with SEVERAL engineers at intel, both inside and outside of the motherboard group and the concensus was a "sloping" problem, the power supply would regulate power in such a way that the motherboard doesn't really know what to do with itself, and would fail to post.... this problem was with NeoHE antec supplies specifically. Heh, we even provided Intel with samples of each of the NeoHE supplies to figure out the problem :)

Basically, I have a "feeling" that if you try/tried the power supply in a different system, or at least a different board, you'd find the supply works fine. I have no scientific proof or anything to support my hypothesis... more just a gut feeling that arises out of experience with Antec " High efficiency" power supplies.... just a theory :P


~ Gos

[Pinky]

My 480W neo, fwiw, has been running for years fine. It started in an overlcoked system, ended up in a server running 24x7 for over a year, then back into my main Acer rig at default clocks. So it's like 3 years old now with no issues. I'm holding my breath though, that's the longest I've ever had a power supply. :p

[uberwoot]

Did you ever try the supply in a different system entirely?

This might seem unrelated, but read anyway ;)

I think there might be an issue here that was overlooked... Does anyone remember back when the NeoHE line of power supplies ( when it was JUST released ) had a problem with a certain few high end Asus boards? specifically the P5N32-SLI and A8N32-SLI boards? Antec had to revise the power supply because these motherboards would not post at all with the supplies connected.... they just weren't compatible in they're current state.

Fast forward a few months later, Intel released they're VIIV home theater boards... specifically the DG965WHMKR and the DG965OTMKR. The same issue arose again, no post with NeoHE power supplies.

I ended up talking with SEVERAL engineers at intel, both inside and outside of the motherboard group and the concensus was a "sloping" problem, the power supply would regulate power in such a way that the motherboard doesn't really know what to do with itself, and would fail to post.... this problem was with NeoHE antec supplies specifically. Heh, we even provided Intel with samples of each of the NeoHE supplies to figure out the problem :)

Basically, I have a "feeling" that if you try/tried the power supply in a different system, or at least a different board, you'd find the supply works fine. I have no scientific proof or anything to support my hypothesis... more just a gut feeling that arises out of experience with Antec " High efficiency" power supplies.... just a theory :P


~ Gos



Yeah a FPS 350 watt psu would power he just fine. That says somthing for FPS since i ran it on that for a week and shes still good as new. Anyways i got a PC Power and cooling 1kw and it blows that pos antec away. And the caps used in the pc power and cooling aint crap caps :)


Also rat it cant power a 8 series "google maybe?" And im bad mouthing that they make low qualty psu's when compared to good name brands and that their custmer service treats you as if your a eneme combantant.

This topic is old and done. Antec flat out sucks in service and qualty. they use to be ok now they just flat out suck and this has been proven. But il'' tell you what. Go drop $350 on a psu and then call them up and have them say oh yeah it dosent power that card because its a pos but we got one all riged so it will power it since the psu has no fix as of this date they can only rig them to power it. But you gotta pay shipping back and forth pushing the price of the psu up even more even tho you just bought it a few hours ago.


Ps just because your a antec fanboy dosent mean you have to defend them. This was my opinion. If you like them more power to you but as far as i can see their products are trash and service to match.

[Goshawk]

Ps just because your a antec fanboy dosent mean you have to defend them. This was my opinion. If you like them more power to you but as far as i can see their products are trash and service to match.

Dude, uncalled for... i was trying to help...

Judging by the lack of an answer to my question at the beginning of my post, I'm assuming you didn't bother testing the supply in a different system altogether to make sure that was the problem. Usually folks try to isolate a problem before flaming a company for inferior product, rather than jump to a conclusion based on nothing but a computer that won't post.... which i might add could be anything.

djrussell suggested earlier in the post that you should just bring it back to the shop you got it from. That shop is where this problem would have been solved that early on, if it was a problem with the supply, they would have ironed it out.



~ Gos :beer:

[Shiggity]

I had an antec earthwatts 500W PSU, it lasted me a good 4 years and was a solid PSU in my old rig.

I'm pretty happy with Antec PSU's and cases I've bought in the past.

Shrug.

[RJARRRPCGP]

I had an antec earthwatts 500W PSU, it lasted me a good 4 years and was a solid PSU in my old rig.

I'm pretty happy with Antec PSU's and cases I've bought in the past.

Shrug.

They were just called TruePower or SmartPower 4 years ago, AFAIK.

I didn't see any EarthWatts ones until at least 2007 or 2006.

[Shiggity]

They were just called TruePower or SmartPower 4 years ago, AFAIK.

I didn't see any EarthWatts ones until at least 2007 or 2006.

you're right it was truepower, 550W truepower.

[Tebore]

See 4 years ago that was when Antec was top notch. They really went down hill in the past 1 to 2 years.

Take antec case from 4 years ago I dare you to stand on it it won't collapse but try that with one of the newer ones and I bet it'll fold faster than a house of cards.

I dented one just the other day just leaning over it to reach a screw I dropped I was like WTF I knew it got thinner but this is just ridiculous.

[theELVISCERATOR]

Corsair and a 5 year warranty is powering this rig just fine!

[MadMan007]

I like my P180 case. The last Antec PSU I had was bought in 2000 and ran a Northwood P4 rig for a good 5-6 years. I think at this point one of the caps is wearing out though and bulging a little. Sounds like they aren't speccing good parts any more though :( Even if it's a good OEM that they contract they can still spec cheap parts.

[Mooyo]

Every powersupply I own is an Antec. Literally.

I have no complaints whatsoever.

[MooMasster716]

Wow, Perhaps you got a dud and if you did then your post could have been about any company. I used to have a TP 550 and it powered my systems for 3 years. The last was a Heavily OCed 3800 X2 and a 8800gts... any who I sold it when I won a 1k Cooler master. It really sounds like you've never had a bad experience with any piece of hardware so perhaps its best you keep buying your PCP&C Power supplies till you get a dud and re-post again about how their the worst company and then start a class action lawsuit.

[ratbuddy]

Wow uberman. From the comments you have posted I get the impression you may not have hooked the PSU up properly. You said Antec asked what you would like them to do, that is exactly what they should have said. It's not their fault you were being unreasonable.

The system in my sig has been running on a 450 watt Antec SP 2.0 since day one, with no problems so far. I have a Corsair 750TX on the way, but only because it's a little iffy if the 450 can handle a 9800GX2.

I'll guess you are also the type to post a 1-egg review on newegg when you happen to get a DOA product.. It happens, get used to it..

[RJARRRPCGP]

I like my P180 case. The last Antec PSU I had was bought in 2000 and ran a Northwood P4 rig for a good 5-6 years. I think at this point one of the caps is wearing out though and bulging a little. Sounds like they aren't speccing good parts any more though :( Even if it's a good OEM that they contract they can still spec cheap parts.

2000?! Northwoods didn't exist!

In fact, that's when Intel was the most likely to get booed, because that's when Willamette debuted, at 1.4 Ghz, they reportedly were not better than a Pentium III 700 Mhz.

Northwood debuted in 2002 or late 2001.

[Audioaficionado]

2000?! Northwoods didn't exist!

In fact, that's when Intel was the most likely to get booed, because that's when Willamette debuted, at 1.4 Ghz, they reportedly were not better than a Pentium III 700 Mhz.

Northwood debuted in 2002 or late 2001.Well MadMan007 could have bought it in 2000 and when the Northwoods came out a couple of years later, he ran one for five more years ;)

Read his post carefully and you don't see him saying he had a Northwood in 2000 but that he purchased the PSU then.

[MadMan007]

Well MadMan007 could have bought it in 2000 and when the Northwoods came out a couple of years later, he ran one for five more years ;)

Read his post carefully and you don't see him saying he had a Northwood in 2000 but that he purchased the PSU then.

I was wrong with the year I bought it, I used the wrong move from one place to another to guess and chose the wrong move thinking that I bought it with a case that I had for longer. But the time running a P4 was right at ~5 years. The markings on the PSU indicate that it was made in January 2002. I think the caps are finally getting a little bulgy on it at ths point but it still seemed to work ok even recently.

[Audioaficionado]

Your caps at least lasted longer than the warranty. Mine died before they should have and before the warranty was up but I didn't bother as I switched to another brand instead.

PCP&C :beer: