Antec HCG 520W: A Good PSU for Bargain Hunters
by Martin Kaffei on May 31, 2011 6:55 PM ESTNoise Levels
| Sound Pressure Level (Ambient: 16dBA, 1m distance) | |
| Load | dB(A) |
| 10% | 17 |
| 20% | 18 |
| 50% | 20 |
| 80% | 28 |
| 100% | 30 |
| 110% | 32 |
The HCG-520 is not audible at low loads and comes in very close to the lowest value we can measure (16 dB(A)). At 50% load we can definitely hear the fan, but 20 dB(A) is far from a bad result. Upon reaching 80% load, the fan noise ratchets up quite a bit and the PSU is no longer silent, but generally speaking you will need to put a decent load on your CPU and GPU to reach a power draw of over 400W, at which point those components are likely to generate more noise than the PSU. Total system noise isn't strictly additive either, but keep the above in mind when configuring your PC.
Efficiency and PFC
| 115VAC, 60Hz | ||
| Load | Efficiency | PFC |
| 10% | 78% | 0.938 |
| 20% | 84% | 0.977 |
| 50% | 86% | 0.982 |
| 80% | 85% | 0.988 |
| 100% | 83% | 0.994 |
| 110% | 82% | 0.996 |
| 230VAC, 50Hz | ||
| Load | Efficiency | PFC |
| 10% | 79% | 0.918 |
| 20% | 85% | 0.942 |
| 50% | 87% | 0.960 |
| 80% | 86% | 0.975 |
| 100% | 85% | 0.989 |
| 110% | 83% | 0.991 |
Since many readers like measurements at 115VAC as well as 230VAC, we have two charts. The efficiency isn't great at 10% load, but 80 Plus certification only tests at 20, 50 and 100% load so all the results fall in the expected 80 Plus Bronze range. The power factor is very high on both power grids which is a rarity, particularly for 230VAC. The overall results are very good, delivering good quality for all potential users.
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radium69 - Tuesday, May 31, 2011 - link
Great review,Glad to see Antec doing well in the power supply business especially the "Gamer" series.
Also for $60 you can't really go wrong with it. And its efficiency on 230V is simply remarkable at lower loads.
Only problem is that we get ripped off here in the Netherlands...
The model currently costs at it cheapest! 72 euro = $103
I remember I bought my 750W OCZ GameXtream (HQ components, great power supply) for 90 euro. That was like 4 years ago...
European markets suck...
dingetje - Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - link
I am (a dutchie) in Taiwan and Antec hcg 520 costs here just over 2900 TWD which around 72 Euro (calculated with XE currenc converter).So this is the current streetprice here in Taipei. (I could probably haggle a few euro's off but no more than 5, and probably only even half of that.)
Weird how those prices are the same.
By the way, I have always wondered why hardware prices in the USA are so much lower compared to Taiwan streetprices, considering most of the stuff is fabricated here in China and Taiwan.
weird...
groeten uit Taiwan :)
Nataku - Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - link
I didn't think you could get anything Antec in Taiwan? either that or the store I went to 3 years ago just decided to give me the finger lolI'm not sure if this is the reason, but may be tax hasn't been included in the US version?
laserwing6 - Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - link
Well, they make the stuff in China, then send it back to US where they distribute it...not very smart if they ask me...or at least thats what most companies do :Pdingetje - Thursday, June 2, 2011 - link
Right, i guess it doesn't make sense for an american company to do that.The weird thing is that if i compare (street)prices between usa and taiwan of almost any hardware brand, the prices are 10 to 15 percent lower in the usa (so even for taiwan based companies).
I guess it has something to with tax or middle-men or both.
radium69 - Tuesday, May 31, 2011 - link
Scuse me, that should read 700W :)Quizzical - Tuesday, May 31, 2011 - link
Is this, by any chance, a rebranded Seasonic S12II?Folterknecht - Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - link
Look at last Page:"Pricing ends up being the big selling point here, especially when we consider the original Seasonic version cost $20 more."
JasonInofuentes - Tuesday, May 31, 2011 - link
Glad I picked this up when I thought my PSU had blown. Sad that it turned out to be my mobo. :( Ahh well.SlyNine - Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - link
So I found this site talking about PSU reviews, Worth a good read and also shows why Anandtech is one of the best PSU reviews out there!, So keep up the good work Anandtech!http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Why-99-Perc...