| Antec Neo HE 500 PSU Review |
| Written by Maxit | ||||
 Antec are one of the worlds leading brands of high performance computer components for the PC upgrade and do-it-yourself market. They make everything from state of the art computer cases to environmentally friendly power supplies. The Neo HE series of power supplies represents one of their top products with unprecedented efficiency in design and performance. The HE range are specially designed to reduce power consumption by up to 20% compared with traditional power supplies, saving users money and maybe even a few trees! All this while generating less heat and allowing cooling with a smaller, slower, quieter fan. Active PFC circuitry further reduces impact on the power infrastructure. The result is cooler, quieter, and more environmentally friendly power for your PC. That's some claim! Let's find out if the Neo HE 500 power supply delivers. Features The power supply looks decent. It's not flashy like some of the more exotic units on the market. It's understated, mature, grownup if you like. What it lacks in bling, it covers in features and quality. The PSU is naturally SLI and Crossfire ready and it includes our favourite modular cable design - in english that means you can remove those extra cables you don't need! Neo HE 500 uses a single 80mm variable speed fan that keeps the noise low under normal usage and revs up under load to provide extra cooling as required. Other features include AQ5 - 5 year warranty (top stuff!), Universal Input with active PFC, Dedicated Power Circuitry, Three +12V output circuits, SATA connectors and Industrial grade protection circuirty. Inside the box are the PSU, user manual, screws, AC power cable, and a package of modular cables. Except the 20/24 pin ATX connector and the +12V cable, which are hardwired into the PSU, all other cables are modular. The modular cable package includes:
 The Neo HE 500 is painted in gray and the rear of the PSU houses the 80mm fan, the ATX On-Off switch and the AC Plug-in. The front of the PSU is very well ventilated with an open grill which allows for some great cooling. On the top of the grill are the five modular cable connectors. The unit measures 15cm(W) x 8.6cm(H) x 15cm(L) and fits well in almost all cases.     Specifications
 In The LabsPerformance is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing a power supply. The Antec unit didn't disappoint. The PSU performed very well and proved reliable under real world tests even under the heaviest of loads. The 12v rails stayed solid and about 12 volts throughtout a 24 hours soak test - Prime95, photoshop, F.E.A.R and benchmarking. The unit efficiency is actually greater than the ATX recommendation of 80% under load and the average efficieny is some where between 80 and 85%. This PSU is one of the greenest in its class. The output voltages are solid and stable. Universal Input with Active PFC is another great feature that attributes to the performance of the Neo HE 500. The fan in this unit needs a special mention. The 80mm fan is controlled by the internal equipment and even under heavy load, the sound of the fan is inaudible - at least to our scientific equipment consisting of a pair of ears pushed up to the unit. So what kind of a system could this unit power. Well, according to the extreme wattage calculator a mega beastie one and still have 50 watts in reserve!
The Bottom LineWithout doubt, this is a cracking power supply and perhaps the best you can buy in the 500-600W segment. It has enough power to run the top processors and graphics cards including the new 8800GTX card from NVIDIA. With SLI support, great efficiency and very quiet operation, it's hard to find fault with the Neo HE. The modular cables are a welcome addition, allowing easy cable management and clutter free wiring. The price is good, especially considering the 5 year warranty Antec throw in, and the stabilty impressive even in extreme systems. It's super efficient and might even save you a few bucks every month on your power bill! If you aren't planning on running a couple of 8800GTX cards in SLI configuration, this power supply should be top of your shopping list.   Pros
Cons
Special thanks to Antec and their PR company for sending in the unit for evaluation. You can find out lots more about their latest products by visiting their website at http://www.antec.com
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