Antec High Current Gamer HCG-520M 520W Power Supply Review

Testing results (Efficiency, Noise & Thermal)

Being an 80Plus Bronze certified
unit, we did not expect breathtaking efficiency from the HCG-520M. The power
supply however does honor its certification, with the efficiency peaking at
86.4%/85.6% when powered from an 110VAC/230VAC power source respectively. The
minimum recorded efficiency was 82.8%, when the unit was fully loaded and
powered from a 110VAC source.

The thermal performance of the
HCG-520M is acceptable but, considering the unit’s mediocre power output, it
could have been much better. Nevertheless, even though the maximum temperature
delta was 12C at maximum load, the delta remains at 4-5 degrees across the
entire nominal load range.

As expected after examining the
thermal performance of the HCG-520M, the noise levels of the unit are low as
long as the unit is below 50% load, beyond which point they will continuously rise
as the fan will be trying to cope with the increasing cooling demand. The
result is a unit which is quiet while nominally loaded but quite noisy as long
as it remains under stress.