Antec’s NeoPower 480 Modular PSU

Testing and Rich’s Thoughts

I tested the NeoPower 480 on the following system using my trusty Extech 411 multimeter/temp sensor.

• ASUS A8V socket 939
• AMD 3800+
• ATI X800 Pro
• 1GB Corsair XMS 4400 (2x 515 MB)
• Maxtor 300 GB SATA
• 3x120mm case fans

Voltages were taken at idle, then at full load using both Sisoft Sandra’s burn in utility and Stanford University’s Folding @ Home program

Although there was of course fluctuation between the idle and load readings, these were very minor and won’t affect system performance. I then overclocked the system by dropping the multiplier to 11 and raising the FSB to 240 at the tightest stable memory timings:

As you can see, although the 12V rails were a bit under perfect readings, the rails were very solid regardless of what load they were placed under. Very impressive, though I wish the 12V rails were a bit higher.

Rich’s Thoughts

The 120mm Fan

The Connectors

I found Antec’s NeoPower 480 to be a great product. Although Antec was not the first company to sell modular power supplies they have definitely help set the standard and entered the market with a solid power supply. I believe modular power supplies will be the new trend among PSU makers. It was the enthusiast market that pushed companies to offer these models and now the larger PSU companies like Antec will bring them to the mainstream users. Having the ability to custom wire systems and add new connectors as needed is something that any computer user can benifit from.

My only real gripe was the 12V rail readings. While well within required specifications, the rail only measured 11.84, and although it was very stable, I expect a little better out of a premium PSU. Intel’s standard calls for a +/- 5% range in PSU rails, but Antec holds their products to a higher standard of +/- 3%, so in fact this ends up being a very minor grievance. My only recommendations to Antec would be to wrap all their cables in either a mesh or shrink wrap for neater wiring and to change the sockets on the PSU itself to a recessed configuration, creating a little more room. Adding mesh will add to the cost, but we are talking pennies on the dollar and for a PSU of this caliber a few cents extra shouldn’t be an issue!

Other than that this is a wonderful product that will not only power any current system, but also most any high end system for the near future. If you are looking for a PSU that will meet all your system needs, check out Antec’s NeoPower 480 before making a buying decision.

Legit Bottom Line: The Antec NeoPower 480W PSU is one of the first mainstream modular power supplies and offers stable voltage rails, while allowing the consumer to choose what power cables they want to run.