Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 500W ATX12V SLI Ready Modular Power Supply - Retail

Positive review

Reviewed By: Guano Loco on 8/10/2006

Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 week to 1 month

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: Good design - modular system means you don't have a bunch of extra PSU connectors to cable tie to the back of the case. Heavy duty cables means they leak less electronic noise. LOTS of cables included - everything you'll need and then a few more. Dual fans are variable, so it's not noisier than needed when idle. As always, Antec has delivered a high quality product for a reasonable price. Delivers all the power it's supposed to - rated at 500w under full load as near as I can tell it's pushing about 520w. Always nice to get a bit MORE than you're supposed to when so often with PC parts you get less.

Cons: Initially I wished I had one more cable connection on the PSU, but once I started building I realized there were enough connections if I planned ahead a bit. Helped keep my case less cluttered than it would have been otherwise.

Other Thoughts: I'd never given much thought in the past to my PSUs - as long as they were supplying the power they were supposed to. Now that I've used one with an intellegent design, I'll be a lot pickier about my future PSUs.

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Mr. Potato Head of power supplies

Reviewed By: menos puntos on 7/20/2006

Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: 1 week to 1 month

This user purchased this item from Newegg

Pros: Are you kidding me this thing is AWESOME, you can mix and match the cables you want no more spare cables bundled up in the corner of your case making it look hideous. Cheapest modular cabling power supply, with SLI support that I could find and it has 500W!!! jeeez.

Cons: The power supply itself is actually smaller then my other one, but when you put in the cable it adds a little bit of extra length to the over all length. Lian Li V1000 users be ware, it WILL hit the back wall of the Power supply compartment and you will have to jam it in there and force the cables to bend.

Other Thoughts: Very silent since it has the smart fan, if I didn't have a V1000 case with the separate power supply compartment though I would want an option to leave it on the whole time so it could cool the rest of the computer

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9 Months to psu death

Reviewed By: 4rk on 8/26/2007

Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: 1 month to 1 year

Pros: This worked for only 9 months in a basic 939 system single core, 1 7600 nvidia card, 2 drives. It does have a 3 year warranty. I liked the modular cables, though they're extremely long this is good for my antec P180 case.

Cons: It broke. It cost me a lot at the time, and I don't have a receipt to get the warranty replacement.

Other Thoughts: At least it didn't fry anything else. Oddly it powers the fans and drives fine, but not the CPU. I guess that means one of the 2 rails is gone.
Currently I replaced it with an Ultra Series V psu. It was cheaper and it seems quieter and at least it works for me right now. Plus they have a lifetime warranty and I do have that receipt.

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Reviewed By: JoCool on 8/25/2007

Tech Level: somewhat high - Ownership: 1 month to 1 year

Pros: Works perfectly. Nothing outstanding, but it is running 3 hard drives and a fairly new sys board and processor with no problems.

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: Works so well I forget it's there. What a great power supply should be.

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Decent, at best.

Reviewed By: sdouble on 8/23/2007

Tech Level: high - Ownership: more than 1 year

Pros: many wrapped cables, modular, nice and thick shielded power cable, fan sensor. Everything that one would need.

Cons: Purchased in June 2006, dead in July of 2007. Worked fine I supposed for the year I had it. Have a cheap PSU in it now (Powmax) that works just the same. 2 cd drives, Athlon 64 3200+, 4 hard drives (2 SATA, 2 IDE), SB Audigy, Radeon 9800 Pro $20 PSU runs it just as well as this $80

Other Thoughts: Spent eighty dollars cash at Staples and can't find the receipt. No receipt means the warranty is invalid. Worthless. Broken is broken. /cheer Antec I guess products only break when you have the receipt. No reciept = operator error.

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