INTRODUCTION

   Just like virtually every single thing in the PC industry the technology behind power supply units never stays the same and so the fast rates of advancement help lower costs so models which just a couple of years ago were aimed mainly at professionals and enthusiasts are now part of the mainstream market. Perhaps the best example we can give currently is to look at 80 Plus Gold certified PSUs which although just three years ago were at the top of the pyramid and cost an arm and a leg (short of speak) to purchase today have fallen third behind 80 Plus Titanium and Platinum certified PSUs. Well it goes without saying that enthusiasts, professionals and even some of the more demanding gamers will choose one of the new Titanium or Platinum certified PSUs for their systems but for the majority of consumers out there 80 Plus Gold is an excellent choice and so because of that today we will be taking a thorough look at the TruePower Classic 650W (TP-650C) model by Antec.

   Antec, Inc., is the leading global brand of high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognized as a pioneer in these industries and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of efficient, quiet, and reliable products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators. Antec’s offering of enclosures includes a large range of cases, such as its technically advanced Performance One Series, cost-effective New Solution Series and server grade cases designed for the needs of all workstation and server markets. Antec’s products also include front line power supplies such as its TruePower Quattro Series and EarthWatts, the most environmentally friendly power supplies available. PC gamers are an increasingly significant consumer of performance components, and many Antec products are geared toward the gaming demographic, like the Nine Hundred, the premier gamer enclosure. Antec also offers a computing accessories line comprised of many original products, including its patented LED Fans and Notebook Cooling solutions. Antec is headquartered in Fremont, California, with additional offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as well as in Germany, China and Taiwan. The company’s products are sold in more than 40 countries throughout the world. Please visit www.antec.com for more information.

   Although it's the High Current Platinum, Pro and Gamer PSU lines by Antec that get the most exposure by media the new TruePower Classic line is actually quite nice (at least on paper) since aside the 80 Plus Gold efficiency certification and industrial PhaseWave™ Design the 650W variant comes with two +12V rails that can output 100% of the units power, 4 PCIe power connectors for up to quad GPU configurations, several industrial grade protections (Over Current/Over Voltage/Under Voltage/Short Circuit/Over Power/Over Temperature/Surge & Inrush/No Load Operation),ErP Lot 6 support, Japanese capacitors and a 5 year warranty. Also if the 650W of the unit at hands seem too high or too low for some people there are three more models in the TruePower Classic line two with lower outputs (450W/550W) and one with a higher (750W). So let's see what the brand new TruePower Classic line has to offer and more importantly if it hits the sweet spot between price and performance.