INTRODUCTION

   It really feels like centuries since i last reviewed a power supply unit and so todays review is not only the first of its kind here but also the first one i test with a new test rig (well not actually new since the components are pretty much what I’ve always used, just on a different test bench). I am sure that by now most of you are well aware about the reasons as to why people should always prefer brand name power supplies over noname ones but for all of you who are not i can point the 3 perhaps most important ones which are clean and stable power for your system (translates to more life for your computer), higher quality components (more durable) and finally lower noise levels (who likes noise?). So today on the new test bench we have the latest Antec HCG-620M, a 620 modular unit targeted towards the mid-end segment of the market and more specifically gamers.

   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 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.

   The latest Antec High Current Gamer 620W M is a modular version of the HCG-620 i had the chance to test a while ago but since modular cabling affects the performance of a power supply i thought it would be nice to see just how good the new HCG-620 M really is. Certainly the high current gamer series is not Antec's top line of power supply units but it offers a very good performance/price ratio which is indeed what most gamers are after when looking to buy a new unit. However the modular version is brand new so right from the start i was somewhat curious to see if it offered the same or at least a similar performance/price ratio as the non-modular version.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The front of the box is filled with a large product image, the product name, 80Plus Bronze certification logo and its 4 main features.

A graph showcasing the speed and low noise levels of the fan is present at the left side.

The unit’s features are listed at the right side of the box as several colorful images.

At the rear we see a list with all the available power connectors and the main unit features in 4 languages.

The unit is placed inside two layers of cardboard right next to the rest of the bundle.

The box contains the HCG-620M placed inside a bag, the user's manual paper (product overview), 4 mounting screws, AC power cord and the modular cables.

THE HCG-620M

As expected the HCG-620M is not entirely modular and comes with the basic mainboard connectors hardwired into the chassis.

Antec has used a 135mm intake fan with the HCG-620M just like with the non-modular version.

Two large stickers placed on both sides include the product name and output.

At the top we find the typical large sticker with the units electrical specifications listed.

The HCG-620M comes with 6 modular ports (tagged and color coded) two of which are only for use with disk drives.

Moving at the rear of the unit we find the usual honeycomb perforation along with the on/off switch and the power port.

The 135mm intake fan used is made by ADDA and can achieve speeds of up to 2500RPM while producing up to 82CFM of airflow at 36dBA of noise.

The layout of the interior is very clean and is actually based on the M12II design by Seasonic (the non-modular version was made by Delta).

Primary and secondary capacitors used are made by the Japanese Nippon Chemi-Con. The primary is rated for use of up to 85°C while the secondary for up to 105°C.

At the secondary side we also see a single Rubycon capacitor rated for use up to 105°C.

TEST BED

TESTING METHODOLOGY

     Using a dedicated measurement instrument such as a Chroma or a SunMoon for power supply testing is without doubt the most ideal and accurate way (not to mention fastest) to do that currently. However it's certainly not the only way there is and so pretty much anyone can test a power supply just by using his own computer. Certainly limitations do apply and so you can't really test a 1000W power supply if your system only uses 500W at extreme loads and that's why during the past 5 years i have saved certain hardware components for the purpose of building a PSU test rig. True it may not be as accurate as the above mentioned solutions but it comes really close and is in fact closer to real. So as always we ran several games with maximum graphic options enabled at a resolution of 2560x1600 in order to stress every hardware component and increase the overall power demands of the system. The Passmark BurnIn Test was also used to overstress the components in an effort to provide the most accurate results possible. As a final test we also used the latest OCCT 4.0 software and its dedicated PSU testing suite since it can really bring a power supply to its knees after even just a few minutes.

       Rail stability was checked/measured with the CPUID Hardware monitor and a Metex multimeter which also recorded the system load in idle and in load. As always try to remember that the power consumption numbers listed in the graph are the highest (Peak) ones recorded during the entire duration of the tests and not the average (Idle) ones. Noise levels coming from the fan were recorded using the high precision HD600 ExTech Sound dBA Meter from the rear of the unit and at a range of no more than 5cm. Readings under load are recorded the exact moment we manually switch all graphics cards from full speed to idle, that way the fan of the power supply does not have enough time to slow its RPM and so by doing this we get very accurate noise level readings. To get 100% accurate readings you need to have a noise isolated room for that exact purpose, something which is quite impossible unless you are working inside a real lab (some people use very small noise insulated boxes but due to their size both heat and noise exceed normal levels and so the results can't really be considered 100% accurate). Also do take into account that since all noise measurements take place from just 5-10cm away the final noise levels to reach your ears will be quite less.

TEST RESULTS

Rail stability is not the best we've ever seen but for a mid-end power supply it's actually very good.

Using an open test bench without any fans proved to be quieter and less power hungry so this time over it managed to take 26W over the units rated output.

We have seen a few quieter power supplies but just over 40dBA at overload is almost inaudible.

CONCLUSION

   The original high current gamer 620W is already a very good power supply and although modular variants of the same type usually score worse this is not the case with the HCG-620M since it scored equally good in rail stability and noise levels. The only thing some people never really liked about the original high current gamer line of power supplies by Antec was the top end model which didn't exceed 620W and thus end users (mostly gamers) with higher electrical demands either had to move over to the more expensive high current pro line or simply look someplace else. Now the same exact thing has happened with the modular variant line and although i can't really say i have the slightest clue behind this decision by Antec i am quite positive they have their reasons.

   Aggressive pricing has been one of the strong points of the high current gamer line from the start and the same stands for the HCG-620M since currently it retails for USD89.99 inside the USA (Newegg) and at around 100Euros inside the EU. So unless the rated continuous output of the HCG-620M 620W is not enough to cover your needs then it really comes highly recommended by us. It's a high quality modular power supply (OEM is Seasonic) with an 80Plus Bronze certification, very good rail stability (even at overload), low noise levels and an tempting price tag (especially for USA residents) which is why it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Rail Stability
- Noise Levels
- Modular
- Price (For Some) 

CONS

- Top Unit Is Only 620W