Antec HCP-750 80 Plus Gold

Conclusion

The Antec HCP-750 is an efficient power supply with generally average equipment . The ripple and noise voltage is low at all loads and performance is great. The total noise of the fan is also satisfying. Where things aren't so great is in the packaging extras. The current market price is influenced by what others traders are charging for similar product, and not surprisingly the cost is going to be quite a bit higher than lesser power supplies.

Compared to the HCP-1200, Delta Eletronics has changed to zero voltage switching (ZVS) by using a separate resonant circuit. However, the phase-shifted full bridge converter is still a part of the topology. This is one of the best circuit designs for a high output power. Antec shows in an impressive way how strongly the components can be miniaturized with higher switching frequencies and four-quadrant operation. This also affects the heatsinks; since the switching losses are reduced to a minimum, other components do not warm up as much. The result is that the HCP-750 has low operating temperatures and a moderately controlled PWM fan. The high-quality capacitors and EMI filtering are well developed, which should also be mentioned. However, Delta continues to use Chinese components in places such as the Y capacitors. The component mix of a large manufacturer is sometimes disadvantageous, which is why Japanese capacitors often perform better.

As shown in our performance section, the HCP-750 reaches nearly 91% efficiency at 230V and 115V input voltages. Especially at low load the efficiency is noteworthy, because 80 Plus Gold requires good values only at 20%, 50%, and 100% loads​​. The +12V output is well regulated during overload and crossload. The other output voltages are close to the optimal values as well. Fan noise is slightly lower than the results we saw with the HCP-1200, but the difference is not much and the extra 450W of output on the big brother needs to be taken into consideration. While the noise levels may be similar, it's also important to consider the type of noise a PSU generates. There are differences in how a 135mm fan sounds and how an 80mm fan sounds, with the larger fans generally being preferred. Still, for a high-end PSU Antec should use Sanyo Denki fans, since the ADDA model makes some bearing noise. Overall, though, the acoustic noise is not bad for a 750W power supply.

With nine SATA, one FDD, and six Molex connectors, the 750W model is fairly well equipped. It might be better to have the PCIe connectors distributed to multiple cables, at the cost of cable clutter, but the wire cross-section helps make up for this. The 24-pin and the 12V AUX harnesses are 55cm and 65cm long, so the power supply is suitable for most large PC cases. The cable sleeveing is relatively cheap and not opaque, which is a minor point against an otherwise high quality PSU. Another minor complaint is that, apart from the necessary items for installation and a user manual, nothing else is included in the package. The competition often offers a few extras, like some cable ties, and given the target market the lack of any extras is underwhelming.

The current price for the Antec HCP-750 is $140, down from $175 just a few weeks ago. For an 80 Plus Gold power supply with this quality, the price is quite impressive—a quick search at Newegg for instance reveals this to be one of the least expensive 700W-800W 80 Plus Gold/Platinum PSUs. There are other options worth a look of course. For example, the LEPA G-series provides similar quality, using Enermax technology based on their Modu87+ series. The FSP Aurum CM 750W is also very cheap, but it's even louder than the Antec HCP-1200—not good for a 750W PSU—plus the voltage quality is slightly worse. Other alternatives like the be quiet! E9 series and the Cougar GX 700W models are significantly more expensive, but also a little quieter under load or equipped with a well-processed case.

Overall, the Antec HCP-750 provides a good showing that's roughly in line with all the other ~750W 80 Plus Gold products. A few extras could certainly sweeten the deal, but for the price this is an excellent power supply. We can safely recommend the HCP-750 for anyone looking for a higher wattage power supply that will handle overclocking and dual-GPU configurations with aplomb. Users who are more interested in a system that should be used but not heard may find other offerings more compelling, and for those we'd suggest looking at current and upcoming Seasonic or Enermax PSUs as an alternative.