Performance (40% of the final score) - I'm a little conflicted on this one. At first glance, it's looking like the EA750 brings to the table just what the EA650 did, only with more power. But the high-ish ripple results on the 12V rails at extreme loads makes me wonder whether or not Antec should have gone for more of a CP-850 approach from Delta., perhaps giving up the premium name brand capacitors for a bit more 12V awesomeness. Still, I just can't complain too hard knowing this is a value oriented unit when the unit showed that exceptional 12V stability. I won't give out the same score I gave the EA650, but I'm going to be nice and give out an 8.5.
Functionality (20% of the final score) - as is the case with most of Antec's recent modular offerings, the EA750 does a few things wrong but most things right. One of the "wrong" things would be the continued nonsense of having separate ATX12V and EPS12V cables, which is beginning to annoy me. It would be so easy to eliminate that extra ATX12V cable and integrate that functionality into the EPS12V. Another wrong would be the sleeving that doesn't go up into the case, though that's a minor one. Fortunately, the "rights" include enough PCI-E connectors to power two moderately powerful cards and enough SATA and Molexes to run a small farm of hard drives. Since the cabling is much like the Truepower New 750W I think I'll give this unit the same score. That would be 8.
Value (30% of the final score) - this unit currently goes for $94.99 at Newegg. That competes favorably with most of Newegg's other offerings in that bracket. Except... the above mentioned True New costs $99.99. Doh! 6 for poor value. This one needs to be cheaper, Antec, or better performing like the CP-850. You're competing against yourself, here.
Aesthetics (10% of the final score) - matte black is indeed a nice thing to see on an Earthwatts. Too bad the cable sleeving stopping short of the enclosure still takes away from the appearance, thus forcing me down to a 9 here.
Performance
8.5
Functionality
8
Value
6
Aesthetics
9
Total Score
8
Summary
The Antec EA750 is a decent budget unit that happens to have some nice performance characteristics. Unfortunately, these nice characteristics are outweighed by an absurd price with regard to the way this unit performs. With a current price gap of only five bucks at Newegg, the EA750 is almost directly competing against a far better performing Antec model in the True New 750. Yes, this unit is better built than the True New, but people... let me make this easy for you. Spend the extra five and get the better performing model. Get this one only if it's on sale for $85. Otherwise, I don't see it being worth it.
The Good:
12V rails stayed in 1% regulation most of the time
exceptional build quality
very good ripple and noise suppression on the 3.3V and 5V rails
The Bad:
12V ripple and noise close to ATX specs
The Mediocre:
the EA750 is currently competing with a better performing Antec model in the marketplace
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