Value and Conclusion
- The Antec HCG-620M retails for $99.99
- Delivered full power at over 50°C ambient
- Great ripple suppression
- Good efficiency
- Very low power consumption at standby
- Japanese caps used all over
- Ball bearings fan
- Price
- Audible fan at full speed
- Performance at Crossload tests
- Only two PCIe connectors
- 3.3V voltage regulation
Apparently you can't go wrong with a combination like Antec/Seasonic and the HCG-620M is the solid proof of it, since it performed quite well at all tests I conducted during this review. It may not have super tight voltage regulation or sky high efficiency but it worked flawlessly and delivered its full load even at inferno-like temperatures. Also its ripple suppression, especially at +12V, is extraordinary and the exclusive use of Japanese caps along with the ball bearings fan promise increased lifespan and high reliability. At low loads/ambient the fan is quiet but if you push the PSU and the fan's speed increases, then it can be annoyingly loud. Also the fact that there are only two fixed wires with all other being modular greatly enhances the unit's usability and don't be fooled by the only two 5 pin modular sockets, since you can connect the other peripheral cables on the free 10 pin sockets. So you can have all provided connectors available at the same time and if you are fine with only two peripheral cables (each one accommodates three SATA or three 4 pin Molex connectors) and purchase two additional PCIe cables then you can have a total of four PCIe connectors. Nevertheless, in my opinion the unit should come with four PCIe connectors from the start, since its capacity allows it to support two mid-range VGAs.
To conclude, the HCG-620M offers good performance along with high reliability and the modular cabling design renders it a more complete PSU, compared to the older HCG-620. However it has some set backs with the most noteworthy being the fact that it comes from the factory with only two PCIe connectors and the second is depicted on the higher than average price, for its category. In my opinion it urgently needs two additional PCIe cables/connectors and a lower price by at least $10-$15 in order to be far more competitive. If you don't mind the above two then this PSU is a very good choice for a mid-range system and our performance rating chart clearly shows that.