Outpost: Ultra X-Connect 500 watt Power Supply $24.99 A/R

[imported_booradley]

Originally posted by: Greenman

Originally posted by: jolancer
These poeple are mentally undeveloped sheep, take the info that thy sh^t out lightly.
---------------------

The people who encounter problems with this psu are the ones who push it near its wattage limit... If your running a high end overclocked system, this psu is not for you.

but if you running a normal system that in no way will push it to its 500watt limit, then this psu is a deal.

I received this PSU and it runs fine... i dont know why some people rat on its fans also, because personaly i could not hear it at all unless i put my ears on them... none of the rails were bellow spec... and the comp i was testing it on i restarted more then 10times and didnt have any problem.

also note = this is one of the easyest most reliable rebates iv ever done...

submitted $40 rebate online to OnRebate on 7/19/2005

$40 OnRebate mailed 07/22/05

Received on 08/12/05

you can also check online statues at any time.
--------------------

EDIT: o yea, a psu has to be worse then generic in order to blow up or damage your components... most psu's are probably around 11.5 to 12.5 on the 12v rail..... you need more like 13.5 or 14.5 volts to posibly damage other components over time.... and if your psu smokes or blows up.... that just means there could of been a voltage problem with your house's electric socket, or your psu was refurbished and resoldered by monkeys in guatemala.

Just a little touchy about your purchase? Do us all a favor and don't try to justify your buying decision by giving out bad advice. How about some review links, and not pretend reviews where they read voltage from the bios and say the colored lights look cool. A real review will load the unit at its rated output. If it says 500 watts on the side and it can only sustain 490, then its garbage, and not fit to be sold.
I?ve been reading a lot of psu reviews the last week or two, the best units are holding voltages to within 3% at 100% load. Show me the links please.

Uh.... no PSU can sustain its rated voltage.

I think both of you seem a little touchy; its sad to see you've got your panties in a bundle over a good deal on a PSU.

 

[regpfj]

Review

 

[Greenman]

Originally posted by: booradley

Originally posted by: Greenman

Originally posted by: jolancer
These poeple are mentally undeveloped sheep, take the info that thy sh^t out lightly.
---------------------

The people who encounter problems with this psu are the ones who push it near its wattage limit... If your running a high end overclocked system, this psu is not for you.

but if you running a normal system that in no way will push it to its 500watt limit, then this psu is a deal.

I received this PSU and it runs fine... i dont know why some people rat on its fans also, because personaly i could not hear it at all unless i put my ears on them... none of the rails were bellow spec... and the comp i was testing it on i restarted more then 10times and didnt have any problem.

also note = this is one of the easyest most reliable rebates iv ever done...

submitted $40 rebate online to OnRebate on 7/19/2005

$40 OnRebate mailed 07/22/05

Received on 08/12/05

you can also check online statues at any time.
--------------------

EDIT: o yea, a psu has to be worse then generic in order to blow up or damage your components... most psu's are probably around 11.5 to 12.5 on the 12v rail..... you need more like 13.5 or 14.5 volts to posibly damage other components over time.... and if your psu smokes or blows up.... that just means there could of been a voltage problem with your house's electric socket, or your psu was refurbished and resoldered by monkeys in guatemala.

Just a little touchy about your purchase? Do us all a favor and don't try to justify your buying decision by giving out bad advice. How about some review links, and not pretend reviews where they read voltage from the bios and say the colored lights look cool. A real review will load the unit at its rated output. If it says 500 watts on the side and it can only sustain 490, then its garbage, and not fit to be sold.
I?ve been reading a lot of psu reviews the last week or two, the best units are holding voltages to within 3% at 100% load. Show me the links please.

Uh.... no PSU can sustain its rated voltage.

I think both of you seem a little touchy; its sad to see you've got your panties in a bundle over a good deal on a PSU.

In fact many psu's can sustain their rated output and hold the voltages steady. Go look at the last roundup tom's did. Those units were expected to hold 100% output and voltages to within 5% for 24 hours.
Sorry if I was a bit cranky, but the poster I responded to started by insulting everyone that didn't agree with him, then handed out advice that wasn't based on facts.

Edit: Just read the review, the X-Connect went out of spec at load, though I don't know if it was enough to really matter.

 

[imported_booradley]

I just don't see how a PSU that runs at 98% of what it is rated at is "not fit to be sold". If you're lucky, your car puts out 98% of the horsepower the sticker said it did, and you still bought it. You're still taking a chance when you buy an X-Connect, but its not as big of a chance as everyone plays it up to be.

 

[Greenman]

Originally posted by: booradley
I just don't see how a PSU that runs at 98% of what it is rated at is "not fit to be sold". If you're lucky, your car puts out 98% of the horsepower the sticker said it did, and you still bought it. You're still taking a chance when you buy an X-Connect, but its not as big of a chance as everyone plays it up to be.

I agree with you that the x-connect is prolly ok, but the reason I say 98% isn't good enough is because it's a lie. Would you buy from a gas station who's gallons were 3.5 quarts? What if some cpu's were speed rated at 0C, but you couldn't tell which ones till you put it in your machine? My issues is that I don't want to be lied to. Rating a psu at 25C when they have to run at 40C is just a way to make them look better than they really are, and that pisses me off. It's the same as when ATI and nVidia were optimizing drivers to work better in benchmarks, it was just one more method of stealing money rather than earning it.

 

[Salvador]

Originally posted by: Greenman

Originally posted by: booradley
I just don't see how a PSU that runs at 98% of what it is rated at is "not fit to be sold". If you're lucky, your car puts out 98% of the horsepower the sticker said it did, and you still bought it. You're still taking a chance when you buy an X-Connect, but its not as big of a chance as everyone plays it up to be.

I agree with you that the x-connect is prolly ok, but the reason I say 98% isn't good enough is because it's a lie. Would you buy from a gas station who's gallons were 3.5 quarts? What if some cpu's were speed rated at 0C, but you couldn't tell which ones till you put it in your machine? My issues is that I don't want to be lied to. Rating a psu at 25C when they have to run at 40C is just a way to make them look better than they really are, and that pisses me off. It's the same as when ATI and nVidia were optimizing drivers to work better in benchmarks, it was just one more method of stealing money rather than earning it.

For $15 after rebate I'm certainly not going to complain.

 

[addikt1337]

Rat Shack has them for -$.01 AR now..

linky

 

[Desslok]

People actually still read and trust reviews from Tom? Damn

 

[gvbjr]

The only power supply i've had gone bad in 25 years was a super flower that I bought 2 years ago. That probably encompasses 100 + cases and power supplies with a broad spectrum of outputs and capabilities. Most of these psu's are built in the same factory with the same specifications. The purpose of the reviews are to seperate pure junk from a bonafide product, not to be the end all to be all in a buying decision. Hey its your money you do with it as you please. If spending $150 on a power supply gives you peace of mind so be it, but that surely doesn't make it the correct decision for ANYONE else. So please don't sit here bashing a product because it doesn't happen to give you a warm and fuzzy. I've read a couple of reviews on this psu and it does seem like a good quality product. Is it the best? Probably not. Is it a bad choice? Probably not depending on what the power requirements for your system are, which is probably 99% of anything being put together. Is it a piece of junk?
Well reading the reviews it doesn't appear so. So folks.......get over yourselves.

 

[Trikat]

Originally posted by: gvbjr
The only power supply i've had gone bad in 25 years was a super flower that I bought 2 years ago. That probably encompasses 100 + cases and power supplies with a broad spectrum of outputs and capabilities. Most of these psu's are built in the same factory with the same specifications. The purpose of the reviews are to seperate pure junk from a bonafide product, not to be the end all to be all in a buying decision. Hey its your money you do with it as you please. If spending $150 on a power supply gives you peace of mind so be it, but that surely doesn't make it the correct decision for ANYONE else. So please don't sit here bashing a product because it doesn't happen to give you a warm and fuzzy. I've read a couple of reviews on this psu and it does seem like a good quality product. Is it the best? Probably not. Is it a bad choice? Probably not depending on what the power requirements for your system are, which is probably 99% of anything being put together. Is it a piece of junk?
Well reading the reviews it doesn't appear so. So folks.......get over yourselves.

But those reviewers only have the PSU for a short amount of time.
It is kinda like driving/reviewing an Alfa Romeo for one day and giving it s superb grade. However the thing you do not realize is it will probably fall apart in the future and the value of those cars fall too fast.
The X-connect is rated pretty good by many review sites giving it rewards for being not only good looking, but also outputting power within 5% (is it?).
Anyways many people/techies have had their PSU crap out on them and that is where people have gotten the idea this PSU is horrible. After looking deeper people found out the internal components were near crap quality when comparing to superflower/ttgi, thermaltake, sparkle, seasonice, OCZ, and many other brands of power supply.
It is possible that Ultra has decided to use another manufacture for the internal organs of the Ultra power supply, but I kinda of doubt that as the prices are still <=$25 after rebates.

 

[dabuddha]

This thread is ancient. Let it die off now

 

[Marthisdil]

Originally posted by: thujone

Originally posted by: nycdude

Originally posted by: deadmantyping
i've heard a few people having problems with it, if you want modular, get OCZ modstream

IMHO, the ocz modsteam is a better psu than this but that is just me. However, you can't beat a psu at a price of $25.

it's not worth it if it blows up and destroys some of your other expensive ass hardware.

And I've been using one for a year and a half...my brother using one for over a year, and never a problem <shrug>

Anything can do anything, to anyone, for any reason. "A few" doesn't quantify anything. I'm sure "A few" people had problems with OCZ Modstreams...I'm sure "a few" had problems with other power supplies. Your point?

 

[addikt1337]

Agreed that the thread is ancient, but meh. A revived thread due to a smoking deal on a product isn't anything to sneeze at. I could always just rehash this in a new thread, but what's the point?

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: Trikat

Originally posted by: gvbjr
The only power supply i've had gone bad in 25 years was a super flower that I bought 2 years ago. That probably encompasses 100 + cases and power supplies with a broad spectrum of outputs and capabilities. Most of these psu's are built in the same factory with the same specifications. The purpose of the reviews are to seperate pure junk from a bonafide product, not to be the end all to be all in a buying decision. Hey its your money you do with it as you please. If spending $150 on a power supply gives you peace of mind so be it, but that surely doesn't make it the correct decision for ANYONE else. So please don't sit here bashing a product because it doesn't happen to give you a warm and fuzzy. I've read a couple of reviews on this psu and it does seem like a good quality product. Is it the best? Probably not. Is it a bad choice? Probably not depending on what the power requirements for your system are, which is probably 99% of anything being put together. Is it a piece of junk?
Well reading the reviews it doesn't appear so. So folks.......get over yourselves.

But those reviewers only have the PSU for a short amount of time.
It is kinda like driving/reviewing an Alfa Romeo for one day and giving it s superb grade. However the thing you do not realize is it will probably fall apart in the future and the value of those cars fall too fast.
The X-connect is rated pretty good by many review sites giving it rewards for being not only good looking, but also outputting power within 5% (is it?).
Anyways many people/techies have had their PSU crap out on them and that is where people have gotten the idea this PSU is horrible. After looking deeper people found out the internal components were near crap quality when comparing to superflower/ttgi, thermaltake, sparkle, seasonice, OCZ, and many other brands of power supply.
It is possible that Ultra has decided to use another manufacture for the internal organs of the Ultra power supply, but I kinda of doubt that as the prices are still <=$25 after rebates.

Reviving a thread like this one does allow peeps with this PS to "update" us on the "long-term" use of this PS. I've been using my PS since last September and have no negetive issues to report.

 

[imported_booradley]

Originally posted by: Greenman

Originally posted by: booradley
I just don't see how a PSU that runs at 98% of what it is rated at is "not fit to be sold". If you're lucky, your car puts out 98% of the horsepower the sticker said it did, and you still bought it. You're still taking a chance when you buy an X-Connect, but its not as big of a chance as everyone plays it up to be.

I agree with you that the x-connect is prolly ok, but the reason I say 98% isn't good enough is because it's a lie. Would you buy from a gas station who's gallons were 3.5 quarts? What if some cpu's were speed rated at 0C, but you couldn't tell which ones till you put it in your machine? My issues is that I don't want to be lied to. Rating a psu at 25C when they have to run at 40C is just a way to make them look better than they really are, and that pisses me off. It's the same as when ATI and nVidia were optimizing drivers to work better in benchmarks, it was just one more method of stealing money rather than earning it.

Again, your car does not put out its rated horsepower, but you still bought it and drive it. It doesn't even get the gas milage that the stiker said. Why aren't you crying foul there?

 

[imported_Claymore]

Reading this thread and looking at these ridiculous arguments is like studying a debate on durability of shoe leather. It's a PSU for cripes sake. Kind of a binary, works-or-doesn't kind of condition, eh? Buy one for $5, $10, whatever AR, and if it works you have a decnet psu for cheap. If it's NG, pitch it, and be happy.

 

[zikronix]

dang it..i clicked on this looking for a deal...let this die dang

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: booradley

Originally posted by: Greenman

Originally posted by: booradley
I just don't see how a PSU that runs at 98% of what it is rated at is "not fit to be sold". If you're lucky, your car puts out 98% of the horsepower the sticker said it did, and you still bought it. You're still taking a chance when you buy an X-Connect, but its not as big of a chance as everyone plays it up to be.

I agree with you that the x-connect is prolly ok, but the reason I say 98% isn't good enough is because it's a lie. Would you buy from a gas station who's gallons were 3.5 quarts? What if some cpu's were speed rated at 0C, but you couldn't tell which ones till you put it in your machine? My issues is that I don't want to be lied to. Rating a psu at 25C when they have to run at 40C is just a way to make them look better than they really are, and that pisses me off. It's the same as when ATI and nVidia were optimizing drivers to work better in benchmarks, it was just one more method of stealing money rather than earning it.

Again, your car does not put out its rated horsepower, but you still bought it and drive it. It doesn't even get the gas milage that the stiker said. Why aren't you crying foul there?

That's not even related. If the power supply can't operate at its rated spec, that could lead to the possibility of your system having issues. If a car has less horsepower than advertised, so what? It still drives.

 

[carpenter]

Bought an XFinity from another member, 600 watts. He bought it brand new and it hadn't been used yet. You could tell it was new and hadn't been unwrapped. I ended up selling it to another member 2 weeks later and I never installed it. Had too many psu's. The other member installed it, powered it up and POP! He put his old psu back in and thankfully, it didn't damage his components. Ultra will rma it, if he buys another one first and then they will credit his cc after he returns it. I don't know, just wish I wouldn't have touched it. LOL

 

[Budarow]

How about a member (I'd do it, but I don't know how to start a thread with a poll) putting together a "POLL" in the General Hardware Forum with the following questions (or similar questions with the intent of gathering enough information to form a "conscensus" regarding the general quality of THIS Ultra PS (i.e., there are dozens of Ultra X-Connect PS' with the EXACT same specs and presumably the SAME guts, but with different colored lights, paint jobs, etc.):

1. Have you personally used an Ultra X-Connect PS (rated at 500W with 34A on the 12V Rail) within the past year?: YES or NO.

2. Did you have any problems which are definitely associated with the Ultra PS?: YES or NO.

3. How long did you use the Ultra PS?: <1 year OR >1 year.

I'd like to get some HARD evidence to support the quality of this PS (good or bad).

 

[gvbjr]