Ultra V-series 500W PSU $40.00 w/$40.00 rebate $ free ship

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vadp

Senior member
Aug 31, 2006
341
0
0
3 days before a blow up event is an overly generous estimate on your part.
Make it 3 hours followed by a dramatic chain reaction taking out the Motherboard, CPU, Video Card and your neighbor's dog.
 

mindless1

Diamond Member
Aug 11, 2001
8,340
1,551
126
You were politely asked to stay out of this PSU thread unless you have first hand experience on the quality that you were raving about.

And you did not seem to understand my request.

So:

Stay away from that thread or you WILL be handed a vacation.

Anandtech Moderator


Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
I think mindless1 is getting the old X-Connect 500W confused with all of the other Ultra PSU's.

First I will make clear my post is only short to make clear what I'd already written, no new information or opinion.

I have two V-Series in front of me right now. No confusion.

Although the V-Series is a "Value" PSU (hence the "V") I know for a fact it's not as problematic as he's making it out to sound.
I looked, reported. If what was reported sounds problematic, what can I do?

The two products aren't even from the same OEM. The X-Connect was built by Youngyear while all other Ultra power supplies are built by Wintech.
Even the PSU ordered from this thread deal, is sitting beside me.

And I think we can all agree that we can't trust MTBF! That's a service that should be discontinued, for sure.

It exists for a reason and parts specs, margins can determine true MTBF.

I'm not sure why you seem to think the insides of the V-Series I reviewed are different than what someone might buy. I happen to know for a fact that there have been no component or engineering changes inside the V-Series over it's product life outside of what brand caps are used (some are Jee, some are Su'scon, etc.)

I wrote caps and transformer at least. Your picture shows they are different on the two V-Series here.

Unless you're meaning to say that the PSU's (350W, 400W, 500W) aren't comparible to each other. If that's the case, you're correct. The actual internals of the three models are quite different. And the 600W and 700W are even more drastically different.
They are similar enough that if I swapped heatsinks, you'd need to look hard to tell the difference between 400 and 500W. Larger transformer, AC choke, HV caps physically smaller but a label that says they're same temp and higher uF (suspicious). The Ultrafast diode I'd mentioned on the 400W is replaced by a more suitable SBL3040PT. Even so, I did not claim all parts on all Ultras were the same, nothing at all like this. I commented on only those I have or have seen pictured clearly enough to see the problems mentioned. "Problem" means poor manufacturing that has historically shown to result in more failure points and frequency thereof, not that they'll all burst into flames the moment they're plugged in (but I don't rule anything out either).

Originally posted by: mindless1

Did you see the picture I already linked?

I saw it and thought it was strange that you used it as an example, stated that it's "not as bad as most you've seen" and then go on to point out that all of the "poor quality in assembliing" that seems to be the basis of your argument are "hidden amongst silvery wires." [/quote]

I mentioned several things, visible in that picture, only the splices are hidden behind the wires.

I'd like to believe you're not a troll or shill or at the very least a thread crapper, but how can you post a picture of a PSU, tell someone to "use their imagination" and then proceed to belittle a person when all they ask for is proof of what you're saying.

Look at what i wrote and the picture at the same time. I mentioned what could not be seen (specifically as such) becauseit was an exception in not being visible. I only checked pictures after having noticed all this on the V-Series I'd already disassembled.

Unfortuntaely, you're killing your own cause. If you just came in and said, "I had a 500W V-Series and it burst into flames" you would've gotten the job done a lot more effectively.

My "cause" is to relay the facts, direct observation of V-Series PSU. I have no agenda except to compare to other alternatives in a free market by providing information. I have further encouraged others to provide information too. I'm not trying to paint a misleading picture and a single unit failing would do that. One unit failing can be random, all manufacturers have random failures. More troubling is consistently lower quality assembly (or parts specs in the case of the 400W). You may hook up PSU to test, but I actively disassemble and repair them too, for a decade (and AT PSU before that), I know a thing or two about this and odds are fair if/when these fail, I will end up repairing them. That doesn't necessarily mean they'd go up in flames or even fail soon, but eventually.

I think it's only fair that you mention your affiliation with Ultra when posting about them in a non-Ultra forum.

I also think it is only fair if you don't quote me if I'm not going to respond, having left the thread unless those feeling I shouldn't post, change their minds.
 

LukeMan

Platinum Member
Jun 7, 2005
2,380
0
0
the psu was ordered saturday night, shipped sunday and arrived monday morning, damn fast, especially for a free after rebate psu w/ free shipping.
 

Tomer

Senior member
Dec 5, 2001
447
0
0
Ordered this latest one on Friday and it arrived today.

Let is warm to room temperature and hooked it to my PS tester. All lights green so I installed it in one of my test machines.

Purring like a kitten ever since.

And you have to love the carcinogenic solvent used in the manufacturing process. I know each whiff costs me 234,000 brain cells, but man it smells good.

;-)

Filling out rebate form now, and will send tomorrow.

I hope they keep offering these. I'll buy every one they offer FAR.

Seems like Outpost has had a lot of good deals lately.
 

foofoo

Golden Member
Mar 5, 2001
1,344
0
0
I think it's only fair that you mention your affiliation with Ultra when posting about them in a non-Ultra forum.

interesting assertion...
hey jonnyguru - do you have some affiliation with ultra products?

in any case - some of those overly pedantic posts seem to indicate an actual serious hostility. i think that we can all agree that the marketplace drives designs in non-high end enthusiast power supplies to the cheapest parts and designs that meet spec (for the most part) and do not have high failure (rma) rates. this power supply should be judged in that light. i have personally used parts out of spec for designs but only after extensive testing. a design should be taken in it's totality and judged by it's performance. i think that this power supply is perfectly adequate based on that.
 

jonnyGURU

Moderator <BR> Power Supplies
Moderator
Oct 30, 1999
11,815
102
106
Originally posted by: foofoo
I think it's only fair that you mention your affiliation with Ultra when posting about them in a non-Ultra forum.

interesting assertion...
hey jonnyguru - do you have some affiliation with ultra products?

Yeah! I'm the poor shmuck that does the tech support on their forums!!

I never made it a secret. I just think it's silly to caveat every post with this factoid.

At least they (Ultra) are taking my advice. I suggested the YCC case they used for the Grid and they're using a different OEM for their next generation of PSU's due out Q1 2007 which will feature 84% efficiency typical (min 80%) and a quiet 130MM fan. Yay!

V-Series? I could care less. Doesn't affect me at all. I actually wish they'd go away (cheap product taints the brand.) Like I said, it's only a little better than what typically comes in a case. A PSU budget should be at least around $100. But it's a decent unit for a low end build and you can't beat "free."
 

nomadh

Senior member
Jan 19, 2004
585
0
0
End user here:
Bought the 400w 2 months ago. Running just an average pc, athalon 2000+. Big step up for me probably. I shudder to think how cheap my last one was. It was lighter weight than my better one that blew out 5 months ago. It?s been running well. Pc was off after 12th day of use. Don't know what to blame that on. Didn't find any power outage. Other than that 24/7 as a pvr, general use, DVD burner without issue. That being said I'd probably go higher end for a $1000+ PC.
Something I hate about this unit and other cheap PSUs is the drive power connectors. Cheap units have a lot of slack in the pins so that they do not insert well. Every good PSU they insert perfectly. This one I had to try and line up the wires so the pins straightened out for insertion. Maybe a better indicator of quality than an oscope test.
BTW I have had a number of personal PSU that have got flaky or outright died and a few dozen PSU failures at work over the years but the last (and possibly only) time one took out a motherboard it was on a 486 PC and actually made a fire. How many times have any of you seen a PSU take out a PC component? For me it?s just the once while maintaining 100+ PC for 15+ years.
Trouble shooting modern PCs tends to come up >97% windows problems. Rarely HW and PSU just a minority of that.
Also a warning about onrebate. I opted for the 5 day discounted payment but I still show as pending status. I emailed them twice but only got irrelevant canned replies. I find I need to chase down 40-60% of all rebates. They stick until the rebate house at least sees me paying attention by calling or checking on the internet, sometimes 2 months after due. If not for that, I'm convinced they would never come.
Bottom line pretty happy so far but won't get another until my 1st rebate comes in.
 

Melectricus

Senior member
Feb 2, 2003
420
0
0
Nomadh,
I've built about 40 computers now from 486's up to x2's since about '93. I have had 4 psu's fail on these 40 that I own or built for others :

Unknown died and took out a pentium mobo
Powmax 300 died but did no damage to an Athlon.
Powmax 400 'smoked' and took out Athlon xp mobo and processor.
Allied 500 "Popped" and took out a mobo and 1 of 2 sticks memory.

What I have to laugh about is that the 3 that died were all cheap psu's I bought around the same time and bought about 5 that year. ALL other psu's I bought were either Antec, Enermax, OCZ, Sparkle, Fortron or Seasonic - none of them died, although some were junked .

I actually bought the 400w ultra FAR and replaced an old-old 250w enermax who's age made me nervous, in an athlon 1.3ghz that is used just as an internet computer.

I'm probably going to get this to have a spare. I'm not building anymore, but still fix other poeple's now and then. I definitely wouldn't put it in a high end pc.
 

DamianS

Member
Oct 21, 2003
49
0
0
Originally posted by: StormSide
Does packing slip = invoice for rebate?

For the previous two 400W Ultras I sent both the packing slip and a printout of the order tracking screen. Both were accepted.
 

Tomer

Senior member
Dec 5, 2001
447
0
0
A while back I screwed up and just sent ht packing slip, but they accepted it anyway.

These days I send a copy of the final order screen, the E-mail receipt, the completed order on the Outpost web site and a copy of the packing slip. Cost a few cents extra, but then they can?t put the screws to you for "not sending the required information"

Good luck
 

lookin4dlz

Senior member
May 19, 2001
688
0
0
Picked one up - very quick shipping! I had an Antec 400SL & this Ultra has actually lowered my temp by 2-3C
 

ss284

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,534
0
0
I have it up and running in my rig, and it seems to be doing fine. It is however pretty noisy. But for free, how can I complain?

-Steve
 

Heller

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2006
6,551
0
0
my media psu just fried after 2 years, i only need ~350 watter but for free, hope its not DOA
 

AAjax

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2001
3,798
0
0
Got my unit last week, DOA

Im gonna wait 30 days and RMA it direct, perhaps Ill get an upgrade.
 

AAjax

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2001
3,798
0
0
Originally posted by: Heller91
whats the diff if you rma it now or in 30 days?

Ultra wont rma under 30 days. Both frys and ultra are in OH so its gonna cost the same to ship either way. After shipping this will end up being a 10$ psu, not bad. Its just for back up at this point anyhow.
 

jlin101

Senior member
Feb 12, 2005
816
0
0
I am gunshy of the v-series now, having bought 6 of the 400w v-ps when it was $25. The unit seemed well constructed and I was happy with its built quality. However, of the three that were put into use, 2 died within 1 week (went up in smoke literally). Called Ultra for an RMA with my invoice in hand. Guess what, Ultra doesn't want a copy of the invoice, but requires you to SCAN the invoice into jpg and email it to them. If you don't have a scanner, you are out of luck.
 

xmylifeforyoux

Senior member
Sep 30, 2005
796
0
0
Originally posted by: StormSide
Just got my rebate! Did the quick paypal payment of $35.50. Pretty fast ...........

How long did it take from the time you sent it in? I got mine last week and I did take note of
several things. The wires are really long, but on the other hand the weight is nice and it is
fairly quite. In total it will have cost me somewhere around $8.50 for the PSU. Even though I
didnt really need it, you cant beat the price.
 
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