Why bother?

[toant103]

Originally posted by: desteffy

Originally posted by: thenotebook
Not a bad find, but I believe everyone would agree that the Ultra X-Connect PSUs are the best.

I assume you are kidding.

only brand i trust is Enermax. That's just me.

 

[Reikon]

Antecs have been good to me. My TruePower 550 is running rock solid. I'm running 4 HDs, 2 optical drives, OC'd 9800 Pro, Athlon XP 2500+ @ 2.4 Ghz, 1 GB Ram.

Measured with a multimeter -
5v - 5.07
12v - 12.06

I didn't feel like poking the multimeter into the mobo connector for 3.3v.

 

[Devistater]

Me, I just ordered an Enermax Noisetaker. EG495AX-VE SFMA 2.0
Unlike a lot of recent power supplies (the ultra included) it is fully atx12v 2.0 compliant and has dual 12v rails. I really wanted to get the antec neopower, but a lot of reviews that mentioned it was noisy scared me off. That and the lower efficiency compared to the noisetaker. Besides I like the blue finish of the noisetaker better

 

[marine73]

Here's a link recently posted at another forum. Good info about PSes. And yes, the Ultra is a POWMAX
piece of crap ( I know, I bought one) dressed up like a hooker in her Saturday nite best.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=792566

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: marine73
Here's a link recently posted at another forum. Good info about PSes. And yes, the Ultra is a POWMAX
piece of crap ( I know, I bought one) dressed up like a hooker in her Saturday nite best.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=792566

That is a GREAT GREAT post. Lots of good stuff and links to various PSUs. And I agree totataly about his 2 power supplies in his budget category, the 300w sparkle and fortran power supplies. I would also add antec, they make some decent low end PSU's. And if you get a good sale price sometimes you can get a decent 330w or 350w for under $35 which was his budget category.

 

[toant103]

my Enermax does 33Amps on 12v

 

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: toant103
my Enermax does 33Amps on 12v

No it doesn't, Enermax are rated for PEAK amps, not sustained. Reviewers have proven it even if one can't inspec it and see for themselves... heck the parts inside aren't even rated for 33A, it's impossible for it to be that any way you wanna look at it.

 

[mindless1]

Yes, Ultra are well-dressed crap marked up over 200%.

The Vantec isn't a bad deal, though a plainer looking Sparkle/Fortron 350W is a better deal and also comes in 120mm fan versions which may have better specs, for example.

 

[mindless1]

For fans of Thermaltake/Enlight/Chieftec (all the same except for eye-candy), Directron has a very good deal on the Chieftec 360W $20.

For those unacquainted with the various Thermaltake et al Sirtecs, their 250-300W base versions are, umm, budgetized for inclusion with lower-end cases, but their 340, 360, 420W models are all fairly good and based upon very similar design. While it's not likely as quiet as those with 120mm fans, it's certainly priced right.

 

[Devistater]

You could just edit a previous post and add in another one instead of 3 in a row
Most power supplies quote a maximum wattage thats combined on several rails such as the 5V and 12V rails. It may say individually that a 12v rail is say 20A or such, but thats only possible of the other rails aren't taking part of the availible maximum wattage. There's some companies that do powrer supply ratings with rails separated in wattage in every way so you can max out every rail at the same time. Just a case of looking at the specs and understanding what they mean.

 

[cirthix]

thermaltake 420w psus are GREAT, used one till it exploded (i accidentally poured water in it, so totally my fault)

 

[marine73]

Had a Thermaltake 420 watter. Lasted less than one year, the 12v rail died. But that's one of the things that make electronics SO exciting. The possiblity that anything electronic can die at any time for no good reason! Or at least not for any obvious reason. You don't have to drop it, or pour water into it, or overheat it, or supercool it. Sometimes it just stops working. Thank God most comp hardware isn't particulary expensive, at least not compared to other stuff we all like to own, like cars or boats or houses. This discussion does not address the Yugo driving gamer with the $6K system. Dammit man, I'm in electronics, not psychiatry!

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Looks like a great PSU. If I needed an extra power supply and didn't have 2 $15 SL350s from Frys handy. I'd snag one of these.

 

[XBoxLPU]

Originally posted by: mdcrab
The Vantec is also available in a 400 watt version.

mdcrab

This is not the same PSU. This is just the first ION, not ION2

Regardless, I have had the 400 Watt that you linked for a over a year now with ZERO problems. It is not entirely sleeved but did come with SATA cables.

Great PSUs

 

[Oakenfold]

Thanks for the post OP, let us know the rails on that neo, sounds like that vantec is a nice bargain PS.

 

[gonzo2k]

Thanks for making a reference to my original post, guys (Hero, Oak & X).
...been a while!
Got the NEO up and running...all rails are almost dead on... 11.938/3.31/5.078
Haven't overclocked my Intel 915PBL/ P4 550 3.4 yet...waiting on delivery for a PCI-E 6600GT first.
I'll post any major changes.
The Vantec is STILL the reason I started this thread... and I'm still right about it being a HOT DEAL !

BTW: my Enermax 350 died on me...thus prompting me to post its replacements!... I build many systems & switch components around often.
For the intellectually handicapped: dead=not good....granted it's a couple years old (I can still use the power lead as a fire escape from my 2nd floor apt.).

Continue with the unrelated debate....
:roll:

 

[BigEdMuustaffa]

"I'm a certified public accountant and consequently too boring to be of interest..."