Ultra Brand PSUs: Good Or Bad ?

[perkam]

So what exactly is the deal with Ultra PSUs ? I have had always had the impresison that due to lack of consistency they are a bad brand.

I could be wrong. PSU Experts Unite

Perkam

[Faction]

Ultra PSU's aren't that bad perkam. Debate jonnyguru bout it. He's an ultra rep

Aww man you guys got an Ultra rep here?
Hopefully he can tell me Ultra make good PSUs (might make me feel better).

[Oklahoma Wolf]

other's are telling me that I might as well throw my comp in the trash 'cause the Ultra PSU will destroy it.

They aren't that bad. Unless it's a first generation X-Connect, most are OEM Wintech, which I'd put somewhere between Sirtec (older Thermaltake, Highpower) and Enermax for build quality.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Would you ever recommend an Ultra X-Connect for a Conroe or Intel 975X build ?

Perkam

Youngyear built X-Connect, no. Wintech built X-Finity, yes. Though I do have a good list of units I would suggest first.

[Faction]

So the X-Finity is better than the X-Connect

Sorta looking at this deal
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tId=2280605&cp

[Oklahoma Wolf]

So the X-Finity is better than the X-Connect

Yes. However, for that price you can do far better than either Ultra. FSP, Silverstone, OCZ, Enermax, and Antec to name a few.

[Faction]

Yes. However, for that price you can do far better than either Ultra. FSP, Silverstone, OCZ, Enermax, and Antec to name a few.

Well what about that Radioshack deal? That any good?

P.S. I loved that link to OCP

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Well what about that Radioshack deal? That any good?

P.S. I loved that link to OCP

I missed the video card in there somehow... can't really tell if that's a good deal or not being in Canada.

what about the fuhjyysu caps? damn forgot the name... antec uses

Wintech also uses Fuhjyyu. However, Antec/CWT units are better designed IMO.

[jonnyGURU]

I'll be the first person to tell you that using a Youngyear built X-Connect probably isn't the best choice for... .heck... ANY PC. But one model, made two years ago, discontinued a year ago, and is only currently available because it's being blown out, shouldn't warrant a stupid statement like, "don't buy Ultra."

Ultra has a lot of damage control to do. Thank God that's not my job. But to make a blanket statement about a brand because of one model that was outsourced by a manufacturer that was only used once for that one particular model.... It's like giving Ford crap today because of the Pinto. Give it a break.

You have any X-Finity, even those pre-dating the original X-Connect, all of which made by Wintech. You have the current X2, made by Wintech. You have some X-Connects made by Wintech, but most made by Youngyear, and because of that one model, you're going to blanket suggest against using any power supply from that brand?

Think about it.

And just to make the point that I'm not biased: You list Coolmax as a "brand to be warned about."

The Coolmax Green series (800W, 1000W, among others) rivals anything Enermax, FSP or CWT makes and is easily rivals Wintact and Etasis. But you don't know anything about them. If you did, you wouldn't make that blanket statement either.

And OK Wolf: I don't agree with your last point. I think the X-Finity's are great PSU's for their price point. But I won't hold that against you.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

And OK Wolf: I don't agree with your last point.

S'ok - I know you have more experience with these than I do

[jonnyGURU]

I know you have more experience with these than I do

Only because I'm a sadistic S.O.B.

[Faction]

I missed the video card in there somehow... can't really tell if that's a good deal or not being in Canada.

Well the deal includes an XFX 6800 GS with a 500w Ultra X-Finity PSU for $170 (don't know how much that is in Canadian). Anyone think this is a good deal?

Also, how can I find out if my X-Connect was made by WIntech?

[Oklahoma Wolf]

That's about $200 up here - looks like an ok deal.

Easiest way to tell a Wintech is open the lid and look for a part number starting with "WIN" on the transformers. Or run the UL file number at www.ul.com.

[jonnyGURU]

Wintech also uses Fuhjyyu. However, Antec/CWT units are better designed IMO.

I do agree that CWT product is better engineered. No doubt. The very concept of independent voltage regulation escapes Wintech. The EE at Ultra knows more about PSU's then the head guy at the Wintech factory. THAT is sad (no offense John.)

Wintech only uses Fuhjjyu as primary caps. Never secondary. And Wintech supposedly tests components before they're put on the line. CWT lacks very basic quality control and that's what always bites Antec in the ass years down the road.

Uh oh... Sounds like I'm doing viral marketing!!! I'm out.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Wintech only uses Fuhjjyu as primary caps. Never secondary.

They must have changed since this one came out then: http://terasan.info/dengen/no062/index.html

[jonnyGURU]

You can probably see through the top fan:

http://jonnyguru.com/images/P1010017.jpg

Left is Youngyear. Note the small heatsinks. Right is Wintech. Larger heatsinks and heatshrink on the wires as they meet the modular interface. Rear fan grill is also slightly different and ON/OFF and AC input are reversed.

Now I'm REALLY out..... Perkam is probably going to ban me anyway.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Anyone recommending a PSU that isnt a Forton/OCZ 600/700W is just pure wrong.

I just traded one of the 600's for the Silverstone ST56ZF. So, I am very happy to be wrong in this case... the Silverstone is a monster and I regret nothing

Well, I'm not too pleased the Abit board I borrowed snapped the ATX connector latch off, but other than that it's all good.

[jonnyGURU]

They must have changed since this one came out then: http://terasan.info/dengen/no062/index.html

I stand corrected then, because that's not that old (I wished they showed the date code sticker, but I don't think 120MM fans pre-date 2004. Of course, almost any PSU factory will do build to order. If Fuhjjyus are really as cheap as everyone says, Future Power could've requested them.

It's like one of the PSU's I'm working with them on. I told them all Japanese caps. $5 more in the build cost and two week wait on the parts, but they'll do it.

JEE's, Su'Scon and Koshin are pretty cheap. I can't imagine how cheap Fuhjjyus must be if someone is going to REQUEST using them to keep cost down.

[Praxis1452]

How expensive are caps usually? jw since it doesn't really seem like an effective way to cut down on price... since it has such an effect on quality.

[perkam]

Just cleared the Hardware section. My apologies to all who got their posts deleted. It was never my intention to have caused that kind of a disagreement.

But my question still stands. An unknowing person can buy an ocz today and it'll work tomorrow with pretty much everything they can throw at it, same goes for a lot of A List brands we all know and love.

Is the same true for Ultra, when it comes to conroe/am2 etc rigs ? Can it handle an SLI/Crossfire system if a member wishes to upgrade down the road or perhaps OC ?

I would greatly appreciate some professional advice on the subject before allowing people to recommend them for use in members' systems.

Thx.

Perkam

[Faction]

Looked throught the side window and I have a Youngyear Ultra PSU.....so I guess I should return it right?

I'm not going to batter my system with anything like a high end overclocked SLI rig, but with a dua core processor, a GPU, and some simple parts.

[Praxis1452]

If it's youngyear.. yea try to get the money back...
Get a budget fortron. Newegg always has plenty of them.

[Faction]

If it's youngyear.. yea try to get the money back...
Get a budget fortron. Newegg always has plenty of them.

I'm probably gonna g for that RadoSHack deal then

[[XC] leviathan18]

lol now i dont get anything at all but i stand in my statement ( i was a ultra owner...) if you want high end please go and buy a high end PSU if you want peace of mind and future proof please buy a good psu dont ever go cheap....

the brand ive seen that hold the beating we have here OCZ ZIPPY PC POWER AND COOLING FORTRON SEASONIC you can see the sigs of the ppl the systems and the beating they get then you can choose from that...

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Is the same true for Ultra, when it comes to conroe/am2 etc rigs ? Can it handle an SLI/Crossfire system if a member wishes to upgrade down the road or perhaps OC ?

I'll mostly have to defer to JG on this one since he knows Ultra way better than I do, but personally I wouldn't have a problem with someone running one video card and Conroe/AM2 on a Wintech made Ultra. I don't recommend them for SLI/Crossfire however - I prefer to suggest very well regulating single or quad 12v units for them. Silverstone ST56ZF, ST75ZF, Sparkle FSP550PLG-SLI, FSP over 600W, Zippy over 600W, PC P&C over 510W being just some of them. I'd be recommending Delta too if they would just get a market presence over here