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ASPIRE underrated? read inside

C

chambersc

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 14, 2004
Messages
319
So i'm looking for a new PSU for my newly built baby (amd 64 3000+, dfi lanparty ultra-d nf4) and I come across a nicely priced ASPIRE.

I look in the hunk-of-a-thread about the right PSUs to buy and no where does it mention ASPIRE.

PSU HERE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817148008
REVIEWS (867, average is 5 golden eggs): http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/FeedBack/CustRatingReview.asp?DEPA=0&Item=N82E16817148008

The price is right for anyone on a budget, they run about $59 ($55 on sale now). Nice beefy 520w with output at +3.3V@30A, +5V@32A, +12V@35A, -5V@0.3A, -12V@0.8A, +5VSB@2A. Although they are semi loud with their 3 fans, it's acceptable for me.

I would have no problems taking the plunge with this PSU. I think I'm gonna order it for my new PC. Anyone care to disagree or point out some SERIOUS flaw as to why I shouldn't?
 
1) Newegg reviews are biased... do not base your purchasing decisions on this.
2)
jonnyGURU said:
Absolutely the Aspire isn't nearly as up to snuff as those others, but that model isn't really so much "junk" as it is "false advertising." That Aspire is 100% a 400W power supply. And at 400W the regulation is easily within 5%. But to even get close to 520W with 35A on the 12V rail, you would have to allow for a 10% tolerance.

Stupid. Absolutely moronic. I hate when these companies feed on individual's ignorance. Aspire could've been the good guy and sold a solid 400W.. but instead they jack up the price and label it a bogus 520W
Click to expand...

Avoid.
 
I appreciate your input but I don't plan to run much so that's why I think aspire would be good for me.

I did the PSU calculator and I'm using 259w (plus the 43w for the mobo and keyboard/mouse) so TOTAL that comes to be 302w. Even if, as you say, it's a solid 400w PSU, then that's all I'll need.

I need the PSU just for the 24pin and the minimum 480w. I don't plan to go crazy with a SLI setup or WC equipment. Am I still in trouble?
 
Then why not get a known-good 400W PSU and call it a day? You'd rather risk all your hardware with a lackluster 520W PSU? I personally don't see the logic. I still think you're in trouble.

I would suggest the XClio 450BL if you still insist on getting a cheaper PSU to run all your hardware. XClio PSUs are built by the same people that build Antec PSUs, so you know the quality is there... something the Aspire doesn't offer.
 
Asp[ire PSU's are total crap! Having only +/- 10% load regulation on the +12V,
they do NOT even meet the ATX/AMD/Intel specs (+/- 5%, except for peak power, which is only a 2-second condition).

These junk boxes are usually made by Youngyear &
have been known to take the mobo/video with them when they fail.

AVOID ASPIRE PSU's! :eek:

EDIT:

dfi lanparty ultra-d nf4
Click to expand...
No! ELL NO!

DFI PSU Guide: http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10854
 
I agree with the other responses which do not recommend that Aspire PSU. The 520W rating on that particular PSU is significantly overrated - and you're paying too much money for too little performance. If it were priced equally to other, well-known brands of good 400W PSUs, then it's a decent choice. But at the inflated prices typical of entry-level 520W PSUs, fuhgeddaboudit!

At any rate, I cannot recommend that Aspire PSU, especially when you can get a Fortron 400W PSU for less money and at least the equal in performance to that Aspire PSU.
 
I'm really having second thoughts about that aspire PSU.

What's neweg's policy on returns (i ended up ordering it :( ). I think I wil buy a PSU i was offered on here or something. Since I know relatively nothing about PSUs, I will listen to the experts here and I thank you for your inputs, now how do I return the ASPIRE?
 
chambersc said:
I'm really having second thoughts about that aspire PSU.

What's neweg's policy on returns (i ended up ordering it :( ). I think I wil buy a PSU i was offered on here or something. Since I know relatively nothing about PSUs, I will listen to the experts here and I thank you for your inputs, now how do I return the ASPIRE?
Click to expand...
Call new egg & tell them it doesn't meet the DFI mobo requirements &
that you need to upgrade to an OCZ PowerStream 520W. ;)

You should be able to pay only shipping, but they will try to get a restocking fee from you.
 
It's not like I was ignoring you guys. I haven't had power since last monday and worked all weekend. I ordered it friday before you guys posted these messages. I filled out an RMA thing from newegg. once it arrives, Ill be shipping it right back out.

EDIT: lol, i woud like an OCZ but I'm not going to be running an SLI setup anytime. soeone posted about a neopower 480w in my thread and I think i'll take him up on that offer.
 
chambersc said:
It's not like I was ignoring you guys. I haven't had power since last monday and worked all weekend. I ordered it friday before you guys posted these messages. I filled out an RMA thing from newegg. once it arrives, Ill be shipping it right back out.

EDIT: lol, i woud like an OCZ but I'm not going to be running an SLI setup anytime. soeone posted about a neopower 480w in my thread and I think i'll take him up on that offer.
Click to expand...
What are you going to be powering?
 
davidhammock200 said:
Call new egg & tell them it doesn't meet the DFI mobo requirements &
that you need to upgrade to an OCZ PowerStream 520W. ;)
Click to expand...

maybe you missed the word "budget"
 
I'll be happy with my antec neopower 480w. in my thread the guy says it ran his DFI. hey, that's all I need. appreciate the advice but the OCZ is overkill for me, atm.
 
you could go for the OCZ Powerstream 420w. That's what I went with and I haven't had a problem with anything. Got it on sale from Directron.com for $79 too. Best PSU I've ever owned (and the heaviest...this thing is a beast).
 
nst6563 said:
you could go for the OCZ Powerstream 420w. That's what I went with and I haven't had a problem with anything. Got it on sale from Directron.com for $79 too. Best PSU I've ever owned (and the heaviest...this thing is a beast).
Click to expand...
Definitely. 30A on the +12V is a lot... and the 520W model only gets 33A. Not that much of an increase.
 
I have an Aspire 550 watt and I have no problems what so ever ! the sticky that lists Aspire as a PSU to avoid is vague and out dated. Their low end models are suspect, but their higher end models have gotten a lot of good reviews from various hardware websites with load tests & all. Just google it or go to Aspire's web site for a few links.

My spec - AMD64 4000+ (S.D. Core), MSI K8N Neo4/SLI, eVGA 7800GTX, 2x512 Corsair XMS, Audigy 2zs, 2x 80g Maxtor SATA II, NEC 8x Dual Layer DVDR, Aspire 550 PS, Aspire Xplorer Case, Artic Silencer & lots of pretty blue led's

EPSN0011.jpg
 
I am very happy it working for you, however don't be supprized if it kills your mobo/video. :eek:

From Aspire: http://aspireusa.net/product.php?pid=21

If you look you will see that the +12V has only 10% load regulation.
The ATX/AMD/Intel specs call for 5% or tighter.
(Peak power is allowed 10%, but that is a very temperory situation).

These high-power Aspire's don't even meet the min specs! :mad:
 
In my primary rig alone, the aspire psu I had wouldn't run my computer for five minutes.. and it left it in danger.. Originally when I purchased the aspire case, it came with a 425-watt Aspire Turbolink psu (18A on the 12V+ I believe, which was okay for the time) On the +12V rail, it would run 11.07V (courtesy of SiSandra) and if I attempted to load any games the computer would instantly crash.. I didn't have the PSU in after I had purchased the 6600gt or 2 more hard drives.. it was only in while I sleeved my Antec Truepower 430.. and after discovering the voltages running.. I immediately stopped using my PC until I was done sleeving the truepower.
 
David, point taken. Never the less, I have come to rely more on critical review based on field testing and user feed back, rather than a strict interpretation of the specifications. The world of marketing and engineering seldom see common ground and this remains a huge problem for PSU manufacturer's. As we all know, their specifications can be very misleading. In no way shape or form am I saying Aspires products are the best, but like many companies they can go up or down in regards to quality. IMO Aspire is trying to move up. With that said, I did worry very much about the 550w when I ordered all the parts from newegg to build my rig. I gambled and it has been paying off so far and I am not alone. Some times you have to take a risk if you want to save money or try something new.

OCIA feild application
 
PescadoDiablo said:
OCIA review
Click to expand...
Dude, that's no review. They use software to get voltage readings...

The guy didn't know why his software readings were out of whack under the "extreme" loads, so he goes to Google? That says a lot about the reviewer... and then he blames the bad software readings on Gigabyte? Like wtf? Shameful.
 
PescadoDiablo said:
but their higher end models have gotten a lot of good reviews from various hardware websites with load tests & all. Just google it or go to Aspire's web site for a few links.
Click to expand...

you are aware of course for 99% of the PSU reviews out the best that can be said is that it didn't blow up their rig that day?

generally not a great issue provided you can ensure no unusual event, and a stable environment but a switch mode power supply is one of the more complex components in a computer and certainly the single most dangerous component. And thats assuming you dont care what long term effects there are.

Those reviews are for esthetic consideration rather than a technical review of the power quality or how they would stack up against another make. Thats pretty much the extent of their test proceedure.


How its Really done. (pdf)

reviewers that can get pretty close to that are
Oleg Artamonov @ Xbit
jonnyGURU @ SLCentral
Mike Chin @ spcr
Lee (Robotech) Garbutt @ various



PescadoDiablo said:
I have come to rely more on critical review based on field testing and user feed back, rather than a strict interpretation of the specifications.
Click to expand...

ESD & Electromigration Rant

the cause and effect relationship is hard enough to determine and absolutely eludes the rank and file
any supply that fails the spec is absolute junk and should be let nowhere near anything but other junk components
 
I'm going to play devil's advocate... I don't agree. ;)

Truth be told... Hardly anybody here is taxing a PSU to even 75% of it's capability. The Aspires are only 10% at it's rated wattage... which is peak.. which does suck, but even then it's more power than most people need. At continuous wattage the Aspires do stay well within the 5%. I'd even venture to say 3% or better, but you need to realize that this "sweet spot" is probably only about 75% of it's rated power (i.e. a 550W is really only a 400W.) Most of the Aspires do have most of their power on the 12V rail, which actually puts you in a better position than some power supplies on the market where you can have a 600W PSU... but all of the juice is on the 5V rail. :(

So although I would never use an Aspire... and I would never recommend an Aspire... I wouldn't tell someone to bail on an Aspire if it's got enough power, with a 75% handicap taken into consideration, to power their rig. Can it blow up and take out other components? Sure. But so can a PCP&C, an Antec, an Enermax.... It happens.. rarely, but it does happen. But even with an Aspire you're talking about an occurence of less than 1%.

That all said and done... DO NOT expect me to play devils advocate with any power supply made by Deer, Allied, Powmax, Dynapower, Rhycom, Achieve, Viomax or TurboLink.

Also don't expect me to ever say an Aspire 550W is a 550W. They get knocked down a half a dozen points for even IMPLYING they're a 550W power supply. I call that A LIE and CONSUMER DECEPTION. But I'm just a lowly tech... I don't understand the logistics of "whatever it takes to make a sale" and feel cheated whenever I'm told one thing... and then sold another. ;)
 
jonnyGURU said:
I'm going to play devil's advocate... I don't agree. ;)

Truth be told... Hardly anybody here is taxing a PSU to even 75% of it's capability. The Aspires are only 10% at it's rated wattage... which is peak.. which does suck, but even then it's more power than most people need. At continuous wattage the Aspires do stay well within the 5%. I'd even venture to say 3% or better, but you need to realize that this "sweet spot" is probably only about 75% of it's rated power (i.e. a 550W is really only a 400W.) Most of the Aspires do have most of their power on the 12V rail, which actually puts you in a better position than some power supplies on the market where you can have a 600W PSU... but all of the juice is on the 5V rail. :(

So although I would never use an Aspire... and I would never recommend an Aspire... I wouldn't tell someone to bail on an Aspire if it's got enough power, with a 75% handicap taken into consideration, to power their rig. Can it blow up and take out other components? Sure. But so can a PCP&C, an Antec, an Enermax.... It happens.. rarely, but it does happen. But even with an Aspire you're talking about an occurence of less than 1%.
Click to expand...
Trust jonnyGURU to muddy the waters!

Now let me see what I can take out of context.
Truth be told... I would never use an Aspire... and I would never recommend an Aspire.
The Aspires are only 10% at it's rated wattage... with a 75% handicap taken into
consideration. Can it blow up and take out other components? Sure.
Click to expand...
There, that's better!

Dave :p
 
Hahaha!! That's beautiful work there, Dave! :D
 
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