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DIY PSU Modulation Kit: How easy is it?

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Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 1, 2004
Messages
488
1. How easy is it to use these things?

2. Is it recommended to do, or can it effect the PSU negatively?

3. The PSU I'm thinking of using it on is the 500W Blue Storm. Does anyone have any suggestions for that?

This is what I'm looking at:

D.I.Y. Power Supply Modulation Kit

I've also posted in the PSU section to get answers there, too.
 
I'm not sure "modulating" conveys precisely what they think it does, but it looks easy to do, it has instructions. It won't affect PSU operation unless that kit (or your assmembly) is of poor quality. Your specific PSU will probably be about the same as any other.
 
I have seen these before, and while they do look great and allow you to eliminate those annoying P4 wires that AMD boards do not need, there is one requirement that this kit has. Your PSU can not have a fan mounted on the side where the wires come out of it. If your PSU does have a fan there, the mounting plate will not be able to attach to the PSU. In that scenario, it would probably be better for you to just replace your existing PSU with one of the true modular PSU's that are available.
 
Pagan Wizard said:
I have seen these before, and while they do look great and allow you to eliminate those annoying P4 wires that AMD boards do not need, there is one requirement that this kit has. Your PSU can not have a fan mounted on the side where the wires come out of it. If your PSU does have a fan there, the mounting plate will not be able to attach to the PSU. In that scenario, it would probably be better for you to just replace your existing PSU with one of the true modular PSU's that are available.
Click to expand...
how many PSUs have a fan coming out the same side as teh connectors? I only know of 2, both garbage PSUs anyway.
 
those kits are a pain to do, id much rather pay and have it done originally.
 
I kinda like the idea. Yes, it takes work, but it looks pretty good when you're done. It doesn't allow a whole lot of connections, but you can always run the cables that you always use through the original hole along with the ATX connector cables.

This thing is just screaming to get modded into something else--use it like a breakout box.
 
Zero_Distortion said:
how many PSUs have a fan coming out the same side as teh connectors? I only know of 2, both garbage PSUs anyway.
Click to expand...


With a 5 star rating coming from over 5500 reviews on Newegg, this is the power supply I am using in my rig. I did change out the two fan grills as they were pretty restrictive, but other than that.........this one is anything but "garbage" as you put it. :rolleyes:

Here is where I got the "over 5500 reviews" info from in case you wish to question that.
 
Kind of cool but I know how to do this for around $15 or less (depends on how "fancy" you want to take it).
 
i have that same PSU, and love it only problem ive had with it is the bright ass power switch :p
 
Zero_Distortion said:
how many PSUs have a fan coming out the same side as teh connectors? I only know of 2, both garbage PSUs anyway.
Click to expand...

Vantec Stealth PSU's have that... and they're by no means crappy.
 
Pagan Wizard said:
With a 5 star rating coming from over 5500 reviews on Newegg, this is the power supply I am using in my rig. I did change out the two fan grills as they were pretty restrictive, but other than that.........this one is anything but "garbage" as you put it. :rolleyes:

Here is where I got the "over 5500 reviews" info from in case you wish to question that.
Click to expand...
:rolleyes: Not trying to burst your bubble or anything, but powmax has a bit of a reputation in the power supply world: Their name is a literal description of what they do! POW!
I'm not saying it doesn't work for you, but it is definitly not a "recommended" quality supply by any measure. To quote Ice Czar "This is not a court of law: Power supplies are guilty until proven innocent"

As for the OP's question about the modulation kits, you might want to check out http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=895505, which has some realworld tests about the effects of added contact resistance from the extra connectors introduced by modular PSUs
 
those 5500+ reviews are for newegg itself, not the PSU. and yea, I'd never put that thing in my system. Coolermaster, Enermax, Antec......you get the idea. the power supply is one of the few things that, if somethigns goes wrong, could destroy almost everything (rare cases) so i'd rather pay some extra for a nice one.

to the original poster, if you really want that kit, i'd say go for it but remember these things.....any connections of that sort will decrease the overall power output (while minor), that kit will surely void any warrenty on the PSU, and the kit is irreversable (unless you solder all the wires back together). anyway, if you do get it, good luck and don't shock yourself :p
 
power supplys are a polarizing issue

keep in mind that the vast majority of supplies out there are what most in here would consider junk,
and the vast majority are working without issue in millions of computers
but then those supplies where assessed and selected by OEM electrical engineers that knew ro a fraction of an amp what their config was drawing under various senerios and more importantly had the real specs for the PSU they where considering followed up by real testing.

and we dont,
further we ask supplies to adapt to changing configs

Most "junk" supplies go simply because someone believed the inflated specs and overloaded them for their actual operating temperature.

That said supplies fail in in different ways

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=891330
gee said:
It depends on what part of the power supply fails.

When the line section of the power supply has a failure - eg, input rectifier, PFC, main switching transistors, primary side drive, etc... usually the supply fails with a spectacular BANG but doesn't take any computer components with it.

If the output section of your power supply fails (secondary side rectifiers, magamp, output capacitors, control circuitry, etc)... normally you end up with a quiet but stinky failure, and dead computer hardware.

The Powmax supplies i've encountered invariably blow their primary side... the undersized transformer saturates, main transistor current goes too high, main transistors blow, and the supply drops dead without harming anything. This is the only good thing I can say about that company. :D

Deer supplies, with secondary side rectifiers stupidly-fucking-formed by soldering axial diodes to a metal heatsink... those almost always kill computers. I've seen holes blown in motherboard chipsets due to deer supplies...
Click to expand...


Leadman Electronics is the parent corporation to the POWmax Division
they arent widely considered a "good" supply at least in comparision to a great number of other enthusiast makes, largely because they exaggerate thier spec. Their supplies are rated at 21C, whereas say a Topower, or Seasonic will be rated at 40C, a PCP&C 50C
FSP, Antec, Enermax being unknown but cetainly higher than 21C. How much and how fast the power fall off as the temperature increases is known as the derating curve. POWmax doesnt publish that (few do) they also artifically limit the range of VAC, whereas a supply like say the Enermaxs are rated to stay in spec from 90 to 130VAC the POWmaxs specs are at the nominal voltage (115VAC) without a range, they may or maynot deal well with VAC fluctuation (dependent on the load on them)

Brands arent models, and models arent the unique load placed on the supply
so you can start to see some of the variables involved

the difference between a junk supply, a simply adequate supply and a good PSU only becomes appearent in unusual circumstances, in short its their reliable operating range, the ability to master all these variables and some brand do have a better reputation than others, the again the other variables need to be addressed.

I highly encourage a little reading
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/other/display/psu-methodology.html
specifically
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/other/display/psu-methodology_13.html

98% of the PSU reviews on the net are nearly worthless
with so many caveates they are literally a joke
SMPS (PSUs) are very complex devices with unique behavior dependent on a large number of variables (crossload, temperature, VAC, EMI from unshielded devices they are powering, ect)

we do have a PSU forum
drop on by ;)
 
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