Sparkle PSU's dirt cheap!!

[gnewbury]

I know they are not the best, and are refurbs, but take a look at least .
250W from 4.99

/edit - plus they have kick butt prices on rounded cables, and their shipping is moderate.

 

[ByteDown[H]ard]

I had a couple of these, between the 2 of them they lasted less than 3 months and corrupted a winxppro install when they died. Good price, bad PS...

 

[BakedON]

For 4.99 you are taking the risk of the rest of your components.
If it's a POS box that you threw together from a junkpile of parts then maybe.... but if you value the rest of the system NEVER buy a Sparkle PS.

(300 systemax machines here at work with that PS. I've replaced 227 of their PS' over the last 6 months. 15 of the machines needed CPU, Memory or Vid card replaement as well and 3 of the machines were so badly dammaged that we just pitched them.)

 

[AcidTone]

(300 systemax machines here at work with that PS. I've replaced 227 of their PS' over the last 6 months. 15 of the machines needed CPU, Memory or Vid card replaement as well and 3 of the machines were so badly dammaged that we just pitched them.)

Ouch. Im haveing simular problems with some Dells at work. As soon as the warrenty was up the PS fans started seizeing up, which sits right under the HD and usually causes so much heat that the hard drive gives us trouble.

 

[BakedON]

Ouch. Im haveing simular problems with some Dells at work. As soon as the warrenty was up the PS fans started seizeing up, which sits right under the HD and usually causes so much heat that the hard drive gives us trouble.

I got lucky... 90% of mine were all still under warranty. I'll tell you this though... I'll NEVER buy Systemax again. The cases from our batch SUCK, the PS's SUCK, the CDRW's SUCK, and the sound cards SUCK. Other than that they're ok.

 

[gnewbury]

Sorry guy's I've only had about 4 of these in systems and they all worked fine for years. Didn't know they were a POS PSU.
But their rounded cables are good.

 

[KodiakStar]

Sounds more like dating a stripper in vegas...

every once in a while you might find a clean one

 

[[Spectre]]

Sparkle usually makes good low end PSU's.

 

[DR_K13]

Damn it. I just got a PSU ( 250w) for my dual p3 yesterday from compusa. ( $20 )

I was in a hurry, I had 2 Big WUs that had about 2-3 hours left on them.

 

[BakedON]

Sorry guy's I've only had about 4 of these in systems and they all worked fine for years. Didn't know they were a POS PSU.
But their rounded cables are good.

Meh.... your finding was good and folks always appreciate someone on the lookout.
Besides... I'm just pointing out my experiences and opinions and they should be taken as such. MY opinions and MY experiences. YMMV
A possible factor in the demise of so many of these PS's is that these Systemax cases are pure PUKE as far as cooling and airflow is concerned.

for 4.99 I'd even buy one to top off a box I didn't have a lot of $$ in.

 

[mr_ouija]

I imagine there are lemons in the lot for sure, but the Fortron relabelled Sparkles (The ones with FSP in the part number) are nice PSUs in general. I have a 250w here powering an xp2500 w/ 768mb ram, 2 hdds, cd-burner, 3 fans and (until recently) a ti4200. Even overclocked it runs like a champ.

 

[GotNoRice]

Fortron/Sparkle powersupplies are pretty awesome. Of course 300watts is a pretty small powersupply either way. About my only beef with their powersupplies is that they need to get with the times and realize that the emphasis needs to not be on the 5v rail anymore.

 

[[Spectre]]

Fortron/Sparkle powersupplies are pretty awesome. Of course 300watts is a pretty small powersupply either way. About my only beef with their powersupplies is that they need to get with the times and realize that the emphasis needs to not be on the 5v rail anymore.

Chances are folding rig's running that small a PSU will be using the 5v though since they are likely how should I say......"vintage" equipment.