Ultra X-Finity Quality

J

josanai

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 28, 2003
Messages
344
After reading the good reviews about the Ultra X-Finity, I decided to try it out with Outpost.com having it for $44.99 after rebates (not as good as Radio Shack deal). I got it and fired it up to hear a noise that sounds like a wire hitting a fan. When I shut it off, it made a sort of grinding noise. I got an advanced replacement from Ultra (nice service) and the replacement did the same thing, so I guess it is just the type of fan they use that makes these annoying noises. I decided to put the replacement into my computer and ran it over night. I noticed the pc monitoring alarm went off since the 5 volt rail hit 6.09 volts! I know software based readings may not always be accurate, but this had never happened with my 400-watt Fortron cheapie (system is Rig #2). Since I still had the original unit, I tried that. I had the computer on overnight, and the warning came up that the voltage was 4.32 volts WTF!? I decided to go get a cheapo 500-watt Antec smartpower 2.0 from CompUSA and have been running solid for 2 days without problems (so far). I had always questioned Ultra power supplies, but thought I would give them a try. I won't try them again. Tru though, I have had Fortron, Antec, PCP&C, TTGI, all start to fail, but not 2 of any not have good voltages right away. So now I am out money for shipping 3 times on this one. Nice. Oh well, it was my fault I guess. I hope other people have better luck with them. (Maybe they don't like ASUS A8R-MVP mobos)
 
Well, it's natural to question Ultra quality after the X-Connect fiasco. But the X-Finity line has always been pretty good and their quality has never really come into question by the general concensus as far as I know.

Strange that two power supplies from two totally different sources (Outpost and via RMA replacement ) would have the exact same fan noise problem. None of the ones I've used or reviewed (actually have a 500W in my main rig right here at my feet) have ever made that noise, nor do I recall any such noise being reported by any of the review sites I've read.

Now if you were crossloading the power supply, I could say the noise was a buzz coming from the main transformer. Did you confirm the noise was actually fan noise by stopping the fan with a toothpick or are you just guessing?

A crossload could also explain the dropped 5V rail, and this would also be why a PSU like an earlier FSP400 (single 12V rail, right?) would exhibit no problems. Because an earlier PSU would have more juice on the 5V rail then it would on the 12V rail (hence the reason we're always bitching about Thermaltake and their 50A 5V rails!)

Then again, the system #2 in your sig (the Asus A8R-MVP, right?) isn't one that I would think would crossload an ATX12V PSU. If the PC is different, though.. do post it. Maybe there's just some sort of funky compatibility issue with that power supply and your board, like how there was an issue between the NeoHE and the Asus A8N.

Naturally, I'm going to be a little biased out of the gate. But I think the bottom line is that you have two PSU's from two sources exhibiting the same problem. You can call QC into question for the reasoning behind this and be very well justified, but I think there's something a little more complicated than that going on.
 
Nice reply. When I first get a supply, I first hook it up to an Antec PSU tester along with a few CD/DVD drives that I have laying around to check that it works. The noise would turn into a grinding sound when the fan would slow down to a stop so I figured it was the fan. Either way, it didn't sound like anything I have hear from a PSU fan. When it was hooked up in the case with other fans running it was not noticable, so that is why I went ahead and started using them. The Fortron I had used before was a dual rail +18A on both 12V1 and 12V2 with a total wattage of 348W (Not too shabby actually) here:

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-FS400PA

It is cheap ($30) and pretty solid (would recommend as a 'bargain' PSU), as it was able to handle Rig #2 with no problems (12V rail sagged a bit, but still +- ~3%, using software, so probably better if using a DMM) with dual x800xl's in crossfire while running prime95 and the hdr graphics stress test (rthribl or something, can't remember the name). I wanted something that was a bit beefier in power though for the crossfire setup, so I tried out the X-Finity. I don't think I have heard it having crossloading issues before. I was dissapointed with the results and have been suprised by the stable voltages, even under load of the Antec Smartpower 2.0 500 watt PSU. Under load it is usually within 1%, and it is very quiet, modular too! On another note, I might try out that Masscool you recently reviewed as it looked pretty nice.

Also Johnny, do you know anything about 3Y Power Technology? I had asked around before, and most people laughed when I said the name since they had never heard of them. I have a 420 watt supply from them and it is one of the most solid and heavy PSUs that I have used (heavier than all but the Enermax EG651AX-VH EPS12V 550W). I got it for $25 off of Ebay. It has adjustable pots, PFC, only 20 pins, and ran a DFI UltraD with a 7800GTX plus HDDs, DVD Burners, without any rails budging whatsoever when under load.
 
I got the X-Finity 600W which turned out to be fairly loud so I RMAed it. Then I bought the X-Finity 500 from the Radio Shack deal.

So far so good. Much quieter and no stability problems. I do keep reading about these broken fans in the Ultras. One review had one with a cracked hub which was making noise until it was replaced.

If my rebates come through, this will have cost $37 for what I've read from JonnyGURU and others to be a good-excellent PSU.

BTW, anyone notice how many green X-Connects there are on eBay after that Radio Shack deal? LOL They all say "UPC removed for promotional purposes".
 
I know in my first post I mentioned I would not try another Ultra PSU, but was contacted by JC@Ultra and he said he wanted to help me solve the issue I was having. With the service being as good as what he is providing I changed my mind and will give them another shot. I can say that Ultra definately has Quality support.
 
I have an x-connect and it has ran flawlessly for over a year. I guess Im the only lucky one in this world. It is a little load for my tastes, I'll eventually replace it.I bet that Ultra is really working hard to beat the bad rap they got in all the tech forums, and that is why their QC is good right now:)
 
I can testify at their attempt to resolve his bad rep with the X-Connect. When mine started to shutdown unexpectedly and being more noisy than usual, they accepted a cross-shipment RMA without asking me for a proof of purchase (I was at work and the invoice is in one of the boxes since my recent move to a new house). I can tell the service is top-notch but i'm already burned by the issue hence the new Seasonic I bought while waiting for the RMA.
 
The Seasonic S12 500 watt is nice, isn't it? High efficiency, power (rails don't budge, even under load), and QUIET (can't even hear it when the fan is the only one running). They also have good service. I originally had the first rev which did not seem to get along with DFI mobos, which was the board I was using, so they swapped it for a rev 2 with SLi support (The first rev did not have dual PCI-E). Every company has it's issues, and they can be cleared up with good support (usually). I just felt bummed after trying 2 consecutive X-Finity's with not so good results. But like I said, JC@Ultra contacted me and wanted to help clear the issues, so I took back what I said about not trying their supplies again and will give them another shot.
 
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