300W Sparkle Power Supply for $15 Shipped

[SSSS]

After some unlucky experience with the 300W Lite-on from Directron, I was searching for a good power supply at a good price. I came across the 300W Sparkle at MicroTech for only $15 shipped. I think it is a good deal for all of you budget minded persons looking for a good power supply. The company's reseller rating is decent.

 

[Scitex]

How'd you get it for $15 shipped? I'm getting $17.99 plus $11 for Ground shipping.....

Am I missing something?

 

[duuuma]

I see it now...you checked pricewatch and it says $15 for either PCDirect or Microtech. Their sites are nearly identical, and so are their advertised prices are pricewatch...probably the same company.

Anyway, the price at PCDirect is $10 with $4.99 promotional shipping. I edited the promo code to avoid trouble, but just go to www.pricewatch.com and look up 300w psu's. You'll find either stores at $14.99 shipped. If you click their website links through pricewatch you'll get the promo code automatically in your basket.


Sparkle 300w PSU for $15 shipped
Let's just say that the promo is extremely easy to guess just b/c you knew what the source is.

 

[docinthebox]

Maximum Load:

+3.3V: 7.5/20A
+5V: 30/21.8A
+12V: 13A

+3.3V & +5V total output not exceed 175W
+3.3V & +5V & +12V total output not exceed 280W

P4 ready (with +12V connector)

ATX-300GT data sheet

Pretty good deal. Most other places sell it for $25 to $35.

 

[Bad Dude]

So is it safe to buy from PC Direct?

 

[ww4397]

How much does this PSU weigh?

 

[bchalker]

Save another $1

Apparently the power cord is added in for $1.00 making it $14.98. Order using the "1 to 9 quantity" order button below the original to get it for $13.98 shipped - minus the power cord

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: docinthebox

Maximum Load:

+3.3V: 7.5/20A
+5V: 30/21.8A
+12V: 13A

+3.3V & +5V total output not exceed 175W
+3.3V & +5V & +12V total output not exceed 280W

P4 ready (with +12V connector)

ATX-300GT data sheet

Pretty good deal. Most other places sell it for $25 to $35.

I don't know that much about power supplies. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

 

[rile0161]

Does anyone have any opinions on this supply? I have an empty case that I feel the need to fill cheap.

 

[bedrocked]

it really depends on what you're goal for ur computer is but especially more then anything with power supplies, you get what you pay for. ever wonder why some 300w power supplies go for in excess of $50? it sure as heck isn't to offset advertising costs.

 

[gaidin123]

Most InWin cases use these same powersupplies under the brand name of "Powerman". They're all made by the FSP Group if you compare model numbers. I use the 300W version on a pretty heavily loaded Athlon 1900 system (Epox 8kha+,512,2 HDs, 2 CDs, GF4 Ti4400, NIC, SB Live, etc.) and have used this same PSU for 3-4 years now. Tomshardware did a nice power supply review a while back and the FSP ones came out very high for their rather low cost.

We buy the Sparkle 300W ones from newegg at work and use them to replace blow PSUs (mostly old Deer <shudder> ones from a bad batch of OEM machines) and haven't had any problems with them though most of those machines are older P3s.

If you can get this PSU for $15 it's a great deal. Newegg has it for $27 or so from what I recall.

Gaidin

 

[tommigsr]

http://www.mrtechus.com/40p4powsup.html

400watt for $15.00 shipped

 

[Lemanz]

I don't see a brand on that 400 wattps

 

[verydryice]

Bump for sparkle.

 

[hmsrolst]

Excellent deal--couldn't resist grabbing one.

 

[StayPuff]

Originally posted by: gaidin123
Most InWin cases use these same powersupplies under the brand name of "Powerman". They're all made by the FSP Group if you compare model numbers. I use the 300W version on a pretty heavily loaded Athlon 1900 system (Epox 8kha+,512,2 HDs, 2 CDs, GF4 Ti4400, NIC, SB Live, etc.) and have used this same PSU for 3-4 years now. Tomshardware did a nice power supply review a while back and the FSP ones came out very high for their rather low cost.

We buy the Sparkle 300W ones from newegg at work and use them to replace blow PSUs (mostly old Deer <shudder> ones from a bad batch of OEM machines) and haven't had any problems with them though most of those machines are older P3s.

If you can get this PSU for $15 it's a great deal. Newegg has it for $27 or so from what I recall.

Gaidin

Yep, I have an InWIn Q500 Tower case and it came with a Powerman 300W (back in 2000). Powerman is the same as Sparkle, right?

 

[gaidin123]

Yep, I have an InWIn Q500 Tower case and it came with a Powerman 300W (back in 2000). Powerman is the same as Sparkle, right?

Yeah they all have FSP-XXX as the model number. www.fsp-goup.com.tw is the headquarters. They have some funky flash stuff going on so try out the .co.uk website if you want to avoid that. AFAIK any PSU with FSP-XXX is made by this company. Lots of PSU companies rebadge these but if you look closely you can usually find the original model number.

Gaidin

 

[blueribb]

Sparkle makes a great power supply. It's worth at least double what they are charging.

I got a few 300W Enlight supplies for $16 apiece from Amamax.com about a week ago. They still have them listed on pricewatch but
claim they're not in stock. You'll have to twist their arm if you want one.

Thanks a bunch for the post

 

[hojl]

sparkle are one of the better power supplys you can get..
I don't know much about this one..
I remember a couple of years ago..
the kings were
sparkle and enermax.
and then ANtec.
Depends on who you talk to..

 

[mindless1]

Sparkle does make good PSU, and this IS a good deal @ $15 delivered,

BUT

this is the older version, not the same PSU reviewed by Tom's Hardware or at Newegg. This one has a lower true capacity and possibly a cheap sleeve bearing fan too. This PSU used to be included in the cheaper cases by AOpen, etc. IF it does have the el-crappo Yate Loon Sleeve bearing fan, BE SURE TO REPLACE THE FAN NOW, IT WILL FAIL.

 

[BigEdMuustaffa]

Anyonw know how this power supply compares to the one in the medion computer that was sold at Aldi's?

 

[duuuma]

Sparkle is a very good brand from what I've read and heard from friends too. Microtech and PCDirect have slightly above average reseller ratings so I think it's safe enough.

I've got a sparkle-made 180w in my gf's InWin mATX case and it works fine. I read from newegg reviews that some people have powered Athlon XP chips with that 125w 3.3v and 5v with no problems!

If you want to OC or run extremely powerful setups then it might not be the one for you, but for most people's uses, this is a great, reliable psu for cheap!

 

[ThisIsMatt]

a 300w sparkle psu will own any cheapo 400/450w psu. Sparkle rocks.

 

[SCTrojan]

I have a 300W sparkle PS, it works great. Had it for 5 years, it runs now on a 1.0ghz Athlon with 1 HD, and 3 optical drives, along with 5 cards.

 

[bender151]

MR. SPARKLE!!!