any experince w/ this 500w power supply - onsale for $17+shipping

[dxpaap]

I'm looking for upgrading a few powersupplies on the cheap - wondering if anyone had experince with this one ?


http://store6.yimg.com/I/amamax_1779_28216415

thanks

 

[McArra]

Cheap and PSU don't go well together.

 

[lenjack]

Take into account that quality 500 watters go for more than $150 and you'll have your answer. There's no way any semblance of quality can be engineered into a 500 watt ps for $17. Never mind booting up...I'd be afraid it would burn up or damage my computer.

 

[dxpaap]

Yes, I know on the face of it - a 500w PS for $17 is rediculus BUT

sometime (not often) there are hidden "hot deals" - although quality may not be as good as a name brand 500w unit - it may be a good deal comparing it to a 350w PS (thats what I'm looking for).

I'm not defending this PS (never heard of it) - but china seems to be dumping products at impossabily low prices (eg - cant believe the deals my wife gets on kids cloths).

anyway, my question still goes: has anyone every used a Xcase switching power supply made in china ? model number EB-500 ? looks like its got all the seals of approval. Although can't really read the specs, they look like +3.3=38A +5=35A +12=27A

 

[Zepper]

Besides, amamax has a terrible reseller rating - talk about yer pig in a poke... Look for a PSU of the Achieve brand. It has a relatively good rep for cheap brand. Also having the TUV mark is a good sign.
.bh.

 

[Cerb]

Let's see..."500" w:
can't read 3.3v
35A +5
21A +12

my Fortron 300w:
+3.3V 28A
+5V 21.5A
+12V 15A
Similar 350w:
+3.3V 28A
+5V@ 25.5A
+12V 16A
Similar 400w:
+3.3V 28A
+5V 40A
+12V 15A

So the specs look OK. But you realize there is a big difference in how much is in the PSU, right? higher wattage = more and heavier parts. A shipping wieght can say a lot (a real 500w PSU should be over 2lb, probably 4lb)
Chances are, it's really a cheapo PSU let through crappy QC measures.
Now, if your PC isn't running because the power supply blew, it's a good deal.
Otherwise, a quality $30-$50 300w-400w PSU will be better.

 

[hytek369]

Originally posted by: McArra
Cheap and PSU don't go well together.

my thoughts exactly

 

[Texun]

Originally posted by: McArra
Cheap and PSU don't go well together.

Yep. Hate to spit in your Cheerios (cast doubts on your plan) but I spent about $200 on power supplies before I finally settled on an Antec TP430. I've never had a problem since and I'm actually on my 3rd system with the same PS. An additional consideration is the efficiency of the power supply. It may be rated at 500W and it may work well, but it may also eat you alive in cost of operation, especially since it sounds like you may be considering buying more than one. There was a post or link in here somewhere a while back on power supply efficiency that would surprise you. I'll post the link if I can find it again.

 

[nick1985]

a PSU is the last thing in a computer that should be "skimped"

 

[conehead433]

Wonder what Gateway, Dell, HP et. al. put in their boxes. Probably the cheapo PS units such as this. Probably have a failure rate of less than a few %. I currently have a 400W Linkworld PS running an XP1700, 4 hard drives, 4 fans, 3 Rom/RW drives and have never had a minutes trouble. No random reboots, etc. I am sure that some here will claim, 'Just wait till it blows up and ruins everything'. Right. I'm sure I'm an idiot and so are Dell, Gateway, HP and any fool who would use a cheap PS. You people paying the big bucks are suckers.

 

[shiftomnimega]

I bought this a few months ago.

http://store.yahoo.com/str8buy/amfsat30atxp.html

It looks exactly like the one in the first picture.

Still works with no problems.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: conehead433
Wonder what Gateway, Dell, HP et. al. put in their boxes. Probably the cheapo PS units such as this. Probably have a failure rate of less than a few %. I currently have a 400W Linkworld PS running an XP1700, 4 hard drives, 4 fans, 3 Rom/RW drives and have never had a minutes trouble. No random reboots, etc. I am sure that some here will claim, 'Just wait till it blows up and ruins everything'. Right. I'm sure I'm an idiot and so are Dell, Gateway, HP and any fool who would use a cheap PS. You people paying the big bucks are suckers.

No, some of us have had random reboots, odd happenings when there is major power draw (FI, games) and ruined components. Then spent $40 on a good PSU and everything was fine.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: lenjack
Take into account that quality 500 watters go for more than $150 and you'll have your answer. There's no way any semblance of quality can be engineered into a 500 watt ps for $17. Never mind booting up...I'd be afraid it would burn up or damage my computer.

550W for $106 shipped
But this $17 500W PSU - I'd say to expect maybe 400W from it. And expect to replace the fans in about 6 months when their bearings start to fail.

 

[Zap]

A good power supply is a must, however you are right in saying there are some deals to be had. The "deal" is to not get an overpriced (but guaranteed great) name brand power supply like the Antec/Enermax/etc. For starters, Fortron makes great power supplies at reasonable prices. They are the OEM for the internals of many brands of quality power supplies. Another good one that I've been enamoured with recently is A+GPB. They make a nice 420W power supply that is really, really quiet and has a beautiful finish. Newegg has it for $50 after shipping. It seems nicely made and is really heavy. 3.3v is 28A, 5v is 42A, 12v is 18A. It's currently my top recommendation for those wanting a GOOD power supply as well as those wanting a SILENT power supply.

 

[Tab]

The powersupply is the most underrated compentent in a computer.

 

[dxpaap]

thanks for advise all

 

[nycdude]

Originally posted by: McArra
Cheap and PSU don't go well together.

I thought about that when I was running my AMD system. Get a good one and you don't have to worry about it causing damage to any of your parts.

 

[Tom]

Can't we all get along ?

Look, some people like good quality power supplies, which is great.

Other peepz like cheap power supplies and are willing to accept the risks. If their system has a problem they know it might be the power supply, but if everything works, they saved some dinero.


As I fall in the latter category, but I'm always interested in unusual designs.. I wonder if anyone has experience with the "Ultra" brand power supplies Tiger Direct sells ? They have one with a 120mm fan that looks interesting.

Ultra 400w w/120mm fan

Just looking for thoughts. btw, I'm aware of Tiger Direct's reputation, hopefully this won't turn into a thread about them. :sun:

edit- also curious about this aluminum power supply from Skyhawk, mostly for the weight advantage for a carriable case, although I suppose the internals make up most of the weight of a power supply anyway.

Skyhawk aluminum power supply

 

[Zap]

That power supply looks okay, I suppose. Strange that the one you linked is $10 cheaper than any other units of the same brand, including one that is lower wattage. It looks kinda like the Fortron units with 120mm fans.

 

[bootoo]

Fortron 530w at the egg for $67; the sticker on the side says 550w; nice and heavy, haven't tried it yet (tomorrow I'll install it); $5 fedex shipping earlier this week when I got it.

Fortron.... mmmm.

 

[MDE]

Dead Parrot, that 400W one with the 120mm fan looks like my Fortron 350W (mine doesn't have the light though), but mine has a fan control knob, and the thing is loud on high, but dead silent on low.

 

[nageov3t]

running a 420W Vantec PSU here. never had any problems with it... not like that Enermax PSU that I may have exploded.

I dunno... there was smoke and heat and either a small fire or an orange warning light inside the PSU. hehe.

 

[dxpaap]

The Tiger direct $29 + shipping powersupply seems decent for the price:


Text

But wondering if this feature is of value ?:

Unlike standard power supplies that share circuit output, Ultra power supplies deliver maximum current to each circuit through dedicated output circuitry.

 

[Zap]

Well, dedicated circuitry is what makes Antec's TruePower series of power supplies so great. However, in a $29 power supply... dunno. If some review site with the proper equipment could test the unit to see if it really puts out... lots of cheaper power supply companies downright lie about the specs (or measure ratings very liberally).

 

[Cerb]

The Ultra 400w is as or more expensive than a comparable Fortron supply at Newegg, and has nothing redeeming.
3.3v: 15A vs 28/15 (15 if the 5v line is pulling over 21A)
5v: 30A vs 30/21 (21 when the 3.3v is pulling more tan 15)
12v: 15A vs 17A
3.3v+5v: 180w vs 200w.
Guess what? I bet that aside from lowering te 3.3+5 to allow for calling the 12v 17A, they are the same supplies.
But one company is largely geared to system integrators and OEMs, who are tougher to BS, whee on is taking the same thing, adding a neat fan, and BSing specs for resail to noral users.
The Fortron 350w and 400w have highr specs except for the 12v, so why not rate them as high Fortron if they are? Unls you need a blue fan, just spend $32 or $42 shipped from Newegg and get one whose specs can be trusted.
Deal-hunt on motherboards, video cards, cases, printers, keyboards, mice, CDROM drives, hard drives...but NOT on the PSU or memory!!!.
After you have problems that magically go away, after trying for hours, with the switching of RAM or a PSU, you will never get sub-par, or even potentially sub-par, incarations of either again.