Are OCZ reliable?

[lehtv]

Is there any danger for other components of a PSU dieing? - I mean it has a 3 year warranty so it isn't the end of the world if it breaks after 1 or 2 years unless it could take other components with it.

Yes, there's always a small danger to other components if a PSU dies. The danger is most appreciable with super low end budget noname brands. Semi decent manufacturers like HEC will have protections in place and generally have alright power quality, up to a point. The main problems with semi decent manufacturers is that they're overrated (can't deliver full power continuously with safe power characteristics in a realistic ambient temperature) and/or don't have good build quality (especially the capacitors) which directly impacts the product's expected lifetime. It's better to spend a bit more on a well built unit so it will last longer and handle the stress you put on it with ease.

Don't read too much into the posts here sharing their experiences with OCZ. Not that I'm saying their accounts are false, not at all - it's just that you can't really draw any reliable conclusions from such a small sample size. That a particular OCZ unit dies and a different brand's unit works flawlessly for years is well within statistical error margins - it could just as well be the other way around.

 

[Dijeangenie]

Don't read too much into the posts here sharing their experiences with OCZ. Not that I'm saying their accounts are false, not at all - it's just that you can't really draw any reliable conclusions from such a small sample size. That a particular OCZ unit dies and a different brand's unit works flawlessly for years is well within statistical error margins - it could just as well be the other way around.

I realise that, I was just curious about what other people thought - I will only use this pc regularly for 2 or 3 years before I go off to uni so it isnt the end of the world if it does not last me for 5+ years.

 

[ATF678]

How did it kill them?

Whatever component in the psu that was failing probably caused unstable voltages and just power surged frying the cpu and mobo.

 

[billbobaggins87]

I'm pretty sure you were thinking, "Man, that's cheap!"

so true.... just didn't want to admit it to myself

 

[billbobaggins87]

i thought there had been lawsuits against them.. for awhile they were having horrendous issues with the quality of there product...

 

[teh_pwnerer]

OCZ sucks from power supplies to SSD's. Stay far away from this company. They will be bankrupt soon enough.

Good Power Supplies - Seasonsic, Antec, Corsair, XFX, Silverstone, and Rosewill.

 

[blastingcap]

OCZ sucks from power supplies to SSD's. Stay far away from this company. They will be bankrupt soon enough.

Good Power Supplies - Seasonsic, Antec, Corsair, XFX, Silverstone, and Rosewill.

Of all the companies you named, only one makes its own PSUs: Seasonic. The rest you have to dig a little deeper rather than looking only at the label.

 

[lehtv]

OCZ sucks from power supplies to SSD's. Stay far away from this company. They will be bankrupt soon enough.

Good Power Supplies - Seasonsic, Antec, Corsair, XFX, Silverstone, and Rosewill.

You're right about at least the first four. Pretty much all of their units are good quality. Silverstone is generally good, IIRC they use Enhance as their OEM. Rosewill isn't always good, the only PSUs from them I can recommend without a second thought are the Capstone series (OEM Superflower).

OCZ ZS, ZT and ZX units are good. Cooler Master Silent Pro and Silent Hybrid series are good. Then there's NZXT which is alright as well, and some Thermaltake units ... The list goes on. All I can say is that if you buy a unit manufactured by Seasonic, Delta, CWT or Superflower, you can't go wrong, but these aren't the only manufacturers out there with quality hardware.

 

[blastingcap]

I had my first experience with Silverstone customer service today and was blown away by how fast and friendly they were. Corsair is like that too, but has a slower response time.

 

[TemjinGold]

You're right about at least the first four. Pretty much all of their units are good quality. Silverstone is generally good, IIRC they use Enhance as their OEM. Rosewill isn't always good, the only PSUs from them I can recommend without a second thought are the Capstone series (OEM Superflower).

You forgot the Fortress series.

 

[lehtv]

You forgot the Fortress series.

I didn't. Unlike Capstones, Fortresses aren't made by Superflower, they're made by ATNG. Since the difference in efficiency between Gold an Platinum is not significant, you might as well go for the less expensive but probably better built Superflower

 

[slayernine]

OCZ doesn't make their own PSUs. You'd have to look at who actually made the PSU and gave it to OCZ to rebadge as their own. Also try to look for online reviews.

The reason I usually buy seasonic, they actually make them.

 

[Fallengod]

Thats the main issue with OCZ and thats not to suggest its uncommon because Corsair, Antec, etc also dont make their PSU's either.

Personally, I never buy OCZ. There was a time when they were better quality products, not anymore. I stick with Antec, Corsair, Seasonic for the most part. Ill never put an OCZ PSU in my rig.