Getting an OCZ Z Series 850w as on OEM replacement. Should I keep it or sell it?

[Sureshot324]

I got an OCZ EliteXStream 800w when I built my i7 rig. The PSU died in about 5 months, so I put in my old Antec Truepower 480w (which I think is 4-5 years old) which actually powers my system just fine. I RMA'd the OCZ and they gave me a GameXStream 850w. This unit had a defective fan controller (apparently a common problem for the GameXStream and StealthXStream series). It would run at 100% all the time and was extremely loud.

I RMA'd it again and now they say they're sending me a Z series 850w. I'm not sure if I want to trust another OCZ power supply to power my system. Is this a decent PSU? Should I use it or sell it and stick with my Antec 480 until I need more power? Anyone know the OEM of this PSU as well as the OEMs of the ones I replaced?

Core i7 (not OCed but probably will OC in the future)
Asus P6T
6gb Patriot DDR3-1600
Nvidia 8800gt (will probably upgrade this in a few months, maybe to a Radeon 5850)
300gb, 500gb, and 1tb sata hard drives
Creative Audigy 2 ZS
dvd burner
Will probably get a tv tuner soon

 

[HOOfan 1]

Well you are way into the overkill territory with 850W, but there is nothing wrong with that. I would say the Z Series is a much better PSU than the old Antec Truepower 1.0 or 2.0 also.

The Z series is monumentally overpriced if you were buying it, but since you got it as an RMA replacement, it is a pretty good unit. Not nearly worth what it costs, but very good, extremely efficient. I would just keep it.

OEM of the Z series 850W is unkown...none of the knowledgeable reviewers are willing to nail it down to a specific OEM...but the best guess anyone can give is Sirfa (who was spun off from Sirtec).

The EliteXstream was designed by Impervio and made by IS Quasar in Taiwan.
The GameXstream is Fortron Source...and was by far the least quality of the 3 800W+ units that you got.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Well you are way into the overkill territory with 850W, but there is nothing wrong with that. I would say the Z Series is a much better PSU than the old Antec Truepower 1.0 or 2.0 also.

The Z series is monumentally overpriced if you were buying it, but since you got it as an RMA replacement, it is a pretty good unit. Not nearly worth what it costs, but very good, extremely efficient. I would just keep it.

OEM of the Z series 850W is unkown...none of the knowledgeable reviewers are willing to nail it down to a specific OEM...but the best guess anyone can give is Sirfa (who was spun off from Sirtec).

The EliteXstream was designed by Impervio and made by IS Quasar in Taiwan.
The GameXstream is Fortron Source...and was by far the least quality of the 3 800W+ units that you got.

fortrons are bad, or just the worst of the 3?
i had a fortron back in the day and it was rock solid.

 

[HOOfan 1]

fortrons are bad, or just the worst of the 3?
i had a fortron back in the day and it was rock solid.

Fortron was passed by long ago. It is the worst of the 3 and it isn't that good to begin with....not at 850W. It is fine at 600W though.

 

[tomoyo]

Actually the Z-series is a decent quality really high efficiency psu supposedly made by Sirtec I believe. I think you should keep it unless you have a specific other psu you want. It is also miles ahead of any of the other psus mentioned here.

 

[HOOfan 1]

Actually the Z-series is a decent quality really high efficiency psu supposedly made by Sirtec I believe. I think you should keep it unless you have a specific other psu you want. It is also miles ahead of any of the other psus mentioned here.

Sirtec sold all of their interests in PSU manufacturing to one of their spin off facilities, Sirfa.

Several of the reviewers have yet to conclusively say that it is a Sirfa...but that is the best bet.

I'd personally rather have the EliteXstream than the Z-Series...although it is likely that the EliteXstream had a manufacturing defect causing many early deaths. Other than that though, it was more solid in ripple suppression and voltage stability.

 

[tomoyo]

Sirtec sold all of their interests in PSU manufacturing to one of their spin off facilities, Sirfa.

Several of the reviewers have yet to conclusively say that it is a Sirfa...but that is the best bet.

I'd personally rather have the EliteXstream than the Z-Series...although it is likely that the EliteXstream had a manufacturing defect causing many early deaths. Other than that though, it was more solid in ripple suppression and voltage stability.

Ah my bad. Sirtec, Sirfa, same difference.
Considering the Z-series does seem to stay pretty well in spec still, it seems pretty worthwhile still, especially as a replacement psu.

 

[HOOfan 1]

Ah my bad. Sirtec, Sirfa, same difference.
Considering the Z-series does seem to stay pretty well in spec still, it seems pretty worthwhile still, especially as a replacement psu.

For $0-$170 hell yeah. For $200+...hell no.