PSU "Upgrade" Offered for Free--Should I Take It?

[Hastibe]

I had to RMA my OCZ 600W ModXStream Pro, however, OCZ can't replace it. Instead they have offered me a OCZ 780W ModXStream-B. It is a slightly older unit and is re-certified, but still will keep the warranty.

Should I take it? I need to reply to them soon.

 

[Phaedrus2129]

No, the older ModXStreams I believe are FSP Epsilons, and Epsilons of that vintage are pretty meh. The ModXStream Pros I believe are decent Sirfa units. It would be an upgrade in wattage, but a downgrade in performance.

 

[Hastibe]

Could you explain? The OCZ 780W ModXStream-B only has about ~80% efficiency, compared with the OCZ 600W ModXStream Pro, which should have around ~86% efficiency, but that doesn't seem like a very significant difference.

...Beyond that, the OCZ 780W is much more powerful than the OCZ 600W, too. Kinda leaning towards saying I'll take it...

 

[fffblackmage]

Other than efficiency and power output rating, you should also be looking at voltage regulation and ripple. Actual output voltage and the amount of ripple can change according to load, so even if the PSU can output its rated power output, output voltage and the amount of ripple may exceed specs.

The older ModxStreams seem ok, but not especially great though. A lot of people don't like OCZ PSUs, especially the older ones.

A few reviews you can take a look at:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2383/4
http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/other_misc/OCZ_ModXStream/pg3.html
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.p...task=view&id=69&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=5

 

[Hastibe]

Thanks for the input. Why don't people like OCZ PSUs (especially the older ones)? Because they unexpectedly die like mine, I presume?

 

[BoomerD]

Why can't they replace yours? Is it discontinued?

I'd try to get them to replace yours with a better quality PSU, but if that's the best they have to offer, take it. You can always sell it and buy a better quality one.

 

[Hastibe]

Why can't they replace yours? Is it discontinued?

It's back-ordered, apparently. Anyways, I decided to go ahead with what the ModXStream 780W--it is a higher spec PSU than the one I had, and still holds a selling price of twice that of my old PSU ($140 vs. $70)

 

[HOOfan 1]

I have to wonder why they still have PSUs laying around that have been end of life for well over 2 years now...the ModXstream 780 has been EOL for a LONG TIME. Probably a refurb. Why can't they replace it with a ModXstream 700 Pro instead, not to mention I see the ModXstream 600 Pro is still in stock at most retailers...to me that just says that OCZ is thinking "we have this piece of junk refurb here we need to get rid of". I would say no and ask about the ModXstream 700 Pro instead.

I don't particularly care for some OCZ PSUs because they are
1)Usually overrated (meaning slapping a 700W label on a 600W PSU)
2)Overpriced...

 

[BoomerD]

Gotta agree with Hoofan. TRY to get them to replace yours with a current model instead of some old dusty piece of hardware that's maybe been on the shelves for a few years.

What the heck...it never hurts to ask...I suppose you could say no...and wait for a replacement of your model...but try for better.

 

[Hastibe]

Yeah, I know what you guys mean. They actually did look into the OCZ700MXSP and OCZ550FTY, but were out of stock on both of those, as well as on my original PSU (OCZ600MXSP)--which is a little hard to believe and is really lame warehousing organization if true (and I said as much), but no luck there.

So, as I mentioned before, I did decide to go ahead and have them ship the re-certified OCZ780MXS, instead of wait who knows how long for them to get their current PSUs back in stock (ridiculous, I know...)--I still have two years left on my warranty, so I figure that if this old PSU does break, I can just RMA it, too.