• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Ultra X-Connect 500W PSU

pickle965

Member
I am thinking about getting an Ultra X-Connect 500W with my new Athlon64 rig. Would like to hear some personal opinions and experiences with this PSU. Is it worth the price? Thanks in advance.
 
I have no personal experiences, but I have heard many bad things about it. Many people have had their entire system fried because of this PSU. Personally, I would go with a more trusted name, like ANtec, Fortron, etc. There may be a slight markup, but it's better to pay an extra $50 on a PSU than have to replace your entire system when the PSU goes down...

I'm sure some others will give you a few more specifics. I have only heard about these problems from other posts here...
 
There are plenty of threads here on this topic already. Ever notice that little search box at the top of each section??? There are also more threads on it in the Cases & Cooling and the Tech Support sections.
.bh.

:moon:
 
Originally posted by: SrGuapo
I have no personal experiences, but I have heard many bad things about it. Many people have had their entire system fried because of this PSU. Personally, I would go with a more trusted name, like ANtec, Fortron, etc. There may be a slight markup, but it's better to pay an extra $50 on a PSU than have to replace your entire system when the PSU goes down...

I'm sure some others will give you a few more specifics. I have only heard about these problems from other posts here...

"Many" people? More like one person who got their system fried (maybe two, but I don't think the PSU fried mine), a bunch of people who bash but have never owned, and a bunch of people who bought them and like them.

Oh, and the one person who did lose a system to his Ultra? Ultra came through for him, and replaced his hardware with better equipment.
 
i replaced my antec trublue 480 for one of these and it works decently... if it were up to me though, i would take my old antec psu back anyday. if you really want a modular psu go with the antec neopower...
 
I like mine a lot, however I did get a DOA one the first time. I had to return it at my cost to ZZF since it was within 30 days of purchase which sucked, but the 2nd one worked great. Running an A64 rig and it's nice to not have a bunch of cables getting in the way.
 
Originally posted by: phlashphire
This would be a better solution as well: http://www.compusa.com/product...=317507&pfp=BROWSE
It's a rebadged Superflower.

No.

If he wants odular, Neopower and Modstream are good. Neither are as powerful as their non modular cousins though.

The Ultras are just "cheap". They interior lacks quality (small HSs and capacitors), and it is loud. I cant comment on the power output but it cannot compete with PCP&C or OCZ at all.

-Kevin
 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Originally posted by: phlashphire
This would be a better solution as well: http://www.compusa.com/product...=317507&pfp=BROWSE
It's a rebadged Superflower.

No.

If he wants odular, Neopower and Modstream are good. Neither are as powerful as their non modular cousins though.

The Ultras are just "cheap". They interior lacks quality (small HSs and capacitors), and it is loud. I cant comment on the power output but it cannot compete with PCP&C or OCZ at all.

-Kevin

Small heatsink is made up for by more airflow, and it is not loud (at least, the 400W one isn't). Mine is whisper silent. At $100+ for the 500W, it's not "cheap" either.
 
I cannot believe everyone says "I have heard many bad things"

I struggle to find any bad reviews online, with most reviews simply saying the only problems were the not so flexible modular cables. I recently looked at 2 new reviews of the X-connect and both got recommended/editors choice awards, so where all this "I have heard lots of bad stuff about it" is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. you will ALWAYS find 1 or 2 people with bad experiences... some people hate antec power supplies when most of love them... SH!T HAPPENS!

I have one, I love it, it's problem free, great power supply.
 
Well, hey, I'm a newbie, so I'm sure I'll get the "you're a n00b, what do you know" attitude, but from what I can tell, there are just people here who are like that with several brands. Bring up ThermalTake, and a bunch of people who don't seem to have owned them instantly claim that they're crap. (I've never owned TT either, and so I remain neutral here.) Same with Ultra. Elitism has always been a problem in the PC industry from what I can tell.

People here can claim that the X-Connect is "crap" until they're blue in the face, but the fact is that they have gotten near unanimously GLOWING reviews, and every single review I've read tested the important part of the PSU: voltage stability.
 
Agreed CraigRT, this PSU is very nice. Its as stable as they come and its quiet. That, coupled with the fact that it looks good and isn't messy, make for one heckuva PSU. This gets my recommendation any day, over any other PSU.
 
It seems like this PSU is a mixed bag. My guess is that being such a new product they are still working out the bugs and some lemons are slipping out. I'm going to look into the ModStream and see how it compares. Antec's modular approach doesn't really appeal to me.
 
I recently purchased the x-connect 500W @ fry's for $50!!!! at that price there was no way i wasn't gonna get it. but anyway, i tested it on my bro's rig and it worked fine and was quiet was a fly. so i don't know what all these ppl are saying about the loudness. plus it's modular with UV reactive cables. how uber cool is that?
 
Originally posted by: dgevert
Well, hey, I'm a newbie, so I'm sure I'll get the "you're a n00b, what do you know" attitude, but from what I can tell, there are just people here who are like that with several brands. Bring up ThermalTake, and a bunch of people who don't seem to have owned them instantly claim that they're crap. (I've never owned TT either, and so I remain neutral here.) Same with Ultra. Elitism has always been a problem in the PC industry from what I can tell.

People here can claim that the X-Connect is "crap" until they're blue in the face, but the fact is that they have gotten near unanimously GLOWING reviews, and every single review I've read tested the important part of the PSU: voltage stability.
I believe reviewers get hand-picked units, bro, so don't make reviews your only criterion 🙂 The community, buying real off-the-shelf units from real stores, is the acid test and the gold standard. In my book, anyway. 😉

 
Ultra PSUs are not horrible, like many people say. However, they are not the best either. They are somewhere in the middle, but modular PSUs are nice to have.
 
If you've ever seen the inside of an Ultra, you wouldn't be willing to bet your system on it. The heatsinks are tiny, as are the caps, everything looks flimsy and cheap. Probably light as a feather, I'd go with the sure thing and make it an OCZ, Antec, or Enermax...
 
It is not light. The parts and stuff are "cheap" with small capacitors and HSs but the unit isn't light due to the material used for the casing.

-Kevin
 
Back
Top