Ultra X-connect

[dgevert]

Originally posted by: toattett
So far I have seen 2 very bad reviews for the Ultra X-Connect. The first one I found on Google. The second one is from Maximum PC, and they demonstrated that it has poor voltage accuracy, no active power factor correction, and it does not supply the power close to the rating it claims, and IMO its really "cheap" looking. If you like to have neat cables, get a NeoPower480. If you like to have clean power for o/c, get a PC&C. For price/performance, get an Enermax or OCZ. The X-Connect just wouldn't do the job.

I have seen that bad review from Maximum PC too, and I personally believe that they received a bum unit for their tests. I have an X-Connect 400W in my computer at home, and I did some voltage monitoring on my own. The voltages were all well within specifications. Now, to be honest, I do have a little bit of suspicion about whether my motherboard's death a few days ago was due to the X-Connect, but while everything was working, it was rock solid.

 

[northerner]

i had the new UV Ultra Xconnect waiting to be put into the new system im building but after seeing so many bad reviews i threw it on ebay to sell and i got a neopower! sure the xconnect is the coolest psu to ever be made but if it cant be reliable what good is it? im sure a lot of other companies will start going to the modular system since it is a fantastic idea. but for now, i want realiability over cool any day!!

 

[TantrumusMaximus]

Jan 2005 Maximum PC had a Powersupply roundup and gave the x-connect a 4 out of 10. The winner outdid the PCP&Cooling was the Antec 480W NeoPower that also has the modular cables... though it is not nearly as fancy. I myself am still interested in the X-Connect I "want" to believe it is good because frankly it looks so damn good. But in the end I will go with my gut... which tells me to get a tried and true from one of the big names.

I also have not found a review with anything bad to say about the x-connect on the web. I don't know if I full heartedly believe MaxPC anymore, I think they get paid to say what they say.

 

[render]

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=792566

Ultra-X (yes, the pretty looking ones, they are really rebranded POWMAX !!!)

 

[c1001]

I have both a Neopower and an UltraX. I have a better "warm and fuzzy" from my Neopower but I haven't had any problems with my UltraX, and it has been stable running a 6800gt, 2xHDD, Audigy2, 2gb RAM, 2xDVD and some other stuff. My overall impression is that it has some quality control issues in manufacturing and the quality of the UltraX PSU you get is somewhat hit or miss. It is very sharp looking and does have a three year warranty.

I did some modding to the UltraX to make it more to my liking:
1. I removed the intake fan guard since I thought it restricted too much air and you can't see that fancy grill when it is mounted in my case.
2. I removed the gob of glue on top of the heatsink (some people complain of a smell from their UltraX when it heats up - I bet that is the cause - quality control issue) and pushed away some wiring that was resting on the heatsink.
3. The stock fans made a clicking sound at slow speed so I replaced them with SilenX fans - very quiet, very cool. The fans connect to a two pin connector so replacing them was a piece of cake.

My one gripe about the Neopower is that it is not truly modular : some cables I do not use (case fan speed control) but cannot remove them. Also, the cables are for the most part not sleeved.

Hope that helps.

 

[thenotebook]

Originally posted by: render
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=792566

Ultra-X (yes, the pretty looking ones, they are really rebranded POWMAX !!!)

I like how everyone puts down the Ultra X-Connect because some guy on the Internet said not to get one.

 

[dgevert]

Straight from Ultra: PowMax's PSUs are rebranded Ultras, NOT the other way around...

 

[Wanescotting]

no

 

[Idleuser]

Ultra X-Connect for a bad psu debunked

http://forums.amd.com/index.php?showtopic=34216

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Northerner
i had the new UV Ultra Xconnect waiting to be put into the new system im building but after seeing so many bad reviews i threw it on ebay to sell and i got a neopower! sure the xconnect is the coolest psu to ever be made but if it cant be reliable what good is it? im sure a lot of other companies will start going to the modular system since it is a fantastic idea. but for now, i want realiability over cool any day!!

I can't believe you sold it without even trying it.. mine's been running amazing for a few months now without probs.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: dgevert
Straight from Ultra: PowMax's PSUs are rebranded Ultras, NOT the other way around...

Well... I'm not sure how to take this. I've had bad experiences with Powmax. Sounds like your saying it wasn't a Powmax, rather a rebranded Ultra. Leads me to think that Ultra is then making the crappy PSU's?


Fern

 

[dgevert]

That Powmax is rebranding some Ultra PSUs recently doesn't mean that that's what they've been doing in the past, nor does it mean every Powmax PSU is a rebranded Ultra.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: dgevert
That Powmax is rebranding some Ultra PSUs recently doesn't mean that that's what they've been doing in the past, nor does it mean every Powmax PSU is a rebranded Ultra.

I highly doubt Ultra makes their own units, almost nobody dose. There are only a handful of real manufactures which are the source for everyone else's units. You don't just decide one day to build a giant PSU factory, you contract your design to an established manufacture..

 

[BOLt]

^ Das true. Seems like it's that way with most every PC component company. Only exception I can think of is Crucial, whose Ballistix and Ballistix Tracer RAM series use Micron chips, and Crucial is a division of Micron itself. I like to think of my Ballistix sticks as purebreds .

Yes I am that weird, yes I am that tired.