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X-Connect 500W Modular PSU

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the because-you-can dept.

VL writes "Sure, power supply reviews aren't all that interesting, but we take a look at one nice PSU that delivers power where it counts, and best of all, it is the best modular setup we've seen in this market segment."

7 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. noise by mixmasterjake · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "According to specifications, the fans will generate 34 dB of noise at full speed, which is certainly far from silent."

    I was kinda psyched a while back when I replaced my old power supplies on two boxes w/ 400 watters. (the biggest i had heard of at the time). Stupidly, I failed to realize how much louder the new power supplies were. I don't know how many dbs exactly, though they verge on annoying.

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    1. Re:noise by Zocalo · · Score: 3, Interesting
      True, 34dB isn't quiet, but this is only a first stab at this and I suspect it'll become the default soon enough. Hopefully the other (quieter) PSU makers will release their own take on this pretty soon and we'll get the best of both worlds. A *standard PSU connector* between vendors would be nice too, if any of the designers are out there. :)

      As to the noise, I've recently upgraded a couple of my systems and while I was prepping them I just left the PSU cables loose in the case. Once everything was done I tied them all up nice and neat and tucked away the unused PSU cables out of the airflow. The idling temperature of the AMD CPU dropped a full two degrees C with this simple change, but more importantly the case and CPU fan dropped by nearly 500 RPMs apiece. I know airflow matters, but not being a serious modder I had know idea it could be that much!

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  2. Re:Just another reason... by Zorak+Man · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I wouldn't label this as a "top of the line" "only the rich have" item. I dropped $90 on an antec PSU at 480 watts becuase the no name one I had didn't cut it. I can not stress enough the importance of buying a quality PSU, because it is such a hard thing to reconize when it is causing trouble. So exspect to spend around $100 on a quality power rig PSU. Another point of intrest to me is that that is a really inovative idea with the modular plugs. Seriously, when was the last time you saw something change in PSUs and it made you say "wow, that is really something different."

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  3. Increased cost with less reliabilty by Mad+Quacker · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Those power connectors have always been the weakest part of any power supply, they often fail causing intermittent connections which result in lockups or worse. I find I have to crimp down each socket with some needle nose pliers if I remove them... and now there's TWO per connection..

    I'm hoping more devices move to SATA style power, so far it seems to have far better contact.

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    "I don't know that atheists should be considered citizens, nor should they be considered patriots." George HW Bush
  4. Some heavy duty testing there... by Lord+Crc · · Score: 3, Interesting

    He didn't even push the PSU, yet say that it was more than able. Eh? He had one HD... How about 4 drives in a raid (so they're all active), and then see how it fares playing some games (so the gpu is taxed too)?

    The modular connections looked like something I might want though.

  5. Re:except no mention of things that really count by MikeBabcock · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I was thinking a lot of the same things when I saw this power supply (and that Antec's NeoPower looks like a better design, personally).

    I've been a big fan of Elan Vital's power supplies for a long time (also available under an american distributor for direct purchase -- see the AMS Mercury EVR-4607 if you want a gorgeous redundant power supply for ATX cases).

    They have active PFC, high efficiencies, good clean power, lots of fans, not terribly loud, and very large connectors internally (low resistance, good connections). On top of that, they're very compact. I've got a client running the above EVR-4607 very happily and another running the redundant power supply built into their S50 server case.

    Sorry though, they don't glow in the dark or have windows. But the EVR-4607 does have a removable side panel to upgrade or replace its internal ciruitry.

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    - Michael T. Babcock (Yes, I blog)
  6. Basically... by Zizkus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Just a thought, the article says " Basically, if you do not need all the available power, the PSU will reduce the voltages. ", well I don't know about you but I don't want my 5 volt stuff running on 4 volts :), obviously this reviewer wouldn't know a ripple if they saw one! For really good power supplies, try PcPowerAndCooling.com really well made quality stuff. "I don't know, I couldn't say, at least not today!"