Not many people consider the Power Supply Unit to be an important part of the computer. All of them are wrong. It is a crucial part of the computer.
Do a quick search for 300 watt PSUs, and you’ll turn up with a thousand offers for junky power supplies for about five buck a pop. You’ll even find some for FREE + shipping. Wow! What a bargain, right? It’s 300 watts, right? That’s what’s recommended, “300 watts,” right? Wrong. Whether it is a 300, 400, 500, 600, or whatever size watt PSU you are considering, you need to get one from a manufacturer that has proven itself capable of designing an adequate power supply. The reason is, wattage alone doesn’t tell you anything you really need to know. A single PSU provides several kinds of electricity such as 5volt, 12 volt, 3.3 volt, etc. all at different amperages. All sorts of different combinations of these can add up to 300 or 400, whatever. The final line is that you need to have a power supply from a manufacturer who knows the “right” combinations, and makes hardware that consistently delivers power.
Ultra is a moderately new company when it comes to power supplies. They first made a name for themselves with their revolutionary modular “X-Connect” series of PSU’s. Their first efforts admittedly needed work, but Ultra admirably kept trying, and today makes some of the very best power supplies available.
The Ultra X-Finity™ 500 Watt PSU w/ Active PFC (MSRP $119.99) appears to be exactly what one would look for in a power supply of this energy rating. First, it is in an attractive enclosure of black brushed aluminum, with well fitting seems, and strong-looking materials. It is also very heavy – lots of circuitry as work here. The cables are what Ultra calls, FlexForce: They are designed to make routing and space-management better inside your case. They are an attractive black and silver scheme, and much more pleasant to use than the standard red-black-black-yellow cables. Of particular interest is the huge 12cm fan, which spins relatively slowly, and is very quiet. Yes, I would certainly be proud to show off this power supply. But does it perform? Here are the specifications direct from Ultra’s web site:
Specially designed for demanding, high end gaming systems, the X-Finity 2G supplies up to 37A to the 12V rail. The 2G also features “After Spin Technology” to help quiet the system and aid in prolonging the life of your components. Connectors for chassis fans are thermostatically controlled; RPM’s are reduced when temperatures inside the case are low. PSU, chassis and CPU fan connectors remain spinning several minutes after the PC is powered down allowing the system to gradually cool down after use. The incomparable FlexForce cables are dressed in a great looking titanium silver finish. Specially engineered cable design promotes easy cable management and 30% better airflow than ordinary cables by easily routing cable under the motherboard, behind drive bays… anywhere that gets typically unsightly power supply cables out of the way of airflow. 20/24-pin motherboard connection. 4-pin Molex connectors. 4-pin floppy power connectors. PCI Express, SATA, 4-pin and 8-pin EPS connectors. Versatile. Dependable. Affordable. The X-Finity FlexForce ATX power supply.
What is FlexForce?
- Manageable – FlexForce Cables are designed to be easily routed and hidden within your case.
- Increased Airflow – Special design promotes easy cable management and 30% better airflow than ordinary cables by easily routing cable under the motherboard, behind drive bays, etc.
- Design – Cables are dressed in a sleek looking titanium like finish.
After Spin Technology is used to quiet the system and aid in prolonging the life of your components. Connectors for chassis fans are thermostatically controlled; RPM’s are reduced when temperatures inside the case are low. PSU, chassis and CPU fan connectors remain spinning several minutes after the PC is powered down allowing the system to gradually cool down after use.
Total Output Power:
Input
Additional Features:
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Plugging it in was a snap – literally. All connectors fit well, and felt very secure. Fired it up, and the computer turned on perfectly the first time.
Here is the test setup:
- CPU: Pentium D 820, 2.8GHz
- Motherboard: Intel BOXD945GTPLR
- Memory: Corsair 2 x 1GB DDR2 667
- Video card: GeForce 6800GS
Voltage Fluctuation Results
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The X-Finity 500 appears to perform very well. The official ATX specifications allow minimal variations in power, and the X-Finity has practically no variation at all. Is this due to Ultra’s “Active PFC (power factor correction)?” I have no idea, but the results were always consistent – consistency is what we like to see, and I firmly trust these figures. This has been my first experience with Ultra power supplies, and I’m very happy that it has been so favorable.
Anything else? Let me tell you about the manual. “Huh? Why does a manual come with a PSU,” you ask yourself. Well, I had never seen one either. But thinking about it, way back when I was first pulling my computer apart and learning what did what, I remember a good deal of confusion and outright fear when looking at the multiple PSU connectors. What if I screw something up? What if I plug in the wrong connector? This manual is very well written, very well diagramed, and has clear, understandable photos. It also has the pin-out and description of every connector, as well as complete specifications. For an experienced person, it is fun to see and really dig into the details. For a novice, it is likely to be a life saver.
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