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#1
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burning smell from Ultra 500w XConnect power supply?
I bought a 500w Ultra XConnect power supply and notice when I walk into the
room with the PC a slight smell - like plastic/rubber burning. Not real strong but I do notice when I walk in the room. Is this normal or should I exchange for another? Wasn't sure if maybe it takes a few days to break in and burn off anything? Never noticed anything from my old ANtec 430w Tru Power. Thanks -- Phil Tomaskovic Please remove NOSPAM from email return address. |
#2
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On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 21:44:49 GMT, "Phil Tomaskovic"
wrote: I bought a 500w Ultra XConnect power supply and notice when I walk into the room with the PC a slight smell - like plastic/rubber burning. Not real strong but I do notice when I walk in the room. Is this normal or should I exchange for another? Wasn't sure if maybe it takes a few days to break in and burn off anything? Never noticed anything from my old ANtec 430w Tru Power. Thanks I have heard of them smelling a little burnt at first and it "seeming" to be a normal occurance for that particular PSU, so it's "possible" there's nothing wrong. On the other hand, for all their hype, Ultra's PSU are overrated junk in a pretty housing, they can fail just like any other PSU and might make a stink when they do. Regardless of my low opinion of Ultra's PSUs, so long as the system it's in doesn't really need anywhere near 400W (yes, only 400W) (many don't even need 70% of that in actual watts delivered), AND if the PSU is working as designed, it should be sufficient. If it were my system, I'd pull the PSU out, put a load on it (like 5 old hard drives) and leave it running for a few days, WELL away from anything flammable, occasionally taking voltage readings. This instead of waiting to see if something IS wrong with it and risking the system it's in. Frankly, if you paid over $50 for it, I'd try to get a refund. A Sparkle/Fortron 400W is superior and only $50-60 when on sale. |
#3
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Thanks. I did pay $50 at Fry's for it after rebate. Then Ultra actually
gives another $30 back if you send them your old Antec PS. Good to know that the smell may be normal. I wrote their support also. Not sure if I should try returning for another now. The system isn't a big power hungry only 1 HD and some dvd drives and Audigy card and ATI AIW 8500. Phil "kony" wrote in message ... On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 21:44:49 GMT, "Phil Tomaskovic" wrote: I bought a 500w Ultra XConnect power supply and notice when I walk into the room with the PC a slight smell - like plastic/rubber burning. Not real strong but I do notice when I walk in the room. Is this normal or should I exchange for another? Wasn't sure if maybe it takes a few days to break in and burn off anything? Never noticed anything from my old ANtec 430w Tru Power. Thanks I have heard of them smelling a little burnt at first and it "seeming" to be a normal occurance for that particular PSU, so it's "possible" there's nothing wrong. On the other hand, for all their hype, Ultra's PSU are overrated junk in a pretty housing, they can fail just like any other PSU and might make a stink when they do. Regardless of my low opinion of Ultra's PSUs, so long as the system it's in doesn't really need anywhere near 400W (yes, only 400W) (many don't even need 70% of that in actual watts delivered), AND if the PSU is working as designed, it should be sufficient. If it were my system, I'd pull the PSU out, put a load on it (like 5 old hard drives) and leave it running for a few days, WELL away from anything flammable, occasionally taking voltage readings. This instead of waiting to see if something IS wrong with it and risking the system it's in. Frankly, if you paid over $50 for it, I'd try to get a refund. A Sparkle/Fortron 400W is superior and only $50-60 when on sale. |
#4
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Phil Tomaskovic wrote:
I bought a 500w Ultra XConnect power supply and notice when I walk into the room with the PC a slight smell - like plastic/rubber burning. Not real strong but I do notice when I walk in the room. Is this normal or should I exchange for another? Wasn't sure if maybe it takes a few days to break in and burn off anything? Never noticed anything from my old ANtec 430w Tru Power. I did pay $50 at Fry's for it after rebate. Then Ultra actually gives another $30 back if you send them your old Antec PS. www.silentpcreview.com/article193-page1.html has several reviews of PSUs and is one of the very few websites that tests to the full rated power rather than the usual 200-250W. These pictures from the review show that the 500W Ultra-X is built more like a 300-400W Antec: http://www.silentpcreview.com/files/.../xconnect5.jpg http://www.silentpcreview.com/files/.../xconnect6.jpg The smell could be from the insulation of the wires because vinyl is known for stinking, especially when it's new (have you tried holding a sample of similarly insulated wire against a 25-40W non-halogen bulb to check if it smells the same?), and the pictures of the Ultra-X show that its wiring isn't tied away from the heatsinks or sleeved, as it usually is in the better PSUs. I wouldn't trade a 430W TruePower for $30, especially when it can probably put out more power than that 500W Ultra-X. But if it had been working fine until recently, then maybe the power connectors have become corroded or loose, or the low voltage electrolytic capacitors have gone bad, which $10 worth of new Japanese brand capacitors will fix. |
#5
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Phil Tomaskovic wrote:
I bought a 500w Ultra XConnect power supply and notice when I walk into the room with the PC a slight smell - like plastic/rubber burning. Not real strong but I do notice when I walk in the room. Is this normal or should I exchange for another? Wasn't sure if maybe it takes a few days to break in and burn off anything? Never noticed anything from my old ANtec 430w Tru Power. I did pay $50 at Fry's for it after rebate. Then Ultra actually gives another $30 back if you send them your old Antec PS. www.silentpcreview.com/article193-page1.html has several reviews of PSUs and is one of the very few websites that tests to the full rated power rather than the usual 200-250W. These pictures from the review show that the 500W Ultra-X is built more like a 300-400W Antec: http://www.silentpcreview.com/files/.../xconnect5.jpg http://www.silentpcreview.com/files/.../xconnect6.jpg The smell could be from the insulation of the wires because vinyl is known for stinking, especially when it's new (have you tried holding a sample of similarly insulated wire against a 25-40W non-halogen bulb to check if it smells the same?), and the pictures of the Ultra-X show that its wiring isn't tied away from the heatsinks or sleeved, as it usually is in the better PSUs. I wouldn't trade a 430W TruePower for $30, especially when it can probably put out more power than that 500W Ultra-X. But if it had been working fine until recently, then maybe the power connectors have become corroded or loose, or the low voltage electrolytic capacitors have gone bad, which $10 worth of new Japanese brand capacitors will fix. |
#6
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The Antec was working fine. I just thought the modular cables was a nice
idea and it could be adaptable later on if I moved to a MB with a 24 pin connector. I can get the cable for the Ultra when needed. Not sure if other 20-24 bin adapters are ok , although I guess it work the same as the Ultra cable. "larry moe 'n curly" wrote in message ups.com... Phil Tomaskovic wrote: I bought a 500w Ultra XConnect power supply and notice when I walk into the room with the PC a slight smell - like plastic/rubber burning. Not real strong but I do notice when I walk in the room. Is this normal or should I exchange for another? Wasn't sure if maybe it takes a few days to break in and burn off anything? Never noticed anything from my old ANtec 430w Tru Power. I did pay $50 at Fry's for it after rebate. Then Ultra actually gives another $30 back if you send them your old Antec PS. www.silentpcreview.com/article193-page1.html has several reviews of PSUs and is one of the very few websites that tests to the full rated power rather than the usual 200-250W. These pictures from the review show that the 500W Ultra-X is built more like a 300-400W Antec: http://www.silentpcreview.com/files/.../xconnect5.jpg http://www.silentpcreview.com/files/.../xconnect6.jpg The smell could be from the insulation of the wires because vinyl is known for stinking, especially when it's new (have you tried holding a sample of similarly insulated wire against a 25-40W non-halogen bulb to check if it smells the same?), and the pictures of the Ultra-X show that its wiring isn't tied away from the heatsinks or sleeved, as it usually is in the better PSUs. I wouldn't trade a 430W TruePower for $30, especially when it can probably put out more power than that 500W Ultra-X. But if it had been working fine until recently, then maybe the power connectors have become corroded or loose, or the low voltage electrolytic capacitors have gone bad, which $10 worth of new Japanese brand capacitors will fix. |
#7
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I also have an Ultra X-connect 500 watt ps. Mine has the windows with
the nifty lit up blue fan inside. I have that same burning smell, but scariest of all, I have a small piece of plastic hanging from something atop the inside of the psu. I can't get an exact location on what its hanging from, but regardless, it doesnt inspire a lot of trust on the unit. ive had mine for close to 3 weeks before i noticed this. and yes, i have quite a power hungry system (in my opinion): Asus A8n-Deluxe mobo AMD64 4000+ proc Kingston Hyper-X 512x2 Memory Geforce 6800GT (pci-e x16) Pioneer DVD burner A few random 40 gig hard drives thrown in the mix I have 4 case fans, and an exhaust fan that runs out of one of the pci slots. i keep my room at 69 degrees, and my system reports that my case temp is 29 degrees celsius idle. Im just a little scared that my baby will get fried by this psu. Trash it? Keep it? what should i do? id appreciate the help. JoE |
#9
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#10
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On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 19:42:13 GMT, kony wrote:
"Piece of plastic" could be anything, a manufacturing problem, a melted part, or an intentional design. I've heard that those may smell burnt for a SHORT time when new, but after a few days at fair system load, this shouldn't be continuing. You know mine smells too and I havent even turned it on. It has a really strong weird burned smell. It was one of the 4 PSes I got when Compusa had a string of PS sales which they still continued in their last last which had a 600 watt Maddog PS I think. The Ultra X was sold for $39 after rebate probably because they are making new ones maybe like the windowed units. Ive seen one post talk about how they have heard of a few Ultra Xs dying after a few months but he says overall many other people seem to like them and they are sold at really high prices around 100 bucks I see on the net. The reason I used my new maddog 500 watt to replace my antec 400 watt which seemed a bit tired was because the Ultra X I got only had one floppy power connection and I had to have at least two for my sata converters which use them. Most PSes have two. You can buy adaptors but around here they only sell them at Compusa for $17 and that seems ridiculous for a simple plastic power plug adaptor. |
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