PSU Review - featuring a rare look inside Law-1

[law.of.averages]

Ok, so the 500W Ultra Xconnect PSU I ordered from Radio Shack arrived today.

At first glance, the box is HUGE!

http://fun.njfiorello.com/psu/p0003526.jpg

Inside that was another box full of cables, and the PSU itslef.

http://fun.njfiorello.com/psu/p0003528.jpg

The obligatory BEFORE shot.

http://fun.njfiorello.com/psu/p0003529.jpg

Can't have a BEFORE without an AFTER.

http://fun.njfiorello.com/psu/p0003531.jpg

And lastly the stats:

http://fun.njfiorello.com/psu/p0003530.jpg

The ATX cable is a bit stiff, but I had no trouble at all with the connectors. It's powering Law-1 as I write this, so I'd have to call the replacement a complete success...

<click> NO CARRIER.

I got away with only using three of the cables, other than the ATX monster. I was a bit ticked that there was no dedicated floppy cable, but I got over it when I realized I could plug it in to the PSU using the 'middle' (base of the Y) connector and have it also power my front panel and my 9800 fan. Cable 2, also connected via the middle, powers the SATA drive, and the CPU fan. Cable 3 powers just the DVD burner.

It's still a mess, but it's a green mess now!

[pewterdragn]

good work man. Gotta say that is a heck of a big tower

[law.of.averages]

Yea, I've had it for a long time too... the space above the psu is crying for a water cooling system, but I've not had any time I wanted to dedicate to creating one...

[=A!M=NuGe]

Very nice considering the cost

[=A!M=NuGe]

Here, being you posted your sytem here is mine
http://www.d12clan.org/d12downloads/NuGe/dfi.jpg
... and YES that is a Funkadelic cd on my rack

[nonstop]

Here, being you posted your sytem here is mine
http://www.d12clan.org/d12downloads/NuGe/dfi.jpg
... and YES that is a Funkadelic cd on my rack

Nice nuge but time for updated case with 120mm fans and a real hs/fan for ur vid card!

[=A!M=NuGe]

Here, being you posted your sytem here is mine
http://www.d12clan.org/d12downloads/NuGe/dfi.jpg
... and YES that is a Funkadelic cd on my rack

Nice nuge but time for updated case with 120mm fans and a real hs/fan for ur vid card!

Bastid!!!

[law.of.averages]

in case I didn't make it clear, i did want to stress the reversability of the y cables. instead of

PSU => device 1 => device 2

as with my old supply, you can get something more like

device 1 <= PSU => device 2

Which seems to me would bring cleaner power to each component.

Comparing the outputs with my old 400W supply...

OLD 400W
+3.3V @ 28A
+5V @ 40A
+12V @17A
-12V@ 0.8A
-5V @ 0.3A
+5VSB @ 2A

NEW 500W
+3.3V @ 28A
+5V @ 30A <= an unpleasant surprise
+12V @ 34A <= significant improvement
-12V @ 0.8A
-5V @ 0.3A
+5VSB @ 2A

[nonstop]

NEW 500W
+3.3V @ 28A
+5V @ 30A <= an unpleasant surprise
+12V @ 34A <= significant improvement
-12V @ 0.8A
-5V @ 0.3A
+5VSB @ 2A

Well, that's a calculated dampening of the +5v rails because in newer computers the processor, which is usually what uses the .5v rail, has an additional boost from a 12v connector that goes right into the motherboard beside the processor. That's what the 4pin connector is for. Additionally, the video cards now have need for more than .5v and that is taken care of by an additional 12v connector directly into the video card so dampening the .5v to boost the 12v rails makes complete sense.

So your unpleasant surprise can now be all pleasant.