a little Power supply question

  • Thread starter Thread starter GreatArtist
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G

GreatArtist

I just got a new power supply which is supposed to be pretty good, the
x-finity 500 watt.
I look inside it through the fan area and I see one of the heat sinks
is slightly tilted instead of being at a perfect 90 degree angle to
whatever it's attached to. Should I be concerned about this? Can I just
plug the power supply into the wall socket without attaching it to the
motherboard just to see that it doesn't make any funny noises or
sparks? It's got stickers on it that say "q-c passed" and "hi-pot
passed"
 
I just got a new power supply which is supposed to be pretty good, the
x-finity 500 watt.
I look inside it through the fan area and I see one of the heat sinks
is slightly tilted instead of being at a perfect 90 degree angle to
whatever it's attached to. Should I be concerned about this?
Click to expand...

Nope.
 
It is most likely an off-brand PSU. You did not say what the retail cost of
this 500 watt unit is. That usually gives you a good idea as to the quality
of the electrical components they used in building it.
 
Little facts such as the power supplies costs and whether it came
with a long list of numerical specifications - those important facts
were not provided. To sell a power supply at less than $60 full
retail, those supplies then are missing essential functions. If
functions are missing, then it is important to not even claim those
functions - no long spec sheets.

Is it really 500 watts or is it a 300 watt supply? Yes a 300 watt
supply can also be speced as a 500 watt supply. They would not lie.
They just measured it differently. That also works in a market where
consumes buy only on price and watts - and don't' first demand the
long list of numeric specifications.

Is its listed retail price less than $60? Then what essential
functions are missing?
 
GreatArtist said:
I just got a new power supply which is supposed to be pretty good, the
x-finity 500 watt.
I look inside it through the fan area and I see one of the heat sinks
is slightly tilted instead of being at a perfect 90 degree angle to
whatever it's attached to. Should I be concerned about this? Can I just
plug the power supply into the wall socket without attaching it to the
motherboard just to see that it doesn't make any funny noises or
sparks? It's got stickers on it that say "q-c passed" and "hi-pot
passed"
Click to expand...

GA, I'm guessing the "X-finity" p.s. you're referencing is an Ultra brand.
For those surmising it's a budget unit, while it certainly isn't an Enermax
or PCP&C level p.s., it's still a pretty good unit.

I would not just "plug it in," w/o some load on it, like a p.s. tester. See
this
page for power supply testers:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...tester&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all&Go.x=18&Go.y=30

Jeff
 
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