|
The
Install:
I installed the Ultra
X-Finity into my
Antec Nine Hundred case. The rest of the build includes an
Intel Pentium Core Duo 2 6600 cooled by a
CoolIT Eliminator, a Connect3D X1900 XT video card and a 2x 1 GB kit
of
Crucial Ballistix DDR2-8000 mounted on an ASUS P5W DH Deluxe.
Storage was provided by 2 x WD 74 GB Raptors in a RAID0, a
Seagate 750 GB storage drive and a
Plextor PX-755SA 16x DVD burner.
|
Hardware |
Model |
|
Case |
Antec Nine Hundred |
|
Motherboard: |
ASUS P5W DH Deluxe |
|
CPU |
Intel e6600 |
|
Memory |
2x 1 GB kit of Crucial Ballistix
DDR2-8000 |
|
Power Supply |
Ultra X-Finity 800W |
|
Drives |
2x74GB WD Raptors, 1x750GB
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 |
If you have read my
review of the Antec Nine Hundred case, you know how unfriendly
to hiding cables it is. This picture shows the install with
everything powered. Now to try and find a home for all this
cabling.
Some reorganization would make even more of the
cabling go away but at least the cables look good in the Titanium
finish. Unlike most other power supplies we have tried in the
Nine Hundred, we had no trouble reaching every socket with cabling
to spare. I am sure even a full tower setup would be no
problem.
Testing:
To test the X-Finity I ran the system
overnight idle before capturing these numbers using the ASUS AI Probe
II. The Chassis1 numbers represent the PSU Fan RPM Monitor
Connector. During testing this number did drop into the default
alarm range for AI Probe indicating the default RPM range dropped below
1000 RPM.
Here you can see the numbers captured
at load. To stress test the system I ran
PassMark's Burnnin
Test Version 5.1 for about 15 minutes in two back to back sessions.
I should note the high MB temps are the result of running the Eliminator
on medium and the Nine Hundred Fans on low during testing. With
the
Kingwin Mach1 Power Supply the 120 mm fan helped circulate the
chassis air from the bottom of the case, the X-Finity does not circulate
the air at as high a volume resulting in a couple MB temp warnings (45 C
by default). Turning the 220 mm exhaust to high stabilized the
temperatures at about 35 C but those numbers were not captured.
During testing the X-Finity exhaust ran quite warm but the temps were
never
hot to the touch.
The stability of the rail voltage
remains consistent while idle in the BIOS. To test the stability I
also used my trusty Cen-Tech multi-tester to monitor the +12 V rails
during a session of Battlefield 2142. During a 4 hour period I
never noticed a significant change in voltage on any of the +12 V rails.
Overall I found a average variance of about +/-1 V. Taking into account
the massive 660 Watts dedicated to the +12 V rails and you are ready for
just about any build.
Conclusion:
This is my first experience with Ultra
products and I am convinced the X-Finity power supply is first rate. The X-Finity looks great and the lengthy FlexForce
cables are a welcome change from the trend in short cabling we have seen
lately. During testing the X-Finity remained rock solid across all
four of the +12 V rails even at load. Currently Ultra does not
offer a modular version of the X-Finity 800 W but they do have a 550W
version for those looking at a modular setup. Coupled with the
lifetime warranty, the X-Finity provides dependable solid power for the
next generation of performance PC builds.
|
 |
|
Innovation: |
9.0
out of 10 |
|
Performance: |
10 out of 10 |
|
Quality: |
9.5
out of 10 |
|
Stability: |
10
out of 10 |
|
Overclocking: |
N/A |
|
Software/Drivers Pack: |
N/A |
|
Value: |
9.0 out of 10 |
|
Overall Rating
9.5 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
Project Skill Level
(10 being most difficult) |
4
out of 10 |
|
