Ultra Power Supply

[casey]

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Ultra V Series 500W Power Supply
$40.00 Rebate
Ultra:
FRYS.com #: 4587977
V-Series ATX Power Supply This new V series power supply offers more connectivity choices than the typical power supply, with options for 20/24 pin motherboards, SATA and PCI Express connections. This durable, high-performance power supply features a low-noise 120mm cooling fan. It supports AMD and Intel motherboards and includes short circuit protection, in-rush current protection and thermal overload cutoff protection.

Additional Features
Supports AMD and Intel Motherboards
Low Acoustic Noise
Meets ATX Version 2.03 and ATX 12V Version 1.2 Specifications
Short Circuit Protection
In-Rush Current Protection
Thermal Overload Cutoff Protection
MTBF > 100,000 Hours at Full Load, 110VAC and 25°C Ambient Condition
FCC and UL Recognized
In stock, same day shipping (http://shop3.outpost.com/template/search/explain_ship#SameDay)
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[PeteF]

http://image.ak.outpost.com/art/0900_site/cart_010921/ships_free.gif (javascript:void(0)) http://image.ak.outpost.com/art/product/box_shots/4587977.box.GIF Price:$40.00After Rebate:$0.00http://image.ak.outpost.com/art/0900_site/core_092500/add_to_cart.gif (http://shop3.outpost.com/ShopCartServlet?purchase=4587977)

I've never made a purchase where the rebate amount was
equal to the purchase price. I'm wondering what people have
experienced with products purchased escentially for FREE.

Are they defective products?
Why are they giving them away?

Seems to good to be true.
Anyone have any insights on this?

---pete---

[mylanta]

Fascinating...I Googled the brand name and it seems to be a promotional footbal at prices from Free to $9.45 all the way to $44.99 in all the "promotional brick and mortars" from Short Circuit City to Fry's, Office Max but I see no evidence it is carried in any wholesalers or any quality online stores.
Then go to website and find out the "V" series is available only in America but there are many other models made:
http://www.ultraproducts.com/product_details.php?cPath=59&pPath=369&productID=369
My retail experience tells me when only promo stores carry something, then the "retail" isn't real and the product is "cut up" to appear like quality but the real retail would be 1/2 the "retail" price shown, because it is meant to first hit "keystone" at half price sale, which means the real mfgr cost is about $15.
That's what you are buying. Macy's and the legit department stores have been doing it to you for 60 years....I used to work for those guys! The proof is in the non availability from quality online retailers. I do see the brand at Zip Zoom, though the series is not available. I don't see the brand at Newegg, D&H, or

[casey]

I'm not going to try and convince anyone that this is top of the line or bottom pf the line. I have one running right now in an AMD opteron that I just finished. I got that one from Radio Shack and I'm not sure where they fall on the quality online retailers. If you don't want to try it then don't purchase it. One good thing is they use ONREBATE which if you pay them usually $3.50 or in this case $4.50 of the rebate they will expedite your rebate. I use that and usually I get the rebate within 4 weeks or the same time I get my CC statement. I have the Ultra 400 running in another computer without any problems so far. I'm not saying these are great but to just condemn them without any reason to me does an injustice. I also have Ultra cases. They also carry a limited lifetime warranty(whatever that means).

[mylanta]

I know Larry, you do get what you pay for. My only real point is I am finding more and more since I actually started working in the field and joined a big international forum, that the most common hardware problem is inadequate power supply and it is literally amazing what problems it can cause. Wattage these days means nothing as poor quality will not fulfill the power and really sucks when it sees a big draw, then they wear down.
When a psu goes, it often takes the motherboard and cpu with it. That's why I recommend Antec, Enermax, better Sparkles and Thermaltake only these days. Please don't think I am attacking you, just trying to use the podium to get a point across.

[casey]

Your telling this to a guy that just had an Antec power supply go bad...

[mylanta]

Your telling this to a guy that just had an Antec power supply go bad...
Hey no one is perfect, though I have never lost any of the above mentioned ones...

[casey]

I have no problem with Antec and know that things do go wrong. I contacted Antec and they give you a troubleshoot number. The problem with that is once they determine that the power supply is the problem they tell you to contact Antec for a RMA number and send the Power supply back. Then they close that number out and you must find another way in to get your RMA Number. It took about two weeks plus $10 to get them to replace the Power supply but they did send me another one. Over the years I have only had three or four power supplys go bad and (touch wood) they all but one confined the problem to the Power supply. But I do realize that components do go bad...