Ultra V-Series 500W Power Supply

Testing and Performance

Before getting into the details of the V-Series testing results, here is a list of the components used in the test setup:

• Asus A8V Deluxe motherboard
• AMD Athlon 64 3200+ overclocked to 2.4GHz
• Western Digital 160GB SATA HD
• 2 x 512MB Corsair DDR PC-3200 RAM
• PNY 6800GT with 256MB
• Lite-On 16x DVD burner
• Zalman CNPS9500 LED CPU Cooler
• 2x120mm fans
• 1.44MB floppy

Test readings were taken directly from a MOLEX connector using a digital multimeter. Measurements were taken at idle and load for the 3.3V, 5V and 12V rails. The idle measurement were taken when the computer had booted to the BIOS screen only, and load measurements were taken after running Prime95 and Folding@Home simultaneously for 1 hour.

In my testing the V-Series performed well and was 100% reliable. During the 2 weeks that I used the Ultra V-Series, I did not experience any problems at all and my system was completely stable. As you can see from the test results below, the voltage supplied was well within tolerance limits. The 3.3V and 5V readings are a little on the high side, but not especially concerning.

In the noise department, the 120mm fan was pleasantly quiet throughout my testing. The fan noise was not noticeable while my other two 120mm case fans were running at full speed. With the other two fans running at about 60% speed, the V-Series fan produced about the same level of noise. Unfortunately, I was not able to test it at high temperatures since the ambient temperature of the room while testing was between 18-20 degrees Celsius. Based on my experience during the load tests, I would expect that the noise level would be acceptable for all but the most discriminating PC users.

I do not have the necessary equipment to test efficiency ratings, but the V-Series is rated at 70% efficiency. This is also a reasonable rating given the pricetag of the V-Series. You will certainly be able to find other power supplies that are more efficient, but expect to pay a higher price tag for it.

Ultra V-Series - Side View		Ultra V-Series Testing

Ultra V-Series 500W Power Supply

There are a whole lot of choices for budget power supplies on the market today. Thermaltake, Coolmax, Raidmax, Powertek, Rosewill & I could go on and on. While the Ultra V-Series doesn t exactly trounce the competition, it does provide a lot of reliable power, with a multitude of power connectors, at an inexpensive price point. The plain appearance will blend well with most black PC cases, but do-it-yourself PC builders who are looking for a flashier power supply should look elsewhere.

Pros: Consistent power delivery, low price, fairly quiet, plenty of power connectors, lifetime warranty from Ultra.

Cons: Not compatible with SLI or Crossfire, no cable sleeving, no active PFC.

The Verdict: Overall, the performance of the V-Series was exactly what you could hope to expect from a budget-priced PSU --- reliability without a lot of fanfare.