Do not use CiT PSUs

[Lord Nicoll]

I bought a case for an old Core2 Duo OEM machine to swap it over and help with thermals and such. I picked a cheap case PSU combo. I picked a CiT black series with a "500 watt" PSU included. I didn't expect much and I was still disapointed. I did some math and the so called "500 watts" was more like 250 watts. I have a an old Dell PSU with capxon branded caps that is better. But it was for a Core2 duo E6700 with an ATi Radeon X1600 and loads of fans, so it worked for me. But really, avoid the PSU, the case is ok, but the PSU isn't. The first warning sign was no PCIe connectors, which even my 350 dell has a 6 pin. I then looked at the power rails, and did the maths, and laughed. The heatsinks for the diodes and MOSFETS is also so thin, like really, the heatsinks are about as thick as some aluminium cases I shit you not. The PSU delivers 50 watts (or there about) on the 3.3 and 12v rails combined. But with only a 4 pin CPU connector I doubt it even does that. Add the 5v rail ( at apparently 30 amps, like what 5v device will ever need that, I think they just said the 5v rail can do 30 amps to bring the PSU up to the 500 watts rating) if you have an old PC, and looking for a way to add fans and a new case, with a cheap PSU, sure this is great. For anything else there is better for the money. On a side note I put 4 case fans in it and reduced the temps of this old system by over 30°C, and added positive air pressure too.  You can see the PSUs rating there. If you want a picture of the heatsinks just ask, but through the hexmesh it isn't very clear. 

[aisle9]

The Interwebz says that CiT PSUs are rebranded HECs. HECs are pretty awful, so yeah. Bad times.

 

I swear, if I ever opened up a 500W PSU and it didn't have a PCIe cable...

[manikyath]

this is pretty common knowledge on this forum

 

EDIT: 30A 5 volt rails are from the early days, a lot more things used to run off of 5 volts than they do now.

[Lord Nicoll]

Just now, aisle9 said:

The Interwebz says that CiT PSUs are rebranded HECs. HECs are pretty awful, so yeah. Bad times.

 

I swear, if I ever opened up a 500W PSU and it didn't have a PCIe cable...

Yep. A bloodly dell OEM PSU from 2004 has more juice on tap than that "thing"

[paprikman]

No blame on you, but I can actually get it, why people still buy noname psu's. There are so many cheap and reliable ones, like FSP, Corsair, Seasonic, Evga, etc.

[Dabombinable]

Well.....it would suit my Socket 370 system well.

[Lord Nicoll]

Just now, paprikman said:

No blame on you, but I can actually get it, why people still buy noname psu's. There are so many cheap and reliable ones, like FSP, Corsair, Seasonic, Evga, etc.

I knew it was gonna be bad, I googled it first, but even after knowing, it was still a shock, but the system uses less than 100 watts and is only on for a few hours a week now, so it was perfect for it.

[manikyath]

1 minute ago, paprikman said:

No blame on you, but I can actually get it, why people still buy noname psu's. There are so many cheap and reliable ones, like FSP, Corsair, Seasonic, Evga, etc.

FSP's reliability is questionable IMO.

 

all the reliability i get out of FSP is that the fans used (yate loon) relibably go bad.

[Lord Nicoll]

4 minutes ago, aisle9 said:

The Interwebz says that CiT PSUs are rebranded HECs. HECs are pretty awful, so yeah. Bad times.

 

I swear, if I ever opened up a 500W PSU and it didn't have a PCIe cable...

Yep. A bloodly dell OEM PSU from 2004 has more juice on tap than that "thing"

[aisle9]

3 minutes ago, manikyath said:

FSP's reliability is questionable IMO.

 

all the reliability i get out of FSP is that the fans used (yate loon) relibably go bad.

They reliably don't catch fire from what I can tell. That gives them a pretty sharp leg up on Logisys arson boxes.

[Lord Nicoll]

4 minutes ago, manikyath said:

this is pretty common knowledge on this forum

 

EDIT: 30A 5 volt rails are from the early days, a lot more things used to run off of 5 volts than they do now.

It can NEVER be repeated enough. Never. But for my use it was perfect, an OEM HTPC needed a new home and a PSU upgrade (even that turkey was an upgrade over the OEM one from HP, which are a brand better than some, but I moslty use Proliant HP gear so its A LOT better than the consumer trash)

[Lord Nicoll]

3 minutes ago, aisle9 said:

They reliably don't catch fire from what I can tell. That gives them a pretty sharp leg up on Logisys arson boxes.

I am a major Corsair fanboy, I use their stuff just really cos I like having as few brands as possible in a build, and they do the most stuff most reliably. I love my RM850X which is way overkill for the current system its in but that never stopped me before.

[paprikman]

2 hours ago, manikyath said:

FSP's reliability is questionable IMO.

 

all the reliability i get out of FSP is that the fans used (yate loon) relibably go bad.

Their newest models are not that good as they were before, I agree. But they're still better than any noname psu, if you're looking for some dirt-cheap option.