Conclusion:

While the unit did not survive the review, I won't hold that against it. As the new test setup gets refined the mortality rate will hopefully drop, while the useful information provided in these reviews will hopefully rise. Before its death, the unit put up respectable numbers in terms of regulation, ripple, efficiency, and not previously mentioned - noise output. If the fan was not facing me so I could see it spinning, I would have to go check on it!

With the X4 series of modular power supplies, Ultra Products is back on the scene that they started. The strong electrical specifications, low noise operation, fully modular cables, and 80 Plus efficiency are all refinements that prove they knew what was needed to come back after some time away. With units rated from 400W to 1200W (and eventually 1600W), they have also made this new series an option for people with a wide range of computing needs and budgets.

While I have not yet seen any for sale, the expected retail price of the Ultra Products X4 850W power supply is expected to be $249.99 (US). You can get a number of other high quality units with similar total power ratings for less money, especially if all modular cabling isn't that big a deal to you. Hopefully it shows up for a bit less in order to be competitive. In addition to the price, the availability of Ultra Products is generally limited. You don't find their stuff at some of the more popular online stores, and your best bet is to look at the family of stores they are associated with... Tiger Direct, Circuit City, and CompUSA.

Another concern would be the low temperatures referenced in the manual. The mean time before failure is rated at 100,000 hours... but at a cool 25C. The manual also references a maximum ambient operating temperature of 40C. I assume the life of the PSU will be less than 100,000 hours, as 25C inside a PSU is hard to maintain.

Before its untimely death, the Ultra Products X4 850W power supply performed admirably and would be recommended if you could find a deal well below $249.99 (US). Therefore it earns the first posthumous "Recommended" award.



Pros:

» Tested out well in terms of regulation, ripple, and efficiency
» Very quiet
» Fully modular
» Attractive, no nonsense appearance
» Cables are well finished, plentiful, and long enough for most cases
» Nice bundle of accessories

Cons:

» MTBF temperature: 25C, maximum ambient operating temperature: 40C
» MSRP of $250 (US)
» Limited availability
» I killed it