It's been awhile since I messed around with a PSU.
So recently, I happened across enough parts to put together a spare system. All set and running and just needing a small case.
Frys had a case just the right size! A Raidmax R4 complete with SFX PSU... Cheap!
I figured on buying a PSU anyway.
So I ordered up a nice used Sparkle PSU from eBay.
just for laughs, I dusted off the KerriProductions PSU tester and scope and extracted the Raidmax RX-300W from the case.
My hunch was right. Single-speed fan howling away, blowing very, very warm air out.
Voltages pretty OK, lets look at the ripple.
5vsb got crazy ripple under a 1/2 amp load...something like 60mv
3.3 and 5v not too bad.
12v not horrible, maybe 60mv at 8A / 96w.
But at a total load of maybe 160w, this thing is HOT. No chance of slowing the fan down a little.
No way am I using this turkey... wait for the Sparkle to arrive.
So apart it comes. Really, really horrible soldering and a very dark trace by a resistor. With less than 30 minutes run time! Uh oh. It just earned the title "Time Bomb".
China's Finest Caps.
ChengX 25v on the 12v, Yicon on the 5vsb and various ChengX and Chmec elsewhere. Most have an ESR around .03-.05Ω (new)
Just for laughs, I thought why not waste a few perfectly good PWs in this thing?
I made sure to bridge the burnt trace with a lead.
Back on the scope and no big difference, really. 5vsb slightly better, 12v slightly worse under load.
The big difference is under load. Much less heat coming out of this time bomb... it might actually survive!
Still, I didn't feel that pushing this "300w" PSU much past the halfway point would serve any useful purpose. Why do I want to see huge ripple and stink up the house when it blows?
So the Sparkle arrives. A whole world of difference. Great voltages, great ripple, very little heat and noise, even well over 200w. Mostly Teapo caps. Fantastic soldering. It was under $30 shipped, used, new are under $50.
The system is happily running Ubuntu. Maybe I'll try the Win8 disc on it.
Here's some pix.... sorry, I didn't take inside pics.
So recently, I happened across enough parts to put together a spare system. All set and running and just needing a small case.
Frys had a case just the right size! A Raidmax R4 complete with SFX PSU... Cheap!
I figured on buying a PSU anyway.
So I ordered up a nice used Sparkle PSU from eBay.
just for laughs, I dusted off the KerriProductions PSU tester and scope and extracted the Raidmax RX-300W from the case.
My hunch was right. Single-speed fan howling away, blowing very, very warm air out.
Voltages pretty OK, lets look at the ripple.
5vsb got crazy ripple under a 1/2 amp load...something like 60mv
3.3 and 5v not too bad.
12v not horrible, maybe 60mv at 8A / 96w.
But at a total load of maybe 160w, this thing is HOT. No chance of slowing the fan down a little.
No way am I using this turkey... wait for the Sparkle to arrive.
So apart it comes. Really, really horrible soldering and a very dark trace by a resistor. With less than 30 minutes run time! Uh oh. It just earned the title "Time Bomb".
China's Finest Caps.
ChengX 25v on the 12v, Yicon on the 5vsb and various ChengX and Chmec elsewhere. Most have an ESR around .03-.05Ω (new)
Just for laughs, I thought why not waste a few perfectly good PWs in this thing?
I made sure to bridge the burnt trace with a lead.
Back on the scope and no big difference, really. 5vsb slightly better, 12v slightly worse under load.
The big difference is under load. Much less heat coming out of this time bomb... it might actually survive!
Still, I didn't feel that pushing this "300w" PSU much past the halfway point would serve any useful purpose. Why do I want to see huge ripple and stink up the house when it blows?
So the Sparkle arrives. A whole world of difference. Great voltages, great ripple, very little heat and noise, even well over 200w. Mostly Teapo caps. Fantastic soldering. It was under $30 shipped, used, new are under $50.
The system is happily running Ubuntu. Maybe I'll try the Win8 disc on it.
Here's some pix.... sorry, I didn't take inside pics.
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