OCZ power supply - should I risk it?

Ady2009 · 5 Mar 2018 at 21:15

Hi all

I need to upgrade the trusty 350W Seasonic power supply in my PC. I do however have an OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W power supply which I bought in about 2010 and never got around to using and so it is still brand new and still sealed. When I bought it, OCZ had really good reviews but from what I have read online recently is that after a while they burned out and were apparently not that good after all.

Would you risk it?

Thanks

Yaayuh! · 6 Mar 2018 at 08:52

Ady2009 said:
Hi all

I need to upgrade the trusty 350W Seasonic power supply in my PC. I do however have an OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W power supply which I bought in about 2010 and never got around to using and so it is still brand new and still sealed. When I bought it, OCZ had really good reviews but from what I have read online recently is that after a while they burned out and were apparently not that good after all.

Would you risk it?

Thanks

My friend still has my old ZX-850W chugging along.

If it's brand new and unsealed, go for it.

Gimpymoo · 6 Mar 2018 at 09:06

The OCZ PSU's served me well over many years.

Even when one did go, it affected nothing else in the system.

If the old PSU was 350w, I see no problem. My OCZ was pushed to it's limit almost constantly which is why I think it eventually died

Glanza · 6 Mar 2018 at 13:03

No reason not to use it if it's still new in the box.

Armageus · 6 Mar 2018 at 13:22

Glanza said:
No reason not to use it if it's still new in the box.

Capacitors still deteriorate over time whether used or not though afaik (and a quick google suggests they may deteriorate quicker if not used).

Probably worth doing the paperclip trick top start the psu and testing voltages with a multimeter to check they are still within the ATX spec at the least.

On Holiday · 6 Mar 2018 at 13:30

Imo, I'd look at selling the OCZ on that popular auction site and buying a new trusty one.

Ady2009 · 6 Mar 2018 at 23:58

Thanks all. Good idea to at least test the voltages on it before installing it. I guess I am not too bothered if the power supply does eventually die but same as everyone I don't want it to damage anything else inside the computer.

BTW: this is going to be used to run a XFX GTS 250 which same as the power supply is brand new and still sealed in the box. I bought both to build a new PC and then was not able to buy the rest at the time so put them to one side to go back to but never did! What a waste.

EsaT · 8 Mar 2018 at 11:41

Armageus said:
Capacitors still deteriorate over time whether used or not though afaik (and a quick google suggests they may deteriorate quicker if not used).

Probably worth doing the paperclip trick top start the psu and testing voltages with a multimeter to check they are still within the ATX spec at the least.

And those OCZ's used cheap Chinese garbage capacitors.
Even C(r)apXons would be pretty much step up from those no name grab bag TRecs:
https://www.bit-tech.net/reviews/tech/psus/ocz-modxstream-pro-500w-psu-review/4/

Multimeter doesn't tell anything about ripple which is the more insidious problem of bad capacitors.
Well, maybe except this price level ones which start having enough sampling rate to catch something of higher frequency AC:
https://www.tme.eu/en/details/bm869/portable-digital-multimeters/brymen/bm869s/
But actual accurate measuring of ripple always needs oscilloscope.
And after all that time I would certainly be concerned about ability of those low quality to start with capacitors to filter ripple.

Ady2009 said:
When I bought it, OCZ had really good reviews

Most of "reviews" of that time were nothing but advertising.
Heck, I remember how one Finnish PC-site once gave good result for that Qtec bomb:
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/psu/1359-hexus-psu-power-supply-unit-roundup-taoyuan-2005/?page=19

Very few OCZ PSUs were above mediocre.
And for this particular one even disregarding low quality components and old group regulated design 80 Plus efficiency was outdated already 2010.

And 700W version actually got big fat fail of being overspecced:
https://www.hardocp.com/article/2008/11/12/ocz_700w_modxstream_pro_power_supply/9

Ady2009 · 9 Mar 2018 at 00:08

Hi EsaT. Thanks for your honest thoughts. I had read something too that these PSU's has some bad components inside which is why I was nervous about using it. I need something I can trust.

If I could go back in time then I would buy a Seasonic instead but I am stuck with this for now so am at least thinking about opening it up and swapping out the usual troublesome capacitors so I at least have a little bit more reassurance with it. Prevention is better than cure.

Yaayuh! · 9 Mar 2018 at 08:45

Ah, just noticed how poor the Modxstreams were. The ZX was the one to go for at the time, still a GreatWall PSU but reviewed well.

Still, if you want to take the risk, test it first. Otherwise, the Seasonic Focus Plus 550W is a solid PSU at only £70 http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=529

Ady2009 · 11 Mar 2018 at 14:14

The PC it is going in is 2011 era and the graphics card is a GTS250 so it is a case of being sensible about how much money we keep investing in it. From what I have read about these PSU's it tends to be the main filer cap that goes bad and then takes other components out. I think it would be sensible to swap that main filter cap out at least just to be on the safe side and then a quick inspection of the others.