| Ultra Products 2nd Generation X-Finity 600W PSU
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Conclusion:
Compared to the previous generation 600W X-Finity PSU, the second is a nice improvement. I have been taxing the first generation unit with all of the daily tasks I perform on my main PC since that review was published. The voltage rails are still rock solid, and I expect the same (or better) from the second generation unit with its improved specifications and addition of a second 12V rail.
The styling still reflects the same basic design of the first generation, but for those not fond of LEDs and UV reactive acrylic windows, you will be glad to see them eliminated. The fans are just translucent plastic, with no LEDs, and the windows have been removed from the shiny "titanium" housing.
The FlexForce cables are not only attractive, but they are easy to manage as they can be laid fairly flat and offer a nice bend radius for tucking them out of the way. Speaking of cables, the lengths of all cables should be more than adequate to reach the corners of any case, and there are definitely enough connectors to power up even some of the more crowded cases out there.
I can't say that either X-Finity 600W unit is the quietest PSU that I have ever used (although they aren't loud either), but the new version does seem a bit quieter. A single 120mm fan would be preferable to minimize noise / maximize airflow, and I am surprised Ultra Products did not include one on this unit. The 500W second generation X-Finity uses just such a design!
A search of PriceGrabber shows this unit sells for between $90 and $100 (US) at the time this review was completed. This is a decent price for a unit of this quality, but balancing the aesthetics with the performance and efficiency has me wishing for a little more. The market for high performance power supplies is getting fairly crowded, and you have to offer a number of extra features at a competitive price to really stand out.
For example, the recently reviewed Enermax Liberty 500W provided similar performance characteristics, while also offering better efficiency (80%), active power factor correction (98%), and modular cables. Although the power rating was 100W less, it cost $15 more, and a 620W unit is available for $20 more than that.
Given the performance, styling, and overall improvements from the first generation unit I award the Ultra Products Second Generation 600W X-Finity Power Supply a final score of four out of five stars and the rating of "Recommended".
Final Rating (4 out of 5 stars): 
Pros:
» Solid performance
» Dual 12V rails
» FlexForce cables are attractive and easy to manage
» Long cables with plenty of connectors
» Sharp appearance (and no more LEDs or UV windows)
» Lifetime warranty
Cons:
» Would prefer a single 120mm fan (as on the 500W X-Finity)
» Efficiency is still low (@70% typical)
» Power Factor is still low (@64% as tested)
Special thanks to Ultra Products for providing the Second Generation 600W X-Finity Power Supply to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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