Intro

You have to be impressed with how the modding community has influenced the computer component industry over the course of the last two years. It started with simple windows and lights in manufactured cases, and has since become a full blown phenomenon. Almost all original ideas are now picked up by one or another company and used in their products. This isn't always a good thing (Minotaur case anyone?), but sometimes you just have to wonder...what took so long? One example of a good and original idea incorporated into products is the modular power cable mod that I've seen a few people accomplish. It's one of those mods that I had been wanting to try, but never seemed to have the time for. Well, now I don't have to make the time; now you and I can purchase a PSU with the power leads already pre-modded and modular.

Ultra Products is a company based out of Ohio that provides computer related accessories to several big resellers like CompUSA, Frye's, and Dartek. They have also been supplying white box items for about 12 years that are re-branded are sold under other names. What Ultra Products is looking to do is expand their customer base to include gamers and hardcore computer users by developing new and innovative products. One new item that they just rolled out is the Ultra X-Connect 500W ATX Power Supply. This power supply impressed me with more than just pimpin' good looks.

I actually received two of these PSU's; a Black one that was a pre-production model and a Silver one that is a shipping unit (you may notice the difference in grills). Both Ultra Products and PimpRig wanted to have this review on the street prior to the actual production PSU's availability, but unfortunately I ran into some voltage irregularities with the pre-production unit. Here is where I give props to Ultra Products though; I called their company wanting to speak with their public relations representative and I'll be damned, the phone was answered on the second ring by a real live person! How often does that occur anymore? I explained the voltage problem and Malsert, their PR representative, immediately got in touch with their technicians and acted as a go between to ensure that the problem I encountered was fully understood by the technicians. She then assured me that an actual shipping unit would be sent as soon as it came off the assembly line, and she was true to her word.

Package

The X-Connect arrived in a rather large box safely nestled in bed of bubble wrap along with a couple other items of interest that I'll mention later. When I unwrapped the PSU box, I started chuckling as I read the veritable book that is printed all around the outside and on top. The pictures of the box show that just about any question you have about the PSU will be answered on there somewhere. Some poor graphics artist spent a long time putting all that together.

When I first received the pre-production unit and opened the box, I just whispered "Holy Crap" softly to myself. The finish on the X-Connect is absolutely beautiful. The color on that one is called Titanium Black , but it looks like black chrome. I didn't even want to touch it because I didn't want to mar the finish with fingerprints. The production unit I received was Silver, and the finish was just as nicely done. Almost perfectly smooth and I've had bathroom mirrors that didn't reflect images as well. Ultra Products also offers Titanium Blue as a color option. If the Blue even comes close to the chrome-like Titanium Black and Silver, they will also be damn good looking PSU's.

There was still another object inside the PSU box, a smaller box that contained all of the cables for the X-Connect. Included was the 17.75" ATX cable, 17.75" Aux cable, 17.75" 4 pin 12V cable, a 17.75" single drive cable, a 21.75" single drive cable, a 17.75" double drive cable, and 2 17.75" double drive cables with floppy power adapters. The cables I received were a little different than the box description, the box states you receive 2 double drive cables and one double drive with floppy cable, I received just the opposite. No big deal. All of the cables are very flexible and are reactive to ultraviolet light which we'll see later. The ends are secured very tightly and seem to be quite durable. The ends of each cable are emblazoned with a good looking silver Ultra logo.

Other than some instructions that were printed on bond paper and stapled together, there were no other items shipped with this unit; no mounting hardware, and worst of all...no SATA cables or adapters. That is a major oversight for any currently shipping PSU. I contacted Ultra Products about the missing cables and was told that the SATA cables would have to be purchased separately.