buying a refurbished power supply?

[edisleado]

I'm in the process of putting together a Core i5 build and I've found a deal for refurbished (or "reconditioned") power supply that's hard to pass over.

It found it at PCCyber, an Ottawa based computer store:
OCZ GameXStream 850W Power Supply Refurbished

I've had good fortune with most of the refurbished stuff I've bought, but is it a good idea to buy a refurbished power supply? They're supposed to be fixed to the point where they're "good-as-new" (with only minor dings and scratches from previous use) -- but then again, they could just be saying that. The refurbished PSU comes with an in-store 15 day warranty and a 1 year warranty from OCZ.

With a refurbished power supply, I'm concerned that it may fry the rest of my components, which (for anyone, really) would be a pretteh pretteh pretteh bad thing. Is that sort of thing possible?

[gingerbee]

the way i see power supply's is like a tire once used there never as good as brand new. jmo
( I never buy used psu )

[MarkOne]

I'm sure they don't change the condenser in those units.... they just add some marketing BS to a use PSU

[YukonTrooper]

Refurbished means it's repaired and tested by the manufacturer to meet manufacturer specifications, which, ...wait for it ..., happen to be the exact same specifications for new units off the line. Also, just because it's refurbished doesn't mean it broke down some time in the past. Companies have to label products as refurbished even if they were returned simply because the customer didn't like the color.

[MarkOne]

still a PSU with condenser that have millage. return item for dislike, are sale as open box. Refurbished stuff in vast majority, never reach the manufacturer, they are just clean test for working and resell . anyway electronic parts , especially condenser, have a life time, in the case of the PSU, when the condensers age, the PSU lost power. You have no waranty those PSU was only return for the color we are talking about a saving of $ 20 here. I will go with a new one for sure.... and not this OCZ model.

[Perineum]

Originally Posted by edisleado

With a refurbished power supply, I'm concerned that it may fry the rest of my components, which (for anyone, really) would be a pretteh pretteh pretteh bad thing. Is that sort of thing possible?

Yes it's possible, but it's due more to the design of the power supply than it being reconditioned or not. I've seen bad PSUs literally blow north bridge chips off, ICs blown off the HD's and stuff like that as it dies.

[Jack Rabbit]

If a power supply goes there is a good chance it will ruin lots of other parts.

The PS is the one thing I would not buy any other way than new for an expensive computer. $22 would be worth it to me for piece of mind.

[Zero82z]

Regardless of the pros and cons of buying a refurbished PSU (which is totally fine, by the way), that OCZ GameXStream is a piece of crap, so you shouldn't bother with it either way.

Originally Posted by MarkOne

still a PSU with condenser that have millage. return item for dislike, are sale as open box. Refurbished stuff in vast majority, never reach the manufacturer, they are just clean test for working and resell . anyway electronic parts , especially condenser, have a life time, in the case of the PSU, when the condensers age, the PSU lost power. You have no waranty those PSU was only return for the color we are talking about a saving of $ 20 here. I will go with a new one for sure.... and not this OCZ model.

Capacitor (not condenser by the way) aging is only really an issue when the capacitors are actually used. If they're in a PSU that's sitting on a shelf unused, it's not something you have to take into account.

Originally Posted by Jack Rabbit

If a power supply goes there is a good chance it will ruin lots of other parts.

Generally not if it's a quality PSU.

[MarkOne]

it's funny to see people sugest to always use a new PSU with a new build. and now here it's ok

what is $ 22 on a complete system.

Originally Posted by Zero82z

Capacitor (not condenser by the way) aging is only really an issue when the capacitors are actually used. If they're in a PSU that's sitting on a shelf unused, it's not something you have to take into account.

The real word is Electrolytic Capacitor, but the first who invented them, call them Electric condenser, ( don't forget than electricity was view as a liquid at first ) and latter they introduce the principle of capacitance, and change the name condenser in capacitor. but both condenser or capacitor , are still use . I'm use to the work Condenseur (french) , , I do my Electrotechnique in french at Athunsic and we don't use the word Capacitor in french.

You ok to say that it will age faster on use than on the shelf....but they still degrade on the shelf, but I will be more worry about a 10 years old Motherboard than those PSU ..... I was referring not to the shelf life, but those PSU, are not new. who know how long they have work

: EA Capacitor , have electrolyte inside, like any battery, they do have a shelf life too, but usually it take more than 3 years to see the effect, I was referring not to the shelf life, but those PSU, are not new. who know how long they have work

[Zero82z]

Originally Posted by MarkOne

The real word is Electrolytic Capacitor, but the first who invented them, call them Electric condenser, ( don't forget than electricity was view as a liquid at first ) and latter they introduce the principle of capacitance, and change the name condenser in capacitor. but both condenser or capacitor , are still use . I'm use to the work Condenseur (french) , , I do my Electrotechnique in french at Athunsic and we don't use the word Capacitor in french.

I know the French term, but since you're speaking in English here and this is an English forum, you may as well use the English term so it's more clear.