We received the ULTRA X-PRO 800W AST (After Spin Technology) Power Supply Unit and immediately noticed some improvements in packaging over previous ULTRA products we’ve received. The box is larger and for good reason. If you’ve read any of our previous reviews by Grace, you’ll be aware that damage in transit has been a concern. Well, you can put those concerns aside now because ULTRA has listened. The X-Pro came very well packaged with protection in mind. Each end was enshrouded in multi-layered Styrofoam packing and the sides of the PSU were not in contact with the box itself. (See image below.)

Additionally, ULTRA has included a fairly basic Manual with illustrations to guide the unfamiliar user with steps to get the PSU installed and properly connected. It also includes information about the unit itself. However, the manual could be a little more detailed for those less experienced and due to some of the new features this PSU includes. I’ll explain more in a moment.

After our initial impression with the packing, we delved into the contents themselves:

This PSU is not the modular type as reviewed recently. It does, however, have two cooling fans located at the rear and at the front. Its appearance is just a basic brushed silver-gray.

One of the things I noticed on the box was the designation, “AST” which stands for ...

“After Spin Technology”

I wanted to know what this was all about. According to ULTRA, “After Spin Technology is used to quiet the system and aid in prolonging the life of your components. Connectors for chassis fans are thermostatically controlled; internal fan speeds are reduced when temperatures inside the case are low. PSU, chassis and CPU fan connectors remain spinning several minutes after the PC is powered down allowing the system to gradually cool down after use.”

This is, in my estimation, a long-overdue feature. Many automobile owners are familiar with the fact that their radiator fans often continue spinning for several minutes to accomplish essentially the same thing – a slow cooling down period which is designed to prevent boil-overs often following cutting the engine after long and hot trips.

ULTRA could have done a little better job providing proper connection methods for these additional connectors. Experienced enthusiasts will have no problem, but a new, uninitiated user may not know where the end and the beginning are.

The Main Connectors:

As mentioned above, the X-PRO is not a modular PSU. The harness for the cables comes from one area at the front of the PSU and includes a host of them. There is an error on the box that’s not corrected in the Manual. Let’s take a look:

1. Main 24-Pin Power Connector
2. 1-8 Pin +12V EPS Connector for Server/Workstation Motherboards
3. Here is the error: ULTRA lists a separate 4-PIN +12V Connector for standard motherboards with the 4-PIN +12V Connection. However, there is no extra connector for this from the PSU. Rather, the 8-PIN Connector is a two-part connector that can be split apart to provide the 4-PIN Connection as needed ULTRA needs to address this ASAP. It’s very likely that an inexperienced user would not readily notice that this is a two-part piece and therefore wouldn’t know to separate the pieces
4. 2-PCI-Express Power Connectors for Dual Display configurations.
5. 8-4-PIN Molex Connectors for IDE/PATA Devices
6. 4-SATA Power Connectors for SATA Devices
7. 2-4-PIN Floppy Drive Connectors
8. 1 CPU Fan AST Connector
9. 1 CPU Fan Monitor Connector
10. 1 Case Fan AST Connector
11. 1 PSU Fan Monitor Connector

With all those connectors, no wonder the box was bigger, right?