The PSU Label Debate

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Here is an interesting one for you. Last month, CoolerMaster put out a video showing how some companies may be "hyping their PSU's actual abilities." The CM team used the chart below to explain "peak" power and "continuous" power and how their power supply differed from the generic unit.

In response to the video above, Tony Ou from SilverStone Technology had this to say:

Sad to see they were uninformed about power supply label and sadder still that they were trying to teach their users with this. To add further insult to injury, the Cooler Master Xtreme Power Plus 500 model they used in the video as an example happens to be a typical over-labeling PSUs with clear tell-tale signs:


To obtain safety certificates, the specification table and associate rating numbers on the power supply label must be accurate. The manufacturers are free to name the power supply any way they like however, so in this case, Cooler Master placed “500” next to the model name to suggest it as a 500W PSU (and sold as a 500W) as opposed to it being a 450W.

It’s a tough business competing in lower wattage range (500W & below) as every dollar counts so there are other types of over-labeling practices too. This is pretty bad for honest manufacturers that do not over-label on wattage and still have to compete on price. And to see Cooler Master trying to educate people with the wrong information, I just couldn’t stand it anymore.

Please share your thoughts on this subject with us here.
 
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Tony's response was just and well needed. I know I don't buy a PSU unless I've done my research on the unit to see how it's fared in testing environments (whether it be [H] or JonnyGuru, or etc.)
 
That coolermaster video comes off like a 5th grader doing an oral report, and I'm going to take it just as seriously.
 
Woof, certainly a touchy subject and not just for the PSU makers. Lots of sore butts will likely come out of a good debate/discussion.
 
I'd love to hear a CM response to this one. Pretty much just got owned.
 
^^^ Yup... just got served a nasty one.

CM, you have good products, you dont need to do this crap.
 
Hardly a surprise, portable generators have suffered from this for years. Peak power is not continuous run power but the labeling will show the highest output. :mad:
 
That Cooler Master video is hilariously inaccurate.

They're trying to point out peak and continuous by using a hand-drawn chart on a whiteboard that doesn't even really highlight their point.

Not to mention that their own unit that they're using is over spec'd too. Ridiculous. If this is the public face of their company, how could you ever expect to trust that their products are even remotely trustworthy?

It'd be like of a car salesperson tried to sell you a hybrid by pointing out that it has more electricity inside it or something.
 
Heck I like both companies. They both make quality products in several categories so this isn't like the underdog trying to one up the champ. But it does seem like CM is coming in from a pretty weak angle. We shall see how this one transpires.
 
Whats new, another company figured out another devious way to get their hands into the cookie jar. Thats why they hire the marketing gurus.
 
That is awesome, I just went to newegg to verify silverstones picture on the CM psu and it looks like silverstone took the image straight from newegg. What is worse IMO is that this unit is only a 70%+ efficient unit, I didn't even know they made PSUs that weren't 80+ anymore.
 
CM just got owned. Cue ROFLCOPTER.

Poof. :p

roflcopter.jpg
 
Whats new, another company figured out another devious way to get their hands into the cookie jar. Thats why they hire the marketing gurus.

Yeah, and a marketing guru will probably be the most likely to screw up like this, since they aren't product managers or engineers and know just enough to embarrass their company.

What is worse IMO is that this unit is only a 70%+ efficient unit, I didn't even know they made PSUs that weren't 80+ anymore.

Plenty are made. For instance Antec ISK 300/310-150 has a 70% efficient PSU. Also, the Thermaltake TR2-430W (really 300W) PSUs are 70%... oh wait I'm wrong, they're only 65%.
 
If they are lying or deceiving, which it looks like they are, screw em'. I'll go elsewhere.

This reminds me of this TV '60" class screen' bullshit.

Or the "New Look! Same Great Taste" bullshit on food items. Sure, might taste the same. Might be a new look. But what they hope people don't see is the 10-20% reduction in product in the bag, at the same price.

This is why people hate advertising so much. It's 90% bullshit.
 
The Federal Trade Commission should really come down on all the PSU companies that use bogus wattage claims. They should get rid of all the cheap trash, that can't do what they claim it can do.
 
Yeah, and a marketing guru will probably be the most likely to screw up like this, since they aren't product managers or engineers and know just enough to embarrass their company.

Dude, most technical marketers in the PC business have a EE and an MBA. THOSE are the most devious and they do stuff like this on purpose.
 
Yeah, there's no way an engineer was involved in any part of this Cooler Master marketing campaign. Not only did they miss the MAX COMBINED POWER of 450w for the whole unit, but they missed the combined power for the shared channels:

3.3v (22A) & 5v (25A): rated for 197w combined, but only able to produce a maximum combined output of 165w.

12v1 (18A) & 12v2 (18A): rated for 432w combined, but only able to produce a maximum combined output of 360w.

In the crappy chart, they used the max rated power per-channel.
 
Hmmm yea we have these 450W PSUs but we only have 500W stickers. Hell, put them on there. Good enough for Cooler Master work.
 
Other then an Enermax PSU for my first computer build back in 2001, i've had nothing but Antec PSU's in all my rigs. I've had two give up the ghost over the years and both were replaced free of charge under warranty and I was given new, updated models both times from Antec with narry a hassle.


Suck it Coolermaster
 
Video is private now? I guess CoolerMaster got embarrassed. I'm waiting for someone with the video in cache to upload it again!
 
The Federal Trade Commission should really come down on all the PSU companies that use bogus wattage claims. They should get rid of all the cheap trash, that can't do what they claim it can do.

This is why we have [H].
 
Still using my Silverstone TJ06 case from 2005. Have no plans to upgrade. Needed some more expansion card brackets for it and Silverstone mailed them to me free of charge. I will only buy Silverstone products if I have the option to and this just reinforces that.
 
Well that's what you do when you're former Coolermaster employees. You jumped ship before it goes down the drain and created your own company that continues to put out highend equipment.

Glad Silverstone came through.
 
WTF? so I wanted to see this video, and now it's marked privateany other links to it?

I guess coolermaster should stick to folding metal and molding plastic for cases, and HSF.

([ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFvls2MUUbI&t=2m8s"]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/ame])
 
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Companies should know by now you can't get BS like that past the tech site blood hounds.
 
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