Where did all the BFG LS-550 go?

[A5]

It was a really good value, and I was looking for one to put in my new system, but they've been de-listed at every reputable vendor. What happened? In it's absence I'll get a Corsair VX550...

edit: Just found this thread from last month...thanks to Google for having a way better search than fusetalk.

 

[Lunyone]

Here you go!!

 

[jonnyGURU]

Nice price at Fry's there!

Yeah... Too many people assume if it's not at Newegg it doesn't exist.

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
Nice price at Fry's there!

Yeah... Too many people assume if it's not at Newegg it doesn't exist.

It's also OOS at a number of the places in the Google list as well (Amazon, Directron, and Allstarshop are the 3 I checked). I'm actually fairly surprised that Fry's has them.

 

[jonnyGURU]

The plan was to replace the LS-550 with the modular MX-550. It turns out that customers were only interested in the LS-550 once we (BFG) dropped the price to below cost. The MX is still out there, and at a price where we're not losing money, but nobody's hardly buying them.

So, due to "market trends" or whatever you want to call it, consider the LS gone when they're gone. And after that, you can probably say the same about the MX.

 

[A5]

Ah. That's more of the answer I was looking for

I went ahead and bought the one at Fry's $78.47 after tax and shipping (Local store wouldn't tell me if they had it or not )

 

[HOOfan 1]

The sad thing is, when the companies start selling the QUALITY 500W and below units at a price that doesn't put them in the red, the comsumer can usually buy a 650W or higher unit for only a fraction more.


Why buy a BFG LS-550 for $90 when you can get the slightly better Corsair VX550 for the same price, or why buy the BFG LS-550 for $90 when you can buy the PC P&C Silencer 750 for $105.

 

[s44]

So the "new" Enhance OEM version is never going to appear? Bummer.

 

[HOOfan 1]

Enhance is the version currently selling.

From what I have seen the Forepoint unit was better anyway.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Yeah. The one in circulation now is the Enhance unit, but based on the sell through of EITHER unit (Fore Point or Enhance) customers don't give a crap unless the product's price is too good to be true. Sad really, but maybe it's reflection of the current economy.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
Yeah. The one in circulation now is the Enhance unit, but based on the sell through of EITHER unit (Fore Point or Enhance) customers don't give a crap unless the product's price is too good to be true. Sad really, but maybe it's reflection of the current economy.

Not only that, but many enthusiasts go for a PSU that's overkill for what they run (I'm guilty of it myself), and many non-enthusiasts buy the cheapest thing they can find.

IMO, BFG was stuck right in the middle. They have / had great units for a very reasonable price, but it's hard to make sales when so many people are dazzled by a 1000 or 1200w label, or convinced that more than $10-20 for a PSU is a waste.

 

[Beanie46]

Well, to be honest, I was in Fry's last week looking for a new power supply to replace an aging Enhance ENP-5150 that was beginning to have issues producing half power output. Started off looking at a Corsair VX550 or whatever it is and saw this LS550 on sale for $64.

Gotta tell you, sometimes a low price does indeed move product.

Now, what's interesting is that I think I got a Forepoint produced unit....the packaging doesn't match the Enhance packaging reviewed by OW and it doesn't have the Enhance sticker on the ps, either. Stranger still is the +12V max output rating...only 480W instead of the 500W the Forepoint was rated for that OW reviewed or the 504W that the Enhance unit is rated for. How'd that happen? Still has the four +12V rails, just a max output from them combined at 480W. Different models of the same model?

 

[HOOfan 1]

Originally posted by: Beanie46

Now, what's interesting is that I think I got a Forepoint produced unit....the packaging doesn't match the Enhance packaging reviewed by OW and it doesn't have the Enhance sticker on the ps, either. Stranger still is the +12V max output rating...only 480W instead of the 500W the Forepoint was rated for that OW reviewed or the 504W that the Enhance unit is rated for. How'd that happen? Still has the four +12V rails, just a max output from them combined at 480W. Different models of the same model?

BFG's website shows the old LS-550 with 4-16A rails and a combined total of 480W. As opposed to Paul Johnson's review and OK Wolf's review that show the old Forepoint with 4-20A and 500W.

This has come up before, maybe there were even two versions of the Forepoint...or they just changed the specs on the labels.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: Beanie46
...the +12V max output rating...only 480W instead of the 500W the Forepoint was rated for that OW reviewed or the 504W that the Enhance unit is rated for.

You got a Fore Point unit. And the combined +12V should be 480W.

The numbers were reduced after the first shipment because 80 Plus was testing the unit with 500W on the +12V rail and a total of 600W and at 100% load it was not hitting 80% effieiciency. Same was true with the LS-680, so the label was changed to reflect a lower +12V combined rating.