Who makes Inland PS for Micro Center?

[jeffspam]

Anyone know? I doubt they're being designed in-house by Micro Center... more likely just a rebadge of someone else's models.

 

[BoomerD]

Don't know. They're not on any of the lists that I have. I even searched Jonnyguru for the name and came up blank.

Do you have/can you get the UL listing number?

One indicator I’ve used is the UL number of a power supply. UL actually certifies that a product is "safe" to use within a determined operating range and environment. Although I don't believe they actually load test every power supply, cross referencing a UL number can be handy for many reasons.

You can use a UL number to find out who actually makes a particular power supply. Also, if the UL logo is on the same label as the specs, you can be pretty sure that the UL listing pertains to the specs on that very label. Can you believe that there are a few companies that claim UL listing, but don’t put the logo on their label? That’s because the specs on that label are not the specs given to UL. And it’s a regular Easter egg hunt trying to figure out what the actual specs are using the UL number. So why bother? If the company can’t put a UL logo on the same label as the specs, they have something to hide and not worth doing business with.

It used to be that one could classify the quality of a power supply is just from its weight. Unfortunately, as power supply topolgies change and newer, more efficient designs are introduced, better power supplies become lighter while an old, antiquated design may still be heavy.

Also keep in mind the “get what you pay for” adage. It doesn’t always apply from brand to brand, especially if people take into consideration USEFUL improvements like modular cables, active PFC, etc. all add to the cost of a power supply. But when you see a power supply with a bunch of lights and other pretty things, you have to take into consideration that this added bling isn’t free.

http://database.ul.com/cgi-bin/XYV/template/LISEXT/1FRAME/index.htm

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/370

 

[Soulkeeper]

they look like crap to me ...

Efficiency 76%
yet they sell them with names like "Gold Series" and "Silver Series"
not officially 80 plus certified else looking up who really makes them would be easier

 

[jeffspam]

It's installed now and removing it at this point would be a PITA, but on the outward facing label (i.e. looking at the motherboard in a standard ATX case, the side of the power supply facing you) there's no UL logo, yet there are other certification logos. The only place I see any reference at all to UL is the spec chart on box and included manual, and there's no number there.

One thing that I find interesting is that the Inland logo is embossed in the metal on one side of the PS. I know, stamping a logo in the thing isn't exactly hard to do... but it means they're not just slapping a sticker on a no-name brand. Someone at Inland/Micro Center took the time to send some actual requirements over to the manufacturer. Even something as simple as this gives me hope that it's not, as you say, Soulkeeper, crap. Still, the 76% efficiency spec... *Sigh*. Finding a decent, inexpensive power supply shouldn't be so damn hard.

BTW, screened on the PCB was "A0018BG2/YX-A2 (100306)". Googling this turns up nothing.

Thanks for your comments, guys.

 

[bryanl]

Jonny Guru, where are you?

It could be a Huntkey.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Doesn't really look like Huntkey.

But you can tell it's a crappy power supply by the 115/230V input voltage selector. That means it doesn't even have PFC. 10 years ago, that was fine. But these days there's no excuse for not having PFC integrated into your design.

 

[BoomerD]

Thanks JG.

 

[fourty03]

When I built my Phenom rig.. I also installed two Palit GTX 460s in sli and needed a power supply quick and fast...

I purchased the ''Inland'' brand psu @ 600watts and that sucker lasted - I'd say 4 days tops. I heard a pop noise, and then the scent of burning electronics filled the air. This was in the middle of playing Battlefield 2..

I learned my lesson.. Lol...

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I'm the king of cheap, but even I won't buy a cheap power supply. IF a good known brand 600w PSU cost XXX amount and a "unknown" cost $19.99 you should be able to tell that the $19.99 one isn't going to be as good.

 

[BoomerD]

Power supplies are the one thing that you should NEVER buy the cheapest available. Too many people overlook this component because it's not "sexy" like a super-duper video card, or flashy motherboard...but the power supply is the "heart" of your computer system...and a cheap POS power supply can die a spectacular death...and take your other "sexy" components with it.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

...Finding a decent, inexpensive power supply shouldn't be so damn hard...

Not at all! Just keep your eyes peeled for PSU deals.
Just last week, you could get either an Enermax Tomahawk 500W for ~$19AR/AC (pretty well reviewed at Hardware Secrets), or an Enermax NAXN 600W (Corsair CX600 clone) for ~$32AR/AC.

A little before that, you could pickup a Corsair CX430 for ~$12AR/AC (IINM).

And there was (is?) always the OCZ StealthXstream line, which while not offering regulation as pristine as typical Seasonic builds, is still pretty good.

Hell, you could get an OCZ EliteXstream 800W for $39.99 + ship at Microcenter right now. Yes, it's a refurb, but people have been receiving revised versions (which fixed the reliability problems of the original shipping revision).

One of the best deals ever has to be last year's BFG EX-1000 for ~$55 - 1kW, modular, great regulation (revised versions with additional caps on the 12v3 and 12v4 lines were being sent out), no rebates, no coupons.