350W Power Supply, 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency, now $9.99 + shipping

[Replay]

Update 3-20-2014: FREE after 24.99 rebate, + shipping. LIMIT 1 this time?
http://static.highspeedbackbone.net/rebates/TD-13967 US HEC-350TA-2RK.PDF Valid 3-20 to 3-26. Make sure your Street Address is on 1 line to get econo shipping ($6.60 for me). Limit of 3 when you register the rebate per another deal site.

HEC 350W Power Supply (HEC-350TA-2RK). Usually $24.99 or $14.99 up front, and Free or 9.99 AR.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...=821&CatId=106

Cheap, but good. Good, and cheap. Whatever. Perhaps the least expensive 80+ Bronze high efficiency PSU deal we've had. Mine are running cool and quiet. They are built to modern design standards, with filter stage coils, X & Y caps, MOV's, plus voltage protection circuitry. Said to be surplus from when TD/Systemax was building and selling pc systems. Favorable review of the 550W HEC (out of stock, tested to 695W): http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/ADATA-BN-550-Power-Supply-Review/1268

Used a 5% cash-back credit card on my own order.

Info on efficiency: http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/psu_reports/HEC_HEC-350TA-2RK_ECOS 2638_350W_Report.pdf

Better pictures at Newegg ($36 + shipping): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817339039

Update Jan 18th 2014 $9.99 after $15 rebate, + shipping, limit 3.
Update Oct 31st only. FREE after rebate again, $15 less $15 rebate, + shipping, limit 3.
Update Sept 17th. $9.99 AR again.
Update Sept 16th. FREE after rebate again, $15 less $15 rebate, + shipping, limit 3.
Update Aug 8th. FREE after rebate again. $10 coupon code: RDM97342
Update July 30th: Rebate paid! (standard service: mailed 7/10, approved 7/22).

Update July 12th: 850 Watt & 550 Watt 80+ PSU rebate deal thread.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2330512

Update July 9th: Arrived for testing, see bottom of this post.
Update July 8th: Shipping now ~ $6 for one & ~ $10.53 for three (my ZIP).
Update July 5th: $9.99 after rebate, free shipping.
Update July 4th: FREE after rebate ($10 Promo code, 1 day special). Free shipping is now working.

===================
July 9th update: Testing... 1 2 3
===================
Placed one order for the rebate limit of 3. UPS delivers 3 boxes, each with a psu, AC power cord, and four mounting screws. There is an in-house Systemax bar code label on each box. Initial tests were done on the open bench with an old Celeron 440 s775 rig, a very light load.

- Voltages look good (multimeter) 5.00 4.98 5.00, 3.32 3.31 3.34, 12.19 12.18 12.17.
- Fan is very quiet and spinning slowly (lightly loaded).
- Good thick 18 AWG wiring to the mobo, adequate 20 AWG wires to the accessories.
- 20 + 4 main ATX power plug.

- SHORT CABLE! ATX mobo power cables are 13 inches long. Some rigs may need a longer cable (bottom mounted psu's).
- No PCI-e 6 or 8 pin video card connectors. A cheap molex>PCI-e adapter cable would fix that.
- No On/Off switch on the unit.

Very pleased with the deal.

 

[lopgok]

I thought about buying this, as I can always use more reasonably efficient power supplies.
However, there is much to be concerned about.

The scary thing about this power supply is the title is
"HEC 350W Power Supply - 80+ Bronz(HEC-350TA-2RK) OEM"

Also scary
"Limited Warranty: A full text version of the limited warranty may be obtained by mailing a self addressed, stamped envelope to the address below and requesting the warranty for item number: SYX-806945OH"

And more
"Shipping Weight: 5.0500 pound(s)
Dimensional Weight: 7 pounds"

 

[Replay]

Updated OP. Free shipping now working as it should.

Newegg has more info on the HEC350TA. Would rather have a single 12V rail and a PCIe plug, but am ok with what it is, for the price (better than free, being paid to buy it). http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817339039

Output
+3.3V@21A, +5V@15A, +12V1@14A, +12V2@14A, -12V@0.3A, +5VSB@2.5A

Connectors
1 x 20+4pin Main Connector
2 x Molex
1 x Floppy
4 x SATA
Dual +12V rails provide plenty of power sources to support high end systems
Super Quiet Technology: Smart Fan Control Function Keeps Noise Level Under 22dBA
Excellent Protection Functions Provide Maximum Reliability: OVP (Over-Voltage Protection), UVP (Under-Voltage Protection), OCP (Over-Current Protection), SCP (Short-Circuit Protection)"

 

[lopgok]

Well, with free shipping, I am willing to take a risk on this "Bronz" power supply.

 

[SunRey]

Thank You!

 

[bryanl]

Also scary
"Limited Warranty: A full text version of the limited warranty may be obtained by mailing a self addressed, stamped envelope to the address below and requesting the warranty for item number: SYX-806945OH"

Such a requirement is illegal under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. The seller must make the warranty available for free for any product costing over $25.00.

 

[hackerballs]

Don't buy a PSU like that for anything .....OEM indeed! Not worth it

 

[Tdavis5432]

Such a requirement is illegal under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. The seller must make the warranty available for free for any product costing over $25.00.

Do you think that is why the original price is just under $25 at $24.99? Lol that would be funny if they priced it under $25 just to save postage on sending out warranty info!

 

[paul878]

Why buy yourself Headaches, it this cheap for a reason. If this thing damages your other components down the road it going to cost your more money.

 

[p_monks33]

This is one of those too good to be true things, I don't think I would toss that in someones PC unless I hated them. Spend the extra ten bucks and get this one instead, you are more likely to receive your rebate through them as well.

 

[Rvenger]

Apparently this PSU was free after rebate at some point in time. This PSU is used in SystemMax lowend PCs. It should work fine but don't expect it to last for more than 2 years.

 

[Cardio]

This is one of those too good to be true things, I don't think I would toss that in someones PC unless I hated them. Spend the extra ten bucks and get this one instead, you are more likely to receive your rebate through them as well.

Much better suggestion !

 

[Zap]

Why buy yourself Headaches, it this cheap for a reason. If this thing damages your other components down the road it going to cost your more money.

Why would it damage your other components? I fully expect this PSU to be exactly as it is, a 350W unit that meets ATX spec.

This isn't one of those crappy units that can't even meet the specs on the label. It is certainly no Diablotek. :whiste:

Spend the extra ten bucks and get this one instead, you are more likely to receive your rebate through them as well.

Anyone remember when these first came out? The whole hubbub about it really being an overrated CWT PSA or something like that, and how Corsair was screwing everyone over who remembered the old CX400? There was a ton of hate... and now it is the beloved cheap go-to PSU for everyone.

 

[daveybrat]

Agreed, we bought 10 of these for work and they appear to be exactly as advertised. 80 Plus Bronze certified decent quality unit's that can't be beat for the $15 price tag we got them for + free shipping with TG's inner circle.

 

[infoiltrator]

HEC build quality has improved according to posts, still doubtful purchase.
Good Luck.

 

[thecrecarc]

FWIW, this PS did indeed qualify for 80+ Bronze rating. The testing report is here:

http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/psu_reports/HEC_HEC-350TA_ECOS 1545_350W_Report.pdf

 

[Zap]

FWIW, this PS did indeed qualify for 80+ Bronze rating. The testing report is here:

http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/psu_reports/HEC_HEC-350TA_ECOS 1545_350W_Report.pdf

Wrong unit. That's the older HEC-350TA which is merely 80+. The Bronze unit is HEC-350TA-2RK which is indeed listed as Bronze. Test report here.

IIRC they test PSUs at 25°C, so in a "real" system results may vary. However, at minimum this PSU can really output 350W without blowing up. Voltages also look reasonable, with maximum of 0.2v variation. Interestingly, the original non-Bronze model had tighter 0.1v regulation.

BTW I love how Newegg will give a closeup of just the label. Very telling that HEC felt fit to include combined +12v wattage. That tells me they are not trying to hide anything.

Hard price at Tiger Direct is $10 cheaper than Newegg's $35. Still has $15 off rebate making it $25 cheaper than Newegg. IDK if free shipping still applies.

I created a thread at jonnyGURU forums about this PSU. So far so good.

I'm predicting that those who passed on the deal because "crappy PSU will blow up and kill your parts" will be kicking themselves.

 

[lopgok]

I just opened my shipment from tigerdirect.
The power supply does not have a power switch, which is a novel way of saving a few pennies. The included power cord is the lightest power cord I have seen.

 

[Samus]

Why would it damage your other components? I fully expect this PSU to be exactly as it is, a 350W unit that meets ATX spec.

I know, I hate people saying that about PC components. It is incredibly rare for this to happen. HEC is among the better OEM's. I have an HEC EcoSmart Flex ATX PSU (80+) for my ITX HTPC and it's quiet and reliable. Cost $30 bucks.

It's no Seasonic or PCP&C but it was also 1/3rd the price.

This is a really good deal on a decent overall power supply. As Zaps said, it isn't an Diablotek or some knockoff "Athena" product.

 

[Zap]

This is a really good deal on a decent overall power supply. As Zaps said, it isn't an Diablotek or some knockoff "Athena" product.

I would put Athena Power a bit above Diablotek, but definitely below HEC in "quality." At least Athena Power doesn't (usually?) outright lie about wattage output on their labels. I think they just rate them cold (like at room temp) or something like that. Not 100% positive on that though.

Diablotek? AFAIK they outright LIE on the actual label.

jonnyGURU (actually OKW) Reviews - Diablotek RPM-1050 1050W

This unit, quite simply, is a 500 watt unit pretending to be twice as powerful as it really is

HardOCP - Diablotek PHD650 650W Power Supply Review

It kind of goes without saying that the Diablotek PHD650 is a giant steaming pile of crap. The PHD650 is a bad 300 watt power supply, let alone a "650 watt" power supply.

Compare to any reviews of HEC units. Should be quite obvious that HEC is several orders of magnitude better than "crappy" PSUs. Look up "Cougar" PSU reviews on jonnyGURU. Those are made by HEC. Also, various low end Thermaltake TR2 series, ADATA BN-550, etc.

 

[Samus]

jonnyGURU (actually OKW) Reviews - Diablotek RPM-1050 1050W

OMFG that review is hilariously written. He must have been incredibly stoned.

I believe HEC makes PSU's for Lite-ON, which are used in a lot of OEM machines (even servers, ie, ThinkCentre's)

 

[infoiltrator]

HEC has been notorious for poor build quality and non existent support.
I brought one about 4 years ago, did not meet spec, and Chinese capacitors.
If their budget line is improved, great.
jonnyguru reviews are accurate and more or less amusing. Not stoned. Been at this a long time,
jonnyguru forums has discussion and comments.

 

[Replay]

Bumping this for the new $10 coupon code RDM97342 (Expires 8/9/2013 11:59 PM ET).

Item is free after rebate again + shipping. New rebate offer for August, $15 rebate/unit, limit 3.

 

[Replay]

Update Sept 16th. Free after rebate again, $15 less $15 rebate, + shipping, limit 3.

Used one for an E5200 S775 @ 3.3 GHz, and it runs very cool and quiet. Replaced a 10 year old Delta 350W with two bad caps.

 

[MontyAC]

Great, thanks.