At ADM (as usual), some cheap Chicony power supplies have popped up: 380W/23A for $57 and 430W/27A for $70. They’ve got passive PFC, dual rails, and zero 80+ efficiency certification. Perfectly fine for budget builds. Now, why Chicony instead of names like MSI, Linkworld, Sweex, Spira, or Frontier (ignoring the actual brand names on the boxes, obviously)? Most people probably don't remember, but Chicony is a pretty old-school firm that used to churn out keyboards, mice, and even webcams back in the day—and they did a decent job. Long before Logitech was everywhere, if you were shopping in Germany (which meant having a code available on 😁), you’d look for Cherry, which was the gold standard—top-tier clicky and non-clicky boards that still hold up today. Then there was Chicony—solid enough stuff, basically the equivalent of what you'd find from Genius today (they also make peripherals all the time, but Chicony felt more accessible back then)—and then there was just a sea of generic junk under various labels you might have seen on ancient machines. Like I said, nowadays when we recommend quality peripherals (not some overpriced, "gamer" garbage 😁), we say Logitech first, then Genius, and that’s about it... 😁 , but it used to be simple: Cherry, Chicony, end of story. Don't come at me saying there are plenty of other great brands now—I know there are, but that's not the point here...
So, what's the point? Right, there's no Gilbert around. Since he's our PSU guru and the only one with enough authority to pass a death sentence on a power supply or breathe life back into one 😁, the issue with these Chicony units is this: they're cheap and don't look bad, but is it actually worth it? Since the name Chicony triggered some memories of really old tech I hadn't thought about in ages, I decided to dig around a bit. Not that I consider myself an expert, though; the final verdict will have to wait until Gilbert gets back...
Chicony still makes keyboards, I just haven't seen them much around here lately and I honestly don't know how they stack up on quality anymore. Back in the 2000s, they acquired a Taiwanese company called HIPRO, which was a long-time OEM manufacturer for big names like Apple, Dell, HP, IBM, and Microsoft. But since those power supplies weren't sold as standalone products, finding reviews online is pretty much impossible.
Even without reviews or technical specs regarding voltage stability, max wattage, heat dissipation, and whatnot, we can assume companies like that wouldn't put absolute trash in their gear. Then again, they wouldn't put high-end, expensive units in there either, because where would their profit margin be? So, it stands to reason that these Chicony (HIPRO) units are likely just right for low-end office rigs, HTPCs, or similar setups. And they come at a very interesting price point (which is the whole point 😁)... If you compare a 400W Fortron $100 to these Chiconys priced at 170 and $70, it's pretty obvious what that price gap means for a cheap office build...
These Chicony units are coming in from Germany (imported, obviously, not made there) and thanks to some cryptic labeling and the fact they were likely made specifically for the EMEA region, there are no reviews or detailed technical specs to be found—or at least, I couldn't find any. Maybe that'll change soon, and maybe Gilbert will be back soon too, so perhaps he'll know more... 😁
Until then, if you need a cheap but decent power supply for an undemanding machine (in the same ballpark as Fortron), feel free to grab a Chicony.😁
Chicony HPD4302RWB2 Power Supply, ATX 2.2, 12cm fan, 380W - $57
Chicony HPD4802RWR2 Power Supply, ATX 2.2, 12cm fan, 430W - $70
http://www.chicony.de/html/psu.htmlA quick look at Chicony Power
Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd. (previously known as HIPRO Electronics) is a heavy hitter in the power solutions industry, employing over 8,000 people worldwide. They focus heavily on power supplies for desktops and laptops, supplying big names like Apple, Dell, HP, IBM, and Microsoft.
HIPRO Electronics Co., Ltd. handles the design, manufacturing, and supply of power units for OEMs. Their lineup covers everything from desktop PC power supplies and server units to laptop adapters and gear for the telecom and data sectors. HIPRO is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Following the deal announced back on June 9, 2000, HIPRO Electronics Co., Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.