World Gaming

GIGABYTE and Newegg Accused of Dumping “Explosive” Power Supplies on Unknowing Customers with Combo Deals

September 2, 2021

Last week, a couple of news outlets reported on an incident where a number of customers purchased computers at retail stores that were powered by unsafe power supplies but were advertised as having “up to” a specified wattage through a shady combo deal.

The US Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against GIGABYTE and Newegg, accusing the companies of using deceptive marketing practices to sell power supplies that are dangerous to consumers.

GIGABYTE (photo credit: GIGABYTE)

The P750GM and P850GM are GIGABYTE’s two power supply. These PSUs are 80 PLUS Gold certified and include a completely modular design, a 120 mm Smart Hydraulic Bearing (HYB) fan, Japanese capacitors, a strong single +12 V rail, and other important features.

Enthusiasts, on the other hand, may choose to skip them.

According to Steve Burke of Gamers Nexus, there is something seriously wrong with the design and/or components of GIGABYTE’s P750GM and P850GM motherboards. Burke conducted a number of tests and discovered significant issues such as faulty MOSFETs, some of which detonated in the PSUs under specific circumstances.

Burke claims that GIGABYTE is aware that their P750GM and P850GM power supply are defective and should not be purchased.

Worse still, Newegg seems to be exacerbating the issue. Despite indications that both parties must be aware of the products’ shortcomings by now due to the increasing reports of DOA units and failures, Burke pointed out that GIGABYTE’s P750GM and P850GM power supplies were—and continue to be—sold as part of the retailer’s many combo deals (bundles that are designed to save enthusiasts a little money by packaging core hardware components together).

GIGABYTE and Newegg, according to Burke, are “ultimately dumping an unsellable product on desperate buyers.”

You’d have a hard time returning one without the other if you wanted the graphics card but not the PSU. You’re effectively trapped with a product you don’t desire. Many of the Gigabyte PSUs were reported as dead on arrival, and we discovered that many of them were explosive during our testing. We tally the Newegg reviews, conduct our own poll, then load test the power supplies. We also illustrate which MOSFETs failed and discuss how power supply safeguards may have averted the failure.

Gamers Nexus is the source for this information.