Possible Antec NSK3480 fraud in the US

KJ · Post by KJ » Tue Jul 24, 2007 3:48 pm

BUYER BEWARE
As of July, 2007, many, if not all, NSK3480s available for purchase will advertise, but not actually include the EA-380 80+ PSU. See thread for further detail.
--
Having just received an NSK3400 from an online vendor claiming to sell the NSK3480, I would like to now start a new thread about this issue. As shown in this thread, this has happened to others as well

It is possible that no American vendor is currently legitimately selling the NSK3480, and that they are all mislabeled NSK3400s. So far, it appears that the problem is not caused by the vendors, but rather by the manufacturer. There is no evidence of any intentional dishonesty. Regardless, please post if you have also ordered an NSK3480 in the US, and state where you ordered from and whether you received the correct product.

For those unaware, the principal difference between the NSK3400 and the NSK3480 appears to be the PSU, which is the high efficiency 80+ certified EA-380 in the NSK3480, and the mediocre SU-380 in the NSK3400.

FWIW: I ordered from shopblt.com. They have quickly shown interest in resolving the problem.

[070726: edited to remove alarmist wording]
[070731: edited to add alarmist wording after further investigation]

Mankey · Post by **Mankey** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 4:00 pm

I also ordered a 3480, and recieved a 3400.

I ordered from Eagle computer.

KJ · Post by KJ » Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:14 pm

Mankey: If you have the time, shopblt.com would like to have pictures of the sku panel on the box, and the numbers on the case and the PSU. They are apparently communicating the problem to Antec.

Firetech · Post by **Firetech** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:56 am

Hey guys, vendors here in Oz are starting to advertise the NSKxx80 versions now with availability noted as being in mid-August.
I'm looking for the NSK2480, so hope we/I don't have the same drama's as you have.
Is the new EA version PSU definitely an improvement (in SPCR sound terms) over the SU version?

KJ · Post by KJ » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:50 am

The SU-380 and EA-380 are totally different PSUs, though the SU-380 is not poorly rated by SPCR, FWIW. Note from the review that the SU-380 is not quite worthy of the 80+ certification that the EA-380 has, so there is probably some difference in electronics. There also appears to be a difference in the casings of the PSUs.

SU-380 review

EA-430 review
(I don't know how the EA-380 and EA-430 differ, but assume they have similar characteristics).

Post by **MikeC** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:44 am

AFAIK, Antec seems to be in the midst of -- or has just finished -- replacing all of the SU series PSUs included in their cases with Earthwatts series equivalents. The EA models are all 80 Plus. I believe Antec wants all their case-included PSUs to be 80 Plus.

EU seems to have received the most of the first shipments of the 3400 (or 3480??), which came with the SU-380. My take on this is that the difference is not big enough to be a deal maker/breaker, but vendors should deliver the models they advertise.

KJ · Post by KJ » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:29 pm

BUYER BEWARE
As of July, 2007, many, if not all, NSK3480s available for purchase will advertise, but not actually include the EA-380 80+ PSU.

After phoning and emailing with my vendor and with Antec, I am still not entirely clear as to what is going on, but am fairly certain that my vendor was misinformed by Antec. Antec seems to be restickering NSK3400 UPC labels so that they scan as NSK3480s. Then these counterfeit NSK3480s are sold to vendors that unintentionally and understandably advertise them as having all the features associated with the NSK3480.

misterjessejames · Post by **misterjessejames** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:01 pm

Well, I checked by Antec US website today and found out that they removed the NSK-3480 product flyer link that mentioned the included EA-380 PSU. It seems like they didn't originally want to include the EA-380 PSU into the case.

Well, that pretty much explains everything.

Firetech · Post by **Firetech** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:09 pm

misterjessejames wrote:Well, I checked by Antec US website today and found out that they removed the NSK-3480 product flyer link that mentioned the included EA-380 PSU. It seems like they didn't originally want to include the EA-380 PSU into the case.

Well, that pretty much explains everything.

So what is the difference between the two models if it isn't the PSU?

KJ · Post by KJ » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:33 am

misterjessejames wrote:Well, I checked by Antec US website today and found out that they removed the NSK-3480 product flyer link that mentioned the included EA-380 PSU. It seems like they didn't originally want to include the EA-380 PSU into the case.

Well, that pretty much explains everything.

Good catch. I guess the NSK3480 at $90 was too good to be true. For now, its just the NSK3400. Although I am a bit bitter about not getting the product I expected, I will say that the NSK3400 seems quite nice. As has been stated before, I'd say the primary nicety of the case is its unique combination of compactness and flexibility as well as its rock solid construction. It also has a minimalist exterior that I find appealing.

alphabetbackward · Post by **alphabetbackward** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:09 pm

According to the Antec website, the NSK3480, 4480, 6580 are for now for sale at the Antec store. It looks like the 4480 and 6580 have the Earthwatts while the 3480 does not.

What is confusing is on the 3480 page is that one part says high efficiency power supply while the other says it includes the Earthwatts.

Kreed · Post by **Kreed** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 5:32 pm

alphabetbackward wrote: What is confusing is on the 3480 page is that one part says high efficiency power supply while the other says it includes the Earthwatts.

Yeah and some retailers are even advertising them as EA-380 PSUs. Antec should clear this up once and for all.

As a side note, the NSK4480/NSK4480B appears to be cheaper than the NSK3480, even though it has the more expense EarthWatts PSU. What gives?

Is Antec going to produce a black version of the NSK3480?

Firetech · Post by **Firetech** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:29 pm

Kreed wrote:Is Antec going to produce a black version of the NSK3480?

Seems we in Australia are getting an NSK2480B so it's possible.

Kreed · Post by **Kreed** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:49 am

It looks as if Antec has updated their NSK3480 web page to state that the PSU is an EarthWatts PSU:

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=93480

Kreed · Post by **Kreed** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:18 am

And now they have removed all references to the EarthWatts PSU.

Firetech · Post by **Firetech** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:30 am

Kreed wrote:And now they have removed all references to the EarthWatts PSU.

Still in the NSK2480 specs though:
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=92480

Kreed · Post by **Kreed** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 5:22 am

I was actually talking about the NSK3480. I wonder if Antec is just trying to clear out excess NSK3400 stock by selling them as NSK3480. Once they are all sold, Antec may actually begin selling the NSK3480 with EarthWatt PSUs. Otherwise, the change of name from NSK3400 to NSK3480 makes no sense.

Kreed · Post by **Kreed** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:57 pm

It you look on the second page of the English manual:

http://www.antec.com/pdf/manuals/NSK3480_manual_EN.pdf

you will see that it says:

The NSK3480 comes with an EarthWatts 380 watt PSU.

The NSK3480 becomes available in Australia on 04/09/2007. I just hope we're getting the EarthWatts 380W PSU.

alphabetbackward · Post by **alphabetbackward** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 6:47 am

At the Antec store, the 3480 seems to come with the Earthwatts.

In any case, I think I'll wait a while before purchasing one.

This is getting ridiculous...

CorrND · Post by **CorrND** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:46 am

What's the latest on this issue? Is anybody aware of the PSU status on currently shipping NSK3480's? I really want the Earthwatts PSU but I'm getting sick of waiting and may just take my chances.

alphabetbackward · Post by **alphabetbackward** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:45 am

I don't know if this has been mentioned but there's now a side vent on the NSK3480 similar to the other SLK towers.

I've seen it on the Newegg pictures and in the mechanical drawing on the product web page.

CorrND · Post by **CorrND** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:19 am

Just to close this issue, my NSK3480 arrived yesterday and I can confirm that is has an Earthwatts EA-380 PSU.

ecross · Post by **ecross** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:22 am

I am in Sydney Australia. My NSK3480 arrived today. I took the PSU out of the case and confirm it is a Antec EarthWatt 380W. Looks like Antec has fixed the issue.

Possible Antec NSK3480 fraud in the US

Possible Antec NSK3480 fraud in the US

Adverts for NSKxx80's now appearing in Oz