It's still probably at wattage as advertised, but I wouldn't be surprised if some models that differ by "only" 100W had only difference being current limit resistor set on the different value.
This is not true, as a rule, even if it is true here. Sibling comments point out that the void left by the missing connector would be tricky to fill.
There are a variety of other reasons that it might not be worth their time to change or omit the $.08 connector, but it would be worth their time to remove e.g. the expensive $3 voltage regulator IC.
But to your point, the same logic may be applied to the sticker-vs-PCB tradeoff, and it may turn out that they are identical. Someone disassembling them and comparing the circuits would be able to determine between the two cases.
I’m guessing thermaltake did the same, hiding some pins behind a sticker because that’s cheaper than creating a whole new version of an existing product.
Not to worry, they also region lock the ink as well.
Also, this reminds me of a common CPU manufacturing practice; most CPUs from a generation are the exact same, except that the ones with flaws in them will have that part of the CPU disabled / severed and the unit sold as a slower and cheaper model.
> Also, this reminds me of a common CPU manufacturing practice; most CPUs from a generation are the exact same, except that the ones with flaws in them will have that part of the CPU disabled / severed and the unit sold as a slower and cheaper model.
Happens in the oscilloscope market all the time, create one unit per "family" of products and keep locking features away until you have created every model between the bells and whistles and the budget models (Obv its hard to "software lock" extra channels :-P but I've seen even sample rate/memory depth being software limited, and big jumps in sample size/memory depth will often have different internals), as for placing a sticker on a unit, well the printer out of the box is covered in stickers to prevent things moving about during shipping so I don't see it that much of a PITA to add one more over a USB port to encourage the user onto the network to make it easier for it to phone home. (though that doesn't "explain" the PSU case, just gonna presume that it doesn't cost too much in labor where the PSU is manufactured/packaged to add a sticker)
[1] yes, yes, I know, shoulda gone laser/led... And if it was for me I would have gone laser/led, But he aint the brightest tool in the shed, the cannon was cheap (so if it breaks its not the end of the world), printhead is in the cartridge so if it clogs, its just a new cartridge, and his old cheap inkjet lasted over 10 years before that died. And while he don't print a ton, he wants colour, not take up a ton of space, and not cost a fuck ton (he aint too bothered about on-going costs as he will just buy 3rd party ink from the local supermarket. So Inkjet it was.
side note: went cannon because fuck HP's Instant Ink BS :-P
HP (and printer manufacturers generally) have long led the way in enshittification.
Source: I interviewed for a job attempting to hack these munitions to re-enable the functionality, as a cross-check that they were locked out well.
Very few printers I've unboxed actually shipped with a USB-cable... They always use USB-B ports which nobody has cables for and seldom include a cable in the packaging, infuriating.
But if you configured windows right, you could use both and have a second monitor.
https://boingboing.net/2023/08/04/hp-printer-usb-port-covere...
A quick google confirms that some HP Printers have USB ports that are covered similarly, but with a warning not to use it, rather than just being hidden.
Edit: I got it right the second time, though! :D
Edit: fixed a technical issue about current & voltage
Also to your point, a sticker than can fall at any moment shouldn't be relied upon for safety.
