light on left is kingbrite 600w qb, right is hlg 600w. if they are both the r spec using the same samsung diodes, why does one have 6 boards and one 4? and the red lights are horizontal on one, vertical on the other. im questioning the authenticity of these kingbrite boards

You are wrong. HLG and Kingbrite are not using the same boards. They are using the same samsung diodes, but in a different configuration. Both are manufactured in China, but by different manufacturers. Both boards use the same amount of diodes. The Kingbrite uses less samsung diodes and more of the red than the HLG.

Samsung does not manufacture the boards. They manufacture the strips of diodes that are assembled onto a board. The two manufacturers assemble these strips into a different configuration. The Digikey website is a good source to look at these strips and diodes, and the different configurations they are manufactured in. There is no false advertising happening here, well..no more than usual with the Chinese. The primary issue here is your lack of understanding of the specifics of the industry and your willingness to take all these company's at their word on their products.

I also own an HLG and a Kingbrite board. They use the same diodes. The quality is approximately the same. The output is approximately the same. I've only had them a few months, so I can't speak to their longevity, but drivers tend to burn out faster than diodes, and they both use meanwell drivers.

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