Everyone has seen these at every CVS, Target, budget dollar store, next to the checkout stand. Well, I found a 2 amp 5v DC-DC Buck Converter for on the cheap. I stumbled upon the fact that you can remove the USB ports from this board. Look at how tiny this thing is! @Ashley_M_Kirchner_No Is this tiny, NO? 
I’m curious what the efficiency of this thing is.
Probably not very high.
Here’s the datasheet for the chip: http://www.maike-tech.com/PIC/PIC/A2106V.pdf
It looks like at 2 amps, the chip is ~85% efficient. At 1amp ~90%.
Unfortunately it’s not simply a matter of looking at the datasheet. It’s not just the one IC that will determine how well it works. The other components also have an effect. Did they use proper caps, or are they bare minimum and not derated? How about the diodes? There are just too many open questions here. That said, it doesn’t necessarily make these bad in any way. It just depends what you’re willing to put up with.
Tonight, I was able to run a Teensy 3.1, 88 ws2812’s at 70%(180) brightness on the stock color palette 2.1 demo without any brownouts, on this little guy.
I just realized that the DC power supply I was using, only output 1.5 amps at 12v. I think I may get more performance off a higher amp rating…no?