Why Builds take time

[TilDeath]

I try to have a customers system in their hands about two weeks after order.  I keep my costs down by not stocking most parts unless I can get a deal, then I pass the savings on.  There are a few times when it takes a little longer because of parts availability.  I also use PC Power & Cooling and OCZ PSU's exclusively but with sock levels as low as I have posted below I am seeking options.  If you are using a higher end PSU other then PC & C, OCZ, ThermalTake or Corsair, please drop me a note or a post here.

  TD

EDIT: This is warehouse stock until the end of August

[eagl]

I'm happy with my seasonic PSUs.  2 of them in use, both very quiet and trouble free.  One has modular cables, no problems with the cables at all.

I think there is another company that uses the same PSU with a different brand name on the sticker, but I can't remember which one it is.  Hardocp occasionally reviews PSUs and when they do they point out that the brand name on the box is less important than who actually slapped what kind of components on the circuit boards, but they haven't reviewed seasonic in a while so I don't know who makes the seasonic PSUs now.

I just know I'm happy with mine, and if I suspected they were flaky I'd swap them out in an instant no matter how much they cost.

[Masherbrum]

I'm happy with my seasonic PSUs.  2 of them in use, both very quiet and trouble free.  One has modular cables, no problems with the cables at all.

I think there is another company that uses the same PSU with a different brand name on the sticker, but I can't remember which one it is.  Hardocp occasionally reviews PSUs and when they do they point out that the brand name on the box is less important than who actually slapped what kind of components on the circuit boards, but they haven't reviewed seasonic in a while so I don't know who makes the seasonic PSUs now.

I just know I'm happy with mine, and if I suspected they were flaky I'd swap them out in an instant no matter how much they cost.

I've always understood that Corsair PSU's are Seasonic's with a couple of slight changes.

[Fulmar]

I've always understood that Corsair PSU's are Seasonic's with a couple of slight changes.

The two industries I've been a part of in my careers (batteries and lighting), its a standard.  Few manufacturers, lots of different product with different labels.  I can't think of an industry where this isn't almost always true.

[OOZ662]

I've been thoroughly pleased with my ThermalTake PSU. It's the only one of four I've had that's stood up to the horrible line noise in my apartment.

[eagl]

I've been thoroughly pleased with my ThermalTake PSU. It's the only one of four I've had that's stood up to the horrible line noise in my apartment.

I had a thermaltake silent purepower and it was not very good.  I later found that I'd gotten the "wrong" thermaltake, and a few reviewers rated it poorly for power output quality.  Yea it could put out the watts, but the ripple and voltages were all over the place.  I had random crashes and other system instability until I replaced it.

So my thermaltake PSU experience was not good, and later I found reviews that mirrored my experience.  Maybe other models they sell are better but mine was not good.

[Denholm]

Just a question for OOZ.

Have you considered buying a surge protector with noise reduction? We bought the following Belkin Surge Protector:

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Protector-Coaxial-Protection-Extended/dp/B000HPZ954/ref=pd_sbs_op_3

Although I haven't tested it, the box suggests the surge protector can filter noise in the 150kHz ~ 100MHz range up to 58dB. Might be worth checking out if electronic noise is extremely bad in your neighborhood.

[eagl]

You can also get an "always on" UPS or power conditioner...  They can be big and expensive but you are essentially making your own power with your own inverter so the power quality depends on the quality of inverter you buy.  A whole-house conditioner/inverter would cost too much but from my experience buying 60hz inverters in the UK, you should be able to get a decent inverter for $100 or an always-on UPS for under $500 that will give an honest 1000 or 1500 watts continuous.

[Infidelz]

Just ordered Corsair CMPSU - 620 HX from Newegg. They have it for 140 then take off 20 if you send in rebate. This is a modular power supply. I was unable to find a cheaper one of this Quality/power class.
Infidelz

[Reschke]

It is funny how things have started going back the other way with supplies of PC parts.

[OOZ662]

Just a question for OOZ.

Have you considered buying a surge protector with noise reduction? We bought the following Belkin Surge Protector:

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Protector-Coaxial-Protection-Extended/dp/B000HPZ954/ref=pd_sbs_op_3

Although I haven't tested it, the box suggests the surge protector can filter noise in the 150kHz ~ 100MHz range up to 58dB. Might be worth checking out if electronic noise is extremely bad in your neighborhood.

I've got a UPS with line filtering behind it now. It's happy as a clam. I was losing a lot of smaller parts (fans, older hard drives I threw in to hold junk), joysticks, and PSUs themselves to the line noise. Everything's been behaving since I got the ThermalTake, especially since I put the UPS behind it. Haven't had to touch the thing besides blowing the dust out and taking some trichlorofluoromethane to the fan bearings when I let it get too nasty.

[Denholm]

Ah, okay. Was just curious as to why you would suffer instead of beating the cause. Now I know this was a, "story of old."

[llama]

Seasonic (and the Corsair-branded Seasonics) and Silverstone power supplies are what I spec when the client can afford something better than bottom-of-the-barrel...

-Llama

[Dragon]

The real reason that builds take a long time.