My advbentures with TDComputers

[wrag]

TWICE!

Number One.....

We have 2 systems from TD Comp both I7s running Vista.  Both with GTX 280 or similar vid cards. Both are liquid cooled as we live in high desert and the temps can get high here in the summer.

So the experience....

The first system was made for my Daughter-in-law.  I called Rich and explained what was wanted with liquid cooling.  He quoted a price and how long it would take.  We agreed and things proceeded smoothly.

The system arrived I hooked it up and added the monitor, keyboard, speakers, and mouse.  It should be noted the power grid here can at times be such that we have Uninteruptable Power Supplies on ALL our systems!  2 were used on this system one is just for the computer with nothing else on it, and the other for monitor and speakers plus our DSL Modem is on that UPS.

The Case was supplied by us on this one.  We sent him the case which he cleaned up and then proceeded to do what he was needed to make it work.

It runs smoothly with NO problems thus far.  Now the dust and such here require that I use the canned compressed air you can buy on all our systems at the very least once a month!  So the liquid radiator and fans and such get a BLOW job fairly often

Again thus far the system has had NO problems!

In fact my Son liked how it ran so much that he WANTED ONE! 

SOOOOOOO......

Number Two.....

This was just a bit different!  I7 with liquid cooling ordered. He supplied the case. Put it all together and sent it to us.

PROBLEMS right away! I opened the box and pulled out the system and ... well it looked like FedEx had played frizbee with it!

This was a STEEL computer box!  Think you guys saw pictures of that system here on the BBS.  The case was TWISTED!  It wouldn't set level.  The power Supply mounting is such you can remove it from the system through the back of the case BUT they tossed this box around so much the power supply was LOSE and you could pull it part way out the back!  A mess!

Well ... decided to fire it up and see what happened......  It actually tried to work!  But it stopped on the boot up.  Kept tinkering with it and discovered it would boot all the way up and run IF we replaced the video card.

BUT....

During all this we were communicating with Rich.  PLEASE NOTE: Both times with both systems I did NOT need to call Rich when the system arrived!  He knew when the system was supposed to arrive by FedEx reports and called us when it was reported delivered asking us how things were!

Picture got taken and sent to Rich.  You should have heard his.... never mind.

So FedEx got a call!

The driver returned and picked up the system.  Then the very next morning tried to deliver it here AGAIN?  I refused it and reminded him why he picked it up JUST the day before. As there was no way the system could have been returned to Rich and gotten back here repaired in that time period..... well..... I asked the driver to tell the dispatcher to get his or her head out of their backside.

He put the box back in the truck and left....

Reports from FedEx to Rich... system was somehow LOST during the return shipping... report to FedEx was ... hey this is a system valued at over $3000.00!!!..... then the system got found.... then he got it back.

Rich and FedEx had some talks.....

Well the repaired (from reports it is made of all NEW parts and from my examination it looks it!) system was shipped and arrived and thus far it's been running just fine!

So NO complaints from us on the systems built by Rich at TD comp!  FedEx is another issue...  They run smooth, fast, and trouble free!  (<sigh> too bad we gotta mess around with the Vista updates and such but....)


OH!  We purchased Eset FULL on Rich's recommendation.... and thus far SWEET!  It doesn't SEEM to get in the way of ANY online gaming we do!

Again NO complaints!  Everything works as expected! 

Please Note: I have built systems in the past and they worked OK for what we spent on them.  Gotta say here Rich takes GREATER care during the build then I do and his systems are CLEAN and well thought out.

He has also ADDED some things that were NOT part of the agreement, (drain valves, and some other extras) that improved the system, and he CHARGED NOTHING for the add ons! I can't say he will do that for every system he builds but....

I can say that IMHO he puts the systems I have gotten from him together with lots of PRIDE, CARE, KNOWLEDGE, and PROFESSIONALISM!

[gyrene81]

Good to know TD isn't letting one unrealistic dweeb interfere with his business. If only I had the cash I would save myself the headaches of a build... 

One thing I do know about doing business with the general public, there will always be that 1% who will cause a bigger stink than a trainload of pig manure. For people like that I go by the words of my uber geek buddy..."You are too stupid to own a computer, I don't want you as a customer and you're not worth the time or effort."

[JTs]

So the liquid radiator and fans and such get a BLOW job fairly often

sigh

[AirFlyer]

If you have it, try using an air compressor that you use to fill up tires and such instead of canned air. In my experience it works much better, just be careful and such.

[Dragon]

If you have it, try using an air compressor that you use to fill up tires and such instead of canned air. In my experience it works much better, just be careful and such.

That's what I use on both of mine.  Just watch for static buildup.  The system TD built for me just got it's first BJ the other day since I could not see the blue fans on the front anymore.  The filter media does a darn good job keeping dust and pet hair from reaching the interior of the box, I was impressed.


Also, I'd like to add a BIG  and thanks to Rich for his help on several other items and issues that have come up - not at all related to his build.   

[SIK1]

Be very careful using an air compressor as there can be a large amount of moisture in the air. you are much better off using the canned air. I have an air compressor with a water trap and I still use the canned air for dusting my electronics.

[Ghastly]

Another danger especially when using an air compressor to remove dust is that you must take care not to spin up the fans if at all possible.  Besides possible mechanical damage, it can feed voltages back into whatever it's connected to (motherboard in particular) and damage it. 

<S>

[gyrene81]

Be very careful using an air compressor as there can be a large amount of moisture in the air. you are much better off using the canned air. I have an air compressor with a water trap and I still use the canned air for dusting my electronics.

True on the air compressor. They do tend to collect moisture quite easily.

You have to be careful with the canned air too...it's not just "air". Most of them have a combustible fluorocarbon liquid inside them...as long as the can is completely upright and there is sufficient pressure you will get minimal moisture...turn it and you could get liquid vapor and or a burst of extremely cold liquid air then a residue when it dries.

Check the label and if it doesn't say "danger: flammable...blah blah blah" then buy that instead of the other stuff.

[Dragon]

Another danger especially when using an air compressor to remove dust is that you must take care not to spin up the fans if at all possible.  Besides possible mechanical damage, it can feed voltages back into whatever it's connected to (motherboard in particular) and damage it. 

<S>

Really?  I've always wound them up while cleaning, never thought it would hurt.  Kinda makes sense though.

As for the moisture, I have a very good paint booth quality filter/drier system on my compressor.  I forgot to mention that and also turning the pressure down to 25 psi.


Common sense and caution are key.

[batch]

common sense and caution are a BIG key.......... the most important caution to take is to use VERY low pressure and keep it as far away as possible.......

blowing air into an electrical component is not good for it.......while it does blow away 99.9% of the 'dust' ........ the other .1% is blown into the contacts.......

this .1% can cause a short and destroy a system

so if you must blow... do it gently and safely

[Skuzzy]

I just use my 300MPH leaf blower.  Anyone caught in the path of debris knows what a sandblaster feels like. 

Use a little duct tape to hold fans in place.  Yes, a fan motor is a generator when it is being turned by an external force.

[Dragon]

I just use my 300MPH leaf blower. 

 

Use a little duct tape to hold fans in place.  Yes, a fan motor is a generator when it is being turned by an external force.

Thx

[Ruler2]

Use a little duct tape to hold fans in place.  Yes, a fan motor is a generator when it is being turned by an external force.

Wait a second... Skuzzy dosen't that mean you can start a hurricane relief business? Go in there right before the storm with a bunch of fans,like I donno, this guy    and sell em to people telling em they'll get free elctricity   

[Skuzzy]

Actually, higher quality fans have zener diodes built-in to prevent current from flowing from the fan, but cheap fans may not.

[batch]

Actually, higher quality fans have zener diodes built-in to prevent current from flowing from the fan, but cheap fans may not.

never paid that close attention on fans......... one of those products you look at just a few specs and buy.....

do they actually label that in the specs? .... will have to look for that in future purchases