GSBUG Hardware Info SIG January 8, 2004. 2 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Agenda – January 8, 2004 7:00 – 7:05 Administration 7:05 – 8:15 Featured Topic – Your

GSBUG Hardware Info SIG

January 8, 2004

January 8, 2004 2


Agenda – January 8, 20047:00 – 7:05 Administration7:05 – 8:15 Featured Topic – Your New System

(2003 Update): Sourcing Your Components8:15 – 8:30 Hardware News8:30 – 8:55 Random Access (Q&A)8:55 – 9:00 Recap, Preview, and Close

January 8, 2004 3


AdministrationWelcome! Please Sign In.What the SIG is…and is not.

Is - a resource for computer users and potential computer users

Is NOT – a cheap way to get your computer built or repaired (contact the GSBUG Daytime Hardware SIG)

Logs – Random Access/Q&A (First Come…)

January 8, 2004 4


Administration (continued):Presentation materials will be posted at:http://gsbug.apcug.org/hwinfosig.htm

Prior presentation materials also posted.

January 8, 2004 5


Your New System (2003 Update): Sourcing Givens (from the last meeting)

You have established your “budget”.You have developed and “finalized” your system spec, “finalized” your system spec,

i.e., you have defined a set of minimums:i.e., you have defined a set of minimums: Acceptable key components – as applicable, the CPU, RAM

type, chipset, graphics solution, and monitor type Acceptable other components – balance of the components

needed to complete your system.

January 8, 2004 6


Your New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.)The Process

“Make or Buy” decisionDefine acceptable suppliers (type/issues)Locate suppliers Evaluate offeringsEvaluate offerings Make the purchasesMake the purchases Track, receive, inventory, and TEST.Track, receive, inventory, and TEST.

January 8, 2004 7


Your New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.) “Make or Buy” decision

IF you are willing to consider “foregoing the experience” of building your own system, you have the established budget and spec with which to evaluate buying a pre-built system.

Possible advantages of buying pre-built System-level warranty and support Technical expertise (assumed) Cost may be lower

January 8, 2004 8


Your New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.) “Make or Buy” decision (continued)

Possible disadvantages of buying pre-built Unknown components (salesperson may not know or be willing

to disclose, and/or the product may vary due to available inventory) – brand, model, OEM variations

Delays in getting problem resolved – shipping, onsite scheduling Unwillingness to attempt to resolve problems over the phone

without OS reload (restore to original software load). If “Buy”, many of the steps that follow will still be

applicable.

January 8, 2004 9

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGYour New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.)Define acceptable suppliers (type/issues)

Local store “Local” (subject to small claims filing - up to $5K) Face-to-face – see who you’re dealing with Chance to see their “shop” Chance to negotiate BBB records References Available products - box vs. tray, bulk vs. retail “Cash discount”, sales tax Warranty/service – in store, “manufacturer’s”, on-site (system)

January 8, 2004 10

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGYour New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.)Define acceptable suppliers (type/issues)(cont.)

Local computer “shows” (swap meets) “Local” vendors? All may not be local. Need to check. Face-to-face - see who you’re dealing with Would require a separate trip to see their “shop” Chance to negotiate BBB records – only if you call from the show (delay) References – less time to pursue (delay) Available products - box vs. tray, bulk vs. retail “Cash discount”; sales tax; different price after show Warranty/service - in store, “manufacturer’s”, on-site (system)

January 8, 2004 11

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGYour New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.)Define acceptable suppliers (type/issues)(cont.)

Web “Local” vendors? Need to check. No “face-to-face” Would require a separate trip to see their “shop” No chance to negotiate; different price for non-web orders BBB records – still possible References – still possible Available products - box vs. tray, bulk vs. “retail”. Need to check. Shipping (and handling) cost, no cash discount, sales tax (still) Warranty/service – site’s, “manufacturer’s”, on-site (system)

January 8, 2004 12


Your New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.)Define acceptable suppliers (type/issues)(cont.)

All sources – other issues Returns policy (return for refund or store credit)

Non-returnable items – CPU, RAM, hard drives, software Length of time (starting when?) Restocking fee DOA vs. defect (if defect, the replacement may NOT be new)

Order cancellation policy Credit card processing procedures – when charged; funds

“reservation” READ the fine print!!!

January 8, 2004 13


Your New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.)Locate suppliers

Local store Yellow pages Local computer “rag” Saturday paper (LA Times sports section) Newspaper inserts Word of mouth/referrals.

January 8, 2004 14


Your New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.)Locate suppliers (continued)

Local computer shows Web sites for the major shows

http://www.lacomputerfair.com/CFPages/schedule.html http://www.megashow.com/computer/schedule.html http://www.acpsuperstore.com/

Local computer “rag” Saturday paper (LA Times sports section) Flyers – “sign posts” Word of mouth/referrals.

January 8, 2004 15



Web (specific brands) Manufacturer’s site (direct sales; retail model listing; retailer

links) Compaq/HP Dell IBM Hundreds of others (Gateway, MPC…)

Web (specific retailers) Sites for major retail chains – Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City,

Fry’s (outpost.com), Micro Center, Office Depot, Staples

January 8, 2004 16



Web (pricing engines) http://www.pricewatch.com http://www.pricegrabber.com http://shopper.cnet.com http://www.pricescan.com http://www.streetprices.com http://www.sharkyextreme.com

January 8, 2004 17

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGYour New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.) Evaluate offerings (TOTAL “cost” view)Evaluate offerings (TOTAL “cost” view)

Match or exceed your spec?Within budget?Match your criteria for an acceptable supplier?Acceptable warranty and support?Acceptable returns policy?List known negatives, if any, for each purchase

Go back for more?Bottom line – make a decision!

January 8, 2004 18

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGYour New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.) Make the purchasesMake the purchases

Prefer credit card purchase over any form of “cash” – credit card “charge-back” ability is GOLD! Credit card company/bank will typically support the card holder once merchandise has been returned (POD). [Rejects!]

Attempt to get the product warranty and support terms spelled out on the invoice; if web order, print the associated spec, pricing, and “terms” pages (dates)

Invoice should have the supplier’s name, address, and phone number PRE-printed (attach a business card); note salesperson’s name (in full)

January 8, 2004 19

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGYour New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.) Make the purchases (continued)Make the purchases (continued)

Understand and document the “order cancellation policy” and credit card processing “procedures”

Understand and document the “returns policy” If web, print out the order confirmation; note tracking

site/infoTry to schedule the purchases such that the hardware is

received about the same time – need to test the pieces together (avoid being unable to return for credit because of lapse of time).

January 8, 2004 20

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGYour New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.) Track, receive, inventory, and TESTTrack, receive, inventory, and TEST

If web, track the parts until received. If the shipment If web, track the parts until received. If the shipment hasn’t departed the supplier by the second business day hasn’t departed the supplier by the second business day after purchase, contact the supplier by phone.after purchase, contact the supplier by phone.

Inspect the exterior of the package BEFORE accepting it Inspect the exterior of the package BEFORE accepting it – if it shows substantial damage or if it doesn’t match what – if it shows substantial damage or if it doesn’t match what you ordered (as best you can tell), reject the shipment! you ordered (as best you can tell), reject the shipment!

Once accepted, carefully unpack and check for the Once accepted, carefully unpack and check for the “retail”/manufacturer’s seal. If missing, so note and watch “retail”/manufacturer’s seal. If missing, so note and watch for indications that the product has been used or is OEM.for indications that the product has been used or is OEM.

Keep all packaging materials!Keep all packaging materials!

January 8, 2004 21


Your New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.) Track, receive, inventory, and TEST (continued)Track, receive, inventory, and TEST (continued)

Inventory the contents – is everything there? Compare to the packing slip and any Bill of Material that may be on the side of a retail box. Immediately notify the supplier of any missing or mismatched items. Good luck!

If it appears that anything has been used, you need to If it appears that anything has been used, you need to immediately decide whether to contact the vendor to get a immediately decide whether to contact the vendor to get a replacement or to proceed. If you proceed, your chances replacement or to proceed. If you proceed, your chances of getting a replacement after that point are nil - unless of getting a replacement after that point are nil - unless defective. defective.

January 8, 2004 22


Your New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.) Track, receive, inventory, and TEST (continued)Track, receive, inventory, and TEST (continued)

Once you are satisfied everything is there and appears in good, apparently functional condition, proceed to partial assembly and test.

Testing should ONLY be done with the components you will actually be using in the system. Anything else is a potential mismatch which can lead to false positives and/or false negatives.

If any component fails to function, is “noisy”, or otherwise evidences a defect, immediately contact the vendor.

January 8, 2004 23


Your New System (2003 Upd): Sourcing (cont.) If you’ve gotten this far OK, you’re ready for next

month’s presentation on initial system assembly.

January 8, 2004 24


Hardware NewsProcessors

AMD released the Athlon 64 3000+ (2.0GHz, 512K L2) and the Athlon 64 3400+ (2.2GHz, 1MB L2) – simple line extensions.

Core Logic (chipsets)VIA released the K8M800 Northbridge for AMD Athlon 64

processors – integrated S3 UniChrome Pro graphics controller (lower mid-range capability).

System RAM – nothing new

January 8, 2004 25

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGHardware NewsMotherboards

Gigabyte released the GA-8TRS300M microATX, Pentium 4 board based on the ATI 9100 IGP.

Graphics processors & cardsMatrox announced the “Parhelia PCI 256MB” – first

Parhelia-bases high performance, PCI card; wide range on monitor configurations supported (up to 9.2 MP) including dual head and triple head.

S3 announced that 3D-Club (Europe) will be producing cards based on its DeltaChrome technology – no spec.

January 8, 2004 26


Hardware News (continued)Hard Drives – nothing newHard Drive Controllers – nothing newOther Drives

Lite-On released the LDW-851SX external 8X dual-mode DVD burner – USB 2.0 interface, 40x24x40 CD.

Sony (in October) released the DRU-530A (internal) and DRX-530UL (external) 8X, dual-mode DVD burners – interface for external unknown (no spec), 40x24x40 CD.

January 8, 2004 27


Hardware News (continued)Other Drives (continued)

Teac released the DV-W58E 8/4/12/32/16/40 DVD+RW internal drive – no spec available.

Sound processors & cards – nothing newModems & NICs – nothing newChassis & power supplies – nothing new

January 8, 2004 28

GSBUG Hardware Info SIGRandom Access (Q&A)

January 8, 2004 29


Recap, Preview, and CloseRecapPreview

No meeting in February (SIG Leader out of town)Featured Topic for March 11, 2004 – Your New System

(2003 Update): Setting Up/Installing Your Motherboard, CPU, and System RAM

Close (please police up the area)

Documents

GSBUG Hardware Info SIG January 8, 2004. 2 GSBUG Hardware Info SIG Agenda – January 8, 2004 7:00 – 7:05 Administration 7:05 – 8:15 Featured Topic – Your