Detecting and Returning Faulty Parts
Be sure to get all your parts at
about the same time and to build your PC as soon as you have your parts.
Test your system thoroughly the first 30 days after you build it. Try
to use the new system a lot to see if any flaky behavior develops. Most
parts can be returned within 30 days of purchase, if necessary.
It’s important to know that
just because a part isn’t Dead On Arrival (DOA) doesn’t mean
it hasn’t been damaged by ESD. The part could work for two weeks
and then fail. This is why you must test a new system intensively for
the first few weeks.
One computer repair instructor told
me that a new PC repairman was hired to update some systems at their
college. The new repairman installed the cards and tested the systems
and the systems worked. But, he mishandled the parts, and the parts
received small electrostatic shocks wounding them. The damage wasn’t
immediately deadly, but it would greatly increase the chance the part
would fail in the future.
Two weeks later, the components failed.
And, the repairman was called back. The repairman said these parts seemed
to be flaky and unreliable. He replaced the parts and tested the systems
again. The systems worked.
A few weeks later, the systems failed
again! This time, the experienced computer repair instructor was on
hand to examine the repairs and immediately saw that no precautions
were taken to protect the sensitive cards from ESD. The parts were carelessly
handled. The instructor predicted that the parts would similarly fail
in the next few weeks, and he was correct. Improper handling of sensitive
computer parts destroys millions, if not billions, of dollars of computer
parts annually.
This is more of a problem for parts
that could easily have been used before, such as mainboards which usually
come in boxes that aren’t shrink wrapped, than it is for parts
that are packaged for retail sale and which are shrink wrapped.
For example, it’s impossible
to purchase a returned retail box version of the AMD Athlon CPU. Those
plastic boxes aren’t going back together after being opened! So,
you know your CPU hasn’t been improperly handled. That’s much
better than purchasing a CPU that doesn’t come in a sealed box.
(It actually takes some builders more time to figure out how to open
the AMD plastic CPU box than it does to install the CPU!)
Some builders have also been ripped
off by companies who “overclock” CPU chips and pass them off
as faster chips than they are rated. Purchasing your CPU as a sealed
retail box version protects you here also.
You probably won’t have any
trouble returning faulty parts to a reputable mail-order vendor, but
if you run into any hassles, it might be useful to know that the reason
most vendors offer 30-day money back guarantees isn’t the goodness
of their hearts. The 30-day return period is mandated by the Federal
Trade Commission’s 30-day mail-order rule, which says that consumers
have the right to return mail-order products they aren’t happy
with.
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How to Build Your Own PC (http://www.PCGuide.com/byop/) on PCGuide.com
Version 1.0 - Version Date: May 4, 2005
Adapted with permission from a work created by Charlie Palmer.
PCGuide.com Version © Copyright 2005 Charles M. Kozierok. All Rights Reserved.
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