BFG going down according to HardOCP

[HangFire]

Jonny, is it true?

http://www.hardocp.com/news/2010/07/06/bfg_tech_down_for_count/

I just bought one of their Lifetime Guarantee products, too...

-HF

[p4l1ndr0m3]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&Manufactory=1883&N=50001883&IsNodeId=1&SpeTabStoreType=0

3 Products being sold at Newegg with BFG branding right now.

[Zero82z]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&Manufactory=1883&N=50001883&IsNodeId=1&SpeTabStoreType=0

3 Products being sold at Newegg with BFG branding right now.
That doesn't mean anything either way.

[Tator Tot]

Yeah it's true. THis was announced awhile back and Zap (over at OCN) stated he left at the same time.

[Zero82z]

Yeah it's true. THis was announced awhile back and Zap (over at OCN) stated he left at the same time.

Read the link. You're talking about their decision to leave the video card business. This is about them apparently dropping their PSU division as well. Not that I didn't see this coming back when the previous announcement was made.

[mrestine]

Hope this isn't so. Kind of worried about Jon. I thought he singularly made BFG PSU's a noteworthy and respected brand. The EX-1200 is still my favorite. Amazing how something performed so well and still fit into such a compact, attractive and practical form factor.

[SixIron]

Jonny would be nuts to comment on this here.......at least he would be if still gainfully employed there.

[muddocktor]

I've been wondering this very same thing for at least a month now. I was just checking out the availability of BFG psu's and saw that there is only the 550 watt model listed at both Newegg and Provantage. So this report from the [H] doesn't really surprise me a bit. I just hope Jon has a fallback position to go to if BFG bites the dust.

[jonnyGURU]

Kyle's post is part true... but I can't help but feel it's partly made up (sorry Kyle).

We are being told this morning by sources inside BFG Tech that its "PSU department" has been let go.

I was let go. I guess I could be "the source inside BFG Tech" although I didn't say anything directly to Kyle. I simply asked for my jonnyGURU account back at HardForums. When I got the job at BFG, Kyle insisted in closing the jonnyGURU account and creating a new JonGerow account that would be a "manufacturer's rep", although it was not in my job description to do any kind of forum support.

If he got this bit of news any other way, and it's being passed off as being from a source within BFG, then he's getting it from someone pretending to be with BFG, because nobody from BFG has been in contact with Kyle or anyone at HardOCP. If Kyle thinks he's been in contact with someone from BFG, then it's someone pretending to be from BFG.

I would suggest that if you have a BFG card that needs to be RMA'd, you need to get that done ASAFP. We do not see the company being "in business" much longer....

This is where this news blurb turns from news to an opinion, but it doesn't appear as such because everything is written in one free flowing paragraph. I never stated, nor did anyone else that's actually from BFG, what the status of the company is. You don't need someone in my position to continue on as a company selling the same product you've already been selling.

...as it is reported that all its remaining inventory has been moved.

That's fiction there. There is still plenty of product in the warehouse. How "all remaining inventory has been moved" came from "the last remaining product manager has been let go", I have no idea. Unless, of course, information is being fed to HardOCP by someone pretending to be with BFG; quite possibly someone that used to be with BFG.

Now that said... BFG may have a week, a month, a year... I have no idea. But I wanted to make sure you guys knew the facts and not some speculation. I guess whatever happens to BFG doesn't effect me anymore, but regardless I don't want to think someone is making stuff up in an effort to hurt an already struggling company.

Now I must go... and find another job. ;)

[HangFire]

I'm sorry to hear that, Jon. I was laid off once as well, in the middle of a recession to boot. There's always another job out there... just not always in the location you'd like it to be, that is all.

[HOOfan_1]

I was just laid off about a month ago. Took me 5 years out of college to find a "decent" job...as soon as I got the job, the recession hit, but I was there for 3 years before the recession hit badly enough for me to get laid off.

Now I am back in the same horrible job market I graduated into...and there are still no jobs out there that seem to be up my alley...it's great isn't it? :wall:

[PowMaxed]

Are you free to do PSU reviews now, jonny? :)

*stares with hopeful eyes*

[muddocktor]

Sorry to hear that you were let go, Jonny. :( I've been there and done that myself back in 1986 when the oil industry in the Gulf of Mexico went to crap because the A-rabs in Saudi Arabia turned up the taps and oil prices fell to less than $10/barrel. At least gas was cheap then. ;) I'm hoping that you will find some gainful employment soon, man.

[Zero82z]

Are you free to do PSU reviews now, jonny? :)

*stares with hopeful eyes*
Unless he gets a job at another PSU company.

[Smoothie]

Kyle's post is part true... but I can't help but feel it's partly made up (sorry Kyle).



I was let go. I guess I could be "the source inside BFG Tech" although I didn't say anything directly to Kyle.


Now I must go... and find another job. ;)

Are they insane? Why would they let you go? I wonder if their decision to let you go will effect any future PSU's and its quality/efficiency/ripple etc etc...

[Zero82z]

Are they insane? Why would they let you go?
Because they will probably not last much longer.

[Stefan Payne]

Sad to hear that another manufacturer goes out of business...
Hiper wasn't that long ago...

I just bought one of their Lifetime Guarantee products, too...
Well, that's one part why I say that the warranty time is absolutely overrated...
You can't know if that company lasts for 5 or 7 years!

The second is that the warranty conditions are more important than the actual time.
And you have to give your product away, so you don't have a proper product for some time, so you'll buy a new one while waiting for your old one and selling one of them in the end (or putting it on the shelf as a spare part).

[Elledan]

Good luck in finding a new job, Jon :)

Maybe try Corsair? I hear they're doing pretty well :D

[MrWicked1968]

Good luck in finding a new job, Jon :)

Maybe try Corsair? I hear they're doing pretty well :D

bingo. Perhaps Jonny will come back as either Blackbeard or Bluebeard....

Best of luck, Jonny.

[Stefan Payne]

bingo. Perhaps Jonny will come back as either Blackbeard or Bluebeard....
Best of luck, Jonny.
He can't be bluebeard (http://extreme.pcgameshardware.de/members/3728-bluebeard.html)...

And why not test PSUs again? ;)

[Travis]

Since Corsair insists on single-rail, maybe he can be "Jon@Antec" ;)

[jonnyGURU]

Are you free to do PSU reviews now, jonny? :)

*stares with hopeful eyes*

Probably. It'll take me some time to get everything set back up again. Then again... I have a lot of time now. :D

Unless he gets a job at another PSU company.

That would be better as it's a much more consistent income.

Are they insane? Why would they let you go? I wonder if their decision to let you go will effect any future PSU's and its quality/efficiency/ripple etc etc...

There's no new product on the road map. I was doing nothing more than managing inventory... but doing so on a product manager's salary. They have people that make half as much that can do that. I simply wasn't needed any longer.

Because they will probably not last much longer.

Probably not. Who knows.

Good luck in finding a new job, Jon :)

Maybe try Corsair? I hear they're doing pretty well :D

Yeah... too well.... I don't think they need my help in the power supply category. Where I shine is helping a meh PSU brand start to offer a better solution and (hopefully) become profitable. BFG's biggest problem was a complete lack of marketing budget. Three years after BFG there was still people that didn't know BFG had PSU's. Maybe I could do some other category... I'm willing to try different things.

bingo. Perhaps Jonny will come back as either Blackbeard or Bluebeard....

Best of luck, Jonny.

Both Blackbeard and Bluebeard are taken. ;)

[Oklahoma Wolf]

And why not test PSUs again? ;)

Doesn't pay very well. Unlike me, Jon has a family to feed.

Edit - somebody ninja posted :p

[Spectre]

Doesn't pay very well. Unlike me, Jon has a family to feed.


This

[Redbeard]

bingo. Perhaps Jonny will come back as either Blackbeard or Bluebeard....

Best of luck, Jonny.

Blackbeard is Gareth, our man in the UK.
Bluebeard is Alex, our man in Germany.
Yellowbeard is Mike, our man in Atlanta.

And I'm at Corporate headquarters in Fremont.

Still lots of colors out there, though. Pinkbeard? Orangebeard?


Actually we didn't intend to start out like that. Initially I was asked to start posting responses on forums (like 4-5 years ago) under a "non-offensive" name. I choose Redbeard because of the pirate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayreddin_Barbarossa) and because Blackbeard was too cliche. Plus, since I'm from a Greek family, I felt like having a Mediterranean pirate name suited me better.

Then Mike started up as Yellowbeard (Monty Python sketch), Gareth started up as Blackbeard (Edward Teach, an infamous British pirate), and Alex started as Bluebeard (a character in a French folk tale who is a wife-murdering serial killer).

Not sure about Alex. He's German. They're very particular.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Still lots of colors out there, though. Pinkbeard? Orangebeard?

If I joined up, I'd pretty much have to insist on being Weirdbeard. But that's me :D

[mdk777]

Take on Seasonic X for the ultra efficiency market.
Get Cal to pass a law like they have done on TV.
Court the Sierra club crowd..

You know where I'm going...

GREENBEARD

:D

[Smoothie]

There's no new product on the road map. I was doing nothing more than managing inventory... but doing so on a product manager's salary. They have people that make half as much that can do that. I simply wasn't needed any longer.



Oh I see, well I do hope the very best for you and your family. I know how it is, I don't make much (income is laughable at best) and I have one daughter and wife to support. Good luck, hopefully something comes your way soon.

[kidsafe]

What, you guys don't have a Graybeard?! Come on now! Someone needs to be a Fu Manchu too.

[HOOfan_1]

Hire me, make me your Richmond guy and I can be the goatee guy

http://artfiles.art.com/5/p/LRG/37/3755/7NJZF00Z/the-university-of-virginia-the-cavalier-mascot.jpg

[Stefan Payne]

What, you guys don't have a Graybeard?!
Because you can miss the R and well, it may become ugly...

[Redbeard]

Because you can miss the R and well, it may become ugly...

We are awful close to San Francisco, and I guarantee you a dude named Gaybeard already exists within a few miles of here. Heh.

[tomoyo]

We are awful close to San Francisco, and I guarantee you a dude named Gaybeard already exists within a few miles of here. Heh.

Oh hello, I should come visit, I wanna spy on your facilities now :fire:

[C'DaleRider]

We are awful close to San Francisco, and I guarantee you a dude named Gaybeard already exists within a few miles of here. Heh.


That is just sooooo bad! And sooooo true!

LOL!

[Redbeard]

That is just sooooo bad! And sooooo true!

LOL!

Heh, I don't think it's bad. Even though I'm straight and married, some of my favorite bars in SF are gay bars. They have better music and stronger drinks, and a lot of times there's sports on the TV.

When I moved out here I was very surprised to find that not all gay guys are like the movie gay guys with the pink sequined outfits and a love of disco music. It was a pleasant surprise.

[Zap]

What, you guys don't have a Graybeard?!

JG can be Greybeard. Or maybe speckledbeard. :lol:

[jonnyGURU]

Speckled? What... because of the whole salt and pepper effect?

[Tazz]

Speckled? What... because of the whole salt and pepper effect?

LOL:lol:

[Baron]

Sad news jon and I hope things pick up for you.
I've been there with being made redundant etc.
I am retired now so I don't have to worry about job searching anymore.......I could do with more money though :)

It will be a shame if BFG hits the dust, but I still have my favourite BFG T Shirt that I got with my BFG GF7800GTX OC card (which died after about 3 yrs) when they first came out........and it is still in very good nick.

First there was my favourite motherboard mfgr ABIT, and now maybe BFG....sad times.

[jonnyGURU]

What's funny is I keep seeing "articles" about what's happening at BFG and some of these "articles" say, "We've reached out to BFG for comment, but have not received a response". Who are they reaching out to? The entire marketing team has been let go. I can say nobody's ever "reached out" to me, and everone and their cousin knows right where to find me. :D

[Osoloco]

What's funny is I keep seeing "articles" about what's happening at BFG and some of these "articles" say, "We've reached out to BFG for comment, but have not received a response". Who are they reaching out to? The entire marketing team has been let go. I can say nobody's ever "reached out" to me, and everone and their cousin knows right where to find me. :D

Okay, I'll bite, what's going on, exactly?

And a not so serious question: if Corsair offered you "Rainbowbeard", and an office in the closet, would you take it? :p Okay, that's not politically correct but, I do wish you the best, M8. :)

[jonnyGURU]

Okay, I'll bite, what's going on, exactly?

In due time. I've actually been writing up a little article of my own.

[Tator Tot]

What's funny is I keep seeing "articles" about what's happening at BFG and some of these "articles" say, "We've reached out to BFG for comment, but have not received a response". Who are they reaching out to? The entire marketing team has been let go. I can say nobody's ever "reached out" to me, and everone and their cousin knows right where to find me. :D

Well I've never had to contact BFG; though for the few review sites I work for, we usually have a direct email line to someone in the company for either issues with the product (DOA, missing parts/manual, ect) or a phone number to call.

So that could be who those sites are trying to contact. But obviously; if those people were let go. Then they're not going to be able to contact them.

[jonnyGURU]

Yeah, I know. I was sort of being facetious. It would be the marketing director they would be emailing, but he was let go in the first round of lay offs. Of course, certain people think they can email the guy that was president of the company for comment, but that person stepped down during the first round of lay offs.

[HOOfan_1]

BFG turning into GFB "Good F'in Bye"

[kaninja]

In due time. I've actually been writing up a little article of my own.

Is this what you meant when you talked about your memoirs? How long ago were you let go, and did you see it coming?

Sucks Jon, hope you find something you can make a decent living at and enjoy at the same time.

[Tator Tot]

Yeah, I know. I was sort of being facetious. It would be the marketing director they would be emailing, but he was let go in the first round of lay offs. Of course, certain people think they can email the guy that was president of the company for comment, but that person stepped down during the first round of lay offs.
I don't know what the official job that some folks have, but it's not always talking to marketing directors.

Some companies have, what I guess you would call, secretaries for the marketing directors that handle that traffic.

[jonnyGURU]

Not BFG. The Director of Marketing was the P.R. point man and the only secretary he had was letting a call go to voice mail.

[Redbeard]

I don't know what the official job that some folks have, but it's not always talking to marketing directors.

Some companies have, what I guess you would call, secretaries for the marketing directors that handle that traffic.

Corsair is pretty big (comparatively) and we don't have secretaries for our marketing director / VP.

We have one admin, but she's basically the person who makes sure that the VPs are in the right meetings at the right times, and she's Conference Room scheduler effectively.

[mrestine]

Corsair is pretty big (comparatively) and we don't have secretaries for our marketing director / VP.

We have one admin, but she's basically the person who makes sure that the VPs are in the right meetings at the right times, and she's Conference Room scheduler effectively.

I feel your pain(s). I work for a top 5 U.S. defense contractor on a classified project with about 100 people, around 70 of which are forward deployed requiring 24x7 support. We have one general admin and that gal will tell you to take a hike, if she even thinks she's being used as somebody's personal secretary.

I like that about her actually. I'm a senior guy and do all of my own conference room scheduling, etc. I only ask for admin help when we have a big customer event in our own facility. No biggie for me. Even when I was a Marine Officer, I didn't use my Marines for much personal servitude stuff and they were all mostly eagerly willing. Got my hands dirty with the troops and it was almost always fun.

It's really hilarious when we hire senior folks from Wall Street, U.S. Government or even other U.S. services besides the Marines. They have to learn how to do their own housekeeping. We have a special in-house joke award for those that fail publicly. Always too funny...

[Tator Tot]

Corsair is pretty big (comparatively) and we don't have secretaries for our marketing director / VP.

We have one admin, but she's basically the person who makes sure that the VPs are in the right meetings at the right times, and she's Conference Room scheduler effectively.

I've had to deal with these "secretaries" (I wish I had a better name for them) with Silverstone before.

I got a Sugo 5 sample that came without front fan or PSU... :wtf::crazy:

But it didn't come in a retail box either. So apparently I got shipped the wrong box. Either way the sent out a new one (retail version) in ~24hrs and I sent them back their Sugo (prototype I guess?) which they refunded me shipping.

Either way it was all handled by a secretary and not the original person I talked to for the review sample.

[HOOfan_1]

I've had to deal with these "secretaries" (I wish I had a better name for them)

BOTTs (Bottom Of The Totem)

[Proximon]

Heh this thread meanders, so I'll just add to it by saying my interactions with Silverstone tech support have been AMAZING. Real English-speaking people here in the US that never give me anything but service and politeness. But I've never owned a Silverstone PSU.

[MrWicked1968]

The silverstone in my Sig has thus far outlived the place I bought it from (deadeye data).

[Tator Tot]

Heh this thread meanders, so I'll just add to it by saying my interactions with Silverstone tech support have been AMAZING. Real English-speaking people here in the US that never give me anything but service and politeness. But I've never owned a Silverstone PSU.

Oh I'm not saying anything bad for them.

IT was just a shipping mix up. The Case I got was supposed to go to someone else as as sample to be shown without the PSU. Like a podium sample.

Instead they got a "retail" sample that came with everythign.

But as I said; they worked things out quickly. Silverstone's always been good to me. I've enver had a problem. I have a Etasis 750w from them (dont' remember the name, Zeus series I think) and it's outlasted the warranty.

[kidsafe]

Oh hello, I should come visit, I wanna spy on your facilities now :fire:
Hah, Corsair and Antec are both in Fremont, I think? I know Antec is because I've taken advantage of their walk-in RMA process (very convenient!)

[HangFire]

Well, I just got a note from Jessica C at BFG that my receipt has been received. (If you are not familiar with BFG, you have to register your product on-line and then upload your receipt to validate your lifetime warranty).

So, there's still someone working there, at least today.

-HF

[jonnyGURU]

Hah, Corsair and Antec are both in Fremont, I think? I know Antec is because I've taken advantage of their walk-in RMA process (very convenient!)

Yeah, they're both down the street from each other.

[davidhammock200]

I was let go. I guess I could be "the source inside BFG Tech" although I didn't say anything directly to Kyle. I simply asked for my jonnyGURU account back at HardForums. When I got the job at BFG, Kyle insisted in closing the jonnyGURU account and creating a new JonGerow account that would be a "manufacturer's rep", although it was not in my job description to do any kind of forum support.

Now that said... BFG may have a week, a month, a year... I have no idea. But I wanted to make sure you guys knew the facts and not some speculation. I guess whatever happens to BFG doesn't effect me anymore, but regardless I don't want to think someone is making stuff up in an effort to hurt an already struggling company.

Now I must go... and find another job. ;)Very sorry to hear this, both for you and BFG, as with your assistance, they had some good stuff.

Best Wishes,
Dave:beer:

[Redbeard]

Yeah, they're both down the street from each other.

Occasionally we glare at each other menacingly over lunch at the local burger joint.

Just kidding - I only know a few guys at Antec in Fremont and both of them are straight up nice guys.

[davidhammock200]

If I joined up, I'd pretty much have to insist on being Weirdbeard. But that's me :DI'll be Oldbeard!:wall:

[HOOfan_1]

Occasionally we glare at each other menacingly over lunch at the local burger joint.

Just kidding - I only know a few guys at Antec in Fremont and both of them are straight up nice guys.

I was thinking more of inter office snowball wars and airsoft fights.

[tomoyo]

Yeah, they're both down the street from each other.

Heh yea I know my friend actually visited antec for a rma once. I didn't realize corsair and antec were so close to each other though. Now where's that guest pass for a phototrip to both companies. :crazy:

[Zap]

I was thinking more of inter office snowball wars and airsoft fights.

AFAIK it doesn't snow in Freemont, California.

We did have a snowball fight at BFG once. The CEO put a snowball right into my test rig. :@ Luckily it wasn't on at the time.

[HOOfan_1]

AFAIK it doesn't snow in Freemont, California.

We did have a snowball fight at BFG once. The CEO put a snowball right into my test rig. :@ Luckily it wasn't on at the time.

Snowball fights belong outside....probably would have been better if he busted it, and bought you something much better.

[SKYMTL]

Even though we had close contact with BFG, I've stayed quiet up until now about this situation but I think things have died down enough

First of all, there's a reason for all the shoddy reporting: quick reporting of breaking news nets websites pageviews which amounts to revenue. 90% of the sites I know would be more than willing to pop up news articles without doing any background checking. Just look at what happened a few days ago with NZXT: a poorly worded and quite obviously fake newsletter gets sent and without batting an eyelash, a half dozen websites were reporting NZXT was closing down. It's the nature of the industry unfortuantely so we all have to live with it.

Yeah, I know. I was sort of being facetious. It would be the marketing director they would be emailing, but he was let go in the first round of lay offs. Of course, certain people think they can email the guy that was president of the company for comment, but that person stepped down during the first round of lay offs.

I know when John left a lot of people lost their primary contact at BFG. Without a marketing team this is looking more and more like Palit's North American plan from a few years ago: close shop, fire everyone, restructure and pray no one remembers the crap you put them through when you repoen. However, emailing the president of a company is a good route IMO but no one knows what is going on. You say the top dog stepped down but the media had and still has no way of contacting anyone still working for BFG.

Is this what you meant when you talked about your memoirs? How long ago were you let go, and did you see it coming?

Sucks Jon, hope you find something you can make a decent living at and enjoy at the same time.

I'll tell you when I saw it coming: when BFG announced the Phobos. Literally everyone I knew in the industry at the time had the same "wtf!?" reaction. Taking the jump into the builder business is an expensive undertaking in terms of development, equipment and staff resources. OCZ saw this with Hypersonic as well and look where that ended up. As it was boutique PC makers weren't doing well and with the economy going into the shitter, the timing was horrible.

The final nail in their coffin was ATI turning them down as a board partner for understandable reasons and NVIDIA choosing to drop the hands-on support structure that comes with being a tier-1 partner.

While I would love to know all the juicy details, I don't think anything is gained from airing falsehoods at this point. What I am most worried about is acces to RMA units for customers who read our articles and bought one of their cards based on the lifetime warranty. From what seems to be going on, I just can't see BFG sustaining a support structure that far into the future.

[nightmare99]

What I am most worried about is acces to RMA units for customers who read our articles and bought one of their cards based on the lifetime warranty

Hmm thats the problem if something looks to good to be true it normally is!

When I started to see people getting much newer cards in replacement for thier older models I thought to myself wow this is going to be open for some abuse, and sure enough people were getting excited about what replacement cards they would get for thier RMA units.

For high end VGA cards with practically a no quibble warranty thats some major overselling I could never work out how they could make that work.

I always think to myself what happened to paying a fair price for a fair product?

Maybe I'm just crazey? Its a shame to see this happen to a company like BFG as they seemed to have the right idea but perhaps thier warranty commitment left (is leaving them) over exposed.

Oh btw noob poster here hai guys :D

[davidhammock200]

While I would love to know all the juicy details, I don't think anything is gained from airing falsehoods at this point. What I am most worried about is acces to RMA units for customers who read our articles and bought one of their cards based on the lifetime warranty. From what seems to be going on, I just can't see BFG sustaining a support structure that far into the future. I think we all share the same concerns.:wall:

[Zap]

When I started to see people getting much newer cards in replacement for thier older models I thought to myself wow this is going to be open for some abuse, and sure enough people were getting excited about what replacement cards they would get for thier RMA units.

Yeah, there was rampant abuse. Heck, when the announcement came two months ago about BFG getting out of the GPU biz, seems like the general consensus in forums was to take advantage of a free upgrade one last time and RMA functioning cards.

[Stefan Payne]

While I would love to know all the juicy details, I don't think anything is gained from airing falsehoods at this point. What I am most worried about is acces to RMA units for customers who read our articles and bought one of their cards based on the lifetime warranty. From what seems to be going on, I just can't see BFG sustaining a support structure that far into the future.
That's one reason why I say that the warranty time is absolutely overrated.

You can't know if the company still exists in 7 years or so.
And than they write something like 'warranty does not inklude wear and tear associeated with normal use' or 'Any opther cause wich does not relate to a product defect in materials or workmanship', with other words: a shorter warranty without such paragraphs would be better.

And to be honest: do you want to use a PSU for 5 or more years?!
I don't...

Another thing is that you have to send the unit away and wait for it to return.
So you'll buy a new one and sell the returned...

[davidhammock200]

And to be honest: do you want to use a PSU for 5 or more years?!
I don't...

Another thing is that you have to send the unit away and wait for it to return.
So you'll buy a new one and sell the returned...You, me and virtually everyone are, have been or probably will, be guilty of this and "in the end" these MASSIVE warranties are going to kill or at least seriously harm everyone in the parts industry.

The way I sold EX-1200's was, "buy this for your first PSU and you have free PSU's for life as long as the voltage specs do not change"!:crazy:

Now I am personally going to have problems with clients and friends who did exactly what I suggested!:wall:

[Stefan Payne]

You, me and virtually everyone are, have been or probably will, be guilty of this and "in the end" these MASSIVE warranties are going to kill or at least seriously harm everyone in the parts industry.Yep, did kill a Voodoo 5 once and did RMA it...
But for now, I don't need an ultra long warranty.

And there are manufacturers who have an ultra long warranty but it's useless for you in the end due to the exclusions in it...

So in the end, a good 3 year warranty can be better than a 5+ year, when the first one includes defects due to tear/wear due to normal use, wich the longer didn't include...

[davidhammock200]

Yep, did kill a Voodoo 5 once and did RMA it...
But for now, I don't need an ultra long warranty.

And there are manufacturers who have an ultra long warranty but it's useless for you in the end due to the exclusions in it...

So in the end, a good 3 year warranty can be better than a 5+ year, when the first one includes defects due to tear/wear due to normal use, wich the longer didn't include...Right now Redbeard & company have set themselves up in the same situation!:crazy: No one who knows better is going to try to run a PSU beyond 5yrs & with a 7yr warranty, they have an extra 2yrs to remember their PSU & when they do it is RMA time!

I understand this is primarily a marketing ploy, but it will cost Corsair in the end!:wtf::rant::wall:

[Zero82z]

Right now Redbeard & company have set themselves up in the same situation!:crazy: No one who knows better is going to try to run a PSU beyond 5yrs & with a 7yr warranty, they have an extra 2yrs to remember their PSU & when they do it is RMA time!

I understand this is primarily a marketing ploy, but it will cost Corsair in the end!:wtf::rant::wall:
The number of people who would actually take advantage of this sort of policy with a PSU is fairly small. Corsair probably makes more money off the extra sales they get from it due to the marketing factor than they lose from having to actually honour the long warranty.

[davidhammock200]

The number of people who would actually take advantage of this sort of policy with a PSU is fairly small. Corsair probably makes more money off the extra sales they get from it due to the marketing factor than they lose from having to actually honour the long warranty.I hope you are right, I think you probably are, but we & Corsair will know for sure within the next 10yrs.

[nightmare99]

The number of people who would actually take advantage of this sort of policy with a PSU is fairly small. Corsair probably makes more money off the extra sales they get from it due to the marketing factor than they lose from having to actually honour the long warranty.

I have to agree with Zero82z, I do not think PSUs are comparable with graphics cards in this instance.

[Stefan Payne]

The number of people who would actually take advantage of this sort of policy with a PSU is fairly small.
Well, maybe they're hoping that no one will use their PSUs that long...

The probabilty that a PSU has a defect after 5 years daily use is enormous...

[C'DaleRider]

Well, maybe they're hoping that no one will use their PSUs that long...

The probabilty that a PSU has a defect after 5 years daily use is enormous...


Why? Any proof of this?

As a counter point.....the vast majority of the systems I've built that are over 5 years old are still in service that I'm aware of. (And systems over 5 years old, built and sold by my storefront total a tad over 317. No Dell but a large enough sample to be valid.)

And, yes, while they've occasionally had hardware failures, I can count on one hand the power supply failures that have happened. More frequently are memory or hard drive or motherboard failures. Very rare to have a power supply quit, unless one is buying the bottom-of-the-barrel junk out there.

Just replaced a system installed in a bicycle shop that was put in service in 2001. It served as the inventory control computer and also ran the POS system and the parts terminal in the repair area.....the checkout counter had a dumb terminal slaved to the computer. Got a call late last year that it was acting up. I was really surprised it was still in use, but also satisfied that it did last. Problem was a pair of caps on the motherboard were failing.

He replaced it with another of my systems and I fully expect this one to last another 7 1/2 years. Runs 10 hours a day, 6 days a week.

Honestly, unless one is stressing a power supply near its limits, I really see no reason a quality unit cannot last 5-7 years without incident. The power supply pulled from it is still working just fine today.

And while you may bring up that quite a few around here and on other forums do indeed stress their power supplies with multiple video cards, overclocking the cpu, etc., I'd remind you this sector of computer users is but a very, very small fraction of the general public.....a public that puts very little stress on their home computers.

[370forlife]

Honestly, unless one is stressing a power supply near its limits, I really see no reason a quality unit cannot last 5-7 years without incident. The power supply pulled from it is still working just fine today.


I'd agree with this 100%. As long as they are from a reliable OEM they usually last past the useful life of the rest of the computer, and the computer after that. I still have a Bestec built AGI AT 250W psu in a quantex QP5 pentium that runs just fine. I even have some 10-11 year old deers with original caps that run just fine (of coarse, I don't use them too long.)

[HOOfan_1]

I have a couple of Dells that are over 9 years old with PSUs running fine to this day. One of them is used 5-6 hours a day.

I work in a store part time with an IBM Workstation with a Pentium 3 (Has to be at least 11 years old) still running fine...and this thing is absolutely COVERED in dust. and shoved into a corner...this system runs 24/7/365 it cannot be turned off because it runs the POS

[SKYMTL]

Well, maybe they're hoping that no one will use their PSUs that long...

The probabilty that a PSU has a defect after 5 years daily use is enormous...

I know this is circumstantial but I have at least 3 PSUs running that are 5+ years old in file servers.

[davidhammock200]

I know this is circumstantial but I have at least 3 PSUs running that are 5+ years old in file servers.WE all do!

In real life I know there are switching regulators that I helped design and build back in early 80's that are still going strong! These are primary in telcom systems.

[jonnyGURU]

Telcom?!? Don't get me stated on telcom. I try to ID phone whenever I go into a business. I was at the doctor yesterday and noticed that they were using an Avaya Partner (has to be the most common phone system in existence). Receptionist had an 18D on her desk. I wanted to just reach over and start programming it. :(

[HOOfan_1]

how about Vertical VoIP?

[HangFire]

Now I am personally going to have problems with clients and friends who did exactly what I suggested!:wall:

Just give them this for Christmas:

http://brickwall.thomasnet.com/viewitems/standard-surge-protectors/two-outlet-surge-protectors?

Never mind it costs almost as much as the P/S. :D

Back when I was ordering $5k to $10K workstations like peanuts, every one that did not have a UPS had one of these.

-HF

[burebista]

[...] IBM Workstation with a Pentium 3 (Has to be at least 11 years old) still running fine...
Same here 2 "servers" (one Compaq dual PIII 1GHz and one custom with PII 350 and a crappy PSU) running 24/7/365 for 10 years. And I hope it will last another 10 years. :D

[davidhammock200]

Just give them this for Christmas:

http://brickwall.thomasnet.com/viewitems/standard-surge-protectors/two-outlet-surge-protectors?

Never mind it costs almost as much as the P/S. :D

Back when I was ordering $5k to $10K workstations like peanuts, every one that did not have a UPS had one of these.

-HFThank you!

I insist that unless their building is pre-wired into an existing fail-over over system, usually UPS backed by generators, that every station have its own APC UPS. You would not believe the reduction of required tech support this creates!:beer:

[Stefan Payne]

I have a couple of Dells that are over 9 years old with PSUs running fine to this day. One of them is used 5-6 hours a day.
What fans are installed and how high is the average power consumption?
Let me guess:
Far under 100W?

I work in a store part time with an IBM Workstation with a Pentium 3 (Has to be at least 11 years old) still running fine...and this thing is absolutely COVERED in dust. and shoved into a corner...this system runs 24/7/365 it cannot be turned off because it runs the POS
A pentium 3 system doesn't use any power at all, it's negligible (well, I guess the system uses under 50W at max)...

And now imagine a high end gaming machine that's really used for gaming...
Or that uses about 150W (or more) in idle...

[C'DaleRider]

Payne, quit adding in qualifiers to your bogus statement.....I guess if you keep adding "But this" and "But that" to your original statement, you'll eventually get to a point that you are making a valid argument.

But, going on your original statement, it's just wrong as many have shown.

And to bring up power users and gamers, as mentioned, those are extreme niche markets of the overall computer market.....along the lines of 1-2% of all computer users. So that argument of yours about gamers and power users demonstrates the exceptions, not the overall trend or experiences of the vast majority of computer users.

[Stefan Payne]

The point is that it's very likely that your PSU has a defect between thee and ten years of age, especially if they're under load.
And don't forget the fan!

We don't talk 'bout some low power systems from 10 years ago...

[davidhammock200]

Telcom?!? Don't get me stated on telcom. I try to ID phone whenever I go into a business. I was at the doctor yesterday and noticed that they were using an Avaya Partner (has to be the most common phone system in existence). Receptionist had an 18D on her desk. I wanted to just reach over and start programming it. :(:lol::lol::lol: I know just exactly what you mean!

Stromberg Carlson, bought by Plessy Telecom (UK/EU), Nothern & many others. Ah, the "good ole days"!:beer:

[MrbLOB9000]

hey jonny, what about what you said you were writing about what was going with bfg?

[jonnyGURU]

Hold old thread, Batman!

I think I still have the Word DOC somewhere. I'm going to wait a while before I let anyone read it though. ;)

[MrbLOB9000]

haha, ya, I didn't know BFG went out of business until yesterday and this thread is linked from the wiki page on BFG so I read the thread and saw you didn't post the info, so figured I'd ask. :p

[HOOfan_1]

Wow...people are linking forum threads on wikipedia now???

[Spectre]

Wow...people are liking forum threads on wikipedia now???

At one point the company employed the internet power supply celebrity Jonny Gerow,[citation needed] aka "JonnyGuru", as one of their main engineers. His place at the jonnyGURU.com website was taken over by Oklohoma Wolf.

As of 6 July 2010, Jonny Gerow was confirmed to be no longer employed with BFG Tech.[5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFG_Technologies

Love you Jon, but the citation needed at the startegic location made me laugh.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

The misspelling of Oklahoma made me laugh.

[Tator Tot]

This is a good example of when Wiki was just written by a guy going off unofficial sources of information.

[McSteel]

More like "getting off during writing" if you ask me... Still, it's nice to be (semi-accurately) recognized :p

[Stefan Payne]

I wonder where the relevance is... (bad wikipedia insider joke)

[rafal_iB_PL]

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2838/jonnyallaround.png

You have some worshippers :D

[McSteel]

Whoever they are, they sure love their power metal...

[Elledan]

Cute :)

[Oklahoma Wolf]

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2838/jonnyallaround.png

You have some worshippers :D

Today, Wikipedia... tomorrow, the world :D

[jonnyGURU]

LOL! I wonder what needs the citation. My employment at BFG or my "celebrity". :p

[HOOfan_1]

LOL! I wonder what needs the citation. My employment at BFG or my "celebrity". :p

Your existence?

[Zero82z]

Today, Wikipedia... tomorrow, the world :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJPFSNu_QNs