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Assembly Process

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  2. Assembly Process

Each award winning system we build is hand assembled by expert engineers. Every screw is turned by hand and each cable is clipped and tucked away with care to ensure optimal airflow, thermal, and acoustical properties. Once assembled, every finely crafted PC is put through a stringent 200-point checklist to ensure quality control of everything from physical appearance to software, performance, and usability. We're obsessed with perfection. There are no PC assembly lines here.

Here's a walk through of our rigorous custom computer assembly process:

Case Preparation

  • One of our trained and certified technicians gathers the pre-tested components kit required for each system order.
  • The case's side panel is removed and stored inside the cardboard container along with the power cord and any other case accessories.
  • Any additional case fans are installed in the proper vent areas.
  • Motherboard standoffs are installed in the correct configuration to align with the chosen motherboard.

Motherboard Insertion

  • The CPU and RAM are installed on the motherboard prior to insertion into the case to avoid any possible stress or damage.
  • Any concealed wiring to be done under the motherboard is taped down to hold the wires while the board is set in place.
  • The motherboard is placed inside the case.
  • The power cable, case fan cable, CPU fan cable or liquid cooling pump cable, power on button, reset button, internal speaker, and all case LED light cables are connected, tucked, and clipped.

Video Card Installation & Power Up Test

  • The video card is inserted. Screws are secured by hand to avoid over-tightening.
  • The system is started and the power supply, the case fan, and the CPU fan/Liquid Cooling pumps are checked.
  • As the system begins to boot, the display is checked for proper RAM count.
  • Time and date, proper CPU, Memory, Sound, Video and other integral settings are made in the BIOS.
  • The changes to the BIOS are saved and the system is restarted to be sure the changes were accepted by the BIOS.
  • The system is powered off.

Disk Drive Installation

  • Optical drives are inserted in the top 5.25" drive bay.
  • The hard drive is installed closest to the bottom of the case to benefit from the coolest air possible.
  • Extra-long drive cables are attached for each device, starting at the top and proceeding downward to prevent tangling.
  • The power supply connectors for each device are then inserted, starting at the bottom and working upward to prevent tangling.

Motherboard and Processor Updates

  • The motherboard is flashed with the latest BIOS available from the manufacturer.
  • A processor update is run to add any important fixes, patches, and corrections. This significantly reduces system errors and lockups.
  • The keyboard, mouse, monitor, and power cord are inserted and the system is powered up again.
  • The display is checked to ensure the system detects the installed drives.
  • The BIOS is set for boot sequence optical, then C: drive. After any BIOS adjustments are saved, the system is restarted again.
  • The system reboots and connects to our deployment networks formating the hard drive before Windows® is installed.
  • Any other necessary PCI or PCI-e cards (sound card, modem, additional video cards, Wifi adapter) are inserted and secured one at a time.
  • Another restart ensures all components are functioning properly.

System Optimization

  • We make adjustments and tweaks to the motherboard BIOS, Windows settings and run Windows updates to ensure peak performance.
  • Software is installed for system monitoring and management.
  • Settings for RAM management, video performance, and disk performance are optimized to work best for the customer's exact system.
  • The most recent tested software driver updates are installed.

Software Installation

  • Any software you've purchased and requested is installed and tested for compatibility.

Cable Organization and Tie-Down

  • The rubber bands are removed from the SATA or SAS cables then tucked neatly out of view where possible.
  • The cables are pulled toward the sides of the case to allow proper air flow through the center of the case for cooling. All other cables are similarly secured with hand tightened cable ties and all extra tie length is cut and removed.
  • The case cables are braided together before being tied down. The case cover is not installed until final overnight testing.

Initial Testing

  • An assembly technician tests the system with our 200-point checklist.
  • The system receives a rigorous battery of diagnostic software testing and benchmarking.
  • A separate physical checklist is run to check for things like loose or missing screws, tight cable connections, and audio cable tie downs.
  • A separate quality control technician gives the system a final review. If it does not meet this person’s seal of approval, it returns to the technician for correction.

Diagnostic Test

  • Every system receives a diagnostic test to ensure all subsystems are properly installed.
  • Every screw must be carefully re-tightened and every cable securely strapped before the cover is installed. The case cover is needed for all other tests to make sure it allows proper air flow and minimal vibration during use.

Extended Test

  • The system runs through as many as 60 cycles of thorough testing of every system resource.
  • The system is then allowed to run overnight on a test bench. The system monitor checks CPU and Video temperatures constantly to watch for signs of overheating during extended use.

Performance Test

  • After running overnight, the system must properly wake up and restore itself from suspended sleep. This test is run various times on the machine to ensure proper functionality.
  • Software is installed to perform a variety of benchmark performance tests. These tests provide information about the overall speed of the system and help diagnose specific problems.
  • Benchmark results are compared against systems from other manufacturers as well other in-house PCs.

Usability Tests

  • A variety of basic tests, including CD and DVD functionality, are performed.
  • The media reader and optical drives are checked for proper eject operation or any abnormalities.

Final Testing

  • Just prior to shut down and packaging, every system is restarted and tested to see exactly what the customer will experience when they receive the system.
  • Customized updated drivers CD/DVD is burned and included in the packaging.

Packaging & Shipping

  • The system is set inside a durable but yielding foam shell and then placed inside our custom packaging. The keyboard, mouse, and other accessories are placed inside a separate box in the same package.
  • The entire package ships out of the warehouse.

The Final Product

  • The end result of this meticulous process is a PC that completely exceeds your expectations.

Due to the custom nature of our products, some systems may vary from the exact computer assembly procedures listed here. This list is intended to give a general tracking of our production process, and may be altered or modified without notice.