American Computer Parts work in Europe?

[xerocool]

Hey guys one, of my friends is here for a year from the UK and he's planning on buying all his computer hardware here (since it's ASSLOADS cheaper) and then shipping and building the thing over there.

Has anyone had any experience with this? From what I understand, all the internal parts are the same worldwide, and the only thing that should be different for each country is maybe the power supply (or maybe just the power cord connecting the power supply to the wall outlet).

Anyways, if anyone has ever done this or you live in the UK and know the difference, we'd love the help! THanks!

 

[Zebo]

All DC parts will work fine, but anything that has a PSU won't work due to 50hz over in Great Britain. This includes monitors and PSUs.

 

[RussianSoldier]

silly 50hz...

 

[TSDible]

Originally posted by: Zebo
All DC parts will work fine, but anything that has a PSU won't work due to 50hz over in Great Britain. This includes monitors and PSUs.

I currently live in Europe and order many things from Newegg. As far as PSUs and Monitors go, for the most part they are all dual voltage. I have yet to see a monitor that wasn't rated 110-240V 50-60Hz. PSUs could be a problem in cheaper cases, but for the most part, they are either auto switching, or have a physical switch in the back to change between voltages. Beware... if you buy a PSU from the U.S., it will most likely be set to 110V. Bad things will happen when you plug it in if you have forgotten to make the change. *cough* *personal experience* *cough*

I normaly check the specs online, or I ask around here if I want to know if something is dual voltage.

 

[xerocool]

yeah, that's what i figured. cheapo power adapters for digital cameras and camcorders are all dual (just the plug is different), so i figured the PSU's for comp's and LCD's monitors would be the same too. i'll check just to make sure though. thanks guys!

 

[Czar]

the only thing different is the power, I have had a few hd's and two graphics cards bought for me in the US, sooo much cheaper

a week after the Radeon 9700 pro came out one was bought for me in the US for about 32.000kr isk, when it came out in Iceland it cost about 49.000kr isk, and now its around 30.000kr isk, just ridiculous. The only problem he might run into is the warranty, if it brakes down he will most likely have to ship it to the original store.

 

[chilled]

Originally posted by: Czar
the only thing different is the power, I have had a few hd's and two graphics cards bought for me in the US, sooo much cheaper

a week after the Radeon 9700 pro came out one was bought for me in the US for about 32.000kr isk, when it came out in Iceland it cost about 49.000kr isk, and now its around 30.000kr isk, just ridiculous. The only problem he might run into is the warranty, if it brakes down he will most likely have to ship it to the original store.

Yeah....watch out for the warranty.....

My advice - buy known brand products when you've got no warranty in effect to fall back on

 

[anthrax]

Every thing should work.

even the PSU..almost all PSU have a voltage selector swtich.. MAKE SURE you set it to the correct voltage b4 you plug in into the wall!!!!....or you will be reminded with a big POP!.

USA / JAPAN is 110V

The rest of the world is 220V........

You may need new power cables as the plugs are different... Most monitors have auto switching powersupplies...

 

[anthrax]

Originally posted by: anthrax
Every thing should work.

even the PSU..almost all PSU have a voltage selector swtich.. MAKE SURE you set it to the correct voltage b4 you plug in into the wall!!!!....or you will be reminded with a big POP!.

USA / JAPAN is 110V

The rest of the world is 220V........

You may need new power cables as the plugs are different... Most monitors have auto switching powersupplies...

How do you dodge import duties charged by the deliver agent.. (UPS,Fed -EX)

 

[TSDible]

Originally posted by: anthrax

Originally posted by: anthrax
Every thing should work.

even the PSU..almost all PSU have a voltage selector swtich.. MAKE SURE you set it to the correct voltage b4 you plug in into the wall!!!!....or you will be reminded with a big POP!.

USA / JAPAN is 110V

The rest of the world is 220V........

You may need new power cables as the plugs are different... Most monitors have auto switching powersupplies...

How do you dodge import duties charged by the deliver agent.. (UPS,Fed -EX)

I'm a U.S. Gov. Employee stationed overseas, so I have a U.S. address in Germany. I do have to pay a bit extra for shipping, but it isn't so bad. I just had 3/4 of the parts for a new system shipped over by newegg and the shipping/handling was about $30.

I wanted to buy my Logitech MX700 over here, but they were over 90 euros which is more than $100. Ouch.

 

[Davegod]

err nvm, heres a useful page on UK/EU and import duty etc
http://www.sloanefox.freeserve.co.uk/importukduty.htm

note it says:

Tax Free Allowances
Current concessions and exemptions from Duty and VAT
* PERSONAL EFFECTS of people returning to the EU after residing abroad.

not exactly confident that a PC counts as a "personal effect" though

 

[hausdave]

I just installed a new network in UK over Easter. We order everything from UK. It costs more in the short term but the potential headaches it alleviates are worth it.