anyone in San Diego area know a good computer repair shop?

[QueBert]

I thought more people would see this than the computer repair forum. My friend bought a computer built by some fool at a store and he doesn't seem to have a damn clue what he's doing. He's telling her he'll figure it out and fix it but in the mean time telling her "don't worry about it, 185f isn't critical" It's a 9700k and when she turns it on it's at 170f and shoots up to 185f after a few minutes without her doing anything. And if she tries to play any game it throttles within 30 seconds. I told her to ask him about reseating/replacing her heatsink, he said "that's not the problem and 80c isn't uncommon, the 9700k runs hot" Needless to say I explained to her this guy should be ignored and he's an idiot. If I lived closer I'd help her, but I'm not and I told her she absolutely needs to get it fixed soon and shouldn't even turn it on. But I don't know anything about shops out there. I don't trust Yelp for stuff like this as a lot of non techie people will be happy with the service of a computer store because they don't know any better.

I know computer repair shops are rare but I'm hoping someone on here knows of a decent one somewhere around SD. I'm assuming itt's probably just the heatsink wasn't mounted properly so it's should be an easy fix. But this guy built it and I don't know what else he did or didn't do so I want to try and make sure if I recommend someone they know what the fuck they're doing so they can look over all his handy work

 

[igor_kavinski]

Why not guide her to fix it herself? Reseating a heatsink isn't hard, especially if you show her a good Youtube video.

 

[Torn Mind]

So, I presume she isn't the type to crack the case open and to do an inspection of the product, taping the inspection in the process?

Is there some sort of contract related to the service and/or purchase of the product?

It would be good to find a reputable shop as an expert witness.

What she should do, is record via whatever monitoring software is present in BIOS or the OS, the precise behavior of the CPU temps. Because once it gets fixed, the evidence of malfunction is lost(and so is the ability to make a more threatening demand letter). Possibly, the heatsink is not touching the processor, but it's also possible the fan is not plugged in, etc.

I mean, there are possible consumer protection law, breach of contract, or common law warranty law violations, but the shop guy thinks there is no threat of a lawsuit.

 

[QueBert]

Why not guide her to fix it herself? Reseating a heatsink isn't hard, especially if you show her a good Youtube video.

Because if he couldn't put a heatsink on properly I don't have any faith he did anything else right. I'd like that fixed and someone who knows what they're doing looking at the BIOS and stuff like making sure the dimms are in the right slot. I would be shocked if the heatsink was all he did wrong.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Make her ask him if he used thermal paste.

 

[lxskllr]

She isn't gonna get a straight answer out of him. He's either a liar or an idiot(or both). She'd have better success asking the cat.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, those 9700K etc family CPU DID have a rep. for "running hot". I wouldn't nec. just assume that the heatsink ISN'T on there properly. (Wait, are we talking load temps, or idle? Idle, no way it should be near 80C+. Load, with stock heatsink, that could actually be kinda normal.)

The REAL solution, then is an after-market heatsink.

i7-8700k runs insanely hot even at stock speeds ?

Hi guys! My problem is when i run intel burn test my stock i7-8700k cpu runs very hot even at stock speeds and voltages. Only think that is overclocked is ram 3333MHz @ 1.35V but thats all. Cooler is premium noctua NH-D15S and case ventilation is decent with 3 case fans. So is these temps to...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[QueBert]

Make her ask him if he used thermal paste.

She isn't gonna get a straight answer out of him. He's either a liar or an idiot(or both). She'd have better success asking the cat.

He's a liar, and an idiot. She sent me the exact text

"Could it be the heatsink" <-- her
"Nope. the pump was still new and looked fine"

it's not water-cooled, maybe he's not a liar and just an idiot and doesn't know what a pump is. At best maybe he forgot to put thermal paste on (shit happens) but if that's the case since he won't own up to it tells me she shouldn't deal with him regardless. A legit shop could also break down what components are in it, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't use the parts he said were in it. For some ungodly reason, he told her she should put 2 20TB drives in RAID. Which she ended up doing, and surprise surprise the drives don't work right. I don't know who the fuck recommends RAIDing 2 20TB hard drives for a home user lol.

anyways, there's probably too much else wrong for me to even attempt to walk her thru it on the phone. And she's not even up to removing a heatsink and applying thermal paste which would be the bare minimum I'd do here.

Well, those 9700K etc family CPU DID have a rep. for "running hot". I wouldn't nec. just assume that the heatsink ISN'T on there properly. (Wait, are we talking load temps, or idle? Idle, no way it should be near 80C+. Load, with stock heatsink, that could actually be kinda normal.)

The REAL solution, then is an after-market heatsink.

80c after being on for only 5 minutes without her doing anything, and it hits 85c if she leaves it on (doing nothing) it's also possible he put some generic heatsink that's not close to good enough for a 9700k. In that case she'll need a new heatsink and he's not the guy for that job.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Idle, no way it should be near 80C+.

This happened with me when I asked the seller of a i7-3770 to come and upgrade my Z77 from its sad i3-2100. Turned on the PC and just 10-15% usage it's showing almost 60C. I start something intensive and temps start hitting 90C. I told him, this is not right. So I shut down the PC and he moves the heatsink around a bit. Boot up the PC and idle temps are now 30C and load doesn't go above 65C.

By the way, I had him re-use the i3's stock heatsink

 

[igor_kavinski]

The REAL solution, then is an after-market heatsink.

The K series don't come with a heatsink but it is very possible that our idiot shopkeeper decided to use a stock Intel heatsink

 

[igor_kavinski]

I don't know who the fuck recommends RAIDing 2 20TB hard drives for a home user lol.

A no good slimy lizard, that's who!

She needs to sue him for taking advantage of her ignorance!

 

[QueBert]

He also used a Supermicro ITX board in a full-size case. I looked up the board, it's not cheap at all, and would seem like a really poor choice for a home user. I've owned dozens of computers in my lifetime and thought I'd have every brand of MB but I've never had a Supermicro. Just more to make me think he doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

The K series don't come with a heatsink but it is very possible that our idiot shopkeeper decided to use a stock Intel heatsink

Sorry I just re-read her text, it's a KF. so I guess he wanted to save $10 on the build. Now I need to go look and see if intel still gave shitty stock heatsinks with those.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Just more to make me think he doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

I'm pretty sure he knows what he's doing. It's called swindling.

He's selling her expensive stuff and he himself doesn't have much technical knowledge. Probably learned from someone equally incompetent.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Sorry I just re-read her text, it's a KF. so I guess he wanted to save $10 on the build. Now I need to go look and see if intel still gave shitty stock heatsinks with those.

KF still wouldn't have a stock heatsink bundled with it. It's just a K without the iGPU.

It also means that he gave her an expensive GPU (or an underpowered one for a lot more money) that she probably doesn't need.

 

[Torn Mind]

When it comes to a professional in a profession, the foolish thought is to think of them as mere idiots(i.e one should expect a plumber to fix the pipes the first time, or a lawyer to represent adequately. Failure to do so is harmful and is predatory on the pocketbook). If they bungle something...there is usually intent behind it. Unprovable intent, but nevertheless still in their hearts. Since the intent is not proven, the only legal path is proving the conduct was negligent.

His unwillingness to reinspect or disassemble the product indicates at the very least, something not willing to commit the time to make his customer whole, thus not exercising the proper duty of care for a supposed professional.

The totality of facts indicates to me shop guy thinks he's safe from any legal repercussions due to the incompetence of the customer.

I also think he's so focused on the bottom line...he's just using whatever spare parts he has to sell to unsuspecting consumers.

Was this purchase done with a credit card and still within the window of dispute?

 

[QueBert]

KF still wouldn't have a stock heatsink bundled with it. It's just a K without the iGPU.

It also means that he gave her an expensive GPU (or an underpowered one for a lot more money) that she probably doesn't need.

No she's a pretty big gamer, I don't know what he charged her, but she asked for a 2070.

 

[igor_kavinski]

No she's a pretty big gamer, I don't know what he charged her, but she asked for a 2070.

Ask her to download CPU-Z and send screenshots of the various tabs so we can see the handiwork of this clown

 

[VirtualLarry]

wOULD BE INTERESTED IN A RUN-DOWN OF parts versus budget. Also the price of new new caps-lock key, for me, apparently.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I mean, I could honestly see 2x 20TB IN RAID if this was a content-creation workstation. Maybe. I would be looking at a NAS instead, personally.

 

[igor_kavinski]

I mean, I could honestly see 2x 20TB IN RAID if this was a content-creation workstation. Maybe. I would be looking at a NAS instead, personally.

Are those drives even CMR? What if he gave her cheap Seagate SMR drives? (SHUDDER!)

You know, QueBert needs to do a Taken phone call to that guy, Liam Neeson style

 

[QueBert]

Ask her to download CPU-Z and send screenshots of the various tabs so we can see the handiwork of this clown

Did that last night, it's a nice computer. MSI 2070, Corsair ram, weird choice for an MB but like Torn Mind said it's probably one he just had laying around. Because it's definitely not a cheap board. She also wants to download everything in the world so it has 5 hard drives, this is something she asked for. And looking at the rest of the CPU-Z screen shots she just sent me, it does say dual for the memory so maybe he did put it in the right slots.

She just sent me a pic of the side (window case) and it does have an AIO, pic isn't clear enough so I can't tell which, but maybe it's a 120 or something stupidly small.

 

[igor_kavinski]

it does say dual for the memory so maybe he did put it in the right slots.

ITX boards usually have only two RAM slots so he didn't need to think about that

 

[igor_kavinski]

Which Supermicro mobo is it? HIgh CPU temp could also mean that it's getting overvolted, which can happen if he fiddled with the BIOS settings without knowing much of anything.

 

[VirtualLarry]

weird choice for an MB but like Torn Mind said it's probably one he just had laying around.

If she insisted for some reason on 9th-gen, and this was built recently, a supermicro board might have been the only one that he could source "new" for the build.
Z390 boards are AFAIK out of production, and getting hard to find.

Also, SuperMicro boards might have additional SATA controllers or RAID onboard.

 

[QueBert]

ITX boards usually have only two RAM slots so he didn't need to think about that

Don't know why I didn't think of that, so it wasn't due to skill. HUMMM well he loses the 1 point I was giving him

Which Supermicro mobo is it? HIgh CPU temp could also mean that it's getting overvolted, which can happen if he fiddled with the BIOS settings without knowing much of anything.

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