How should I explain this?

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Well, a friend in English class who has always gone against what I say is now starting to get advice from me, pretty funny if you think about how "great" they thought they were and right. Anyway, hes upgrading his co mputer and tells me that hes also going to get an $18 or $19 PSU @ 500watts. I asked him the brand, he didn't know. Today he found out, and it was some really cheap brand. Anyway, I told him that even an Antec 300w could do better than that because of the quality of the transformers and parts they put inside. He argued saying that for him RAM is RAM, a hard drive is a hard drive, and a PSU is a PSU and that it makes no difference. I asked him why Dell puts 180w PSU in their computer with decent hardware and a nice video card. He agrees, and says that he looked in his old Dell he has and thats what it uses.

Then, he tells me he called up CompUSA and they told him it makes no difference.

I don't know how else to explain it, is there any shockingly good analogy or something I can use? Otherwise, I'll just let him use it. I also told him that while it won't be a horrible PSU, the 500w will do what he wants but it won't be anywhere near the quality of an Antec or Enermax.

 

[OverVolt]

He'll only learn from his mistakes.

If he goes 500w Generic, remember to suspect that POS if something goes wrong.

CompUSA was wayy off on that,kinda disapointed, when i've asked some questions they've given the right answers.

 

[bozo1]

The thing is there are millions of cheap, no name powersupplies out there running just fine. Chances are it will for him also. I wouldn't dig yourself too deep into this one.

 

[Insidious]

yeah, CompUSA is really hit or miss on advise.

I usually ask them a semi-difficult question that I am confident I know the answer to and see what I get before I start talking to them
about things I really need help with. This strategy works well in every area of 'customer service'. I highly recommend it when seeking advise
from strangers.

-Sid

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Insidious
yeah, CompUSA is really hit or miss on advise.

I usually ask them a semi-difficult question that I am confident I know the answer to and see what I get before I start talking to them
about things I really need help with. This strategy works well in every area of 'customer service'. I highly recommend it when seeking advise
from strangers.

-Sid

Thats a smart thing to do. I'll try that from now on.

I know he'll be more than likely fine with that PSU but the thing that bothers me is when he'll argue that there is no difference. I've asked him why he hasn't asked people who work with parts other than generic ones like at forums like this. I mean, those guys at Compusa are smart, but many of them just don't know what they're talking about. And then he also brags about his hard drive and we find out that tis a 5400rpm.

 

[andyfasthands]

it's gonna sound like an air conditioner

 

[Insidious]

For whatever it's worth.......

I'd try not to get too upset by it all. You gave him the best advise you know and he chose to go another way. That's not so bad.

Since he's a friend, I'd probably let it go and know I tried. And of course... you know, the best friends never say "I told ya so"

cheers

-Sid

 

[snidy1]

Originally posted by: Insidious
yeah, CompUSA is really hit or miss on advise.

I usually ask them a semi-difficult question that I am confident I know the answer to and see what I get before I start talking to them
about things I really need help with. This strategy works well in every area of 'customer service'. I highly recommend it when seeking advise
from strangers.

-Sid

That's what I do too

 

[TheCorm]

Some Generic PSU's are rubbish....but my 350W Qtec one has been running fine for over a year now....and it's fairly quiet too even though it has 2 fans.

Ask him if it's gold with 2 fans....if yes then it will likely be a Qtec.

 

[chin311]

18-19$ for 500w? geez, must be a cheapo. ah well, im using a 400w "codegen", semi-generic, ah well, runs everything fine, no probs, over a year now.

it can be hit or miss, but first sign of probs, thats where i'd be looking.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Ask him if he thinks a $10000 KIA and a $50000 BMW are the same since they are both cars.

That being said, if he thinks that RAM is RAM and a HD is a HD, (something where you can notice tangible performance differences) it's going to be hard for you to convince him of the diffrerences between a cheapo PS and a quality one since its hard to differentiate until there is a problem, especially if you aren't willing to reason on the matter, which it seems like this guy isn't willing. If he's a friend, just let it slide, but point out his generic PSU and generic RAM when his comp starts randomly locking, generating system faults, memory erros and the like.

P-X

 

[Kingofcomputer]

Don't worry, there is a high chance his PSU will get short circuit and burn the motherboard and vga card.
Just wait and see.

 

[Psychosylph]

Personally, I have replaced two cheapo PSUs in the last few months (they lasted a couple years). No big deal, they just died and I replaced them. In the same length of time I have not replaced a single name brand PSU, but I did pay more for them. But, find some pictures of what a bad PSU has done to systems and maybe he'll think twice about what a dying PSU might do...