Anyone seen something like this before?

[mbryant]

Has anyone seen a store or something in which you can test components on a test bench or something? 

[thekeemo]

Yes

at my local memory express they use a block of styrofoam

[mbryant]

2 hours ago, thekeemo said:

Yes

at my local memory express they use a block of styrofoam

can't tell if that was sarcastic or not? 

[thekeemo]

Just now, mbryant said:

can't tell if that was sarcastic or not? 

Not 

styrofoam is non conductive cheap and easy to modify for you needs (room for backplates and a PSU).

[Trik'Stari]

The general practice, before assembling your PC is to test the components ontop of the motherboard box.

 

Newegg, and a few other places sell computer component test benches.

[mbryant]

2 hours ago, thekeemo said:

Not 

styrofoam is non conductive.

ah okay lol. I was just curious, do they get a lot of business? 

[Enderman]

no, both ncix and memory express have component testing services but you need to pay, they dont let you just come in and test stuff

it also takes a few days, unless you want to pay for priority service which is even more expensive (which i have done :P)

[thekeemo]

Just now, mbryant said:

ah okay lol. I was just curious, do they get a lot of business? 

They have 5 stores across Canada.

Each one is the size of a gymnasium (this is including the warehouse in the back of each one).

[mbryant]

2 hours ago, Trik'Stari said:

The general practice, before assembling your PC is to test the components ontop of the motherboard box.

 

Newegg, and a few other places sell computer component test benches.

I was referring to it in a sense of, "oh my nearest store is 30 minutes away and I want a 980 but I'm not sure if it will be worth the upgrade, I'll go to this place and test a 980 on a bench similar to my system's specs" 

[thekeemo]

Just now, Enderman said:

no, both ncix and memory express have component testing services but you need to pay, they dont let you just come in and test stuff

it also takes a few days, unless you want to pay for priority service which is even more expensive (which i have done :P)

They let you test stuff for free if you bought it from them they wont install anything you currently own though.

[ShadyHost]

4 minutes ago, mbryant said:

Has anyone seen a store or something in which you can test components on a test bench or something? 

There's a local store here that does entire diagnostics on PCs

It really depends on what kind of component you're looking at if its a PSU they usually have a machine that tests them if its something like a CPU then you might be boned. 

 

Graphics cards are easy

RAM is easy assuming its DDR3

HDDs

SSDs

other add-in cards

 

 

just find a local shop that builds or fixes PCs and see if you can pay them like $10 to give it a whirl. 

[Trik'Stari]

Just now, mbryant said:

I was referring to it in a sense of, "oh my nearest store is 30 minutes away and I want a 980 but I'm not sure if it will be worth the upgrade, I'll go to this place and test a 980 on a bench similar to my system's specs" 

That's when you ask the forums if it's worth it.

 

What games/programs?

What Resolution?

What monitor(s)?

 

etc.

[mbryant]

2 hours ago, Trik'Stari said:

That's when you ask the forums if it's worth it.

 

What games/programs?

What Resolution?

What monitor(s)?

 

etc.

Yeah that's true but I did that and I still would've preferred to been able to test and see the results for myself in person. 

[Trik'Stari]

25 minutes ago, mbryant said:

Yeah that's true but I did that and I still would've preferred to been able to test and see the results for myself in person. 

Head to a LAN and see if anyone has a setup like what you are looking for? Maybe a convention?

 

Ask for opinion here on the forums. I know I was impressed with my triple monitor surround setup, despite people like JayZ saying "It doesn't add anything to the experience". I completely disagree with him on that. Although that's subjective I guess.

[Equlizer]

Yep they use styro or the top of a mobo box.