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Thread: [RESOLVED] Buying parts from overseas

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    Addicted Member Witis's Avatar
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    Resolved [RESOLVED] Buying parts from overseas

    At the moment I am looking at buying some kit from overseas. I am under the impression that all of the internal computing parts such as the main circuit card, secondary gfx cards, HDD, DVD-RW, and CPUs universally run on the same low voltage DC ouput (usually +12 V and +5 V) which is the same emanating from all PSUs, meaning the only difference in computing parts between AC and DC countries is the PSU itself, everything else is interchangeable.

    This hopefully means that I should be able to buy any internal computing parts from any other country except the PSU which is the only part which has to accord with the local power standard be it AC or DC. Is my information correct, or are computing parts less universal than I think?
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    PowerPoster Jenner's Avatar
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    Re: Buying parts from overseas

    No, your first assumption is correct. They are universal. The PSU converts whatever the input power is... whether it be 125VAC, 250VAC or whatever. It's always AC though, no country that I know of uses DC voltage in a power grid because it's not only problematic, but cost prohibitive.

    Whatever the input power, after a few transformers and voltage stabilizing circuits, it is converted to standard 12VDC, 5VDC and 3.3VDC power systems ending in standard connectors that connect to standard internal components. Computer parts stabilized in the early 90's with the explosion of "IBM PC clones". Aside from the occasional architecture upgrade such as ISA->VESA->PCI->AGP->PCIe or SDRAM->DDR->DDR2 or CPU socket du jour, it's all compatible.
    Last edited by Jenner; Dec 21st, 2011 at 09:06 AM.
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    PowerPoster stanav's Avatar
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    Re: Buying parts from overseas

    Unless you have a very compelling reason, I suggest not to buy parts oversea because of the following reasons:
    1. Quality: products imported into the US must pass certain quality standard.
    2. Warranty/Returns: when that time comes, it is much easier to deal with a US based vendor than with some retailer off sea.
    3. Buying oversea often means paying extra for shipping.
    4. International shipments take much longer for items to arrive at your doorsteps than domestic.
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    Re: Buying parts from overseas

    Jenner, you are correct: DC (invented by Thomas Edison) was the US standard in the 1880s at a time when AC had not yet been invented, then it was gradually overtaken by AC, primarily, it seems, due to the availability of transformers until on "November 14, 2007, the last direct-current distribution by Con Edison was shut down" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Currents). Even so, and perhaps surprisingly, I still have my cash on DC to win the war over the longer term after the ATMs rise up and lead the charge to take over the world.

    It is good to get confirmation regarding the universality of internal parts, as sometimes it is just not possible to get hard to find parts locally.
    All men have an inherent right to life, the right to self determination including freedom from forced or compulsory labour, a right to hold opinions and the freedom of expression, and the right to a fair trial and freedom from torture. Be aware that these rights are universal and inalienable (cannot be given, taken or otherwise transferred or removed) although you do risk losing the aforementioned rights should you fail to uphold them e.g Charles Taylor; United Nations sources: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/, http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Professional...ages/CCPR.aspx. Also Charles I was beheaded on the 30th of January of 1649 for trying to replace parliamentary democracy with an absolute monarchy, the same should happen to Dr Phil and Stephen Fry; source: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...ute-Monarchism.

    The plural of sun is stars you Catholic turkeys.

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