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OCZ CEO Ryan Petersen is all smiles after picking up boutique power-supply vendor PC Power & Cooling (Source: DailyTech)
Memory, cooling and power supply giant OCZ picks up enthusiast power supply company PC Power & Cooling

OCZ today announced it has acquired American supplier of power supply units PC Power & Cooling. Orginally founded in 1985, PC Power & Cooling has been a frontrunner in ultra high-performance power supplies and cooling solutions. OCZ aims to expand its product line through the acquisition, increase its R&D resources, and establish the organization as the leading provider of power-supply solutions.

The acquisition will result in concentrated efforts between OCZ and PC Power & Cooling. The two companies will combine their technical strengths and R&D resources to deliver stronger solutions to consumers. PC Power & Cooling has had a long history of offering enthusiast oriented products.

OCZ plans to combine the current product lines of both companies immediately after the acquisition is complete.  PCP&C's current line of power supply units will become the new line of high-end OCZ power supplies. Despite the acquisition, the power supplies will still maintain their PCP&C branding.

In addition to combining current product lines, OCZ will make PC Power & Cooling's products available worldwide through its distribution channels, which includes Wal-Mart and Buy.com. Previously PCP&C's products were only available for sale in the U.S through its online store and a few retailers.       

The acquisition will also result in a change in management for OCZ. The founder of
PCP&C, Doug Dodson will move into the position of Chief Technology Officer at OCZ. Previously, the role of CTO was jointly filled by OCZ CEO Ryan Peterson and OCZ vice president of technology development Michael Schuette. OCZ hopes to bring Dodson's experience and innovation to the company by adding him to its leadership.      

Regarding his new position, Doug Dodson said "In my new role as Chief Technology Officer, I will focus on maintaining PC Power's lead in proven ultra high-performance with the Turbo-Cool line, and in value and quiet computing with the Silencer line, as well as provide guidance for the continuing improvement of OCZ's power management solutions. I am excited about the improved accessibility of PC Power & Cooling products and I am confident that our rich tradition of reliability and innovation will continue to strengthen as a part of the OCZ Technology Group.”

OCZ company went public in London April 2006 and had its initial public offering in June. Further financial data on the acquisition will be released Tuesday.

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Modular connectors
By Chriz on 5/25/2007 7:30:44 PM , Rating: 2
Maybe now we can start seeing some PC power and cooling power supplies with modular connectors, at least for the enthusiast line. Or we can hope.




RE: Modular connectors
By ryedizzel on 5/25/2007 7:44:57 PM , Rating: 2
Amen to that! But like Azander said both products lines will mostly remain the same. So I would suspect the modular power connectors will only be found in the OCZ line. :(


RE: Modular connectors
By pauldovi on 5/25/2007 7:45:50 PM , Rating: 3
Modular connectors are not very good for quality power-supplies!


RE: Modular connectors
By Proteusza on 5/25/2007 8:33:38 PM , Rating: 1
Why? Unless you hang your pc from your power supply.


RE: Modular connectors
By pauldovi on 5/25/2007 9:40:35 PM , Rating: 5
Increased resistance, rusting, increased voltage deviation.

That is why high end PSU's don't use them.


RE: Modular connectors
By Hare on 5/26/07, Rating: -1
RE: Modular connectors
By mindless1 on 5/26/2007 6:46:35 PM , Rating: 5
Having one potential point of failure is not justification to add MORE points of failure. For many people the difference is negligable and never realized, but nevertheless it is possible to have connector problems and some people have.

It's even more important over the course of time when environmental factors or repetitive plugging and unplugging of connectors will result in worse contact. Some PSU burn out in 3 years if that and won't have the level of exposure to such things as a better PSU that might last a decade.

In other words, if your two year old modular supply still works acceptibly it is not evidence that all do over the course of time. Remember also that "modular connector" does not describe the quality of that connector which can vary.


RE: Modular connectors
By TomZ on 5/26/2007 9:17:06 PM , Rating: 5
Hare, let me introduce you to Ohm's law: voltage = resistance * current. Now suppose you add 10 milliohms of resistance (0.01 ohms) with an additional connector pair (male+female), and then you pull 25A through it - guess what, you now just added an 0.25V voltage drop just due to that connector. At these high currents, contact resistance in connectors becomes significant, more than you might otherwise think.

Also, you might also find it interesting that many connectors like the ones used only have a useful life of 10-30 cycles. Each time you mate-unmate the connector, the contact resistance increases slightly. Not really a good thing.

You may call it FUD, but I call it "fact."


RE: Modular connectors
By slashbinslashbash on 5/26/2007 10:17:25 PM , Rating: 3
What you seem to be forgetting is that it's pulling 25A through multiple pins. Looking at a recent review of a 1000W PSU on johnnyguru's site http://www.jonnyguru.com/review_details.php?id=113... I see 22A, 25A, 32A rails, but they all are going through 4, 6, 8, 24-pin connectors.

Another point that's been lost is that modular connectors doesn't necessarily mean exclusively modular connectors. My current PSU has modular PCIE and HDD connectors, but the ATX connectors (ATX and ATX12V) are hard-wired. With increasing PCIE wattage requirements, I can imagine that they might need to be hard-wired too when you get to the 1kW+ PSU's. But the piddly connectors for hard drives and optical drives? Those will never pull many amps, and I can't see any reason not to have them be fully modular to save on case clutter when I don't need them.


RE: Modular connectors
By TomZ on 5/26/2007 10:30:19 PM , Rating: 2
First, divide by two, since half of those pins are grounds. Second, splitting the supplies across multiple pins does help with the voltage drop problem, but the power dissipated (wasted) by the connector is the same.

The tradeoff in your supply seems a smart one to me.


RE: Modular connectors
By Hare on 5/27/07, Rating: 0
RE: Modular connectors
By dm0r on 5/29/2007 12:46:27 PM , Rating: 2
Wow....i was really thinking about buyng a modular power supply...your post was very usefull and changed my mind.Thanks and 6 for him


RE: Modular connectors
By ecktt on 5/26/2007 10:01:32 PM , Rating: 4
er, Its myth listed on Power PC and Cooling site. If you did any kind of physics you would understand why modular connectors are bad. So unless the laws of physics some how change inside you PC then modular cables add unnecessary resistance to the circuit path and there by cause a voltage drop. There also the introduction of points of failure. That would make you post BS . Just about the only good thing going for modular cable is the removal of unnecessary cable for a cleaner install. To me that take a back seat to a more robust system build. Besides a good system build could neatly hide the extra cabling.


RE: Modular connectors
By MrBungle123 on 5/28/2007 11:43:38 AM , Rating: 2
"So unless the laws of physics some how change inside you PC then modular cables add unnecessary resistance to the circuit path and there by cause a voltage drop."

What, you don't have a close proximity electrical physics modifying resonator card?.... pfft, loser.


RE: Modular connectors
By IceTron on 5/28/07, Rating: -1
RE: Modular connectors
By AntDX316 on 6/2/2007 1:12:48 AM , Rating: 1
he didnt bull shit he just over exaggerated


RE: Modular connectors
By mrred on 5/25/2007 9:51:55 PM , Rating: 2
I was thinking the same thing. As long as the connections are solid, shouldn't there be no difference? Is there really THAT much more resistance from a little plug?


RE: Modular connectors
By pauldovi on 5/25/2007 11:51:49 PM , Rating: 2
Yes. And over time it will only get worse.


RE: Modular connectors
By MS on 5/26/07, Rating: 0
RE: Modular connectors
By mindless1 on 5/26/2007 6:57:42 PM , Rating: 2
See my prior reply regarding connectors, your conclusions are premature. A lab test of a new PSU <> one out in the field in a variable environment.

Any properly trained engineer knows this, and that it's especially true when Joe Sixpack is likely to be dealing with the subcomponents himself. If it weren't for the need to have separate products and ease in manufacturing some, plus the potential that some products will fail and require replacement, the leads WOULD be soldered onto the motherboard. Instead there was only a need for single point disconnects between each separate component, from the least # of modular connectors possible.

Since it seems you resist objective details, and since those who want to accept the tradeoff are entitled to choose a product with modular connectors (since this too has a benefit, albeit a different benefit) and it is good to have these choices in products, I hope that at least the connector quality is never compromised to lower the BOM bottom line.


RE: Modular connectors
By TomZ on 5/26/2007 9:24:03 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
That is just a complete myth that somebody created who tried to show off with knowing just enough to be dangerous without having a real understanding of the issues involved

Sorry, Mr. VP, but you've been in management too long, and you seem to have forgotten electrical engineering. See my tutorial on ohm's law above.

The connectors used in "modular" PSUs are cheap connectors that have relatively high contact resistance. Once you start pulling 10, 20, 30A through them, you are going to see some measurable voltage drop.

Can the system tolerate 0.1V, 0.2V, or 0.3V drop - probably yes in most cases - but it doesn't change the fact that more connectors invariably leads to more voltage drop - it is basic physics.


RE: Modular connectors
By TomZ on 5/26/2007 9:55:15 PM , Rating: 2
One more thing, you said,
quote:
Just put it this way, the main connector of a PSU is always "modular", that is the connector from the PSU to the wall outlet.

Let me ask you the following - how much current is flowing across that 120VAC or 240VAC connection, and how does that compare to the 30A power rail on the DC side?

Not exactly the same thing.


RE: Modular connectors
By Martimus on 5/29/2007 4:33:11 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
the main connector of a PSU is always "modular", that is the connector from the PSU to the wall outlet.

That is besides the point. The input voltage is rectified and converted within the PSU, and as long as the input supply gives the minimum voltage/current, and less than the maximum for both, the output voltage is unaffected. (Not always true, but with a PC P&C PSU it probably is.) I hate commenting on boards like this, but since I actually designed power circuits for a few years on Control Modules, I felt compelled to comment. Since the output voltage and current need to be tightly controlled on this product, it is highly unlikely that the PSU would be designed to allow input voltage variations to affect the output voltage. And yes, adding the extra resistance does create a voltage drop, but more importantly it can warp, cause pin stesses, add stress to the board, and increase heat and cause errors in signals. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to re-solder a pin that broke off, or scrap a board all together because of wear on the leads close to the pins. Plus you would get different output signals just by unplugging the cable, and plugging it back in. I know that I had communication errors based on bad connections on terminals that I used too many times. You just hook it up to a Oscilliscope and find out the signal is there, it just doesn't have the proper voltage to be read properly. At that point I would have to go to the lab and make a new connector.


RE: Modular connectors
By imaheadcase on 5/26/07, Rating: 0
RE: Modular connectors
By mindless1 on 5/26/2007 7:00:34 PM , Rating: 2
Someone should be banned for disagreeing? If true, set the example and voluntarily leave. Goodbye.


RE: Modular connectors
By TomZ on 5/26/2007 9:31:46 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
That is completely wrong. So wrong in fact it's absurd, and for spewing that verbal diarrhea of the keyboard you should be banned.

Well, oxidation and dust do increase contact resistance of a connector, and increased contact resistance does increase the voltage drop. Also, if you add to that the fact that the contact resistance increases a little each time you unmate-mate the connectors, then there's that effect to add in, too.

Fact: A modular PSU will always have more voltage drop across its wiring harness compared to the same PSU with a non-modular harness. The resistance, and thus voltage drop, will always be less for 1" of wire compared to a male+female connector pair. It's real simple.

Does this affect the "quality" of the power supply? If you are a purist, the answer is absolutely yes - the voltage at your motherboard will be a little lower. As a realist, however, it probably doesn't make any difference in almost all systems except for those that are marginal already.


RE: Modular connectors
By imaheadcase on 5/27/2007 9:16:17 AM , Rating: 2
You are taking it to literally, the drop if any is not even noticeable, its like comparing a fast car to a slower car, when they are both going the speed limit.

Modular power supplies have been proven in the field for years, commercial use should be proof enough they are ok. Heck they use them in airplanes! I think if you want confirmation they are fine that is the place you would know.


RE: Modular connectors
By ADDAvenger on 5/26/2007 10:23:28 PM , Rating: 5
I can't believe how simple this solution is here, and yet you all missed it. PC P&C needs to buy Monster Cables too, and use them in their modular PSUs, everyone knows of their mystical qualities.

/sarcasm


RE: Modular connectors
By AstroCreep on 5/26/2007 12:05:31 AM , Rating: 2
PCP&C never did modular because (according to their "Power Supply Myths Exposed!" page - http://www.pcpower.com/technology/myths/) it isn't worth the potential issues 'going modular' can cause.


RE: Modular connectors
By michaelheath on 5/26/2007 2:01:04 AM , Rating: 3
First of all, it should be said that while modular cabling creates some resistance, that resistance is so small that it is insignificant. The claim that 'the voltage drop can be as much as would occur in 2 feet of standard wire' is supposed to sound scary, but in real-world electronics this fact means next to nothing.

Secondly, corrosion would be a concern for high humidity environments only. Also, corrosion around other computer components would be an equal factor, not to mention any electrical appliance as well, and this issue would not limited just to the connectivity to the power supply.

Lastly, I am still waiting to hear about a modular power supply from a respectable company have connecting wires that fall out erroneously or that burst into flames at the connectors. Personally, I have the original Antec NeoPower 480 running in a system that has been in use for over three years and I am using a Corsair HX620 in the computer I am using right now. Neither has given me any trouble and both provide clean and efficient power.

For all the hullabaloo on PC P&C's "Myth" website about bad marketing and poor power supply practices, I see nothing but over-hyped market-speak.


RE: Modular connectors
By qdemn7 on 5/26/2007 10:25:12 AM , Rating: 2
I certainly hope OCZ starts making PC Power units with modular connections. Lack of modular connections has been the single reason I have NOT bought a PCP&C unit.

Frankly if I'm expected to pay the premium price asked of a PCP&C PSU then I expect premium features. It's as simple as that.


RE: Modular connectors
By emboss on 5/26/2007 1:55:10 PM , Rating: 2
Connector resistance can be a real problem, especially if you're pushing 20 A through a pin - it's not uncommon to have 50 milliohm resistance across a poorly prepared quick-connect connector (been plugged in/out a few times, maybe oxidised a bit, possibly oil from fingers, etc etc). At this level of resistance and with 20 A, you've got to dissipate 1 W of heat from the connector, which is almost always a thermal *insulator*. Not impossible, but definately something that needs to be carefully thought through. Connector performance over time also needs to be taken into account, as the resistance will increase as the connector ages.

In the case of a PC, this connector resistance is more important than wire resistance, since the voltage drop over the cable is not a big issue (12/5 V sources typically pass through an additional voltage regulator stage) and the heat can easily be dissipated from the cable.

For example, the Tyan Tiger MP's problems with the ATX connector melting. I've also had the extra power connector on a 9800 become scorched - while it was stil working fine, there was clearly a potential future problem if it got worse.

PCP&C power supplies are designed to be very reliable. Traditionally, their supplies went into servers and workstations where reliability was a high concern. Any connector poses a potential reliability problem, so since it is unnecessary there's no point in having it.

I personally hope that OCZ doesn't dilute the PCP&C brand by including things like modular connectors on PCP&C supplies. When I buy a supply from them, I want to be sure that reliability has been a top priority. Take the guts of a PCP&C supply, put it in a box with modular connectors, and market it as an OCZ power supply, fine, but don't make the reliability of the PCP&C brand questionable.


RE: Modular connectors
By qdemn7 on 5/26/2007 8:36:20 PM , Rating: 2
If you think corrosion is THAT big of a problem in regards PSU connections, then I suggest getting some Stabilant 22 contact enhancer, and using THAT on your connections.


RE: Modular connectors
By mindless1 on 5/26/2007 7:13:36 PM , Rating: 2
You obviously don't know much at all about real-world electronics if you think a drop over 2 feet of wire is nothing when talking about a PSU potentially spec'd for over 30A per rail. Current matters.

Corrosion versus time. It should be obvious enough that you can't run a computer effectively if everything turns to rust in months, but you can't just take the other extreme and remove as much moisture from the air as possible either for health reasons, structural (wood, etc) reasons, ESD factors, etc. Time takes it's toll in one way or another and a metal connector is no exception, particularly so when talking about one on a device actively pulling (typically dusty) air towards and through itself.

Lastly you're not "waiting" for anything, you are deliberately choosing to ignore factual evidence already present if you didn't try to refute each fact one at a time. The truth is mechanical connectors are among the weak links in high power delivery. It has been seen in connectors to motherboards, video cards, and lots of industrial equipment. You know you are wrong when you try to make extreme arguments like "fall out erroneously or that burst into flames".

Why the deceipt? You already knew the more likely scenario was poor contact while remaining plugged in, that neither of your deliberately contrived contrasts were a typical failure mode.

You've used a whole TWO power supplies for a whole THREE years. If these giant sample sizes you are considering did eventually prove problematic, I doubt you would even recognize the problem. Likewise with others who shotgun-replace parts when they can't get at the root cause of system instability or failure.

I'm not trying to claim modular connectors are inherantly "evil" but instead of a deliberate ignorance it is more useful to recognize all factors and choose as an informed customer. If they demonstrate acceptible performance to you, then so long as you continue using same modular connector brand & type, in same environment with same load per contact, you have begun to qualify them for that specific use - and no other more demanding use.


RE: Modular connectors
By TomZ on 5/26/2007 9:35:17 PM , Rating: 2
You're right, but the main culprit is the 30A multiplier of the contact resistance. Compared to back when power rails only supplied maybe 5A, you see that the voltage drop is 6X what it used to be. Unnecessary connectors don't seem wise to me for that kind of application.


RE: Modular connectors
By cocoviper on 5/27/2007 12:15:56 AM , Rating: 3
Exactly.

I'm an electrical engineering student that’s actually had several courses in electronics and power system design and when you're talking about these very compact switching power supplies- ones that are very sensitive to noise and power quality- connections and wire lengths ARE important.

As you as well as others have brought up, the extra connections that modular PSUs have are going to ALWAYS be intrinsically worse than those that are hard wired. And the effects are not negligible; they can be significant both in Vdroop, Vripple as well as plain old signal integrity.

The insides of computers are already very noisy when it comes to EMI and putting a bunch of unneeded connectors in the power system will at best act as antennas that will pick up noise from the system or put off their own noise. And yes EMI can be counteracted, but not at the expense of efficiency, cost (both in terms of connectors and extra electronics), and performance.

It comes down to this: Putting modular connectors on a high performance, high amperage switching power supplies that aren’t really needed is just nonsense. Any engineer worth two cents will tell you the same thing. Now some applications or people might need modular connections. But the truth is 99% of us really don't. (And remember convenience is not the same as need.)


RE: Modular connectors
By michaelheath on 5/27/2007 4:17:25 AM , Rating: 3
Actually, I know more about real-world electronics than you think. Since I was thirteen, I have worked in the theater industry as an electrician (these days, my day job is a computer support specialist for a university, though). The instruments that I work with pull more electricity than any given personal computer (unless you can say your PC pulls 10Kw of power), all the connectors and dimmer packs used are modular, and cable runs can go on for hundreds of feet, sometimes using two or three cables linked together to go that distance. Oh, and shows go on for months at a time under various heat and moisture conditions, and usually the lamps (what the layman might call a 'light bulb') usually fail 100 times more often than anything else (a filament designed to channel 300 to 10,000 watts of electricity can take only so much abuse). Oh, and I've been building computers for five years and using them since Basic was en vogue and OS/2 was new. I'm no electrical engineer, but I think I know a thing or two...

The amount of vdroop in two feet of cabling from any rail in a computer power supply is negligible unless it's a really crappy power supply with poor quality cables. If it were a significant change, then I hope to heck nobody uses those adapter cables that come with motherboards or video cards that adapt Molex to PCI-E or to Serial ATA, or, heaven forbid, a 8-pin to 4-pin CPU 12v cable adapter...

Corrosion is subject to environmental conditions, but most people keep their PC in an environment where it would take several years for that to happen.

Also, apparently you missed the point I was trying to make about PC P&C's claims: That quote was taken right from PC P&C's website. I will re-print it here: "Worse yet, modular plugs utilize delicate pins that can easily loosen, corrode, and burn, creating the potential for a major system failure" I have not seen any of the above happen with my modular power supplies, nor have I heard any reports of that happening. Both of the modular power supplies I've used have very firm connectors both at the PSU as well as at the connector for the component, have not corroded, and most certainly have not burned.

As for the baseless personal attacks:

Yes, I have used several more power supplies beyond these two modular PSU's over the course of several years (I currently keep around three more ranging from 300 to 600 watts, all with hard lines to the PSU and none of which have given me any issue either).

Yes, I disregard the idea that modular power supplies are inherently bad because the issues that are brought up are so insignificant to the general populace and important to so very few that anyone who really needs to care doesn't even use retail power supplies anyway. Quote from PC P&C again: "That's why professional system builders specify uninterrupted wire!" ...it's because they aren't using retail power supplies and having PC P&C make them a custom PSU!

I don't change components when something goes wrong; I gradually upgrade my PC and hold on to older components for helping troubleshoot other people's issues or to be sold to someone who wants/needs them.

Shotgun remedies are reserved for people who aren't patient enough to be methodical (I still start out troubleshooting with, "Ok, is it turned on?" because people who rush forget simple things).

Yes, I've seen power connector corrosion, but it's a rarity in North-Eastern USA (I've seen stripped power connectors more often, though).

I don't refute some of the evidence PC P&C brings up. I just think it's overly exaggerated for the purposes of marketing and preying on the fears of the ignorant (notice how they don't actually show the calculated resistance and vdroop caused by 2 feet of cabling in a PC from a quality power supply...).


RE: Modular connectors
By TomZ on 5/27/2007 9:10:04 AM , Rating: 3
quote:
The instruments that I work with pull more electricity than any given personal computer (unless you can say your PC pulls 10Kw of power), all the connectors and dimmer packs used are modular, and cable runs can go on for hundreds of feet, sometimes using two or three cables linked together to go that distance.

What voltage do those systems run at? 12V? Probably not, and the reason is that the engineers that designed it wanted to deliver the required amount of power in a way that minimizes the current. And the reason to minimize the current is to reduce the power loss due to the resistance of connectors and wires.

The PC power supply standards of 12V, 5V, etc. were defined many years ago when the when very little current was drawn from these supplies (less than 5A). Now that you have 500W and even 1kW supplies used for PCs, you are pulling much more current through these connections. Any engineer approaching this problem "new" would have designed a higher voltage rail, probably in the 40-50V range. But such is the case with "legacy" applications - you can't always fix the problem because of economic and/or business constraints.

As to your point about PCP&C's claims on their web site - I completely agree with you that they are completely exaggerated. What they describe would be the case only if you had a faulty connector, or a short leading to an overcurrent situation. Barring these extremes, the only negative effect of extra connectors is they will drop the voltage a little and waste a little power at the connector. Whether this is "negligible" as you say is a matter of opinion. It certainly is measurable, and from an engineer's perspective, significant. But will it cause failures in many PCs? No, of course not.


RE: Modular connectors
By andrep on 5/29/2007 5:41:14 AM , Rating: 2
While I was an electronics tech in the Navy, we'd do quarterly maintenance on power cords to ensure that end-to-end resistance was less than 1 ohm. On 120 VAC.
You rarely had to clean connectors to meet this spec if the cables had been in use between maintenance. Unplugged cords tend to corrode based upon environmental factors (which can be significant if your home is in Hawaii, or near a beach, for example); connectors that are mated have a much lower rate of oxidation. When a manufacturer plates connectors with gold, they're expecting those connectors to be unconnected for an unknown amount of time, and then plugged in as is. That way, the hit taken for resistance through the gold conductor would be less than the hit through any other metal that may oxidize, since gold oxidizes at a much slower rate.

Computer power connectors are rarely gold, last time I checked. Part of the reason for this is the design of power supplies. Most designs I've seen have some feedback mechanism that senses output voltage when that voltage level is critical (we're not talking hard drives and such here). Also, devices with high tolerance needs tend to be either cheap and uncompensated (think cheap RAM here) or expensive and over-designed.

Finally, it's worth mentioning that even super-expensive commercial equipment needs to be calibrated or at least checked every once in a while, something that I've never heard of in even the top-of-the-line consumer power supplies. And no, unless your LCD voltage read-out is also calibration-checked at a regular interval, you never know if a change or lack of change in voltage is due to zero, one, or more pieces of equipment having changed. That even goes (especially) for super-expensive, super-sensitive equipment. I always laugh at motherboard monitoring software that claims to have updated their code to "compensate" for a "known" voltage bug. Unless the value has been calibration-checked, the voltage level read-out is relative, anyways.


RE: Modular connectors
By Chriz on 5/26/2007 11:43:13 AM , Rating: 2
What's with people rating my posts and other people's posts down just because they don't like the idea of modular connectors on some PC P&C power supplies? That's just rude.


RE: Modular connectors
By TomZ on 5/26/2007 9:37:45 PM , Rating: 2
What I see when I look at the posts is a lot of downrating of people pointing out the disadvantage of modular connectors. Especially when they are replying to posts from people who don't know what the heck they're talking about.


RE: Modular connectors
By mindless1 on 5/28/2007 4:46:10 AM , Rating: 1
Ratings are only a popularity poll when the information becomes more and more technical and outside the assumptions of uninformed consumers.

IOW, if Joe Sixpack elite gamer reads a PSU review and bought a PSU based on that, so long as that PSU doesn't outright fail, then Joe Sixpack claims ultimate knowledge on the subject. Instead what Joe really has is one example of the issue not being signficant enough to effect HIM personally, which is certainly one valid point of data but not anything more than that.


I don't like the sound's of this personally.
By pauldovi on 5/25/2007 6:47:37 PM , Rating: 2
It is going to be hard to convince Joe at Walmart to fork out extra money for the quality of a PC Power and Cooling powersupply at Walmart over the cheap Dynex or Antec one. He simply is too ignorant to know the difference.

So either OCZ will stop selling at Walmart as planned or they will lower their quality (most likely the latter).

I suspect that the power supplies will most likely lose their plain and professional appearance and will be brand-engineered with fancy names, graphics, and colors. Their quality will go out the window while their marketability will sky-rocket. People will love them, without realizing they have lost a quality product.

I will expedite my purchase of a Silencer 750 before OCZ ruins this legendary company and PSU line.

Sorry PCP&C




RE: I don't like the sound's of this personally.
By azander on 5/25/2007 6:59:56 PM , Rating: 5
Hi Pauldovi, thats a totally legitimate concern anytime there is a acquistion of this type, and I appreicate you bringing it up. We are not making any changes whatsoever to the PC Power & Cooling lineup. Doug from PC Power is also now devoting all his time to bringing out even better next generation units.

There also exists the OCZ lineup of PSU's which the PC Power team is actually helping to improve at the core level to make them even better. The OCZ lineup will continue to exist and be positioned from mainstream to gamer and entry enthusiast. The PC Power solutions remain purely enthusiast, server, and commerical. This combination allows us to address the complete range of consumers and provide products like the GameXStream to hard core gamers, and the PC Power TurboCool for mission critical applications.


RE: I don't like the sound's of this personally.
By pauldovi on 5/25/2007 7:03:41 PM , Rating: 4
Would I expect a employee of OCZ to say anything else?

I may be a little harsh on OCZ in my above post. However, too many "tech" companies spend far to many resources on brand-engineering and flashy graphics to sell their products without any concern for quality. This is a deep concern of mine regarding the acquisition of PCP&C by OCZ, which in my opinion is one of those "flashy" companies.


RE: I don't like the sound's of this personally.
By bohhad on 5/25/2007 7:36:52 PM , Rating: 2
i have to disagree, plenty of ignorant consumers equate cost to quality, and pcp&c's price tag will definitely mean they are on the top shelf, so to speak.

i was actually excited to hear they will be wselling at walmart, now i can tell all the people that come to me asking questions where they can buy a good power supply in person, and not have to do it on the internet.


RE: I don't like the sound's of this personally.
By ryedizzel on 5/25/2007 7:39:55 PM , Rating: 3
Wow pauldovi, you are entitled to your opinion but don't you think it's a little soon to jump to negative conclusions? No offense but it is people like you that tend to ruin these very few direct communication relationships that company executives try to establish with their customers.

Anyway I could be ignorant, but I personally have faith that this merger/acquisition will work out just fine. And until I actually see poor quality products I will continue to hold this opinion.


RE: I don't like the sound's of this personally.
By azander on 5/25/2007 11:10:36 PM , Rating: 3
Thanks ryedizzel for the very kind words. Whatever the feedback we love to hear it, as it helps us fully understand what our most technically saavy customers like yourselves really are looking for, and in turn helps us build a better product.

I personally really appreciate the dialogue, and trust me, every single comment I take very seriously. What is most exciting about the acquisition to me is that we can better serve the complete range of consumers, from the entry level gamer to the commercial server application, and we intend to let PC Power do what they do best....build a rock solid product. Only now they will have even more resources at their disposal.


RE: I don't like the sound's of this personally.
By Marlowe on 5/26/2007 7:13:40 AM , Rating: 2
I kinda agree with pauldovi on this one.

OCZ isn't really a psu manufacturer. If they don't get them manufactured for them, they buy and rebrand power supplies from companies like Fortron, Tagan and Top Power. Then they are made more appealing with nicer looks and packaging and then sold with OCZs well known name and with their global marketing and support system.

From the early start they've done this rebranding, also when they originally started with processor coolers, wich we haven't seen much from in the last years. (Except the phase change unit, but did that really catch on?)

I'm not saying doing this is a deadly sin or that their products are crap or anything, I just wanted to get it mentioned. So can people make up their own opinion about it.

Maby one reason for this aquisition is that OCZ now wants to save money by producing more of their own products (PSUs)instead of buying them from others.


RE: I don't like the sound's of this personally.
By Marlowe on 5/26/2007 7:29:38 AM , Rating: 2
Speaking of marketing, also notice the huge OCZ banner on top of this very page next to the DailyTech site name.

However I won't be the one to yell out bias and money under the table here, I just noticed it thats all ;)

It won't be long now till we see PC P&C PSUs in one of those flash slides!


By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 5/26/2007 1:20:18 PM , Rating: 3
There's a Crucial one to your left that also rotates with Corsair.


By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 5/26/2007 1:21:10 PM , Rating: 3
Er - My left your right. I'm inside your computer!!!!


By crystal clear on 5/26/2007 10:44:43 PM , Rating: 2
So what !-its legitimate advertising revenue.

Visit other sites - they fill their pages to the maximum,with adverts making reading of the actual contents a painful process.

Atleast D.T does not overdo it.


RE: I don't like the sound's of this personally.
By mindless1 on 5/26/2007 6:41:14 PM , Rating: 2
Except that PCP&C doesn't make all theirs either.

No disrespect meant to OCZ but I don't consider your classification correct that it's Fortron, Tagan and Top Power then resold with OCZ's name. The OCZ name means nothing to me compared to Fortron, it is not a higher perceived value it is lower perceived value not knowing for certain (before a review or examination myself) what is inside the OCZ /box/. I'm not trying to imply OCZ products are low quality at all, but to reach a perception or expectation about such things, having a more precise idea of exactly what you're getting is better than the variability involved in resellers' products.

When you buy and sell products other manufacturers make, it is no assurance one product is good simply because another unrelated product (like memory) is. Likewise with poor products, if OCZ sold something at one point that wasn't good, it has no bearing on other dissimilar products sold today.

Relabeling in itself isn't necessarily bad but when it just becomes a case of an additional middleman without real design or longevity improvements or value-added extras worthty of a price increase, or when there is uncertainty of exactly what you're getting, it becomes important to have very detailed information about the product, more than what is revealed by the typical cookie-cutter web reviews.


By TomZ on 5/26/2007 9:46:06 PM , Rating: 2
A company like OCZ does actually have some control over quality, even if another company is building the PSUs for them. For example, OCZ could have influence in the power supply design, components selection, manufacturing, testing/quality, etc.

Your conclusions are based on a view that a particular company, the PSU manufacturer in this case, always puts out the highest quality they have the capability to supply. But in reality, quality-cost tradeoffs happen all the time. Therefore, a customer-reseller like OCZ could specify higher quality than than manufacturer's own branded products.

I'm not saying that OCZ did exert such inflence (I don't have any insider knowledge); I'm just saying that it is possible.


By imaheadcase on 5/26/2007 10:02:59 AM , Rating: 3
quote:
Whatever the feedback we love to hear it, as it helps us fully understand what our most technically saavy customers like yourselves really are looking for, and in turn helps us build a better product.


How about being the first and only Powersupply maker to make a freaking modular power supply that does not have a million connections on one strand? I mean really, I bought a new PS last month for new system, but could not find the "perfect" one because none had a good modular cable system, they ALL had a bunch of connections on each cable. How can that be so hard?

So instead of 5 cables in my PC with 1 connection on each end, i have 5 cables with 4 other connections on each end. lame.


RE: I don't like the sound's of this personally.
By Ksyder on 5/26/2007 1:02:43 PM , Rating: 2
Well, PC Power and Cooling has clearly stated in the past their disagreement with the idea of modular PSU's, due to issues with creating another failure point where the cables connect to the PSU unit. They say that this creates more resistance in the circuits and can cause problems with burnt pins, etc. They also say that modular PSU's would never be used in industrial applications due to these facts. I would guess that you would probably never see a PC P&C modular PSU.

A few years ago, Maximum PC magazine did a PSU roundup and stated that the Antec Neopower was better than the PC P&C model because it has the modular plugs. A month later, PC P&C wrote them a letter disputing the test results due to the popular misconception that modular PSU's were better.


By TomZ on 5/27/2007 9:18:37 AM , Rating: 2
PCP&C's statements about reliability regarding modular PSUs is pure exaggeration and marketing FUD.

What they can say, factually, is that a non-modular wire harness will deliver power more efficiently than a modular wire harness. That, however, doesn't make such a compelling story on a web site.

Modular power supplies are only "better" in that they are more convient. Non-modular power supplies, however, have the potential to deliver power to your motherboard and peripherals more efficiently with less voltage drop and power loss. So in the end, it's a tradeoff between the two.


By azander on 5/25/2007 7:44:19 PM , Rating: 3
Thanks Bohhad. No guarantees they will be at Wallmart, but they certainly will be made more widely available in our existing channel, and that includes a lot of retailers. Its up to our channel partners to pick up the product, but we are committed to make the PC Power units more readily available to consumers, whether it is via e-tail or retail.


By iAtticus on 5/26/2007 1:16:31 AM , Rating: 2
Actually I think PCP&P will keep their quality and look after this acquisition and OCZs PSUs will keep up the fancy LEDs, graphics, names, etc. OCZs line of PSUs will continue to be the flashy attention getters, and yet still holding their quality, while the PCP&P PSUs will be the more high end enthusiast's brand PSU. The only change I could see happening is a possible price drop overall with the PCP&Ps due to more manufacturing capability.

Personally, I'm very happy with my OCZ 700w gXs. :)


By Comdrpopnfresh on 5/26/2007 2:44:13 AM , Rating: 2
if there is that much of a market at stores like walmart I think a line of ocz psu's may be developed to cater towards the lower performance (compared to what most of us need), high value market. It doesn't mean a complete shift of products will occur. If anything this will help infuse the small company ability to be very innovative that PCP&C had into OCZ product lines. Personally I love their RAM, and wanted in on a power supply- it just wasn't in my wallet... but maybe on my next build.


Cool
By michaelheath on 5/25/2007 5:52:40 PM , Rating: 2
Well, at least I hope this means the cost to manufacturer and, ultimately, the cost to own a PC P&C power supply will drop. Their PSU's are legendary, but you have to sell a kidney on the black market to get one. OCZ's wider resource channels should open things up for PC P&C as far as costs go, hopefully without sacrificing quality.

...Maybe OCZ can convince PC P&C that ventilating a 1 kilowatt power supply with a single 80 mm fan is a bad idea, no matter how high grade the components are on the inside. I'm not holding my breath, though...




RE: Cool
By azander on 5/25/2007 6:07:21 PM , Rating: 5
Hi Michaelheath,

First let me identify myself as OCZ's CMO. Thanks for the comment and we are excited about the joining of our two companies under the OCZ Technology Group. We have always respected PC Power's exceptional quality and technical abilities, and are infusing more resources into the company to really take things to the next level, with an emphasis on further pushing the envelope in terms of quality and innovation. Stay tuned for exciting new products.


RE: Cool
By MDE on 5/25/2007 6:21:04 PM , Rating: 2
CMO = Chief Misinformation Officer?

I kid, I kid. It's nice to see companies trying to keep in touch with customers with executives that actually know what their product does.


RE: Cool
By azander on 5/25/2007 6:30:37 PM , Rating: 2
Hahah, thats what I'm going to introduce myslef as from now on. Thanks, its fantastic to be able to interact with our customers directly like this, and I take all your feedback to heart.


RE: Cool
By deeznuts on 5/25/2007 6:41:29 PM , Rating: 2
Let me say that I've been overclocking since 1999, and OCZ has grown from controversial circumstances to having a good rep when I came back into the hobby. I left for a while, when I came back I said, "is this the same OCZ?" Now I don't hesitate to use/purchase/recommend the products, especially with the customer service from some of your guys over at xtremesystems forums, like RyanOCZ. Trust me, that goes a long way with customers and potential ones.


RE: Cool
By CrystalBay on 5/25/2007 6:48:10 PM , Rating: 2
WOW just WOW , I'll say one both companies have very good marketing techniques...and products.


RE: Cool
By CrystalBay on 5/25/2007 6:49:32 PM , Rating: 2
should be "one thing in common"


RE: Cool
By Mookytc on 5/25/2007 8:27:10 PM , Rating: 2
I have a ocz gamexstream 700w in this machine and have used a handful in a bunch of new builds. I think it is an excellent psu and I hope the quality will continue after the merge.

DC


RE: Cool
By Kougar on 5/25/2007 10:00:41 PM , Rating: 2
It should be telling that PC Power & Cooling's 750watt Quad Silencer is certified for R600 Crossfire, whilte the OCZ 850watt GameXstream is not. Only the 1,010watt GameXstream model from OCZ made that same certification.


RE: Cool
By Samus on 5/25/2007 7:18:59 PM , Rating: 3
Yea, this is cool. I like it when smaller companies join together to combine technology (much like AMD/ATI) other than what some companies do (Seagate buys Maxtor, Quantum, Conner, etc, and does away with all of their technology resulting in massive layoff's)


RE: Cool
By ScythedBlade on 5/26/2007 12:43:01 PM , Rating: 3
But this rather seems like a production acquision instead .... But ehh, its extremely good. Cheaper enthusiast power supplies ... we (consumers) win~


RE: Cool
By Kougar on 5/26/2007 12:53:08 PM , Rating: 2
Consider this. PC Power & Cooling's 750watt Quad Silencer is certified for R600 Crossfire, whilte the OCZ 850watt GameXstream is not. Only the 1,010watt GameXstream model from OCZ made that same certification.

PC Power & Cooling 750watt $200
OCZ GameXstream 1010watt $285

You pay more because you are getting more than you realize, with the above comparison you can see that PC Power & Cooling is not as expensive as you think they are. OCZ does not personally test each PSU with a technician and include a report sheet detailing the voltage rails and max attainable load per each PSU they send out. It should already be known they don't use as high quality components and internal circuitry designs.

And you should take a look at the airflow from the 120mm fan inside that GameXstream PSU sometime, it's a far less efficient design than P&C's silent 80mm fan. Bigger is not always better.


RE: Cool
By mindless1 on 5/26/2007 7:23:49 PM , Rating: 2
Exactly. Consumers can often have a hard time differntiately between two products seemingly rated the same and just conclude that if they know of no difference there must not be any. They think "that's really expensive, too expensive" but not considering high grade parts, design, testing is not without addt'l overhead that has to apply towards (retail) cost.

It might really be too expensive, if their system only used 300W peak power it is not like anything but their confusion or an inappropriate recommendation on a web forum which made it seem like they'd need an honestly rated ~900W+ PSU with a peak output well over 1KW.

It's your toy though, I mean when the PSU requirement is powering high-end gaming video cards. No way I'd get a PS2 form-factor PSU for any server requiring upwards of 1KW.


New CTO
By krotchy on 5/25/2007 6:23:08 PM , Rating: 3
I think the biggest news in this article is the PCP&C Founder becoming CTO of OCZ. He has already proven he can successfully design plenty of high quality products with PCP&C, and now by moving into OCZ he has the opportunity to bring far more products to market. Im interested to see where OCZ goes in the next couple of years, because they have a great opportunity ahead.




RE: New CTO
By azander on 5/25/2007 6:33:25 PM , Rating: 4
Yes, we are very excited to have Doug join the OCZ family. His role is focused on the power management division, but you can be sure he will be involved in many other projects. Just look at the name of the company "PC Power and Cooling" - hint hint


RE: New CTO
By deeznuts on 5/25/2007 6:42:45 PM , Rating: 2
I remember buying an overclocked Athlon and Cooler from OCZ a long long time ago lol. Is that what you're hinting at? New coolers (such as OCZ dominator)


RE: New CTO
By sieistganzfett on 5/25/2007 6:44:01 PM , Rating: 2
originally i was screaming no, but since doug is joining ocz, and pcp&c brand and products will remain supposedly as they were, i stopped screaming. hopefully the pcp&c psu will remain well engineered and well built with the straight forward detailed specs, and the whopping single 12v rail.


RE: New CTO
By Comdrpopnfresh on 5/26/2007 2:57:16 AM , Rating: 2
dailytech, or some other site I read did mention that there was speculation you guys would head back into cooling more fully. I think it was a review of a recent cooler that came to market...


OCZ's memory division?
By tobrien on 5/25/2007 6:45:10 PM , Rating: 2
This may come off as sounding rather dumb, but will this in any way whatsoever affect OCZ's memory division and/or its products in that arena?




RE: OCZ's memory division?
By azander on 5/25/2007 6:51:32 PM , Rating: 3
Hi Tobrien, good question actually. With PC Power and Cooling in the technology group we can actually devote more resources to building new and exciting PSU's, as well as dedicate even more attention to our premium memory solutions. The sharing of technological expertise also allows us to get even more creative. Bottom line...more resources, more specialization, and more innovation.


RE: OCZ's memory division?
By tobrien on 5/25/2007 6:59:12 PM , Rating: 2
Thank you!

And as to your saying "we can actually devote more resources to building new and exciting PSU's" do you mean under the PCP&C name or the OCZ name? Is there any chance you could give us some information or hints as to what such new features and/or products we'll be seeing?

Again thank you for your reply!

But I really think this is going to turn out to be great not only for the consumers but for PC P&C and OCZ as well.


RE: OCZ's memory division?
By azander on 5/25/2007 7:07:12 PM , Rating: 2
While I can't release any details yet of upcoming products I can confirm that both lines will continue to exist. We are making no changes to the PC Power and Cooling lineup, and Doug is leading the charge for all future power management solutions. The way it will be positioned...

OCZ PSU's: Mainstream, Gamers, entry-enthusiasts

PC Power: Dell Upgrades, Enthusiasts, Mission Critical, Servers, System Builders

With more resources given to PC Power Doug can really get creative as our new CTO.


RE: OCZ's memory division?
By pauldovi on 5/25/2007 7:09:42 PM , Rating: 2
And what of prices. With the increases resources of OCZ I would expect them to drop. But I don't really see this happening.


PCP&C in Europe?
By jr9k on 5/28/2007 7:00:00 AM , Rating: 2
Will PCP&C PSUs be sold in Europe?




RE: PCP&C in Europe?
By KlausOCZ on 5/28/2007 1:08:29 PM , Rating: 2
Well, at least this is the plan as far as I am aware ;)

Klaus from OCZ Europe


Reply
By Tiresmoke on 5/26/2007 1:16:53 AM , Rating: 2
Awesome news lads. I have owned both PCP&C and OCZ PSU's and still use them to this day as they are simply great products. They have been wonderful products and one's that I strongly recommend to anyone building computer gear at any level. Keep the good stuff coming our way.




For the OCZ crew.
By Darth Farter on 5/26/2007 2:11:46 AM , Rating: 2
Just to mention, I think it's top notch for a reputable company to get in the comments to contact and discuss with potential customers/enthusiasts.

I personally do not like mergers as I feel it leaves the consumer often with less choice and higher prices in the future, but in this case it may bear some fruits.

Good luck with the merger and I hope some innovaton and solid products may come out of it.

DF




Just amazing
By Gnoad on 5/26/2007 6:46:50 AM , Rating: 2
The fact that we have real reps talking with us on this news article goes far beyond what any other company would consider doing. I can honestly say that this kind of communication and feedback is by far the greatest way to win over your customers. This really does go a very long way to make us feel important and cared about, not like just another target for a business model.

This is exactly how business should be done, and I will remember this the next time I need to buy memory or power supplies.




Hoping quality stays high...
By m3rdpwr on 5/26/2007 7:07:38 AM , Rating: 2
I've been using PC Power and Cooling since the 80's.

First for the replacement proprietary Compaq Power Supplies, and ever since for my PC's.

I have never, ever had a PCP&C Power Supply fail on me and still have one (400 watt) in my pc that is well over 5 years old and still lives on with my Athlon 64.

I hope the aquisition does not lower the quality as it would really p' me off...

-Mario




Two things
By shaw on 5/26/2007 8:55:29 PM , Rating: 2
PC Power & Cooling is against modular power supplies. OCZ on the other hand has a line of modular power supplies. From what I'm reading on the website it looks as if OCZ and PC Power & Cooling will remain two seperate producation line, but just ran under one buissness model. I'm just hoping this doesn't mean that OCZ is going to start making PC Power & Cooling make modular power supplies.

Also, does this mean the FSP group will now be called FSO! :P




By crystal clear on 5/26/2007 11:16:53 PM , Rating: 2
This for - OCZ CEO Ryan Petersen .

1)Dont make your organization another "ABIT"-Jack of all trades & Master of NONE.
ABIT mobos were once upon a time very famous,now nobody wants them.

2)Do what you do best -MEMORY-thats what OCZ is famous for.

3)You got to restructore/reorganize your organization.

4)Create a new company called "OCZ MARKETING" that will market all NON memory products.(Branding purposes)

5)The big players in the memory market,you know who they are.I dont have to mention them.
They are investing heavily in R&D for better/more powerful & DIVERSE MEMORY products.

USE YOUR RESOURCES IN R&D before its too late,instead of buying up companies.




The simplest approach
By Setsunayaki on 5/27/2007 8:08:08 AM , Rating: 2
I see Modular Supplies as something negative. However since its been argued to death, what we need is physical evidence of problems. You know! We all argue back and forth and stand by certain logic right?

We are talking about OCZ.....when I spoke to one of their representatives on the phone over SLI certification, they wanted me to buy an 850w power supply....

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/power_manage...

On this page...I found the following phraze for an SLI power supply written in BOLD PRINT!

"Maximum ratings are shown. The combined output of all 12V rails is 72A at ambient room temperature of 20 C."

This is pretty bad here....20C ambient? The actual Operating temperature of a power supply is 40 - 50c. So....we have 1 company (OCZ) that bases Amperage based on 20c ambient temperatures......Most other companies have amperage based on 25c ambient temperature. PC Power and Cooling Supplies have their amperage based on 40 - 50c.

PC Power and Cooling measures their power supplies at Operating Temperatures. Everything is based on it! Other companies base their specifications on Ambient Room Temperatures...

20C = 68F....

Who honesly has a 68F ambient temperature without an air conditioner? specially in the summer?

Im not a rocket scientist, but I assume that testing directly at 40 - 50c that 60 - 70a works on a PCPower&Cooling supply is far better than some company telling me that 72A works tested on an ambient room temperature of 68F......

Why do people believe so strongly in power supply testing at ambient temperatures? The majority of us rely on testing all our other components that make up our computer based on actual operating temperatures such as processors, video cards and hard drives.

If OCZ was soo confident in their power supply line, they really wouldnt have bought a company exclusive to power supplies and design in the first place. When you look at this fact.....it makes you wonder just how strong an OCZ power supply truly is.

If I owned a company and TRULY believed in my product and knew my product was technically superior...I wouldn't buy another company specializing in the manufacturing and design of the product I am boasting about....

Im not asking you to believe me...Just look perceptively into things and run your own investigation. I find all of this to be strange ^_^




I want to bring up the modular thing again...
By Treckin on 5/26/07, Rating: -1
By mindless1 on 5/28/2007 4:54:20 AM , Rating: 1
Actually you demonstrate quite well the utter ignorance prevalent.

Beyond a certain point, yes signaling quality is bad with poor connectors, but the issue was contact resistance. A signal line with a few uA or mA at most, is not susceptible to same problems as a 30A power rail.

Further, that signal line will just fail without further degradation of the contact while a several-amp power lead will further degrade the contact if it was already a significant impedance.

If you believe it's a crime punishable by death, set the example- go head - we'll be waiting for the newspaper obituaries to say goodbye.


Well this merger is likely to be a dud
By Beenthere on 5/25/07, Rating: -1
RE: Well this merger is likely to be a dud
By OCZryan (blog) on 5/25/2007 11:14:00 PM , Rating: 2
Hi guys

I know our CMO has been posting , But I did want to put emphasis on the fact that we feel this deal will help OCZ to develop more robust and advanced PSU's in terms of technology , Which will be marketed under both brands.

Doug and myself are both hardware enthusiasts ( as those who know me from XS and BE can attest) who want to deliver the best products on the market , thats why we decided to move foward with this .

While we will not lower the quality of any of our products will always try to produce a midline product that will offer a good price/performance ratio

Looking foward to making even better products in the future , ( and for those who care we intend the market the hell out of them )

Thanks for your support !!

Ryan Petersen , CEO
OCZ Technology Group Inc.


RE: Well this merger is likely to be a dud
By OCZryan (blog) on 5/25/2007 11:25:46 PM , Rating: 2
One last thing

If customers have issues we listen , so please let our customer service know if you really hate walmart so much that it reflects badly on OCZ.

Thanks
Ryan Petersen


By josh609 on 5/25/2007 11:52:24 PM , Rating: 2
Competition is getting hot with Corsair, Seasonic, Fortron, and Thermaltake bringing out great products. I personally think OCZ and PCP&C are 2 of the best. Them two coming together will only lead to better technology and I hope lower prices.
By the way, I love my OCZ Gamerxtreme 600. I have my C2D@3.4GHz and 8800GTS@625/1000Mhz and it never skips a beat. :P


By josh609 on 5/25/2007 11:54:46 PM , Rating: 2
I am concerned with you doing any business with Wal-Mart. I'm afraid they will push you into bringing out cheaper and cheaper parts. Which may end up hurting your image of quality.


RE: Well this merger is likely to be a dud
By pauldovi on 5/26/2007 12:02:32 AM , Rating: 2
Please don't turn PCP&C into a brand engineered, flashy graphics, LED nightmare.


RE: Well this merger is likely to be a dud
By OCZryan (blog) on 5/26/2007 12:52:59 AM , Rating: 3
To be honest in regards to LEDs and all that jazz, dont worry about it ,we dont have plans to put LEDS in the PC power units

please remember , it wasn't our idea to put LEDs in PSU's in the first place. We did it because end users weren't buying the non-led versions. Anyway all those leds cost money and why add cost for something that has no function !

Finaly ,in regards to walmart , we don't compromise our quality for any retailer , that would be against all that OCZ stands for.


By Marlowe on 5/26/2007 7:35:20 AM , Rating: 2
Hey Ryan nice catch!

(referring to the pic ofc) ^^

See you on XS ;)


By AUsch30 on 5/26/2007 3:47:27 PM , Rating: 2
I have never owned products from either company although this discussion might well change that in the future. I think it's wonderful that a company cares so much about their customers that their exec's will post on a message board. I have always read good things about both companies products especally PC P&C and consider both among the best. My concern as well as most enthusiast's concern is that when companies grow in pursuit of the almighty dollar they tend to forget what made them so strong in the first place (Sony). As long as OCZ/PC Power continues to build quality products at a reasonable price I think this merger is a good move.


By TomZ on 5/26/2007 9:51:05 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Finaly ,in regards to walmart , we don't compromise our quality for any retailer , that would be against all that OCZ stands for

Ryan, apparently you do not have much experience so far dealing with Wal-Mart... :o) Trust me, they will ask for cost concessions; they always do. This puts vendors in the position of having to decide between cutting margin, cutting cost, or losing the market share that Wal-Mart gives access to. Best of luck to you with Wal-Mart...I wouldn't want to be in your shoes.


By 1078feba on 5/31/2007 10:48:37 AM , Rating: 2
Long time lurker (and student, much good info to be studied in these posts), first time poster. I came in out of the cold specifically to comment on this acquisition, and because of the surprisingly pleasant opportunity to address my concerns with OCZs top dog.

Ryan, after burning through three Tt PurePower PSUs (1 regular, 2 modular), which fried two mobos, I finally had enough (I'm a bit of a slow learner due to the angle of my forehead, heh) and spent the extra $ on a premium PSU, the PCP&C Silencer 750. Going on a year now, and nary a hiccup. To me, my Silencer is like a warm blanket on a cold night. So it is not without a small level of trepidation & alarm that I read about your acquisition.

I currently do not own, nor have I ever owned, a single piece of OCZ hardware, so I have no personal opinions or even experience on which to base them concerning your products. But like someone else posted, you and your VPs presence here is very heartening, so I will definitely consider you the next time I make a purchase. As well, the continuing presence of Doug as your head of the unit that produces your PSUs is also heartening. Wise decision and I'm glad that he agreed to it.

I write specifically to implore you to not dilute the PCP&C brand and it's legendary quality, reliability and design simply to ensure immediate gratification to the shareholders, if there are any, or to create a relatively short term rise in profits. JUST. PLS. DO. NOT. DO. IT.

As an aside, it sure would be nice to have Doug drop in here and let us know what his mandate is WRT running his assigned section of OCZ. He may have already done so and I just missed it, so I will check, but otherwise...

Thanks much for your time and consideration.


By Comdrpopnfresh on 5/26/2007 2:53:18 AM , Rating: 2
dude, their flex xlc is some of the best ram money can buy. obviously you've had some sour experiences. But no campany can be perfect 100% of the time. Thats why we all rag on MS, but majority of us still have windows. Problems occur, and I'm willing to be a lot of the time it is because of the online market. shipping puts a lot of stress on products, from sitting in hot vans to being tossed around by random delivery men. Sparce problems shouldn't change one's view of a company as a whole. Now sony on the other hand.... lol


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