[plug] AT PSU

[Bernd Felsche]

On Tuesday 13 July 2004 11:57, Chris Caston wrote:
> On Tue, 2004-07-13 at 11:43, Bernd Felsche wrote:
> > Sort of OT...

> > I manage several firewalls that are using old AT-style hardware. The
> > power supplies are starting to reach end of life (other than worn
> > fans, leaking capacitors) and I need some new ones. The usual
> > suspects don't seem to stock "baby-AT" PSUs any more.

> > Seems a shame to toss otherwise-working hardware. I have a real
> > problem with charging people $400 for what should be a $50 repair.
>
> You have to look at the TCO. $400 might save you chasing the next
> component that dies and save your customer downtime.

The customer gives an incredulous look when quoted $1000 to "fix a
PSU". It's probably taken an hour or so to diagnose the PSU as being
faulty. TCO means bugger all.

Most businesses don't even have the sense to have standby hardware
for mission-critical applications.

If a mainboard fails, then the perspective is different.

> Nothing worse then spending your time chasing up second-hand
> parts. Of course for the times they don't want new hardware I am

I'm looking for NEW power supplies.

The $400 cost would be for a system where I can transfer drives.
If I can't transfer drives, then it's another $100 or so in hardware
and half a day charged to build the machine from scratch, with
software installed and configured...

> thankful that I live near a 2nd hand computer store that actually
> gives reasonable prices even if they are extremely short on
> anti-static bags.

I have my own stock of anti-stat bags.

> > Does anybody know where I might be able to scare up a couple of
> > new ones?

-- 
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