Pro/Forums - View Single Post - product testing today

BillA · 11-30-2005, 10:06 AM

As a number of recent threads have revealed, there is little consensus as to how products, wbs in this instance, should be tested. In all instances the ‘equipment required’ exceeds that needed to operate the device and observe it such as the end user would with their own computer. Is it not appropriate, given finite resources, to consider the cost/benefit ratio of various testing methodologies as applied to their intended audience(s) ?

Do we need a Testarossa to buy groceries ? I submit not (but max bling eh ?).

Procooling is understood to cater to extremists and in no area may this be seen more clearly than watercooling. And my contribution has been ever increasing levels of sophistication of test equipment and procedures (which is still on-going), leading to the distinction of ever smaller increments; the specification wars. These very small increments are of interest to three groups; product designers, those purchasing based on specs, and gearhead enthusiasts doing some armchair engineering.

Admittedly at some point the differences fall below what a user could detect even if all else in their system remained the same (which is never the case even if it seems so). Additionally most users are unfamiliar with the jargon and equipment of thermal management and are not seeking technical enlightenment; they want to be told that which is ‘the best product’. Many users prefer simple information even at the risk of it being incorrect, they have no choice if the other explanations are beyond their understanding (users, remember).

Can the procoolers here not define, and validate, a CPU based thermal test system that is not so complex or expensive that review sites, and enthusiasts, would be able to use and reference a common platform ? Review sites are not going to spend thousands for a bench, but some hundreds for several key pieces may be more palatable. Yes it is understood that if “C” and “W” are not both known with precision the value is, ahem, uncertain; but perhaps if the uncertainties were similar then the results would be at least comparable in the ‘real world’ sense.

We are good at creating confusion, can we bring some clarity also ?

An Addendum
Lets leave the high-resolution totally out of this discussion; system based testing, not bench.
I am aware of only 6 high-end testers, let them figure out what is practical as they actually have to make it work. Other threads to instruct the high-end testers please.

some suggestions:
what measurements are essential ? (sink performance relative to that platform)
what resolution ? (related to users)
what measurement method(s) ? (define procedure, calibration, base-line definition, etc.)
what 'special' equip ? (list sources and equivalents, nominal prices)

can procooling draft a test procedure for review sites ?
(can we solicit their input after abusing them so ?, lol)

11-30-2005, 10:06 AM	#1
BillA CoolingWorks Tech Guy Formerly "Unregistered" Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Posts: 2,371.493,106 Posts: 4,440	product testing today – who is being served ? As a number of recent threads have revealed, there is little consensus as to how products, wbs in this instance, should be tested. In all instances the ‘equipment required’ exceeds that needed to operate the device and observe it such as the end user would with their own computer. Is it not appropriate, given finite resources, to consider the cost/benefit ratio of various testing methodologies as applied to their intended audience(s) ? Do we need a Testarossa to buy groceries ? I submit not (but max bling eh ?). Procooling is understood to cater to extremists and in no area may this be seen more clearly than watercooling. And my contribution has been ever increasing levels of sophistication of test equipment and procedures (which is still on-going), leading to the distinction of ever smaller increments; the specification wars. These very small increments are of interest to three groups; product designers, those purchasing based on specs, and gearhead enthusiasts doing some armchair engineering. Admittedly at some point the differences fall below what a user could detect even if all else in their system remained the same (which is never the case even if it seems so). Additionally most users are unfamiliar with the jargon and equipment of thermal management and are not seeking technical enlightenment; they want to be told that which is ‘the best product’. Many users prefer simple information even at the risk of it being incorrect, they have no choice if the other explanations are beyond their understanding (users, remember). Can the procoolers here not define, and validate, a CPU based thermal test system that is not so complex or expensive that review sites, and enthusiasts, would be able to use and reference a common platform ? Review sites are not going to spend thousands for a bench, but some hundreds for several key pieces may be more palatable. Yes it is understood that if “C” and “W” are not both known with precision the value is, ahem, uncertain; but perhaps if the uncertainties were similar then the results would be at least comparable in the ‘real world’ sense. We are good at creating confusion, can we bring some clarity also ? An Addendum Lets leave the high-resolution totally out of this discussion; system based testing, not bench. I am aware of only 6 high-end testers, let them figure out what is practical as they actually have to make it work. Other threads to instruct the high-end testers please. some suggestions: what measurements are essential ? (sink performance relative to that platform) what resolution ? (related to users) what measurement method(s) ? (define procedure, calibration, base-line definition, etc.) what 'special' equip ? (list sources and equivalents, nominal prices) can procooling draft a test procedure for review sites ? (can we solicit their input after abusing them so ?, lol)