Quality Control
The quality of any company’s product is dependent on proper control procedures. Our extensive quality control system ensures that your computer receives all the attention needed to make sure you get what you paid for! Every one of our configurations receives a customized checklist, depending on the components in the system, applications we know the customer will be running on it, and other factors. Below is a sample of what our build check-off is like.
Example of Puget Systems Build Checklist
Phase 1 Build / Assembly
Review Work Order, Build Notes, and Internal Status
We review the order and notes to ensure that any special build requests are performed.
Check Parts and Serial Numbers
Before starting assembly on your system, we verify that we have all the correct parts and everything is accounted for.
Install M.2 Drives
We install your M.2 drives to the motherboard.
Assemble Core Components
We assemble the core parts of your system outside the chassis. This includes the motherboard, CPU, CPU cooler, and system memory.
Disable Onboard Video via Switch
We disable the onboard video on this motherboard to avoid conflict with a dedicated video card.
Verify Condition of Chassis and Panels
We inspect your system chassis for any structural or cosmetic defects before beginning to mount components.
Apply Puget Branding to Chassis
We brand the front door of your chassis with the Puget systems logo.
Mount Fans
We replace the stock fans with upgraded models.
Mount Drives
We securely install your drives in your system.
Apply Order Number Sticker
We apply a small sticker with the order number to the back of your system.
Mount Motherboard
We install the motherboard in your system and ensure it is fastened securely and ports line up correctly.
Mount Radiator
We mount the radiator for your closed-loop cooler.
Phase 2 Build / Assembly
Review Work Order, Build Notes, and Internal Status
We review the order and notes to ensure that any special build requests are performed.
Verify Condition of Chassis and Panels
We inspect your system chassis for any structural or cosmetic defects before beginning to mount components.
Wire Front Panel Connections
We connect any switches and ports integrated into your system’s chassis to the appropriate connectors on the motherboard or add-in cards.
Wire Power Supply Connections
We run the cabling from your power supply to make all necessary power connections to the motherboard and backplane.
Connect Supplemental PCIe Power to Motherboard
We connect the supplemental PCIe power connectors to the headers on your motherboard.
Wire Data Connections
We connect the data cables for your drives securely and neatly.
Verify Complimentary Hard Drive Pre-Wire
We make sure that any requested pre-wiring for drives is in place. Additionally, for our more user-serviceable chassis, we ensure every system is wired for at least two hard disks to allow for easy addition of storage to single-drive configurations.
Install Cards
We install any video cards or other add-in controller cards in your system.
Secure Any Unsecured Cables
We use hot glue on any delicate connections to help keep them from becoming disconnected during shipping.
Mount Power Supply
We mount the power supply securely in your system’s chassis.
Install GPU Brace
We install a custom video card support brace to help protect your system during shipping.
Install Chassis Reinforcement Plate
We install a custom brace to join two internal plates within the case for added structural rigidity when your system ships. We have found that this greatly reduces damaged to the video cards and motherboards caused by potential shipping carrier mishandling.
Check for POST of fully completed system
With assembly fully completed, we make sure that the system still turns on and boots correctly.
Update System BIOS to Approved Version
We update your motherboard’s BIOS to the most recent stable release provided by the manufacturer and approved by Puget Systems.
Change Remote Management Password
We change the Remote Management Login Password to comply with California Senate Bill 327. The updated password will be provided in a binder with the system accessories.
Apply Standard BIOS Settings
We configure your system with our standard BIOS settings.
Disable Full Screen Boot Logo
We disable the manufacturer splash screen that displays during system POST.
Verify Secure Boot Setting is Correct
We ensure that the Secure Boot Setting in the BIOS is set to Windows
Verify All Devices are Detected and Connected to Appropriate Ports
Save BIOS Profile
Verify Condition of Chassis and Panels
We inspect your system chassis for any structural or cosmetic defects before beginning to mount components.
Verify all fans are spinning at desired RPM
We check that all system fans spin up and operate with the intended settings. For fans connected to a chassis controller, we check that they operate correctly on all settings of the controller.
Test Reset Button (If Applicable)
We check that your chassis’ reset button (if it has one) is connected and functional.
Verify front LED functionality
We check that any appropriate chassis indicator lights, such as power or disk activity LEDs, are connected and functioning as expected.
Phase 1 Testing
Begin memory testing
We run an initial test on your CPU and RAM to check for errors that could lead to instability or a corrupted OS install.
Complete memory testing
We review the initial CPU and RAM test results to confirm that everything is working as expected.
Install / Setup
Review order
We check for any special instructions there may be for your order to ensure that the system is configured exactly how you want it.
Install Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
Your primary drive is installed with a base level install of the operating system, which is later customized to your order.
Install / update device drivers
All the most recent drivers (downloaded from the manufacturer) are loaded for your devices.
Load Install Program
Puget Systems uses an internally developed utility for deploying updates, software packages and customized benchmark suites.
Apply Puget OS Branding
Give the system a nice Puget Systems feel. We change the background and lock screen as well as add our contact information to the computer properties which can be viewed by pressing the Windows key + pause break buttons.
Install approved Windows updates
All Windows updates and service packs are applied.
Confirm successful driver installation
We double check all installed devices to confirm that all drivers loaded correctly.
Compare System Specs to Order specs
We double check all installed devices using an inhouse utility to confirm that they match what was ordered.
Confirm Windows serial key(s)
We double check the serial key assigned to your system using an in house tool to confirm that we will not run in to issues activating the system.
Initialize and format additional disks
We initialize all additional internal drives as GPT and format them as NTFS. We then assign them a drive letter based on how they appear on the order (i.e. secondary drive = D, tertiary drive = E, etc.). If Linux is on the order, these drives will be reformatted when the final OS is installed.
Confirm latest SSD firmware
We open the manufacturers management software for your drive(s) and confirm it has the latest firmware. If needed we will flash them to the latest firmware.
Confirm correct Discrete GPU bandwidth
We double check to make sure that the systems video card(s) are running at the expected bandwidth in relation to motherboard specifications.
Test front panel USB ports
All front USB ports are tested to confirm connectivity and speed.
Test front panel audio
We confirm that the front panel audio jacks (sound and microphone) are working as expected. The rear audio ports will be inspected during the QC phase.
Phase 2 Testing
Double check system specs
Your system specs are double checked for any mistakes, using an automated utility we have built that not only checks for the right parts, but that they are configured correctly.
Stress Test
We run a combination of Prime95 and AIDA64 to stress your system far beyond typical loads.
CrystalDiskMark
We run CrystalDiskMark to benchmark the read/write speeds of all your hard drives.
LAME MP3 Encoder
LAME MP3 Encoder is used to test system performance when encoding MP3 audio files
NeatBench
NeatBench is a standalone benchmarking for Neat Video – a popular tool to reduce visible noise and grain found in footage from digital video cameras, DSLRs, TV-tuners and even digitized film or VHS.
OctaneBench
OctaneBench is a benchmarking utility based on OctaneRender (a popular GPU-based rendering engine). This benchmark evaluates the rendering performance of your GPU(s)
V-Ray
V-Ray is commercial plug-in for third-party 3D computer graphics software applications and is used for visualizations and computer graphics. This benchmark evaluates both CPU and GPU performance when using V-Ray.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is the most widely used professional photo editing and manipulation software currently on the market. Our benchmark tests a wide range of tasks to give an idea of how your system should perform in Photoshop.
Adobe After Effects
Adobe After Effects CC is a widely used application for motion graphics and animation. Our benchmark tests two critical areas of performance – RAM Preview (live playback) and Rendering (exporting) – with a number of different projects.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro CC is an industry-leading non-linear video editing application. Our benchmark tests two critical areas of performance – Live Playback and Exporting – with a number of different media codecs, resolutions, and effects.
Unigine Superposition
Unigine Superposition is used to evaluate system performance in DX11 applications at display resolutions including 1080p, 4K, and 8K.
NBody CUDA
The Nbody CUDA benchmark is used to verify the maximum theoretical compute performance of NVIDIA-based video cards
CineBench
CINEBENCH is a real-world cross platform test suite that evaluates your computer’s performance capabilities. CINEBENCH is based on MAXON’s award-winning animation software CINEMA 4D, which is used extensively by studios and production houses worldwide for 3D content creation
Upload and review benchmark results
All the benchmarks taken during the phase 2 testing process are recorded on our server, providing you with benchmark scores, and providing us with statistical information that will help us assist future customers. We also upload our temperature logs, giving you a baseline you can compare to after you receive the system.
Quality Control
Review Order Updates and Checkoff
We review the order updates as it contains a build log for actions performed by the various technicians prior to QC to check if additional testing has to be performed and verify requests are fulfilled.
Verify Expected Video Card and Disk Results
We review key benchmark results to verify that installed components are operating as expected.
Verify Condition of Chassis and Components
We physically inspect the exterior and interior of the chassis to check for cosmetic blemishes around high friction points and that components are installed and aligned properly.
Verify System Initialization Noise
When the system is powered on and components are initializing before the system POST beep, we check that the configured components do not have excessive noise.
Disable Network Stack in BIOS
We use an imaging software for installing Windows that requires settings in the BIOS to be adjusted. We turn these settings off as they are not normally used outside of our imaging software.
Verify BIOS Profile is Saved
We check that a profile is saved in the motherboard BIOS that retains the settings we adjust to be used again in case BIOS settings are lost due to an unexpected occurrence.
Record Approximate Boot Time
We record how long, in seconds, the system takes to boot into the OS and also to check that it is booting in the expected amount of time.
Verify System Properties
We check in the OS system properties to make sure that the configured OS, processor, and correct memory capacity is detected.
Verify Puget OS Branding
We check that our Puget desktop background is set.
Verify Drives are Present, Partitioned, and Labeled
We review that all configured system drives are partitioned and drive letters are assigned based on drive priority.
Verify in Device Manager Components are Detected
Verify Sound Quality Output
We check the 3.5mm audio outputs for clarity and balanced volume.
Verify Functionality of Onboard Networking Devices
We test available networking devices on the system for proper network and device detection.
Test Thunderbolt Compatible Ports
We test that the available Thunderbolt compatible ports are detecting a certified external drive in an OS environment.
Test All External USB Ports
A USB thumb drive is plugged in and out from every external USB port to verify USB detection.
Test USB2.0 on Populated USB3.0 Headers
We check that USB 3.0 front panel ports and/or USB 3.0 expansion brackets can detect USB2.0 devices in the OS.
Test All Video Outputs
We verify that all video outputs are functioning correctly even if ports will be disabled or unused due to the system configuration.
Monitor System at Idle
We verify that the system is running as expected and within tolerances by monitoring the system at idle. This is performed by using a thermal camera and a wattage meter to monitor the system as load tests on the configured hardware are ran.
Monitor System under Load
We verify that the system is running as expected and within tolerances by monitoring the system under load. This is performed by using a thermal camera and a wattage meter to monitor the system as load tests on the configured hardware are ran.
Cap Secondary or Unused Video Ports
We cap the video ports on the system that will either be used as a secondary video card or the ports will be unused based on the system configuration
Clean Up Windows Installation
We remove the programs used to install the configured OS and necessary software to test the hardware and check that remnant files and folders are deleted from those programs.
Scan Windows COA
We input the Windows COA into our installation suite to be activated when the system is powered on and connected to the internet.
Prepare and Verify Restore Media Creation
After a system inspection we create restore media for your system
Confirm Proper Windows Out of Box Experience
After creating restore media we check one last time to confirm that your system will boot as expected to the Windows Customer Experience screen.
Final Preparation
Verify Check-Off is Completed
We verify that all checkpoints have been completed throughout the production process and parts section.
Affix COA to Chassis
Your Windows COA is attached to your case.
Include HDMI Cable
We include a HDMI cable with your computer so that you are sure to have everything you need when you set it up.
Include Display Port Cable
We include a Display Port cable with your computer so that you are sure to have everything you need when you set it up.
Verify Power Cord and Essential Accessories are Included
We double check to make sure you have everything you need for system set up!
Packing / Shipping
Paperless Procedure (Optional)
Thank you for choosing paperless. We all must do our part to help the environment and limit or consumption of resources. Small steps like this can create a ripple effect for changes to come.
Include Marketing Materials
Getting stressed out? Grab your stress cube and give us a call! We included a sticker to show you are Puget Proud as well as some Business cards.
Take Pictures of the System
We take pictures of each system before we ship.
Final Chassis Cleaning
Since the computer has been handled, we ensure it is clean as a last step before boxing it up.
Read what our customers have to say about our quality control!
Legacy Testimonial: 1106
On May 6, 2011 my Obsidian Workstation was born under the highly skilled hands of the Puget Systems team. So, on its fifth birthday I thought I would write about my computer and the continued help I have received from Puget Systems.
With help from Puget’s techs on the old forum, I added an Intel 520 240GB SATA 6Gb/s 2.5inch SSD direct from Puget as my Primary OS drive in 2012. In 2014 I added an external WD 3 TB USB drive for backup, again direct from Puget. Earlier this year I added 16 GB of Kingston RAM, for a total of 32 GB, and I also upgraded the video card to an Asus GeForce GTX 750 2GB (Passive).
After installing the new RAM, the computer would not boot. I then contacted Puget’s Tech Support and they helped me make some changes to the BIOS, and also suggested that I re-seat the RAM modules. After these adjustments the computer fired right up and successfully booted into Windows 10.
It is very gratifying that even five years after the purchase date, as well as for the RAM upgrade I did myself, Puget’s tech support was there for me. The help I received was right on target and saved me having to fumble around for a solution.
I should point out that the reliability of my system has been excellent! The original system core, hard drives and optical drive, fans and power supply continue to function perfectly. I attribute this to the quality of the parts in their Obsidian offerings, and the rigorous testing before parts are added to Puget’s line, as well as the excellence of the build by Puget Systems.
Beyond the quality of the machine, any testimonial would not be complete without mention of the kind, knowledgeable, and professional help I have received from everyone on the Puget Systems team from the day I submitted my first quote for review.
If you are looking for a finely crafted computer with the best pre and post-sale support in the business, look no further. Puget Systems delivers!
Legacy Testimonial: 1105
For almost a year I couldn’t pull the trigger on a new workstation for my video editing business. I know I wanted to go PC instead of APPLE, because I had moved to ADOBE CC and had my own idea for a hard drive set up. I had loads of questions and doubt, and the various PC builder companies I talked to online just didn’t seem to care that much about my questions.
Enter Puget systems. They answered every question, provided input and advice, and made buying a custom PC feel easy. They worked with me to make the PC exactly how I wanted it and were always available to answer additional questions and concerns.
If you’re serious about your PC and want a company that truly has your back. Puget delivers.
Legacy Testimonial: 1104
I have now ordered 4 HPC systems for computational fluid dynamics from Puget Systems. I have been impressed that they are always helping to make sure that I have carefully thought through all the needed requirements of my system. Many times the recommendations mean a lower price for me. They have also been very helpful in understanding what cutting edge technologies are available and what the trade-offs are. I have never worked with a computer hardware company like this. They really are great to work with and have saved me hours of research.
Legacy Testimonial: 1103
The service was great. The system is extremely well put together. They didn’t try to BS me or up sell me. The support documentation and ancillary owners documents are fantastic. Fast and just as expected. Pricey, maybe, but this system is far superior to any of the mass produced boxes you can buy from HP or Dell. Their expert prep alone is worth several hundreds more in value.Their US based, Clear English speaking support if needed a big plus. I almost never give the highest rating available to anything( except “Citizen Kane”, and “Godfather Part 2”), but they deserve it.
Legacy Testimonial: 1102
First I want to say that this company takes great care to ensure their client is satisfied. There is a personal touch to their customer service, without being sales-y or pushy. My experience is a breath of fresh air in a climate of big companies with out-sourced support and uninformed floor-staff.
The machine I needed was for graphics-heavy game development, and Puget System’s staff guided me towards a machine with the appropriate specs. Now, the machine is running well, and I know if problems arise, they will be available to answer questions.
Buying a new computer can be daunting and the language used in the industry can be specialized. So there is an educational component to the way Puget Systems interacts with their clients in that they freely explained hardware and its application. Also, they include a custom binder of materials that comes with your machine and include all extra parts from the build.
Puget Systems actually cares about computers and the people who use them!!
Legacy Testimonial: 1101
Got my “plain and simple” Traverse 15-inch as a dining room tabletop. During the order process my assigned rep gently talked me into features I didn’t think I’d wanted or hadn’t thought of in the first place. Quick delivery, and quality build through and through. Support walked me through Windows 10 surprises. Can’t ask for more.
Legacy Testimonial: 1100
My workstation is my tool. I needed a new one and could not find exactly what I was looking for until I found Puget Systems. They built me a custom computer that is high performance, silent and very cool. There is lots of room for expansion and it is beautiful inside the case. The customer service was great from help with evaluating my order to watching the building and testing process on their website. My machine was delivered safely and the packaging kept it safe. I may not need it, but Puget provides lifetime labor and tech support.
Legacy Testimonial: 1099
I am thrilled with the custom desktop computer Puget Systems assembled for me.
This desktop, built around their Serenity small form-factor configuration (micro-ATX size motherboard and case), is tailored to exactly meet my needs as a photographer who makes heavy use of Adobe’s Lightroom, Photoshop and other allied applications. Some of the key attributes I wanted and found in the Puget Systems machine:
* A top-end Core i7 processor, sixth generation. That is currently the i7-6700K with a base clock speed of 4 GHz.
* 500 GByte SSD to be the boot drive and contain my executables and current working photography files.
* 2 TByte 3.5″ drive for bulk data file and image file storage.
* Expandable for more drives: this machine can accommodate one more 2.5″ drive and two more 3.5″ drives.
* 16 GBytes of DDR4 RAM with room for an additional 16 GBytes.
* A mid-range video card with 4 GBytes of VRAM (my card is based on the NVIDIA GE Force GTX 960 processor).
* Plenty of USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 ports (eight and two).
* Sufficient power supply (650 W) to support all that future expansion.
* A quiet machine. Who wants to sit alongside a vacuum cleaner when trying to optimize photos?
* All in a handsome case that measures approximately 9″ wide x 12″ tall x 14″ deep.
As I started my search, I checked carefully with the “Big 3” PC companies (you know them). What I found:
* Few systems that supported any level of customization. Increasingly, these vendors want to sell pre-packaged systems.
* For systems that did allow some level of customization, the machines I configured inevitably came up short on one or more key attributes:
o Still shipping fourth generation Core i7 processors, rather than sixth generation.
o Shipping sixth gen Core i7 but not the top of the line i7-6700K.
o Option for an SSD but limited to 256 GB.
o One SSD plus one spinning drive maxes out the system.
o Very limited power supply, say 250 W max.
o No discussion of system noise.
I considered building my own system but did not want to take on the integration job. A Google search for custom PC builders lead me to Puget Systems. I discovered a custom system from them would be in the same price class the best systems I could configure from the Big 3 but would meet 100% of my design goals for performance and expandability.
Some of the highlights of my experience with Puget include the following:
* Their website has a trove of knowledge. I found white papers on system performance for photographers, specifically outlining the performance needs of Lightroom and Photoshop. (There are papers for CAD-folks and others, too.)
* Their pre-sales support is highly responsive, knowledgeable yet unobtrusive (no annoying pop-up “chat/sales” windows.) That person efficiently answered my questions and helped me tune the configuration that produced a better system than I might have initially ordered.
* Their build process is totally transparent: once my order was placed, I could follow its assembly from parts staging, to assembly, to burn-in, to QA and finally to shipping.
* Puget puts your system to a demanding burn-in test and performance benchmarking with all the data made available to you. Great way to confirm the build, weed-out infant parts failure and trap issues before the machine leaves their facility.
* Great care in shipping. Box in a box, custom Styrofoam corners, heavy-duty corrugated boxes. Everything came through in fine shape.
* Delivery included a three-ring binder specific to my machine, with a USB flash drive to rebuild the machine to the exact configuration it had when it left the factory, and finally DVDs with OS and other software that’s installed.
* Speaking of software, a nice clean build: not a spec of bloatware. What a difference from the last few systems I’ve purchased from the Big 3.
If you are looking for a run of the mill, entry-level notebook PC, any of the Big 3 can serve you well. If you have more demanding needs and do not want to compromise on those needs, I urge you to talk to Puget Systems.
Legacy Testimonial: 1098
I ordered a system with an Intel i5, Noctua NH-U125 cpu cooler, and a SSD in the Fractal Design case. It is absolutely silent. All the components are first rate. I use Linux and you just can’t buy a computer with it installed from a lot of companies. Puget gives you the choice of operating systems. Also the Fractal Design case is excellent. Inside there are just no cables lying around disrupting air flow. The power supply is modular and you can route cables behind the motherboard tray. Try buying something like this from Dell. Ha! The single criticism I’ve read of Puget is that they are somewhat pricey. Well I totaled up the cost of all the components in my system bought from Amazon. Puget had what I consider a quite reasonable markup. If I had put it together myself, I would have had to worry about getting a bad motherboard, a bad power supply, or perhaps bad memory. Well returning these things is always a hassle. Plus, the testing they do is rigorous. Not to mention the installation of the operating system with everything updated. The bios too. When I consider the time it would have taken me to put it together plus the possibility of mistakes, the extra money put out for them to do it expertly is a no brainer. It is too easy for some companies to serve you “mystery meat” components. Take my advice and support a company who does it right.
Legacy Testimonial: 1097
This testimonial is long overdue! I have had two PC orders with Puget Systems in the past, and every single aspect of both experiences was fantastic. For both machines, I had pretty specific goals for what I wanted, and the Puget reps gave me a useful assessment and suggestions. They also saved me money by suggesting different components. Although my last order was a long time ago, I reached out recently to ask a question about installing a memory upgrade by myself, and someone contacted me promptly and worked with me until I figured the issue out. I hadn’t even purchased the memory from them! I’ve felt guilty for not writing a review for so long. This company has been nothing but outstanding in my experience.
Read more testimonials from Puget Systems clients.