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: 911
I recently tried to oder a $4,400 laptop with ubuntu as an operating system.
Well time drug on and on, as they had one error after the next.
I got to the point, just could not take it anymore. They were quick to
extract over $4400.00 from my bank account.
Good God, if you can’t get ubuntu to run on a custom laptops, thats
an indication expertise is lacking somewhere. Yeah, I am angry &
feel taken by another online business! Gosh, by the time I get
some of my money back the holidays will be over!
Well I am told that they are going to cancel the order, but looked
at the refund policy, $50 dollars for changes & %15 stocking fee.
I have not received this computer yet & already this company is
making a profit off of an unsuspecting client.
I can’t help but notice there is a 2 to 8 week waiting period to
receive a refund. There went Xmas with NO new computer.
I know that I should have bought an Apple Mac Pro!
Unhappy Client
Washington DC
Response from Puget: We offer to install Linux operating systems as a courtesy service to our customers, and it is not uncommon for Linux to have more issues with cutting edge hardware. We encountered issues with Ubuntu 12.04 and NVIDIA Optimus functionality. We had a solution — installing the newer Ubuntu 12.10 fixed the issue for us. When we went to Earl to confirm that the update to Ubuntu 12.10 was OK, he immediately demanded a refund. We were a bit shocked at that response, but complied, and refunded in full the next morning. We did not charge $50, did not charge a 15% restocking fee, and did not take 2-8 weeks to refund.
Legacy Testimonial: 836
I’ve had my Puget Systems computer for ten days now, and everything is functioning flawlessly. Setup was totally problem free, and I was up and running in record time. Thanks to Brett and all who made it happen. This system was money well spent.
Legacy Testimonial: 833
I am SO impressed with Puget Systems, from the quality of their website, to their personal review of my submitted order, to the speed of the build, to the online details of the process of building, testing and then shipping the product. The 3-ring binder with software CDs, instructions, specifications, thermal pics, etc. was most professional.
I needed a business server. I didn’t have time to evaluate all the possible configurations, so I told them what I thought I wanted, they suggested a couple of changes (that saved me almost $500!) and then delivered a fantastic product. My local IT company came to migrate the old server over to the new, and commented “Oh, they already did all of the initial setup.” They were able to jump right in to the serious work, saving me hundreds of dollars of their time.
I’m sure that a good technical person could do for themselves what Puget did for me less expensively. But as a business owner, I didn’t want to have to spend my valuable time mucking about with a balky computer. That is not my forte. I wanted instant perfect results. And that is what I got.
I’m going to be in the market for a new workstation soon, and I know where I’ll be buying it – Puget Systems!
Legacy Testimonial: 832
So far, my Puget experience has been exceptional!
As a twenty-something recent graduate that just landed a decent paying job, I was in the market for a new computer, and I wanted something powerful enough to play the newest games but also be extremely reliable. For months, I looked at forums, poured over review sites, and finally came across Puget Systems. My only criticism of Puget is that they are not aggressive enough with their marketing! I wish I had found them sooner.
Some may complain about the relatively higher prices of a custom Puget system, but let me assure the skeptics that you’re getting your money’s worth in terms of the overall craftmanship, which is exceptional, the quality of the parts, but also the intangibles, like the exceptional customer support, and real-time updates on the construction of your system. Support is a huge deal for me, and one of the reasons why I decided to buy from a boutique computer store rather than building a system myself. I had numerous friends offer to assist me in building a rig, and it admittedly would have been cheaper, but the peace of mind for me is worth the extra couple hundred dollars. I just recently received my computer, but so far, it has been a pleasure to use.
Puget seemingly goes the whole nine yards for every aspect of business, including the packaging for the computer itself. I was extremely impressed, and they even place insta-pak foam inside the system, which is extremely easy to remove, even if one is completely computer illiterate. One thing I liked is that they don’t try to upsell you whatsoever.
I have had many nightmarish experiences with Windows based systems in the past, and taking the plunge was a huge deal for me, but as aforementioned, so far, I’m impressed and relieved!
Legacy Testimonial: 831
If I could stop playing with my awesome, new, custom-built desktop from Puget Systems for just a second, maybe I could finally write a testimonial!
To put it simply, Puget Systems is the most customer and quality-oriented computer company I have ever purchased from. For the past fifteen years I have bought (too) many gaming systems and laptops from the big-name computer corporations (Compaq/Dell/Alienware, HP, etc.) and ended up severely disappointed with the quality of the machine and the poor, sometimes straight-up insulting, customer service. It took me too long to realize I was paying for the brand name, not a quality machine or quality support.
When it came time to buy my next machine, I poked around forums for computer enthusiasts to inquire about a tried-and-true company that builds quality custom-built machines, and I was recommended Puget Systems. I was blown away by the testimonials and excited to purchase from and support a local business (I live in Washington State) instead of a money-grubbing mega-corporation for a change and from the very beginning to the very end – from my computer’s conceptualization to my using it right now – Puget Systems has been by my side. One year ago I e-mailed Puget Systems to hammer out the details of the computer I wanted, but due to financial constraints that popped up and postponed my purchase, I was unable to make the purchase until just a few weeks ago. Despite my having to put off my purchase, Puget Systems continued to help me plan my system and with their recommendations, I was able to create an affordable gaming rig that, if you don’t mind me saying, KICKS ASS.
After I (finally) made my purchase, the customer service did not end. All the while PS was building my system, they posted construction updates, benchmarks, pictures, and more, making me feel like I was actually THERE watching the fantastic team build my fantastic machine. After PS shipped my computer, they sent me all the tracking information and through their site I was actually able to watch my computer make its way to me. When I opened the box, it was like *CHRISTMAS*. Everything was packaged with such care and attention. The extra bolts and screws were stored neatly in a labeled bag, my machine’s information binder was instantly accessible, and the computer itself was fasted securely within. There was even a recommendation to save the packaging, as it is designed specifically for my machine, in case it needs to be sent in for upgrades or repairs. An excellent recommendation! In my excitement, I think I would have thrown the box right in recycling if that hadn’t been there…
Setting up my computer was a snap. They had installed everything, so all that was left to do was play Skyrim. That’s why it’s taken me so long to write this testimonial! My games are running so great, I can’t tear myself away!
Thank you. THANK YOU. This has easily been the most enjoyable computer purchase I have ever made, not just because the machine is phenomenal, but because it is such a pleasure to work with and buy from a company that cares: cares about computers, cares about the quality of its staff, and cares for its customers. I am handing your business cards out like they were on fire and recommending you to anyone in the market for a new computer, and really anyone who will listen. I can’t wait to buy from you guys again in the future.
——————–
Other things I love about Puget Systems:
+ The staff’s own thoughts and recommendations are listed for each computer component, which is extremely helpful while you’re building your system.
+ PS gives you an incredibly useful binder with all your system’s software and information (thermal imaging, motherboard and chassis information and connections, FAQ’s, assembly and testing information, warranty and support information), as well as information about recycling your old electronics! I really needed this as I have a whole pile of those aforementioned busted gaming desktops and laptops from the mega-corporations.
+ Even when I accidently downloaded a virus not twenty-four hours after getting my computer, the recovery discs that Puget Systems provided got it right back to factory settings, virus-free in a snap!
Legacy Testimonial: 830
I needed a powerful, portable laptop for a business trip. I found Puget googling after a few other shops told me they either couldn’t put together the system I wanted or that it would take them weeks. I wish I’d started here.
I hate the chat window tech-helper things but I needed some quick feedback about whether or not I would be able to expect my laptop in time so I grit my teeth and opened it up. Jeff was helpful, succinct, and even gave me a little extra bang for my buck. He probably didn’t realize it given how rushed/short my responses were but I was extremely pleased with the interaction.
I was able to design the laptop I needed directly from their site – no custom order, backroom dealings required. They had what I wanted, and more. The site was also refreshingly straightforward. Thank you guys for that.
I put a rush on the order (very reasonable fee), and got the laptop with a couple days to spare. They include a packet detailing everything they’ve done to the system, all of the tests they’ve run, and the results from those tests. Dates, times, who did what – it’s incredibly specific. These guys are very obviously proud of what they do and it shows.
And, best of all, I ended up with a pretty inexpensive (you should have seen the other quotes) laptop that works! I haven’t had the time to put it through my own personal hell but from the looks of that packet I think this little guy will do just fine.
Pudget, you’ve got yourself a customer for life. Don’t let success ruin you, ok?
Legacy Testimonial: 829
I ordered a custom built computer for my Computer Repair / IT services business “Eugene Computer Geeks”, and couldn’t be more pleased with Puget Systems. The customer service is top-notch and the sales rep. helped me with selecting the right parts that matched my needs. The computer is my favorite custom built PC I’ve ever used or owned. It fits my needs in everyway, and will suggest Puget Systems to all my friends and clients that are interested in order a custom-built PC. Thanks Puget Systems
–Cameron
http://www.eugenecomputergeeks.com
Legacy Testimonial: 828
I purchased my newest desktop computer from Puget Systems last November. I can’t remember how I heard of Puget. I just knew intuitively when I logged on to their web site that this shop was the one I’d been looking for.
William George was very helpful at deciphering my rambling comments on what I wanted in a computer. I’ve owned and upgraded computers since the 1980’s. Presently I have a Toshiba laptop, a Kindle, Kindle Fire, and a desktop. My Sony desktop was showing its age and limitations. I needed a desktop because I’m doing a lot of video rendering, converting dozens, if not hundreds of VHS tapes, and Mini-DV tapes to DVD. I’m also publishing photo books for my family members and scanning thousands of color slides and color negatives as well as black and white negatives. I discussed with William whether or not a Spirit would be sufficient for my needs. He offered help in a most impartial way, suggesting upgrades where they would really speed and make my work easier. He also mentioned that my present printer/scanner would be compatible with my new machine, something I hadn’t even thought about.
After a few emails and a couple of weeks I put in my order for a Spirit. It was fun to see the reports of progress and the pictures of what Puget was putting together for me. The computer arrived in its double packaging. What a great idea and I did follow the advice to save this packaging in case I might need it later.
What is amazing about the Spirit is that I have to look at the lights to make sure it is on. I can’t believe how quietly it runs. Sony has great computers, but the one I had was quite noisy. It’s truly amazing.
Everything worked from the beginning. The only problems were some software issues which support quickly took care of for me each time. I just have a feeling that someone at Puget is concerned about each issue. In comparison to some of the large computer makers like Dell or HP I actually know many of the staff at Puget through the emails and correspondence. One of the most amazing things happened shortly after I got the machine and wanted to start video work. I had requested and even waited an extra couple of days when I ordered to make sure I got a tower which had an IEEE port on the front. I needed that if I was going to use my Sony Mini-DV Camcorder or my Canopus AV-DV converter for my VHS tapes. Having the port on the front would make the work so much easier. What I hadn’t realized was that IEEE ports have different sized connectors and my old Sony cable wasn’t going to work. I looked up a few sellers on the Web and sent an email to Puget about which cable they would recommend. I remember there were several possibilities and a particular cable was considerably less in cost. From all the recommendations it seemed as if this manufacturer had good ratings, but I wanted to make sure. How surprised I was to receive, I believe on a Sunday afternoon, an email from Jon Bach saying that he agreed with me and I should have no trouble with the cable. That’s a prime example of the kind of support one can expect from Puget. It’s been seven months and my videos have transferred flawlessly. I can’t imagine the President of Dell or HP sending me anything.
I am most happy to endorse and recommend Puget for anyone wondering about a new purchase or a computer upgrade. I have not been disappointed and I don’t believe you will be either.
Legacy Testimonial: 827
So far, so good! Machine is clearly made with quality in mind, and at a very fair price. I couldn’t be happier.
Legacy Testimonial: 826
Ordered my computer a few months ago. The process of configuring the computer was painless. Jeff was able to answer all my questions, and pointed me in the right direction. A few accessories I purchased elsewhere, but for the tower itself, they did an incredible job. When I opened up the case to remove some packaging (the CPU cooler is HUGE), I couldn’t see any cables. They also prepped an extra hard drive bay (per request). I finally got the computer to sweat a little, but that was encoding HD video (BTW, it rendered, encoded, and burned an hour long DVD movie in about half an hour). An incredible upgrade over my old system. They also have excellent post-sales support. I have only had to ask one or two questions, and they promptly responded. Kudos, Puget!
Read more testimonials from Puget Systems clients.