What are the most common DOA/Early Failure components?

[Kiwigamer]

I've just had my first DOA (a hdd) so it got me wondering.

I have two shops I usually buy parts from.
Shop 1: has outstanding customer service and very good shipping speed and packaging quality but their prices are on the higher side.
Shop 2: has the lowest prices but take a while to process orders, and their shipping can leave a lot to be desired (recently received a box that looks like I'm its 3rd or 4th owner.

For a price comparison...
Shop 1: $694 for parts
Shop 2: $625 for same parts

Cases cant be dead on arrival so I would get a case from the cheap guys.
Are there any parts that are unheard of to be DOA? or what are the most common to be DOA/early failures? Because I would prefer to buy them from the good service guys.

 

[Rob_NNCC]

HDDs,
PSU
Mobos
RAM,
Optical.

all DOA.

HDDs are most common.

BTW, cases can come 'DOA' I got a $90 case from newegg that looked like it had been impaled by a forklift.

 

[Kiwigamer]

Well thats interesting, I wouldn't have thought optical or PSU to be common

 

[HFultzjr]

I've just had my first DOA (a hdd) so it got me wondering.

I have two shops I usually buy parts from.
Shop 1: has outstanding customer service and very good shipping speed and packaging quality but their prices are on the higher side.
Shop 2: has the lowest prices but take a while to process orders, and their shipping can leave a lot to be desired (recently received a box that looks like I'm its 3rd or 4th owner.

For a price comparison...
Shop 1: $694 for parts
Shop 2: $625 for same parts

Cases cant be dead on arrival so I would get a case from the cheap guys.
Are there any parts that are unheard of to be DOA? or what are the most common to be DOA/early failures? Because I would prefer to buy them from the good service guys.

HDD's
HDD's
HDD's
HDD's

Followed by an occasional PSU or motherboard

I HATE friken HDD's quality....or lack of.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

Well thats interesting, I wouldn't have thought optical or PSU to be common

heh you probably use quality psu's then. Try one of those that come with an apex case if you are feeling brave

 

[RedFoxComp]

heh you probably use quality psu's then. Try one of those that come with an apex case if you are feeling brave

On the rare occasion I buy a case that comes with a PSU, it goes directly in the garbage. I've never had a Corsair be DOA on me yet *knock on wood*.

 

[Magic Miguel]

HDDs are pretty common
Power supplies too
Optical drives are definitely common to go bad

 

[joydivision]

Without a doubt hard drives. Also had a few DOA PSUs and I only ever buy the good brands such as Corsair or Coolermaster.

Not had any DOA Motherboards since starting this business 7 years ago, but have had a few before that (but quality has improved a lot since those days).

I have had the odd bad RAM module but it is rare.

 

[JustInspired]

This year I've RMA'ed two motherboards, one hard drive, two PSUs, two laptop screens and a laptop charger. All being DOA or faulty from new - we had a few other RMAs for faulty within warranty too.

 

[Blue]

In my current business, we almost exclusively have previously-used donated machines and parts. Probably one-third of the things we get either need too much in parts and labor to be usable, or it's straight-up DOA/junk which goes to the recyclers. Of course, it's sometimes difficult for our donors to ascertain whether something is worth fixing or not, so I don't blame them for the percentage of junk we get, and we've benefited from the still-good stuff enough to more than offset the disappointments.

That said, hard drives are the #1 component failure I see, be it used, new, or refurbished. Read this Google paper on disk drive failures to get a handle on what fails and how often.

What else do I see DOA or fail? Cheap DVD drives, mishandled RAM, and power supplies of questionable quality. Newer video cards, especially ones with HUGE heatsinks and fans, seem to turn up dead often, too. A quick trip through the oven to reflow the solder occasionally works.

Most other failures I see are user- or shipper-induced, i.e. PEBKAC or PEBSAR (Problem Exists Between Sender and Receiver).