Which PC parts are most likely to be DOA

Posted by wayotar14@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 15 comments

I was originally going to buy all my pc parts for my first build over the course of 3-4 months but after seeing multiple discussions on reddit, it seems like it's best to buy all parts at once to make use of return windows in the case of a component being dead on arrival.

I should have saved enough for my build by the end of September, and was planning on buying everything then, however seeing some of the current deals on Amazon and with prime day coming up, I could save over 150 usd if I buy either the CPU or motherboard (or other parts) now.

I was wondering which parts have a higher chance of being DOA? I personally don't mind going through the manufacture warranty claim process but obviously it would be nice to avoid it if I could've easily just exchanged it as soon as I got it.

Please let me know if saving over 150 usd is worth losing 2/3 months on the warranty period or if spending extra is worth making use of the returns period. (My budget isn't super tight however I do want to save where I can)

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op3l@reddit

I would recommend you wait. Saving 150 isn't worth it to get a part that's defective but you not knowing it because other parts haven't arrived.

With that said I've never had a part arrived damaged because they're all properly packaged and I've been building systems since late 90s.

But still, just wait.

goobaltacc@reddit

My first PC build in 2015 had 2 motherboards show up DOA. Shout out to the Asus z97a.

Niwrats@reddit

mindfactory has "Reklamationsquote" for their parts, though you should only look ones with a lot of units sold. some examples:

9800X3D 0,43%

MSI B650 Gaming Plus WIFI 1,32%

Samsung 990 PRO 2TB 0,10%

be quiet! Pure Power 12 850W 0,30%

XFX Radeon RX 7900 XTX Speedster MERC 310 Black Edition 24GB 2,83%

MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ventus 2X OC 12GB 0,45%

G.Skill Flare EXPO X5 schwarz DDR5-6000 DIMM CL32-38-38-96 Dual Kit 2x16GB 0,51%

ICouldUseANapToday@reddit

Puget Systems publishes their component failure rates. For them motherboards have a 5% failure rate with most failures occurring during in shop testing. CPUs have a 5% failure rate evenly divided between in shop and field failures. GPUs failed at 0.68% with almost no in shop failures. RAM 0.5% failure rate with 2/3 in shop. PSU 0.26% failure, 2/3 in shop.

This isn’t representative of the industry since they are selecting their components. For example, they’re using Super Flower PSUs.

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/puget-systems-most-reliable-hardware-of-2024/

Naerven@reddit

In 30+ years the only parts I've had that came in DOA were two high tier Corsair PSUs.

heliosfa@reddit

The only things I've had turn up DOA (or suffer early mortality) have been motherboards, RAM and GPUs. I've heard of people having issues with cheap PSUs being DoA/early mortality.

DOA components aren't that common, but it is usually far easier to deal with where you bought them than the manufacturer.

jdcope@reddit

I wouldn’t worry about too much. I have never had a new DOA part in 30 plus years of PC building.

Robochemist78@reddit

I've never had a part DOA, but had RAM fail within warranty period.

A word of caution on that. Only one stick failed, but had to return both since I bought as a set of two. I was without my PC for a few weeks. For all the hassle, I'd rather I just bought new and skipped the RMA process.

Adziboy@reddit

Building for years and never had a single item new be DOA, but others will have horror stories, so its all a bit anecdotal.

There’s sales all the time. Rarely is Amazon the best deal. Check price comparison sites

SteelGrayRider2@reddit

I 2nd this. Been building since 2018. and have never had a DOA component. I'm at 73 pc's built. In fact, I've only had 1 component fail and it was a customer that spilled coffee on their MB. Killed the board but nothing else!

michael0n@reddit

Respect for the way to the 100th. Our sports club technician is a pc builder in real life and he said that his personal best are nine dead "gamer" mouses in a year, different brands. Nothing else.

wayotar14@reddit (OP)

I'm not from the US or europe and was only planning on buying local however even with shipping and tax, the amazon prices for the cpu and motherboard are 100-150 usd less than what they cost here. Most other common stores I see ppl buy from don't ship here unfortunately so it's pretty much my only option