Made In America: Computers

[Judaeus Apella]

So I was wondering, what quality computer components are made right here in America that can compete with the cheaper quality stuff shipped here from other countries? I'm talking everything, especially the basics. Cases, Keyboards, Mice, Monitors, Printers, Power Supplies, Processors, Ram, Hard Drives, Video cards, Mother Boards, and Fans. But also Air Coolers, Fan Controllers, Water Cooling Components and Supplies, Thermal Grease, Screws, Wiring, etc. I thought maybe we could help out or bring some needed attention somehow to some companies in the US that need to get more American Made products sold. Even if we can create just one job, we'll have done our part. So what can we do? :shrug: I'm hoping the staff gets in on this and seriously considers making this a goal of XS. America needs jobs, but to do that more US made products need to be in demand.

[zanzabar]

i dont know of anything with parts from the US other than some of the cpu cores, some micron nand and ram that are spun in the US for computers. in electronics in general there is not much, most componants come from asia (transistors, resistors, caps, ext) and the only company i can think of that assembles here is seamens.

[Solus Corvus]

Not only are OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G SSDs some of the fastest available and come with a nice warranty, they are made in the US as well.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Mercury_Extreme_Pro_6G/

[chinaguy]

A part from some small specialist makers who build in small numbers I think China now builds 90% of the worlds PCs and Laptops.

See picture for details.

120371

Its why I am in China, no jobs left in the UK

[zanzabar]

Not only are OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G SSDs some of the fastest available and come with a nice warranty, they are made in the US as well.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Mercury_Extreme_Pro_6G/

those are assembled in the US not made.

[Judaeus Apella]

I've seen a couple companies in the past brag that their products are american made, but if you look at the tiny label it says "assembled in the USA", not "MADE in the USA". I don't remember who they were, it was a while ago. It really bothered me that they were trying to cash in on people looking for products made in America. That's really underhanded. If you guys see any computer/computer component companies intentionally doing this, please let me know so I can avoid them.

[Solus Corvus]

those are assembled in the US not made.
There are very few electronics made in the US. All the chips, etc are made overseas so about the best you can hope for is assembled here.

Intel has a fab right across the river from me, but they send the dies out to the Philippines or wherever to be finished. I know Bridgelux was (is?) making LED arrays in the US. I can't think of many others.

[K404]

120371



I'm not even American and that picture makes me a little sad.

It's not a diss to China but IMHO, symbols of a country should be made in that country

[chinaguy]

Well I started my working life as a ship/oil rig builder on the Tees and Tyne, nothing left of the industry now. No Steel, No Coal, No ICI and No Jobs apart from call centers. Even the call centers are been moved to India fo cheaper workers. Profits come before the working man.

[little_scrapper]

Even "real" American flags are now stamped with "made in china". I have seen one that wasnt in a very long time.

[Judaeus Apella]

Someone told me that the flag they put in the moon has a "made in china" label on it. Oo Is that true?

[Cooper]

Probably not. Back then economy was mostly domestic. Though the raw materials were most certainly grabbed from some other place in the world.
Making anything complex within US will render the final product too expensive to compete with anything from South East Asia. Even parts of space shuttle and rockets are made abroad.

[P.A.D>]

Your a little late on the made in USA thing. Even when I was a kid in the late 70's-80's allot of stuff sold here came with the "made In Taiwan" stamp all over it, and while there was much more being made in the US at that time the seeds of destruction were being sewed by NAFTA, greedy corporations and unyielding unions that wouldn't even give a nickel to keep their jobs.

All you have to do is look at the last 600 or so years and you'll see why the super powers of the past are no longer super powers, they all outsourced the jobs that made them strong but made the rich even richer. Until the world as a whole gets to the root of the problem this will continue until the end of time.

The whole thing "about those that don't know history are doomed to repeat it" thing is so true, but the bigger question is what is anyone going to do about it....nothing!

[Judaeus Apella]

Because ignorance is bliss. Its easier and healthier to just pretend hatred, stupidity, war, greed, and corruption aren't there there so you can live a comfortable stress free life.... on the street. I want to do something but really there's not much one person can do. I'm not the kind of person who could start a movement to stop the rich, greedy, and the corruption (without any idiotic background agendas that ruin entire point of it) but I would DEFINITELY join one and I would fight for my country in that respect. But I mean, what are you going to do.... force companies by law not to outsource? I'd love to see the look on those rich bastards faces if we could do that, but it'll never happen.

Anyway! Back on subject. Anyone know of anything MADE IN THE USA for computers? Anything at all? (That isn't crap?)

[P.A.D>]

To put it in simpler terms, the US does not have the factories with the technology to make much of the electronics we use, and even if we could we couldn't compete with places like China in price and labor.

The US now concentrates on the high tech sector, not electronics that cost pennies overseas to make. The best you can hope for more than likely is what the other posters talked about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductor_sales_leaders_by_year#Ranking_for_ye ar_2010

I highly doubt you will find any of those things you mentioned made here, designed yes but not made.

[zanzabar]

To put it in simpler terms, the US does not have the factories with the technology to make much of the electronics we use, and even if we could we couldn't compete with places like China in price and labor.

The US now concentrates on the high tech sector, not electronics that cost pennies overseas to make. The best you can hope for more than likely is what the other posters talked about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductor_sales_leaders_by_year#Ranking_for_ye ar_2010

I highly doubt you will find any of those things you mentioned made here, designed yes but not made.

micron still fabs and assembles their best stuff in the US, but u wont likely be buying 8/16GB server sticks or SLC ssds. and on that list, infineon moved to the US but they are owned by qibmonda now.

[Sparky]

Last I checked Patriot RAM was at least assembled here (hence the name maybe?). The chips probably still came from the fabs in China or Japan or whatever I'm guessing, though I never checked.

I try to buy stuff made here in the USA but with computers you're pretty much unable to do so :(

[Serpentarius]

Different country with different level of industries .....
US usually imports all low-level and mid-level for the high-level assembly

Why bother reinventing the wheel? Just continue doing what you're best at...

[zanzabar]

Last I checked Patriot RAM was at least assembled here (hence the name maybe?). The chips probably still came from the fabs in China or Japan or whatever I'm guessing, though I never checked.

I try to buy stuff made here in the USA but with computers you're pretty much unable to do so :(

they do nothing here but small batches for testing and rma stuff, same with wintec, corsair and ocz.

[Dumo]

A part from some small specialist makers who build in small numbers I think China now builds 90% of the worlds PCs and Laptops.

See picture for details.

120371

Well, its not hi-tech product...but at least it started somehow:)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/277/screenshot091kz.jpg

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/us-factory-exports-chopsticks-to-china/6hjq1oz?from=

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Chopsticks-Carry-Made-in-America-Label-125740793.html

[Judaeus Apella]

Okay is there at least anything else made in america? What about coolers and cases? Water and air.

[Cooper]

Judaeus,

today hardly any complex product is made in one country. Parts are made in various places (where it's cheaper) and then moved to another place for assembly, testing and packaging (again where it's cheaper). I'm sure US still holds various IC factories making flash/dram/cpu waffers. But when these cooked they are moved to Latin or Asia countries to cut and package. Would you consider that thing Made in US or is it Made by Corporation ? I'm sure same applies to many other things.

[sjohnson]

Not consumer electronics, but I work for a US manufacturing company that makes electronics, engineered films (fancy tarps), balloons and aerostats of all kinds, and precision agriculture products. Not only is business booming, but we are an exporter TO China, see http://www.ravenprecision.com/en/sitecore/content/RavenSite/News%20and%20Events/News%20Releases.aspx?sc_itemid={D26F48E1-C618-412A-8980-7CBEAB51A2B2}&artid=46

Stock in Raven has doubled this last year, in spite of a poor US economy (NASDAQ RAVN). Just posting to show that there ARE basic US industries that produce, not just assemble, products "Made in America."

[Ket]

Its not just the US, the UK needs jobs too.. BADLY.

[EniGmA1987]

Mushkin assembles and tests their RAM here, and is an American company. While the actual chips are still the normal big player chips that everyone uses, the quality of compatibility and % that run at rated speeds on all platforms seems to be much higher with Mushkin than other brands of memory like GSkill. Even though all the parts aren't made in the US, it still supports a US company.

[Dumo]

Stock in Raven has doubled this last year, in spite of a poor US economy (NASDAQ RAVN). Just posting to show that there ARE basic US industries that produce, not just assemble, products "Made in America.":up:

[xlink]

Unemployment is generally hitting those without specialized skills the most. A better idea would be to force the unemployed to go to a library and to read up on things. My aunt in law was unemployed for 4 years. When she finally got a job, she was fired because she couldn't use excel. There are still plenty of jobs for the hardest working, most motivated individuals who are able to demonstrate proof of their value.

[Sparky]

Mushkin assembles and tests their RAM here, and is an American company. While the actual chips are still the normal big player chips that everyone uses, the quality of compatibility and % that run at rated speeds on all platforms seems to be much higher with Mushkin than other brands of memory like GSkill. Even though all the parts aren't made in the US, it still supports a US company.

Really... Interesting. I didn't know that. I may very well buy them next time I buy memory :)

[Judaeus Apella]

Okay.... so I guess Made In America is asking too much. I guess we'll have to settle for which components create the most american jobs over those that are just built, assembled, and shipped to America to be sold. Lets start listing them off, shall we?

[Solus Corvus]

Because ignorance is bliss. Its easier and healthier to just pretend hatred, stupidity, war, greed, and corruption aren't there there so you can live a comfortable stress free life.... on the street.
Probably not healthier, but certainly easier. The problem is that we have been convinced that selfishness will necessarily lead to the best economic outcome for ourselves and our country. But all this really does is divide us and serves the needs of powerful interests. We get divided up into arbitrary ideological and economic groups and played off each other for the benefit of power. Really we should be communicating and collaborating to make sure our real interests are heeded.

Anyway, I think the real economic revolution is silently under way. The maker revolution. We have been relying too much on businesses and governments to meet our needs when we should be working directly with each other to meet those needs. Home manufacturing is now entering a renaissance. You can build an open source 3d printer for $500-1000. Combine that with some basic electronics and woodworking or metalworking skills and you can make a surprising number of products. Members within an enthusiast community can collaborate and contribute their own specialized skills to products. Customers can have products made that better suit their own needs and tastes, while the makers get a larger percentage of the income since there is no need to support a huge administrative, legal, and advertising department.

I'm building a 3d printer, I made my own case and fan controller, I'm making my own microscope parts, I'm even looking into building my own car. I'm tired of waiting for companies to supply my needs because my market segment is too small. The time of being able to rely on companies and governments is long over. The only ones we can truly rely on are each other and ourselves. Time to DIY.


Unemployment is generally hitting those without specialized skills the most. A better idea would be to force the unemployed to go to a library and to read up on things. My aunt in law was unemployed for 4 years. When she finally got a job, she was fired because she couldn't use excel. There are still plenty of jobs for the hardest working, most motivated individuals who are able to demonstrate proof of their value.
Most people like to think of themselves as exceptional. But most people are average. Average motivation, average intelligence, average skills. Relying on others to see your worth means that only the exceptional or those that have no morals will exceed. Even though they don't perform any better, sociopaths do well in business and government because they don't have a moral compass and they excel at manipulating others.


Okay.... so I guess Made In America is asking too much. I guess we'll have to settle for which components create the most american jobs over those that are just build, assembled, and shipped to America to be sold. Lets start listing them off, shall we?
I think Mountain Mods (http://www.mountainmods.com/equipment_MM.php) cases are made in the US.

[Petra]

Even parts of space shuttle and rockets are made abroad.
That's true, but it is avoided wherever and whenever possible, for obvious reasons. Defense is one of the United States' last remaining domestic industries. While we may not all agree with the the design and manufacturing of weapons as an industry, one cannot ignore the number of people the industry employs.


The problem is that we have been convinced that selfishness will necessarily lead to the best economic outcome for ourselves and our country. But all this really does is divide us and serves the needs of powerful interests. We get divided up into arbitrary ideological and economic groups and played off each other for the benefit of power. Really we should be communicating and collaborating to make sure our real interests are heeded.
I couldn't agree more :up:


Anyway, I think the real economic revolution is silently under way. The maker revolution. We have been relying too much on businesses and governments to meet our needs when we should be working directly with each other to meet those needs. Home manufacturing is now entering a renaissance. You can build an open source 3d printer for $500-1000. Combine that with some basic electronics and woodworking or metalworking skills and you can make a surprising number of products. Members within an enthusiast community can collaborate and contribute their own specialized skills to products. Customers can have products made that better suit their own needs and tastes, while the makers get a larger percentage of the income since there is no need to support a huge administrative, legal, and advertising department.

I'm building a 3d printer, I made my own case and fan controller, I'm making my own microscope parts, I'm even looking into building my own car. I'm tired of waiting for companies to supply my needs because my market segment is too small. The time of being able to rely on companies and governments is long over. The only ones we can truly rely on are each other and ourselves. Time to DIY.
While I find myself of similar mindset, DIYers to this extent are still an extreme minority.

[Solus Corvus]

While I find myself of similar mindset, DIYers to this extent are still an extreme minority.
While I agree, I think that is slowly changing. If you had told me I'd be making my own 3d printer 10 years ago I would have thought you were crazy. But not only am I doing it, it's open source and anyone can for relatively cheap. I think people are slowly realizing that being a maker is easier than they thought. And this is where the community comes in because there are lots of people that are smart enough but don't think they can do it or aren't motivated enough. So lend a friend your old issues of Make magazine, document and show off a project on a forum, encourage people with the skills to put them to use, etc. There is a lot of pride in things you have made yourself or that a forum member made for you. It's addictive and some people just need a taste and they are hooked.

I'm just tooling up now and I have some major projects that I need to complete first. But once I get the chance I will definitely contribute to your open cooling initiative. I have some thoughts for blocks, etc and I will focus on designs that can be made with open desktop manufacturing such as 3d printers and cnc routers that are in reach of hobbyists.

Sorry, Judaeus Apella if this is too much of a thread hijack. I just think open knowledge and a DIY spirit has the potential to remake the enthusiast community, and the whole global economy for that matter. People dealing with people to satisfy both their needs more directly, without the overhead of big administration, legal, and advertising departments. We lose an economy of scale, but we get things that suit our unique needs better and the makers get a greater portion of profits for their efforts.