R&D on a new PSU
Wayne outlined the R&D process for me before Dr. Liang filled in the gaps in a later interview. The process is marked in stages, from C1 to C8, depending on where the product is in terms of development. A single R&D team is assigned to each new product, a spec supplied internally from the team or by marketing to meet a customer requirement.
It begins at C1 with a spec in hand. Engineers take that spec and decide whether an existing core can be modified to create the new product base, or whether they have to start from scratch using their base technology and build from there. PCB and component layout are decided on to create the new core, the processing taking around a week for their skilled engineers to complete.
C2 is when the first prototype run is done, FSP creating about 50 pieces by hand, mostly for internal testing and verification but maybe one or two for marketing to show the customer or the sales channel.
C3, C4 and C5 are concerned with full testing before pilot run. Designs are verified by FSP's own testing labs, the customer can be involved to make sure things are just so. For example, with the Booster X3, ATI and NVIDIA were involved to make sure it was up for powering Crossfire and SLI, and getting to C5 took 5 months.
C6 and C7 get FSP to the pilot production stage where they produce a couple of hundred more pieces for final testing and verification before C8 which means the product is in full production at one of FSP Group's factories after complete environmental and function testing.
I mention that getting Booster X3 to C5 was 5 months, but FSP were keen to point out that for a regular PC PSU model it's 3 months for C1 to C8, give or take.
I also mentioned the certification at C5, which takes place in FSP's own labs. This is where FSP say they have an advantage over most other PC PSU vendors. I'll explain why.
