OCHO Interview

Interview with Scot Mac of OverClockershideOut
by: MTP

On a semi regular basis I "talk", using ICQ, to Scot Mack (better known as Outlaw), the lead designer for OCHO. He generally gets a good laugh at my screw ups, but is always there to give me some advice to get my cooling gear running better. Recently I ask him for a "semi-interview" for the site and he agreed. So read on, and "Chill with Scot".

MTP - OCHO and the Blizzard kit has come along way from the Tupperware bowl to the recent Anodize Aluminum kits you have today. How did it all start, hobby to growing business?

Outlaw - Well I cannot take credit for the Tupperware style bowls some other opportunist used. However yes we have come a long way in providing reliable cooling supplies to the general public and overclockers alike. We started the business as a hobby back several years ago when there were not any places to buy the sort of Items we provide today. The business was run from the home and started with a warehouse the size of a walk in closet with 1 computer that was the business machine and test bed. Soon after realizing the potential for business we moved to a larger space out of the home @ 350sq ft. Within a year we were up to 650sq ft and 3 employees. @ This time we are @ 3,000+ sq ft and 7 employees and numerous business and test machines.

MTP - You recently mentioned to me that there are 7 guys on the team for OCHO. You couldn't have started this big, so when did you realize you needed help to keep you "out of the shop" 24 hours a day?

Outlaw - I realized I needed help when the shipping time was stretching longer than should be expected for a mail order business. It was simple to see that with out proper staffing customer service would suffer and that over time will cettainly effect your bottom line. Not to mention I personally was working as a senior amphibious truck fleet mechanic @ the same time. I made the decision to leave the full time job and also get a 1-800 number to help Internet customers have peace of mind and enable a good line of communication.

MTP - Where do you get most of your ideas from for the new products you manufacture? Do you get and use good ideas from your forums and e-mails?

Outlaw - All ideas we develop upon are from our office staff which is our design team. We do however listen carefully to customer feedback an have changed small details on many occasions.

MTP - Generally it looks as though the same idea is used on all Water-kits, radiator, pump, and block. What is your opinion on all the different types of cooling hardware on the market today (radiator types, water-block material, pumps)?

Outlaw - First and foremost. We are the oldest water-cooling provider on the net and have been imitated many times over but never duplicated for performance and quality. We use state of the art CNC fully automated machines. Any part that we can anodize we will. Anodizing protects the parts long term for dependable use and protection from environmental variables. Using NC machines vs. older Knee mill style machines assures uniformity and speed which keeps costs down for labor and end user products of this quality.
The most frequent comment we receive from customers:

"Wish I knew about your company before I tried the others"

MTP - The peltier issue. My latest tragedy leads me to ask this. How important to getting a "cold" cooling system is the peltier? Do you think the risk of using a peltier is worth the gains?

Outlaw - I certainly believe in peltier usage for maximum cooling. I do believe like many hobby industries that if you are a new comer you should do the research and take your time. Proper setup and installation time will certainly be worth the time and money spent.

MTP - Have you given any thoughts to creating a "peltier - chiller" that doesn't mount to the CPU to reduce the problems of mounting a cold plate, peltier, water-block? A inline system of some sort?

Outlaw - We have looked into the idea and realized peltiers are not an efficient device for cooling water.

MTP - One of your recent additions to the product line-up was the "CORE". Was this an attempt to start offering something other than water-cooling, or just an experiment that ended up working well?

Outlaw - We wanted to answer the call from many customers that wanted a high performance air cooling option with a unique look. The core delivers performance with a style all its own. The core was also offered in a kit format to provide an all inclusive solution to the customer.

MTP - Where did the idea for the "REACTOR" come from?

Outlaw - The reactor was our design for the long-standing need for a safe water-cooling solution that was also easy to mount. With fans built into the design and a simple push spring mounting system we had the design we envisioned for over 2 years. The basic concept is that if water flow should be interrupted then the fans will provide enough cooling power to keep the CPU core from burning up. The fans may not keep the CPU running however imminent damage will be avoided.

MTP - Obviously you are aware of the multiple "water-cooling" sites and suppliers on the web. Why do you think this is growing outside the "mad-overclocker" to the more general computer user?

Outlaw - I really think it is just a hobby that most people find interesting. We compare it to the auto hotrod ing markets. You can buy all the parts @ your finger tips on the internet, see results, run benchmarks, and brag online in forums and websites all without leaving your living room. I really feel this and the affordability issue is what attract so many men and women.

MTP - OK, then due to the advances in CPU clock speeds, do you feel that water-cooling may end up being a "normal case addition" rather than the hobbyist experiment?

Outlaw - Water-cooling will only become mainstream if the CPU manufactures do not develop the new yields of silicone we have heard so many rumors about. We do however have businesses that buy from us based on the environments they use their CPUs and computers in.

MTP - Some of your products individually cost more than other suppliers. On the whole, your prices are equal and your kits are among the cheapest and most complete on the web. Do you feel that to stay competitive you must watch your competitor's prices and adjust, or do you just let quality speak for itself?

Outlaw - We never try to match prices. When you receive our products they "are " the best on the market.
They are clean well built and water blocks have an absolute milled finish. Chances are that if you buy from a competitor it has been cleaned up with a scotch bright pad @ best. You get what you pay for!

MTP - What has been the best cooling setup you have seen on the web so far?

Outlaw - Our Blizzard kit is the best by far!!!

MTP - Can you give me an idea of what goodies you have hiding in the closet that may be available soon, (new pumps, blocks, radiators, etc…)?

Outlaw - We have a custom case due out very soon that incorporates many of the best features popular on the market today.

Well I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions for me. I know I look forward to seeing more of your products.

If anybody has questions they like to ask Scot (Outlaw), you can reach him here or join his forums and post it there.