Earlier this year, we provided you with 3 tips for surviving the semiconductor shortage. At that time, we expected the supply of semiconductors to bounce back by end of year. However, industry leaders are now expecting the shortage to continue well into 2023 making workstation maintenance even more important at this time.
Things to Look Out For
Semiconductor chips are used in most of the electronics we use on a daily basis, like the smart toaster I use in the morning and the vehicles we use to get around.
So it comes as no surprise that the current shortage is causing delays in car production. In fact, according to a recent Bloomberg report, Hertz and Enterprise are now buying used cars for their rentals because they aren't able to buy new cars in bulk.
The shortage is also causing delays in production and an increase in prices for the tools we use for our work. As VFX industry professionals, you may have already noticed the increased prices for memory, CPUs, and GPUs.
According to TrendForce research, DRAM prices are projected to increase 18-23% in 2021 alone.
If you need to upgrade your current workstation or purchase a new one, now is not a good time unless you really need to.
Continue Surviving the Semiconductor Shortage
The key to surviving the semiconductor shortage with your current workstation is maintaining it. Here are three items to consider in order to maintain your current workstation in good condition.
Heat
Make sure your workstation isn't next to your heater or other heat sources. If you live in an area with high summer heat, then make sure your workstation isn't by a south-facing window, which will expose it to direct sunlight for most of the day.
Most importantly, make sure your workstation has enough airflow to allow proper ventilation to avoid overheating. We recommend maintaining the internal fans of your machine in working condition by cleaning them with compressed air and a small brush at least once a year.
If your workstation is against a wall, we also recommend leaving 2-3 inches of space for proper air flow.
Cleanliness
If your workstation sits on the floor or carpet, then chances are that dust and other debris might make its way in.
To clean your workstation, you need to first unplug all external power sources, devices, and cables. Then, use a soft, lint-free cloth to clean your machine.
To avoid causing damage to your workstation, do not excessively wipe its components, avoid using abrasive cloths when cleaning, don't get moisture into any openings, and avoid using abrasive cleaners. If you use cleaners, then use only those intended for electronics and do not spray directly on the workstation.
Power Supply
If you've ever experienced a power surge in your home, then I hope your devices were connected to a UPS backup or at least a surge protector.
Thankfully most of our clients, I have noticed, purchase surge protectors in order to be able to connect multiple devices into a single power outlet.
However, the more important function of a surge protector is to divert the surplus of electricity that results from a power surge away from your connected devices. Otherwise, the sensitive components in your workstation would get fried into oblivion.
If you don't own a UPS backup or surge protector, then please purchase one to protect your workstation during this time. Prices have gone up for them during this time as well, but they're a nonnegotiable home office item in our opinion.
What happens if your current workstation isn't equipped for an upcoming job or has already malfunctioned?
You can shell out the money for a new one, but we recommend looking into rental or hardware subscription options. We offer cloud / remote access workstations and / or rental subscription plans that allow you to take the workstation home.
Again, this isn't the ideal time to buy, unless you want to spend more or are willing to wait a lot longer so do your research before making an investment you might regret in the future.