Congratulations to this year's winners!

Congratulations to the winning team from Scottsdale Community College.

Student Team Members: Jason Harnly, Shane Nixon, Jeff Santilli

Faculty Coach: Bill Johnson

The winning team is seen here with Steve Phillips, Chief Information Officer for Avnet, Inc.

Thank you to our 2010 game sponsors:

Teams compete in three different events combining total scores that determine finishing order. The first event titled "Build it Fast" is a timed event on building a computer the fastest. The second event titled "Troubleshoot it Fast" is a timed event on troubleshooting a computer the fastest. Lastly, the third event titled "Tune it Fast" has teams competing to tune the computer to perform the fastest.

2-3 students maximum

1 team per college - Maximum 9 teams total

Registration Deadline:

March 2, 2010 – Registration is closed.

Disciplines / Skills Recommended:

• A combination of both PC hardware and software knowledge is necessary to compete in this event.

Event Description:

Avnet Build Instruction Document

Through research of their own, teams will prepare themselves for methods to build a generic PC as fast as possible completing the first phase of the contest.

The second phase will have the teams "Troubleshooting" a pre-built system that will have multiple QC errors attempting to correct all the errors as quickly as possible. The last phase will have them tuning the system for optimal performance. The winning team will be the team with the top score after adding their scores together from the three competitions.

On Game Day, the event will be broken into three separate events. The first event will be a race to build the computer while the second event will be troubleshooting and lastly tuning the computer for the fastest benchmark scores.

1st Event - Build it Fastest

Teams will be chosen in random for the build order. Three groups of 3 teams will be selected. First group of 3 teams will build the systems at the same time followed by a small break to reset the systems. The 2nd group of 3 teams will then compete followed by time to reset and then the last group of 3 teams will compete. (We will have 3 systems that are used in the build event)

The provided computer configuration will be setup "unboxed" and ready for teams to compete in building the systems as fast as possible.

These systems will strictly be used for building and will not be the same systems used for tuning or troubleshooting.

The Avnet Build Instruction Document will be used to qualify the quality of the build, and all QA checks will be reviewed as well for accuracy. It is not only the time to build the unit, but the workmanship/quality as well.

Teams will be given an equipment list of items that they are required to bring to the event. Electric screwdrivers are strongly recommended!

Teams will be timed from start to finish on building the computers as fast as possible with penalties associated around accuracy in following the documented procedure.

Time penalties will be added for QC errors before totaling the final score.

Units that have been built will then be de-integrated by an Avnet approved technician and will be prepared for next timed event.

2nd Event - Troubleshoot it Fastest

Teams will be chosen in random for the troubleshooting order. Three groups of 3 teams will be selected. First group of 3 teams will troubleshoot the systems at the same time followed by a small break to reset the systems. The 2nd group of 3 teams will then compete followed by time to reset and then the last group of 3 teams will compete. (We will have 3 systems that are used in the troubleshoot event)

The provided computer configuration will be setup "built" and ready for teams to compete in troubleshooting the systems as fast as possible.

These systems will strictly be used for troubleshooting and will not be the same systems used for tuning or building.

Each system will have 4 random QC errors. Some errors could simply be cosmetic while others could potentially prevent the system from booting. All errors will be physical and or BIOS but nothing involving the Operating System will be used.

The Avnet Build Instruction Document will be used to qualify the quality of the build, and all QA checks will be reviewed as well for accuracy. It is not only the time to troubleshoot the unit, but the workmanship/quality as well.

Teams will be given an equipment list of items that they are required to bring to the event. Electric screwdrivers are strongly recommended!

Teams will be timed from start to finish on troubleshooting the computers as fast as possible with penalties associated around accuracy in following the documented procedure.

Time penalties will be added for QC errors before totaling the final score.

Units that have been troubleshooted will be reset by an Avnet approved technician.

3rd Event - Tune it Fast

Each team will be assigned a workstation pre-built and pre-loaded with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.

All systems will be identically configured and will have already been benchmarked and base-lined within a set score of each other.

The same BIOS settings, windows updates and system drivers will have already been pre-loaded.

Teams will have up to 30 minutes to optimize their new computers to be the fastest. Teams will have web access to obtain drivers/updates during the event. Note that web access may be slow. Teams will be allowed to performance tune (optimize) their systems; this includes over-clocking the system. Drivers can be from any source. Teams will NOT be allowed to Flash the BIOS or firmware on the systems.

After the 30 minutes is over, the judges will come by to test each computer in accordance with the Judges Form (see attached). All observers and faculty must step away from the systems but you can remain in the room while the judges complete the testing.

Systems will be shutdown and rebooted before testing begins.

Teams must make sure that any changes they have made will still function after a reboot.

If the system is damaged beyond repair due to performance optimizations of the team, there will be no replacements - tuning phase will be over and a null score will be given.

If the system has a failure that is unrelated to performance optimizations the judges reserve the right to replace with spare hardware.

Judges reserve the right to give systems multiple runs if it fails to make it through a pass but it is solely the decision of the judge upon if they allow more than 1 attempt at the benchmarking software tests.

The following benchmarking tools will be used for this game:

• Futuremark: PCMark Vantage Advanced Edition

Technical Parameters:

• Avnet supplied Bill of Materials (BOM) will NOT be provided this year to all registered teams. However a sample Avnet Build Instruction document is provided for teams to review.
• Teams must supply their own tool kits - No exceptions. Failure to do so will result in disqualification (see Equipment Requirements)
• Teams will optimize their PC on Game Day only.
• Teams may not access previously written code in any way, shape or form.
• Internet (web) access will be available to the teams at the event, although it may be slow.
• Drivers can come from any source.
• Teams will be allowed to have one USB based storage device with preloaded software, drivers, etc. at the event. Including key-fob, external USB HDD, etc. Alternatively, teams can pre-load a CD / DVD to use during the competition or any combination thereof.
• Teams will not be allowed to remove the covers or open the cases on the tuning systems - only external devices are allowed.
• Operating system will be Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.
• Teams are NOT allowed to reload the system.
• CPU, bus, video and memory over-clocking is allowed and encouraged.
• Teams need to complete the computer build on their own - assistance from sponsoring faculty will not be allowed.
• There will be technical representation from Avnet to assist with any troubleshooting or technical questions, but understand this will take time away from you building and tuning your systems.

Judging will be based off a set of benchmarking results. Each team will be given a total score based on the performance of their systems. Each system will be tested on one benchmarking software program. The winner will be determined by the team that amasses the most points from benchmarking scores.

Schedule:

• 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. - Registration.
• 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. - Teams meet and are broken into 3 separate groups.
• 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. - First teams in each group begin.
• 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Judging. Units in all three groups de-integrated by an Avnet approved technician.
• 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. - Second teams in each group begin.
• 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. - Judging. Units in all three groups de-integrated by an Avnet approved technician.
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Third teams in each group begin.
• 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Judging. Units in all three groups de-integrated by an Avnet approved technician.
• 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. - "On the Go" lunch.
• 1:30 - 2:00 p.m. - Judges finish benchmarking, calculate final scores, pack up systems and identify winning team.
• 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Network Hour (Student/Faculty/Administration/Industry)
• 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Awards Reception

Equipment Requirements for Students:

• Bring a tool kit containing screwdrivers, tie-wraps, nut drivers, cutters, flash light, any equipment needed to assemble your system.
• Students may bring a USB drive to load drivers for the event.

Equipment Requirements for Avnet:

• 9 complete computer systems (minus the monitors)
• Backup equipment for DOA purposes
• 6 Stop Watches to time the Build & Troubleshooting events
• 6 "That was Easy" Buttons to help in stopping the clocks

Equipment Requirements for Venue:

• Network connectivity at each workstation
• Network Cables, switches and monitors for each workstation
• Two separate rooms one for each game (Connected Together)
• Access to Trash
• Static-protection straps
• Power strips, cables (power and peripheral)
• 1 table per team / 3 chairs per table
• Power for 12 full workstations and monitors (all the same type/model)

FAQs:

For more information, e-mail AvnetTechGames@Avnet.com or call (480) 643-7657.

Scholarships and honorariums provided by Carstens Family Funds and administered by the Arizona Technology Council.