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- If the item is sole sourced (i.e. can only get from one vendor), you're set.
- If not, try to help purchasing by doing the work for them. I.e., find 3 competing quotes and submit the best one. If you don't, they'll apparently try to find 3 themselves, but it can take a while.
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Other potential sources for SuperMicro hardware
- Silicon Mechanics (siliconmechanics.com) - Seattle area, used extensively by CSL/Gates
- Mazda Technologies (packs X58 chipset-based, core i7s in 1U machines)
- Penguin Computing (usually more expensive)
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