I think most of the chips are already assembled on the boards and are being tested through ( just the boards , without anything ).
Source:-
http://ecointalk.net/gallery/image/365-20140513-013215-resize/
http://ecointalk.net/gallery/image/366-20140513-013222-resize/ (See at the background , boards already have chips on them and are being tested one by one )

As for the power consumption is concerned , I don't think so they will be improving that for the first batch , they might do that with future batches and might consume less power .

I think installing boards onto the cases and assembling everything else is going to take a lot of time and man power . I hope they are done with already . The shipping must start now .