I've got 35B creds and just finished the first tier of supernova generators. Should I wait until tier 4 or put them on as I go along.

Never ever install mk1 energy cores. Save until you get to mk4 or if you see a need to change your research a bit, do mk2 then come back when you are able to finish to mk4. With a reasonable enough research prodution, it shouldn't take more than a few days to do each mk of reactors so you would be spending all that cash/mineral and then have to repeat it in a few days. Wasteful IMO.

The first tier took me a couple weeks to do. I get 3200 per hour. So it will take me about a month to finish the research tier completely if it remains that way.

always wait till you research the entire tech level, saves money over time, also be sure to save your Ku as 3 mk4 supernovas are pricey

Never install the first tier on ANYTHING

unless it's a planet structure, base structure, or only has one tier like relays planet population and half the base research.

The scaling on modules are dreadful, always move from final tier to final tier. Otherwise you'll facepalm your screen with a brick.

Smart ass lol

Sure, skipping tech levels will save credits. If you can skip straight from Fusion Reactor Mark Is to Supernova Mark IVs you will "save" a ton of credits and minerals. On the other hand, if you need the extra energy in between to do stuff, and therefore gain ranks, planet slots, NPC drops and the like, you may very well end up behind if you attempt to skip too many tech levels. For your situation Xzien, the crucial questions are:

• What reactors do you have on right now, and do you have all 3 installed?
• How often do you rank up/use an energy cube or tri-matrix?
• How long does each reactor level take you to research?

With that information, you can figure out how much energy you gain by upgrading now versus waiting until Mark IVs, and decide if it's worth that many minerals to you. Keep in mind you will be able to rank up faster with more energy, so you may very well be looking at a suprisingly large energy delta between upgrading to Mark Is now and Mark IVs in a month.

sorry, your description could be misleading to noobs hahahaha

Your example doesn't really apply to this situation. Upping to Supernova's won't boost your energy immensely, but it costs LOTS!

X3 Intra-D Colliders Mk IV
I rank up every few days or so and get 2-3 tri-matrixs a week. Haven't gotten an energy cube in months.
Almost 11 days per research level for supernovas (did the math)

My only point in the example is that credits and minerals are not the only factor in the equation.

Here's the energy math, the increase in energy over the next 33 days for each if you wait for that tier to upgrade

Mark I (i.e. upgrading now) = 1555 more
Mark II (upgrade in 11 days) = 2074 more
Mark III (upgrade in 22 days) = 1555 more

This assumes you don't rank up any faster (which depends more on how close you get to the next rank and your recharge rate than just on these numbers alone).

Here's the cost increase (including unmodified upkeep diffs):

Mark I = 6B CR, 1.5K Kur
Mark II = 7.7B CR, 2.1K Kur
Mark III = 10.3B CR, 3K Kur

It's up to you whether it's worth it or not, but Mark IIs are definitely the best cost/benefit if you don't wait for IVs.