Where to get new PC from?

[iamloco724]

I built my last pc but I really dont have time to do that right now with my schedule, I know the building itself doesn't take that long but the potential troubleshooting and replacing parts etc. I just rather customize something online and maybe pay a bit more to get it done that way.

I was looking at Xidax, they seemed good but then I go down the black hole of the internet and find something negative which I guess you will find on any of these companies.

Basically I am looking for first hand experience and recommendations with any of these sites that build custom pc's.

For me the biggest factor is reliability and a company that really stress tests everything before hand so minimize issues on my end.

 

[bruceb]

Consider Microcenter ... you can either get a prebuilt or they can customize or custom build one. They have the top major brands.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Honestly, I'm going to put my hippie hat on for a second and encourage you to shop local. If you live in even a medium-sized small town or exurb, there's probably a locally owned computer dealer in town, or one town over, that does custom builds.

Think "VirtualLarry with a storefront."

I kind of enjoy checking these places out when I travel - morbid curiosity maybe - and... well... I'm not always a huge fan. (They frequently have more porn on the wall of the bench area than I prefer.) But even the pervy ones seem to know what they're doing and aren't usually any pricier than, say, Cyberpower.

Without knowing exactly where you live, I can't recommend a place, but trust me, there's probably one or two around you.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Think "VirtualLarry with a storefront."

LOL. I've thought about a storefront. Lord knows I have enough "stock" of parts stuffed into my tiny apt. But there's already two computer dealers in town, one older, more business-oriented, with MS-certified techs (I am not), and one newer. Haven't actually been in there. Thought about asking for a job a while back, never got around to it. Also thought about taking my custom budget builds there, and seeing if they would sell them on consignment. Probably not, if they would have to warranty them. Oh well.

There's a Microcenter in Cambridge, too, probably 45 minutes away. They have really great prices on "real" gaming rigs. (i7, GTX1080, big SSD, big HDD, OS). I saw one for $1799.99 on their home page. I would probably buy one of those rigs over CyberPower, etc. for two reasons, price and convenience (for repair, etc.). Not to knock CyberPower in particular here, I've never owned one, and don't know their service. But I know that MC is pretty decent.

Not to put down my own service either, I go out of my way, most of the time, to make what few customers I have happy. I'm in the Boston / MetroWest area, so PM me if you're in the area and want a PC built.

 

[piasabird]

Local computer stores tend to go out of business quite quickly. That means your warranty goes out of business also.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Local computer stores tend to go out of business quite quickly. That means your warranty goes out of business also.

OTOH. Many smaller shops will give free e-mail / phone tech-support for the life of the PC. Try getting that from Dell, BestBuy, or Staples...

 

[DaveSimmons]

How tight is your budget? What will the use be?

I have a prebuilt Acer i3 mini-ITX that I use as a music jukebox and it's small and quiet.

I've considered getting gaming prebuilts from https://www.pugetsystems.com/ - Puget Systems since they have focused on quiet + performance for many years now instead of GAMERZ! DO THE DEW! flashy cheap systems like CyberPower and their ilk.

But I always end up building my own since it's easy and I can pick every part.

For "shop local" you might run into them only carrying a small selection of parts. They can order other parts for you from Newegg, but they won't have a high level of experience with those parts.

 

[bigboxes]

I say build your own. I am my own tech support.

 

[whm1974]

I say build your own. I am my own tech support.

I second that. Building your own is best.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Honestly, I'm going to put my hippie hat on for a second and encourage you to shop local. If you live in even a medium-sized small town or exurb, there's probably a locally owned computer dealer in town, or one town over, that does custom builds.

Think "VirtualLarry with a storefront."

I kind of enjoy checking these places out when I travel - morbid curiosity maybe - and... well... I'm not always a huge fan. (They frequently have more porn on the wall of the bench area than I prefer.) But even the pervy ones seem to know what they're doing and aren't usually any pricier than, say, Cyberpower.

Without knowing exactly where you live, I can't recommend a place, but trust me, there's probably one or two around you.

Yeah. I knew a Korean-American who juggled a nightclub band with his storefront. His storefront had a "back-front" -- and pile of hardware outside the back door waiting for recycling. IN other words, he had three businesses: building new systems; recycling old ones with parts and other detritus; and -- playing the music.

It was sad, because he sold the business and moved on to something else. These little PC shops -- if any are left -- continue to dry up and disappear. He gave me a lot of "free s***." Things like old tower computer cases with switches and LEDs to harvest, looking toward modding them and repainting them.

 

[phexac]

How tight is your budget? What will the use be?

I have a prebuilt Acer i3 mini-ITX that I use as a music jukebox and it's small and quiet.

I've considered getting gaming prebuilts from https://www.pugetsystems.com/ - Puget Systems since they have focused on quiet + performance for many years now instead of GAMERZ! DO THE DEW! flashy cheap systems like CyberPower and their ilk.

But I always end up building my own since it's easy and I can pick every part.

For "shop local" you might run into them only carrying a small selection of parts. They can order other parts for you from Newegg, but they won't have a high level of experience with those parts.

I just checked out the pugetsystems website. Wow, building your own is so much cheaper...

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I just checked out the pugetsystems website. Wow, building your own is so much cheaper...

That's Puget. Other manufacturers have much smaller margins.

 

[DaveSimmons]

That's Puget. Other manufacturers have much smaller margins.

Yep, they're a high-end "craftsman" operation rather than a Cyberpower "slap it together and power up once to see if it explodes" budget shop.

And like everyone else I say "build your own"

 

[Cozarkian]

I looked at a lot of online custom PC companies for gaming laptops and the only reasonably priced places I've found are:

iBuyPower, cyberpowerpc, and xoticpc.

I had a horrible experience with iBuyPower and I think they are related to cyberpowerpc, so I won't use either of them ever.

I tried xoticpc next and although I've replaced 2 motherboards in 3.5 years, they at least had decent customer service.

So if you must order custom, I suppose I would suggest xoticpc, but really you should build your own.

 

[whm1974]

I just checked out the pugetsystems website. Wow, building your own is so much cheaper...

Yes it is indeed cheaper to build a high end rig then to buy one, plus you can make sure everything is done right.