A machine assembled for a specific use often costs less than an equivalent branded one, and it can be repaired part by part.
That is the double advantage, and it is rarely explained. An off-the-shelf computer is a compromise designed for a shop shelf: a proprietary case, a power supply calculated to the bare minimum, a motherboard with limited features, memory sometimes soldered in. A machine assembled from standard components can be repaired, upgraded and made to last - for the same budget it almost always offers more where you need it.
That is the starting point of any serious build. The questions that determine everything else:
That last question counts for more than people think: a machine intended to last six years is not put together like one intended for three.
For office work and everyday professional use, the order of priority is almost always the same: a fast SSD first, memory next, a decent processor last. A high-end processor on a mechanical disk gives you a slow machine; a mid-range processor on a good SSD gives you a lively one. We will not sell you graphics power if you do not play games and do not edit video - it is the most expensive item and the most often useless.
The power supply. It is the component most often sacrificed in entry-level machines, and the one that can take the rest with it when it fails. We fit a branded power supply, correctly rated, with headroom.
Storage. An NVMe SSD for the system and the software, with a large-capacity disk added for archives if needed. See our article on SSD or hard drive.
Memory. Enough of it from the start, and above all with free slots so more can be added later.
Cooling. A machine that overheats throttles itself and ages quickly. Decent cooling costs little and tells over time, on lifespan as much as on noise.
The case. Standard, ventilated, easy to get into. That is what will make it possible to upgrade the machine in three years.
Advice and drawing up the build, supplying the components, assembly, installing Windows and the drivers, the basic settings, and transferring your data from the old machine if you wish. You leave with a computer ready to use, not with a box of parts.
We also give you the detailed list of components and their respective warranties - information branded machines never provide.
A point to know before choosing. On an assembled machine, each component carries its own manufacturer's warranty, often longer than the overall warranty on an off-the-shelf computer - up to five years on some power supplies and memory.
The trade-off: in the event of a fault, the offending component has to be identified and then dealt with through its maker. That is what we take care of, and it is precisely what separates a machine assembled by a professional from one assembled at home.
No, and we would rather say so. For a single office machine in a small organization, a business-grade branded computer with its on-site warranty can suit better: if it fails, a technician from the manufacturer comes out. For a laptop the question does not arise - you do not assemble a laptop.
Custom building comes into its own on a desktop with specific needs, on a machine meant to last, and where future upgrades matter. See also new hardware and refurbished hardware.
People choose a machine on its performance and then live with its noise. For a machine in a shared office, a living room or a room where you receive people, it is in fact a decisive criterion.
A properly ventilated case, a good processor cooler and a power supply with headroom produce a noticeably quieter machine, for a modest extra cost. We plan for it at the build stage when you tell us where the machine will sit - much simpler than correcting it afterwards.
Before proposing a full build, we always look at whether your current machine is worth upgrading. An SSD and extra memory often extend a machine by several years for a fraction of the price. See replacing a disk with an SSD.
No, quite the opposite: the components are standard, documented and replaceable one at a time. Reliability depends on the choice of parts, the power supply in particular.
Yes, we assemble and install. We will simply point out any incompatibilities or choices that look unbalanced to us before starting.
It is a separate license, which we supply and install. A license from a branded machine is generally not transferable.
A few days depending on component availability. Assembly and installation take a day, supply determines the rest.
Can't find your question? It may be in our full FAQ.
Everything worth knowing before you hand over your equipment.
278 questions on breakdowns, security, networking and backup.
What the households and businesses we work with have to say.
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