Custom built computers
A configuration built around the work you actually do, assembled, tested and ready to use.
An off the shelf configuration often pairs a strong graphics card with too little memory, or the other way round. A build is put together around the software you will run, so the money goes where the difference is felt.
What each kind of work needs
- Office work and bookkeeping: a processor with integrated graphics, 16 GB of memory and an NVMe drive. A separate graphics card only burns power here.
- CAD and design: much of the drawing in programs such as AutoCAD runs on a single core, so a high clock speed is worth more than a large core count.
- Video editing: a graphics card with hardware encoding for the codecs you use (H.264, H.265, AV1), 32 GB of memory or more, and a separate fast drive for projects.
- 3D rendering: lots of cores or a strong graphics card, depending on whether the program renders on the CPU or the GPU.
That is why we ask first which program you use and with what kind of files, and only then pick the parts.
Where people save in the wrong place
On the power supply and the cooling. A cheap power supply without an 80 Plus certificate runs hotter and delivers a less stable voltage, and when it fails it can take other parts with it. A case without enough airflow forces the processor to lower its clock under sustained load, so an expensive CPU performs like a cheaper one.
The other common mistake is memory that was never set to the speed it was bought for. Without the XMP or EXPO profile enabled in the BIOS the modules run at base speed, which shows clearly in benchmarks on some processors.
What we recommend and why
A little headroom on the power supply and the motherboard, but no horsepower you have no software for. A free memory slot and a spare M.2 socket mean that in two years you can add rather than replace. Before handover the machine goes through a memory test and a sustained CPU and GPU load, and you get the temperatures measured under that load in writing.
Windows goes on clean, without the extra utilities motherboard makers like to bundle, and drivers come from the manufacturers' own pages.
Common questions
Can I bring parts I have already bought?
Yes. Before assembly we check that the board, memory, power supply and case work together, and tell you if something does not fit.
How much does a custom build cost?
It depends on the work it is meant for and on part prices at the time. After a conversation about the software you use, you get a quote with a parts list.
What about the warranty?
Each part carries the manufacturer's warranty in your name. If something fails, we help pin down which part is at fault, so the claim goes to the right place.