Wondering if you should be going custom with your next PC purchase? Here's a few things to think about.
One of the most interesting things about computers is that having one in your home has only been a mainstream thing for around 25 years. The internet has only been commonly used for about 20 years. YouTube has only been around for 15 years. Touchscreen phones have only been around for 14 years. For perspective, the first accessibe mass-produced automobile was the Ford Model T which made its debut 112 years ago. Cars have come a long way, and computers will too!
When deciding whether to buy an off-the-shelf PC or to customize with a PC builder, here are a few things to consider:
1. Technology is always changing
Technology is an ever-expanding space of innovation and constant growth. The idea of keeping up with the pace of that growth can seem a daunting task. For someone with a strong passion for technology, keeping up just makes sense. Custom system builders obsess over specs, benchmarks, cooling, and performance. We make it our life’s mission to be an expert in our field and make computers more accessible to the masses.
We build computers because we love building computers. We love to explore the creative possibilities of our clients and their passions. Experiencing the individual personalities that exist between people who can all share a common hobby in computers, gaming, photography, or video editing is an amazing experience that only emboldens our passion for what we do.
2. Not all parts are created equally Not everyone that loves having a performance PC wants to spend hundreds of hours researching which parts to buy. Computer parts range widely in specifications and performance depending on the use-case the manufacturer intended. Some manufacturers may create parts that cut corners to make prices more attractive. To the unassuming consumer a “good part” and a “bad part” physically look the same and in many cases can even perform similarly under controlled testing.
What is “controlled testing”? This is when you put a component under specific testing that can be reproduced easily across any other similar products. The challenge with how some of these tests are performed is that hardware can be designed to perform well in common tests, while it may not perform as well in real world scenarios. A good example of this is copying a large file from one hard drive to another. Typically, most hard drives perform quite well during large file copies. Activities like loading software programs, video editing and gaming will spend more time accessing smaller files which is where we can see much larger gaps in performance between manufacturers. On the topic of hard drives, manufacturers are also not consistent in their manufacturing processes. Hard drives have many sub-components including: the actual storage memory, the controller that enables access to that memory, and the cache that enables faster access to the data that is being requested. Some “high-performance” drive manufacturers have cut prices by removing the cache from the drive which in turn creates a drive that really under-performs. Reliability can also be an issue for many manufacturers that choose to use more cost-effective components. Computer builders obsess over these differences and meticulously study the components available for your PC. We strive to ensure the parts you get serve the purpose that you have for them. We want you to get the best components possible within your budget and for your specific needs. We look at everything from long-term reliability, performance degradation over time and even the track record of the manufacturer and the sub-components they purchase or license from other manufacturers.
3. You get an experience tailored to you Many computer companies today negotiate cost-effective manufacturing with low-end fabricators. They separate computer hardware into three main categories: consumer, business, enterprise. They also have been known to prioritize quality and support into three separate tiers as well. Consumers typically get the quantity over quality approach when it comes to how components are sourced. Business customers get slightly better design and engineering but also see some lower-end components being thrown in as office-use workloads are not typically overly demanding. Enterprise customers typically get the best of the best, however, even that varies from company to company. Purchasing a computer today is typically done by going to a store with sales staff that vary in knowledge levels greatly from person to person, or by going online and ordering a pre-made computer and having it arrive on your doorstep. Our approach is different. We want to know who you are, what are your passions, what kind of use and experience do you want to get from your computer? We want to custom tailor the PC to you. We want to interact with you and build a community of enthusiasts that share their passions and hobbies with others. Sure, we can ship you a computer as well, but we value the experience of getting to know our customers and treating them not just as a customer but as a friend. One of our key goals at Unhinged Systems Ltd is to provide our clients with the best overall experience. We want you to have a computer that will last an exceptionally long time, meet all your needs, and provide a lasting impression and experience. We want to build a community around our clients that extends beyond just “buying a computer” and creates real lasting connections and a strong supportive enthusiast community.
We hope that when it comes time for your next build, you will keep us in mind.
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