Brothers of Arms

[Erekose]

I'm getting fed up of my old desktop running Vista 32-bit and would like to get a new gaming PC. I've bought several Dells over the years but their service and even sales teams are now hopelessly inept and I don't want to reward them with my custom. So, I'd like to know if anyone can recommend a decent UK source of reasonable spec gaming PCs.

And no, I really can't be bothered to build one myself again

[Gert]

Have you looked at the pre-built ones from http://www.overclockers.co.uk/? Have heard good things about their pre-builts...a work colleague recently bought this and seems to be very happy with it...

[Alb]

Build one your... umm ... sorry

Anyway ... last time I bought a full system is a while back and that was via a local shop.

The last 2 where all semi to full self assembled and I bought various bits from the following:

Novatech.co.uk (got their own branded graphic cards)
Overclockers.co.uk (needs jumping through a few hoops before the very first order. they have an interesting forum so) ... heard some mixed reviews about their "return item" service.
Scan.co.uk

Personally I never had any problems with them. But then I never had to return something to them either so I don't know how good their service really is. The only few times I had to change something on my order with scan or overclockers there wasn't any problem.

Scan seems to be a pretty good shop and they seem to know what they are doing with assembling PC. Both standard and heavily over-clocked systems (Even won some awards from "bit-tech /Custom PC" for some of their mods. Delivery usually was good and quick. So I don't really know how pricey they are on fully assembled systems.

My components for my present system came mostly from Scan with some bits from Overlockers. My previous system (pre assembled motherboard, etc.) came from Novatech. Haven't had any real problems with any of them, but overall I would probably go for scan, but that is more like a subjective opinion and the fact that I recently dealt more with them then the other 2.


Added (after Gert): Both Scan and Overclocker seem to know what they are doing in regards to "overclocked" systems, a kind of stable "diet" for both of them. Which would suggested that even their normal system are pretty well put together (in terms of assembly, testing and components used). So with "Overclockers" you get a more enthusiast "feel" .. I know not very objective.

[Gert]

http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/ as well get good reviews but have no personal experience with them...

[Erekose]

Thanks for the info chaps - Overclockers seem to have good specs for the money but some whingeing from unhappy customers and Scan look very good but fairly pricey - some careful shopping will be required!

On that note, I think my existing PC must have a malign psychic intelligence: it decided to die today just to annoy me. I eventually managed to beat it into submission with system restores and driver reinstalls so I should be with you again soon

[Gert]

Only had 1 bad run-in with OCUK and that was minor (they sent my order twice but charged once); they do get very vocal complainers though

[Alb]

probably the "enthusiaste" market for OCUK ... but yes Scan is it bit pricer in systems ... so they do some interesting "specials".

[Erekose]

Well, now that my existing gaming PC is pretty much on death row (I can just about coax it to play AoC sometimes) I bit the bullet and ordered a machine from Scan with a reasonable specification (i7-950, SSD, Radeon 5870, that kind of stuff )

So, I'm looking forward to playing with that but in the meantime I suspect that I won't be able to get onto AoC that regularly - I'll see how much time I can justify for fixing my ailing old Dell box.

Thanks again for the shopping help chaps.

[Erekose]

Unfortunately my resolve weakened and I couldn't resist changing the spec on the new PC to include the new NVIDIA GTX580 rather than the Radeon 5870 - it should arrive on Saturday. I must say, Scan have been extremely helpful and pleasant to deal with even though they have been snowed under during the new graphics card release.

Who knows, the GTX580 might even work with AoC

[Alb]

GTX580 ... should be better then the 5870 ... in principle also should be a bit less head and power intensive then the 480 as I think it is more based on the 460 chip revision