OcUK - Build Your Own Computer

Casdawer · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:27

Afternoon,

Do you guys think that OcUK would benefit from having a 'Build Your Own PC' option?

I know that the pre-built systems that OcUK are great and that a majority of us know how to build our own machines but not everyone does!

I think that if people were allowed to select their own components then i think more people would buy from OcUK.

I once bought a PC from another site and all i did was select the components i wanted then they built it and did loads of tests before they sent it out to me and it was great.

Thoughts?

Casdawer.

Makunouchi · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:28

Have you tried calling them on the phone to discuss it? They might do it at extra cost.

robgti · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:29

I think it is a great idea. Would help people who are new to computer building. I have seen a couple other sites that do it and it works well.

Marky · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:29

Ignore this post... ¬_¬'

Casdawer · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:35

Makunouchi said:
Have you tried calling them on the phone to discuss it? They might do it at extra cost.

I don't need another computer, it's just a thought that came to me randomly...

meghatronic · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:36

To be honest, I just can't be bothered anymore, and would probably pay for a "build it for me" service. Not that I intend on upgrading again so soon.

Delvis · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:37

Its a good idea, but they would have to sort out how the website works first...well...the shoppng cart anyway as some parts dont go with others etc...So they would almost need a 'drop down' list of components that work with other components.

ie, select case (by brand etc), select what type of system (AMD / Intel), what mother board (which only shows boards compatible with above case selection) etc etc...But it gets tricky I guess....I'm sure its do-able anyway

Gazza123 · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:40

meghatronic said:
To be honest, I just can't be bothered anymore, and would probably pay for a "build it for me" service. Not that I intend on upgrading again so soon.

Its not that hard providing your not doing something more extreme like water cooling or cable sleeving. You can build one in less then 2 hours. All the setting up and updating takes a little longer but just watch the TV while you do it

LiamJ · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:40

I know that at least one other competitor will offer to build a computer of your own spec for an extra £50. It is not available to do directly through the website AFAIK, and you must contact them either through email or phone, but it still works fine.

Dave M · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:41

Had a system configurator, wasn't popular and people still phoned up to ask for changes to what was available (simply impossible to setup compatible options while excluding incompatible items for every product on the catalogue).

You would never be able to just select a load of products and tick a 'build it for me' option as we couldn't guarantee compatability, if such an option was available it may as well be called 'phone me' because very few would require no additional configuration.

What usually happens is you look at the full systems and if there's anything different you want you phone up and speak with Sales - they advise if it's possible or not (i.e. it will work and we can support it) andwhat would actually serve your needs best.

IMO the biggest part of building a computer is selecting what goes into it, not building it - full systems with selected options do that for you perfectly well. If you have a lower knowledge of what you need than that you can phone and speak to Sales - the simplest option of all.

geekyEd · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:41

cost, a pre built is using a known and tested set of drivers that they have used 10's or 100's of times before and can rely on the components working together correctly.

Completely custom would take a lot more time to sort out as they possibly wouldn't be aware of the features of certain motherboards or how to set up certain components correctly.

Then there is the after sales support, that would be very difficult to troubleshoot issues over the phone or in general with unlimited combinations of hardware.

If they stick to certain known configurations then they become aware of any issues and can confidently and easily deal with any problems arising

Delvis · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:44

Gazza123 said:
Its not that hard providing your not doing something more extreme like water cooling or cable sleeving. You can build one in less then 2 hours. All the setting up and updating takes a little longer but just watch the TV while you do it

2 Hours? You would have been shot in my previous place

Pav89 · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:46

Telescopi said:
You would never be able to just select a load of products and tick a 'build it for me' option as we couldn't guarantee compatability, if such an option was available it may as well be called 'phone me' because very few would require no additional configuration.

Competitors can do it though. It's not impossible - you're just thinking about having a whole list of components that the user would be able to tick everything and anything.

Select motherboard

Next

if motherboard socket = i5, display i5 processors

Select cpu

if motherboard memory = ddr1333, display ddr1333

Select memory

....

if power for components = 350 w, display 400-600w power supplies

etc...

TheCenturion · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:49

I'm pretty sure that they do offer this sort of service if you phone them up and discuss the type of pc that you want.

To be honest I think that their prebuilt systems are primarily for those who wouldn't necessarily know all the components to choose, and therefore wouldn't be able to use a system configurator tool.

meghatronic · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:49

Gazza123 said:
Its not that hard providing your not doing something more extreme like water cooling or cable sleeving. You can build one in less then 2 hours. All the setting up and updating takes a little longer but just watch the TV while you do it

I just can't be bothered anymore. I've built dozens of them, just past it now

.

Casdawer · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:53

Pav89 said:
Competitors can do it though. It's not impossible - you're just thinking about having a whole list of components that the user would be able to tick everything and anything.

Select motherboard

Next

if motherboard socket = i5, display i5 processors

Select cpu

if motherboard memory = ddr1333, display ddr1333

Select memory

....

if power for components = 350 w, display 400-600w power supplies

etc...

This is exactly what i'm thinking.

On the home page, you'd have another link which takes you to a seperate page and in that page you start from Step 1 which could be Case, CPU or what ever and then go from there.

There is a site which i could show, but i don't want to be banned

.Ox. · 17 Jan 2011 at 17:20

robgti said:
I think it is a great idea. Would help people who are new to computer building. I have seen a couple other sites that do it and it works well.

I wouldn't really view it as help.

Get your hands dirty and you will learn more. As long as you take it slow and use the Internet you will be fine.

Alex74 · 17 Jan 2011 at 17:23

.Ox. said:
I wouldn't really view it as help.

Get your hands dirty and you will learn more. As long as you take it slow and use the Internet you will be fine.

This tbh. There's plenty of help to be had, not least a very nice system building thread in GH.

Nothing wrong with the system as it is tbh. I'd probably be happier calling OcUK directly..

Dave M · 17 Jan 2011 at 17:33

As I've said, tried it and wasn't popular.

I think selecting the components is the hard part - hence why people like full systems with a few options.

If you don't know why you want an i3, i5 or i7 (or even amd) or don't know why you would want faster memory or triple or dual channel you aren't going to get much from a configurator - it's still going to baffle you. Best you phone and speak to somebody with the knowledge and experience to help you get the best system for your requirements.

In-between the baffled and the self-builders you have those who know *exactly* what they want, why they want it but just can't be bothered to put it together. It's just too small a group frankly to justify the man hours in setting up and maintaining the sort of component list you need for a configurator (especially one that satisfies these power user's requirements) and quite simply phoning is just as good for this group too (they may even learn something new in the process!).

Casdawer · 17 Jan 2011 at 17:54

Telescopi said:
As I've said, tried it and wasn't popular.

I think selecting the components is the hard part - hence why people like full systems with a few options.

If you don't know why you want an i3, i5 or i7 (or even amd) or don't know why you would want faster memory or triple or dual channel you aren't going to get much from a configurator - it's still going to baffle you. Best you phone and speak to somebody with the knowledge and experience to help you get the best system for your requirements.

In-between the baffled and the self-builders you have those who know *exactly* what they want, why they want it but just can't be bothered to put it together. It's just too small a group frankly to justify the man hours in setting up and maintaining the sort of component list you need for a configurator (especially one that satisfies these power user's requirements) and quite simply phoning is just as good for this group too (they may even learn something new in the process!).

Fair enough