New PC on order - fingers crossed

This time I have chosen PC Option http://www.pcoption.co.uk/

I've configured the GeForce 8800/Core 2 Duo option to my needs:
http://www.pcoption.co.uk/pcbaseunits/index5d_8800slip4con.htm

Cooler Master Stacker 832 case
WindowsXP Home SP2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 CPU
ASUS Striker Extreme nForce 680i motherboard - Quad-core CPU Ready
2GB OCZ 2N1066SR 2GK RAM - 1066 MHz Certified SLI-Ready Memory
ASUS EN8800GTX graphics card
Silverstone Zeus 750W PSU - Certified SLI-Ready Power Supply for Dual GeForce 8800GTX
Creative X-FI Xtreme Gamer sound card
320GB SATAII hard drive

Total £1,490.95 - including VAT and Delivery.

The main increase in spending is due to going for the Cooler Master case 832 case. I'm suspicious I am over-paying on the price of the case as it added £185 onto the total price. Normally, I would go for a cheap case sub £100.00. However, as this system is technically going to turn into Quad-Core system with 2x8800GTX in SLI, it is best to go for a decent case.

I hope this one isn't broken like the last one, which was put together by a bunch o' monkeys....!

I hope you did a bit of company research before ordering this time?

I Googled a bit - found a few threads containing people posting they were happy with their purchases - didn't find anyone upset by them.

Price-wise, they are cheap. They claim fast delivery and people seem to agree they are good at deliverying.

It's a case of wait and see really - I might just get unlucky again. Having said that, I could place an order now with CyberPower and get lucky this time.

Statistically, ordering @ cyberpower would be the safest! Imagine a 50% chance of any computer being crappy, coming from whatever company.

Currently, pc option = 50% chance

But how big would be the chance that the 2nd Cyberpower PC would also be doomed? 50% ^2, = 25%. So the chance that the PC option PC is crap is twice as high. :P

Of course, CS_TBLs view is valid from a "no-research" point of view ;)

In honesty, I did consider CyberPower on the basis that they surely wouldn't get it so wrong second-time around.

Then I decided that they had had their chance and I was going to give someone else a go.

The current game that I really, really want to play on this new system is S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

I just cannot wait to crank all those lighting settings up to max.

I reckon that sometime next week I will have this baby up and running.

I'll watch this thread with interest.

I changed my mind about a rig from evesham, then found out I couldn't reinstate the cancelled order so I am back to 'thinking about' buying a new pc ^^

I won't be ordering a system with a view to upgrading it in the future though,from past experience I learned that by the time you come to upgrade it there is something new in processors/graphics which means you end up building another new system again.

Mesh were high on my list - my current gaming system is a Mesh.

The equivalant system with them would cost me £ 1435.00. However, you don't get a choice of case or PSU with Mesh (other than selecting 550W or 1000W. The Mesh case is fine though, it's a Mystique. For me I'd have to go for the 1000W as the 550W will not SLI 2 x 8800GTX's. This means the price jumps to £1611.25

In the short-term (as it stands at the point of ordering), PC Option seem the better choice - more configurations and cheaper.

Hey, can anyone access their site via Firefox?

http://www.pcoption.co.uk/

I nearly had a heart-attack. However, I can get in via IE.

Site works fine here in FF2

God, puki, just buy a Mesh. I can't handle the stress of going through this again. :P

When I click my own link it comes up with:


It works in IE.

You have to understand that I nearly died when I tried to access the site and it did that to me - I thought, they gone out of business. It worked this morning in FF - not sure what is going on here.

You paid by credit card? You are pretty safe if you have, I think, anyway.

I was sniffing about their site - as far as I know this is hidden (there is no link to click to access it):

http://www.pcoption.co.uk/feedback/

Hope it is genuine stuff.

http://www.google.com/search?q=link:http://www.pcoption.co.uk/feedback/&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&hs=mRY&filter=0

"Riyas Izzedeen"
London

"Riaan Van Eyk"
Hertfordshire

Might be unique names - the second one probably is virtually unique.

When I am in work tomorrow I am going to run traces on these two - if they come up blank I shall puff up like a fat little budgie.

Why not build your own PC?

I recommend www.overclockers.co.uk for parts. Simply buy the same bits as in your spec and get the screwdriver out.

Maybe he doesn't have good access to sensitive components localy, and if he does they may not have good returns policies.

I build my own now that I have a local Fry's electronics store. They have things like a collection of all the mobos they stock, laid out on display where you can check them out before picking a new boxed one up.

Old pic of fry's mobo section.

Why?

£178.54 - Intel Core 2 DUO E6600 - same CPU
£223.24 - Asus Striker Extreme nForce 680 - same mobo
£137.46+ - CoolerMaster Stacker - similar case
£381.86 - 8800 GTX - cheapest one they sell
£100.00c - PSU - circa this price for an equivalant PSU
£152.74 - same RAM

That lot totals £1,173.84 with just the above.

Want me to price the entire system - I think it will be roughly the same price (possibly more) - yet I would end up having to build it by hand.

How is building a PC a better option?

Are you paying for 'professional wiring' again? :D

Nope - wasn't an option for it.

This new PC comes with seals on it - I'm not allowed to open it. In fact, I best check how long I am not to open it for. When I bought my first ever PC I was itching to take a look inside - took me a year to buck up the courage to bust it open and take a butchers.

Plus, I cannot wait to open it up - here is my new case:

Local Fry's store has a few good deals, decent CPU and Mobo combo sale, wish I had the money to puy a new PC :(.

Ah, "Evak" it is you!

Can you change your name back again - it is seriously disturbing my internal analysis systems.

hehe, maybe I will. Kind of miss it. Thought I might like to use something closer to my real name. To be honest the best reason to build one yourself is that it takes about 3 hours, and having to wait a couple of weeks would kill me :)

Well, PC Option claim they delivery in 7 days. I've Googled and found evidence that they do. People reporting quick delivery.

I'm not putting up with another 3-4 week Dallas/Dynasty saga.

hehe, cool.. Goodluck Puki. I'm sure it will be a great system :)

I've heard horror stories about Mesh...some of them on this very forum lol

I guess it is mainly down to luck if you end up happy or not.

I cannot stop Googling the components of my new PC:

I can't help but feel I have a near-perfect PC build here - it is a virtual nVidia SLI-Zone, Certified SLI-Ready, approved system.

The case, a Cooler Master CM Stacker 832, has been confirmed by Cooler Master USA as Certified SLI-Ready (CM.com and CM.Europe have yet to declare this). Some people may argue this as it is not yet on the SLI-Zone list. However, Cooler Master USA are declaring it as such: http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/Products.aspx?pid=1287

The memory is Certified SLI-Ready, Enhanced Performance Profile and is also nVidia badged
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr2_pc2_8500_sli_ready_edition_dual_channel

The PSU is both Certified SLI-Ready and also ASUS Republic of Gamers Certified.

The Striker Extreme is possibly the most advanced nForce 680i, Certified SLI-Ready, motherboard and is also an ASUS Republic of Gamers motherboard.

The ASUS EN8800 GTX, Certified SLI-Ready, graphics card is the ideal choice here for the ASUS motherboard

nVidia don't seem to include sound cards into SLI-Zone. However, the Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeGamer sound card is obviously a good choice for such a gaming system.

I just hope that all this 'Certified SLI-Ready' that nVidia squeak on about actually makes a difference.

I can't wait to install S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

I hope PC Option, don't have the same problem CyberPower had with the ATX connector and the heatpipe - this is concerning me.

The waiting is turning me cold turkey again.

I wish you the best of luck Puki. You should end up with a pretty hot system there for a good 12 months or so ;] assuming everything goes your way this time...

If I bought one of their systems I would have to open it up to fit a multi channel sound...strange how they seal the thing up.

Mmm - I'm getting a bit of the old deja vu thing.

A week has passed since they processed my order.

According to their site order tracking:
Systems Being Built - 17/04/2007 19:40:53

Nothing since - no confirmation that it has been built - no mention of it going into testing/quality control.


I had this with Cyberpower:
Accounting - Pass (date: 20/11/2006)
Warehouse - Pass (date: 22/11/2006)
Assembly Pass - (date: 24/11/2006)
Quality Control - Pass (date: 08/12/2006)
Shipping Pass - (date: 08/12/2006)


I hope it isn't going to be another 2 week period from assembly to despatch.

Potential sniffage.

Jesus of Largeness!!!

I got an email during the Man Utd v Milan Champions League game.



Selt-touch!


Systems Being Built 17/04/2007 19:40:53
Ready to Send 24/04/2007 20:44:42

Note to self:
Purchase Large quantities of Johnson's Baby Oil for Friday.

hehe, at least they are communicating with you, that bodes well. So you only have 2.5 days roughly to go.

Why don't you just go to a local store if there is one, select your components, let them assemble the computer and take it with you after they are done? This is a matter of one or two days if you're not buying before christmas, at least here...

I found the hardest thing with building your own puter was getting the HD set up properly. Everything else simply plugs in and works. Nothing tricky about it.

Good game, really enjoyed the second half! :)

Dabz

I've developed a bit of sniffage.

Whilst Googling about on the Striker Extreme mobo - I came across a lot of problems with memory. I remember that CyberPower had problems with memory for my original system.

Anyway, the memory I have chosen isn't compatable with the mobo - hence the sniffage.

I'm hoping that it may not be as bad as I think - I've requested expert advice over at Tom's: http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/selected-wrong-Striker-Extreme-ftopict234307.html

I'm hoping that someone will just confirm that the RAM will run crippled - ie not a full 1066MHz speed and that there is nothing to worry about. However, there are a lot of horror stories about RAM frying itself in the Striker Extreme 3-4 weeks later.

If the site you ordered from say the RAM is certified at 1066MHz and it doesn't work then you could ask them to replace it with some that does.

One would assume that they have sold several of these systems and have not had a problem with the RAM.

When you receive it, check the PC when it boots up to see if they have slowed down the RAM speed.

It has arrived.

The first thing I noticed was they have not supplied the case I specified. I selected the 832 and they have sent it in the silver and black 830 case. Not too much of a problem, but I will take it up with them as the supplied case is cheaper than the requested one - ie I have paid for the more expensive case.

Unusually, the system has not come with any supplier's documents - ie a confirmation of order - so I am wondering if anything else is not as ordered. There is no documentation at all from PC Option.

All the usuals are in there - various manuals, bits and pieces.

Oddly, there was no power lead for the system - I'd assume that is an omission.

I have a feeling that WindowsXP may not be installed as I have also received an unopened Windows XP Home Edition pack. Actually, this is handy when you have the actual CD, rather than a pre-installed OS which does not include the actual CD.

The case is huge though:

So, the fundamentals of the 5th post of this thread may still have some potential.. :P

A mate bought a compaq from PC World, and it came with a backup on a partition. I told him to make a couple of recovery discs, just in case (And to get back the HD space he paid for)... It ended up being TWO dvd's worth... And it was only XP Home! :/

Anyway, he set about reinstalling it once, for a clean sheet, and the second DVD wouldnt work... So I give him my old CD of XP Home!

Bottom line is, whats the point, and most of all, why not just give the customers the original OEM disc?

Dabz

Well, a cheaper case... They always screw something up. I don't even know what company I'm talking (or typing) about, because they all do it. :P
Well, good luck with the machine anyway!

Because believe it or not, most customers would prefer a CD that actually ships with semi-recent drivers for the hardware they bought, and don't want to spend the better part of a whole day downloading "security" updates from Microsofts website?

Mmm, already hitting problems.

When I tried to connect a USB mouse - I came to realise that all 4 of the rear USB connectors are out of action at the moment - along with various other connectors. The overlay thing, that gets installed into the rear panel of the PC is not in right.

Second (and more disturbing) problem - no signal to my monitor. This is worrying as I have powered the system up and now have a major snag in terms of turning it off safely.

Mmm, I think it might be monitor not picking up the signal from DVI converter. I was using one of the plug-in DVI to VGA (whatever they are called) as the 8800 GTX only has dual DVI outputs. My monitor is acting the same with my other computer when I used the converter plug - not sure why as it worked before and I used this when I had the 8800 GTX from CyberPower - Plus, I have 3 of the plugs so it isn't a case of one of them is broken.

Well, looks like I will now have to buy a monitor with an actual DVI connector.

Sniff.

Incorrect components? Non-functioning mainboard features? Shabby build quality?

Send it back, get a refund, buy parts and build your own.

Mmm, I'm tempted to just pop up PC World and buy a new monitor. Technically, it would be useful to have a proper DVI one - even if the PC is no good.

Seems to be plenty of monitors between £100.00 and £200.00.

If it is a wasted trip and the PC is faulty - I could just take the monitor back and say I thought it was a microwave or something.

Oh you are kidding me?

Puki- Build your own system, seriously... :(

I get the feeling these companies all employ guys like this to do the building:

What if you buy a new monitor and it still doesn't get a signal?

Will buying a new monitor magically make your USB ports work too? And what of the case they sent that you didn't order (and still charged for a more expensive one)?

Send them to hell. Its what I'd do. Crappy service at that price is intolerable.

I'm stuck in two minds here - even if I just go and buy a new monitor and it works fine, I've still got the problem with the connectors on the back of the system.

I'm going to email them about the back plate and see what they say.

Email them about *everything* Puki... Ask them if the machine was even checked and tested before it was shipped...

It seems the height of the motherboard is not enough to align the I/O connectors with the back plate. The I/O back plate appears to be flushly fitted - it really does look like the motherboard is half a centimetere too low.

The sad thing is it is visually obvious to someone building the system. the right-most eSATA connector is completely blocked off by the tabs on the I/O panel.

I'm a bit miffed now. It cost me to send the CyberPower system back - this one will probably end up costing me again to send it back as well.

I've raised in my email that I don't see how this can be easily resolved.

Sniff.

My first email has come back to me as undeliverable. Potential sniffage. I took it from their site.

I've now emailed the address they used to email me to say the system is on its way. I'm reluctant to phone as I don't want to pay a fortune when emails are free and also in writing.

I bought a PC with the I/O connectors blocked off by the backplate once. I took digital photos of the blocked ports, sent them to them and told them I would see them on the day they arranged my refund. Don't waste your time with anything else. You didn't pay all that money to dismantle it and rebuild it from scratch. Get your money back and buy from one of the reputable places instead.

Sniff?

The email came back 'User unknown'?

I'm going to try to 'reply' to their email from a few days ago.

It amazes me that these 'professionals' can totally cack a build up!

I've built two PC's in my lifetime, all worked fine, no hassle, and I'm a bloody plasterer!

Dabz

To be perfectly honest, I don't know why you don't just go to Novatech and get their well-named Annihilator.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/pcrange.html?ANN

It has the motherboard you want, it already has a Quad Core 6600 CPU, and it has dual 8800 GTX's. It also has dual 1/2tb drives and comes in at just under 2k. It even comes in a nice Thermaltake case, with a 900W Tagan PSU ( which I guess you'd need with dual 8800's and a quad core CPU. )

The guy who built the system just phoned me - he said he had noticed this problem. He said when he built it the ports were out of alignment. He said he checked everything and could not find a fault - the motherboard is fine, the panel is fine, the case is fine, etc.

His solution prior to despatch was to use a screwdriver into a port and to tease the panel into alignment. He had no other solution for me. His conclusion was the motherboard must have re-shifted in transit.

I'm not too sure what to make of this.

* preferred ye olde PC-shop at the street's corner. (they went down). They knew me, I knew them. I was one of their returning customers. If I needed a user-config'ed PC then I would be sure to get an intelligent solution from them.

A shop is a place one can visit and talk to real (after-)salespeople, that's a big plus compared to email/phone businesses..

What to make of it? Well I smell something pretty pungent and I don't live near a farm.

Give it a kick, that always works! :)

Dabz

*Well, it might may you feel a little better ;)

Return it. You can always buy a Dell.

This thing is securely fastened in place. He couldn't have realigned it prior to despatch - no way, it just bounces back in place (as you would expect from something screwed into place). I can move it slightly but it constantly re-seats itself under the tension.

I was able to move it and then plug into the USB - Mmm, depending on the rest of the system - I might live with this. However, the eSATA ports look like they are out of action regardless - without me faffing with the mobo's back plate cover.

I'm not over-happy. However, this is better than the problem I had with the CyberPower one where I couldn't power the system up.

I'm going to go get a cheap DVI monitor and test it out - I've got the weekend to evaluate things.

At least I have reported to them that there are problems.

The underligning fact is the guy who built the system was aware of this problem.

Don't blow up money buying a monitor, just return the thing and get a refund ... go for a branded make instead like Mesh or Evesham.

I have a custom built PC too and had my own horror story with the PSU (they gave me an underpowered 480Watt) which blew up, I returned it and they put in another 480W PSU which blew up again, then I put in a 520Watt PSU which blew up again and now I am on my fourth 680W PSU which seems to be pretty stable so far.

Levering against the ports to get it to fit in, probably explains why half of the ports are no longer working.

Send it back and get a refund. You've paid out a load of cash for it and you shouldn't have to "live with" problems. There shouldn't BE any problems!

Any self respecting system builder would NOT allow this out of their hands.

Damn, if the guy was 12 years old and just learning, I could put up with it, but a full professional? jeez!

I'd ask him what qualifications he has whilst you're at it. This is almost unbelievable!

Perhaps he was trained to install air conditioners.. :-)

That's probably it! :))

PC farms... gotta love 'em.

heh, If your not going to build one yourself, then you should just go with one of the best top selling brands that have decent ratings and customer service.

Seems to me that getting a power gaming rig to your own specs at a budget really doesn't work.

Personaly I think your better off getting a decent mobo with single CPU and decent components for it. You can always upgrade the mobo when your ready to upgrade the CPU and it probably won't cost that much.

Buying the latest tech at premium prices normaly gets you burned anyway.

It's like deja vu, all over again! If you really dont want to self-build, you shoulda just bought a Mesh (which you've bought before, and are happy with, I believe), even if it was slightly more expensive. You seem to be loaded, so why you're so desperate to get the best bang-for-buck machine is beyond me. Just look at all the hassle you're getting for the sake of a few poxy quid!

At least the company hasn't gone bust and he can send the PC back. I bought mine from Vantage Computers and 2 weeks after it got delivered Vantage went in to liquidation.

My warranty is useless now as I've tried phoning the warranty like but it doesn't accept calls anymore. :/

Major Sniffage! :)

the mnotherboard allignment shbould be easily fixed -- most likely they simply forgot to put the little brass motherboard risers under it, or used risers that were too short. (Normally they come with the case, so it's possible that they mixed & matched a wrong set as well.

No way I'm buying a pre-assembled system, that's for sure. :-?

Most likely?

The thing wouldn't even boot up if they'd done that, since the board would short out from its underside being in contact with the side of the case.

Not necesarily -- I've seen cases where there are built-in bumps on the tray which rise up where the screwholes need to be, they just don't tend to be tall enough to actually mount the board on directly, but require those brass risers.

...And perhaps there *is* something shorting out, considering that his USB ports don't seem to work either?

I'm back - bought a brand new Phillips 17" with DVI lead.

Guess what - still no signal from the new computer.

I am using this new monitor now on my old computer - so I know the monitor is okay.

So, I am down on another £160.00. I thought I'd take the risk - but didn't work out.

I'm assuming the DVI connector on a graphics card is like the normal VGA D-Sub one - ie you don't have to activate it - it should just be plug-n-play.

The 8800 GTX has 2 DVI sockets - neither one is producing a signal.

Any ideas?

You've been given ideas, or more specifically, the same one many times. You've ignored every sensible piece of advice to stop faffing, stop throwing good money after bad and just send it back for a refund.

Yes, bring back the machine. Go find a local PC-shop and order a PC there, where you can see and talk to the people, request a 24h testing period. If you're easy on spending money 'just to test', why not spend those few dimes extra on a PC that comes from a normal real-life shop?

What Gabriel said.

You know, it's not like a virtual shop doesn't work ok, but ordering a CD or DVD at Amazon is a cookie, they're only shifting boxes. But a PC.. boy do we know PC's .. especially for PC's it's so handy when you can rely on aftersales, a shop where you can talk to people.. not having to use emails or expensive phonecalls.

Is the product sensible to failures and miscommunication (computers, products with embedded computers etc.)? Get it from a normal shop.
Is it a simple box-shifting product (CD, DVD, Book, set o'speakers, amplifier, dildo etc), get it online.

Sniff.

I wanted to play S.T.A.L.K.E.R. tonight - with all the settings up to maximum.

It took me 3 hours to walk to and back from PC World carrying this new monitor.

I wonder how much this lot are going to stiff me to send the thing back.

Sniff.

You carried it by hand??? Buy, a car, man. Or, take a taxi, at least. :)

OMFG.. I once carried a small 14" TV in a somewhat bigger box for 5 minutes (not an easy box to hold), from the shop to the parking lot, I was *FUBAR* for the rest of the day. And you carried a monitor for 1.5 friggin' hours??

I'd love to see a pic of puki lugging that baby home. :D

I didn't even put it down - not once. I did nearly die walking up a long hill though.

Still, I made it home - like a proud little slug and his new monitor.

Now, I have a new monitor - but no new computer to use it on.

Sniff.

Well, at least you're getting fit. :P

This story is almost a game-concept. Are you sure you aren't just f*cking us all the time with some fantasy stories about crashing computers, for sake of forum-amusement, Puki? It's all quite unreal'ish.. :P (and "unlarge" ^_^)

Just had one of their guys on the phone to me for nearly an hour - talking me through trying stuff.

They've concluded it must be the graphics card. I did point out to him more than once that the guy who built the machine had phoned me to say he had had problems aligning the motherboard and that he had recommended poking a screwdriver into a port to ease it into alignment. Anyway, the guy on the phone said he will get that sorted too.

They've said they will collect it Monday and return it Wednesday.

I may as well let them have a go at fixing it - I didn't with CyberPower as it was too close to Christmas and they had taken 2 weeks from building the system to despatching it.

He said they will sort out some kind of compensation.

PS, as per Cyberpower - they must be reading this thread as he mentioned that he knew I had had problems before with Cyber (he said Cybersystems) - I'd not mentioned it to them previously - so fair to say they probably Google their own company and this thread probably showed up.

So, I'll box it all back up and hope to see it back Wednesday - all working.

it's good practice for them to do that, and shows that they at least care what people think of them.. Maybe they'll get it working and give you a fat refund. Seeing as you are the master of all that is Blitz...

Build one! :P

Dabz

You're going to let them fix it? Pardon my stupidity, but doesn't it tell you something that they send out PC's completely untested? I mean we're not talking they didn't install Windows and leave it running for 48 hours, we're talking they never switched it on to see if it would POST. I'll tell you now, dollars to donuts, this is gonna end badly. Two months down the line the whole thing's gonna kick off and you're not going to have a leg to stand on because you handed away your rights when you had them. Right now, you have a legal right to a refund, but if you let them fix it, you just lost your right to a refund. Anything else goes wrong with it, heck even if it's broken when it comes back on Wednesday and you're left hoping they'll do the right thing because your right to a refund went up in smoke.

Oh man it's happenned all over again. Maybe puki did something in a past life in order to not deserve a spanking system.

FWIW, I once mixed up the "video card in" cable and the
"monitor in" cable - they fit and look very similar. I was wondering what was wrong with my monitor. By dumb luck, an hour later I might add, I just happened to switch those cables and everything has been fine since.

If I was to build a PC now, several years since I built my last one, I know it would work first time.

These guys are meant to be professionals, churning out many systems a week and they send you a non working unit!

Send it back, demand a refund and also refund of your postage costs.

Mmm, starting to worry now - if what "Gabriel" says is right (I lose my rights to a future refund), then I might just tell them I want the refund.

Bah - what a hassle.

I'm going to Google a bit on returns and refunds, etc - see what I can find.

They'll probably tell you that you can't have a refund because you've been poking at the slots with a screwdriver.

XP Home Edition SP2? The only "good" XP is XP Professional. Why did you save a few bucks on the wrong end?

As for Vista, the only "valid" options would be either Business Edition or Ultimate. (Which are also the only ones that you are allowed to run in a VM, by the way.) If Vista is your only OS, then you want to go for Ultimate. If it's only the second system or if you are sitting in an office at work, then the business edition is perfectly fine. And yes, it also comes with Chess Titans and Media Player. ;-)

"GfK", I spoke to them yesterday about that, said to them that in fact I found I could re-align the ports just by using my finger on the big LAN port - just to ease the ports into alignment.

I specifically wanted WinXP though - I don't want Vista until the future when the drivers are matured. I've not had problems with WinXP before and gaming, etc. I'd probaly would have with Vista. I've no idea about XP Professional - would never have crossed my mind to ask for that - XP Home is fine for me - I've got it on two other computers.

They just called to say not to worry about it - if I am still not happy with the replacement then it can still be returned and refunded.

We didn't really conclude how the guy who built the system knew about the motherboard alignment problem and that he couldn't resolve it (other than what he told me on the phone - ie manually moving it into position). That does make me slightly nervous and brings back the horrors of CyberPower.

Still, when it arrives back with me - it may be a perfectly working system.

Is that even possible? This forum isn't available to non-members.

It is, but its read-only.

That's odd. I could have sworn General Discussion wasn't listed when I visited the forums using a PC in my local library, the other day. :/

PC Option have returned my PC. I just fired it up - all seems well.

So, a bit of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. with detail settings maxed out seems the only logical step.

Did they put it in the right case this time?

Oh, no - apparantly they are refunding me the difference on the original case. I actually like this new one - well, it's basically the same - just different colour.

Apparantly, they had called to say the original case was not available - I didn't get the message to say this.

With the past 3 PC's I've ordered you always get like a summary sheet that shows what's been ordered but they don't seem to do that. Not a major hassle though - main thing is a working system.

Still, PC Option were good to their word - they collected, repaired and replaced.

And this is o-kay? I vaguely remember the days when all hardware was fully working the minute you bought it... just imagine if cars would be this badly made (they almost are), seat unsecured and lights not working etc when you drive it out from the dealership shop. "No worries, we'll repair those minor things later - and there's no additional charge for that service."

I'd agree. While dud parts do happen and QA can't catch them all, they should happen so rarely that you should have never encountered any issues - I'd make this a second company never to do business with.