Where can I get a custom PC built near Austin, Texas?

October 2, 2009 11:15 PM

Where can I get a custom PC built near Austin, Texas?

I've just moved to Austin, Texas. Does anyone know a local PC store who would build a custom PC for me at a good price? I am aware of online services like ibuypower who do this sort of thing, but I wondered if anyone knows of any local stores worth going to (good price and service)? I want to be able to choose which parts I want and have someone build the system for me.

posted by Eastgate to Computers & Internet (10 answers total)

I think Frys electronics off mopac/parmer lane have this service. You pick the parts and they build it for a small fee.
posted by jchaw at 11:34 PM on October 2, 2009

Laboratory Computers built my first home system before I knew how to do it. Cheap, quirky, very Austin. I'd check them out. There are several local shops that do things like this-- check the Austin Chronicle for ads. Usually there are a few shops selling cheap parts/services.
posted by stresstwig at 11:59 PM on October 2, 2009

I think fry's is like $70 an hour, and that job would probably take 1 or 2. Not too long.

Never been to labratory, but i have looked at their stuff and was intrigued. They are "very austin" but oddly enough they are a franchise that started in Las Vegas. Discount computers has a lot of parts, but they don't do the building.

Pondering on it, i think fry's may be the only place.

Of course most college students would be willing to do it for $50. I'm a college student, i'll do it for $50.
posted by djduckie at 6:39 AM on October 3, 2009

why not do it yourself? its really easy and fun, and you learn plenty about the internals. its really simple now-a-days with SATA connectors instead of annoying IDE, and better power supplies with braided cable, etc. i recommend going to newegg, the best and usually cheapest parts dealer around.
posted by Mach5 at 7:23 AM on October 3, 2009

Response by poster: @Mach5: I know how to do it myself, but I'm slow at it and don't really enjoy the work. I'd usually rather just pay someone else who's quicker to do it for me, since I'll save more time overall then. :)

On the other hand, it probably is much quicker/easier these days. It's been about 5 or 6 years since I assembled a full system myself, so things have changed.
posted by Eastgate at 7:36 AM on October 3, 2009

It was years ago, but these guys were pretty awesome. Don't know about their current rates, though.

Also, Computer Medic might be able to help you out. I've done some work for Scott and he's very reasonable.

I'll also second Laboratory Computers, but it's been a while since I've worked with them.

Welcome to Austin! There will probably be a LOT of good suggestions here.
posted by MuChao at 8:08 AM on October 3, 2009

Granted this happened a few years ago, and their business practices may have changed, but I had some bad experiences with Laboratory Computers. I found their customer service to be pretty shitty when I brought a PC in for repairs. They tooks weeks, somehow managed to break off the plastic RAM clips on the motherboard and pretty much just shrugged about it all. when I complained. Beware, for the flipside of the charming and quirky Austin hippie is the vacant-eyed and vaguely hostile stoner.

I had good luck with repairs from PC Guru, but I'm not sure if they assemble new machines.
posted by picea at 8:37 AM on October 3, 2009

I also had some bad experiences with Laboratory Computers, and can't really recommend them. I was sucked in by their saucy ads and charmed by their "I'm probably smarter than you, so I have the right to be a jerk" attitude in-store. (NB: It's likely that you're not, and even if you are, you do not.) The PC I got out of it wound up being more expensive and junkier than one I could have bought somewhere else, or built myself. That was like seven years ago, though, so maybe they've changed it up in the last half-decade or so.

Basically, what picea said.
posted by majcher at 11:54 AM on October 3, 2009

bad experiences with Laboratory Computers

Just be glad that ChipSmart is long, long gone.
posted by mrbill at 12:17 PM on October 3, 2009

My old roommate had a bad experience with Laboratory as well. Took them over 2 weeks to build the system. Then they called to say it was done, but when he showed up it was still in pieces. They pretended like it was finished, threw it together real quick, and sent him on his way. Even then, he had to take it back a week later because of incompatibilities in their hardware (and this wasn't a custom job, it was one of their standard packages).

I build PC's and I wish he would've asked me to build that one. So here's another recommendation for asking a friend. Or, go down to UT and look at the fliers, I bet you'll find somebody experienced.
posted by mad bomber what bombs at midnight at 12:39 PM on October 3, 2009