So, this is why you should always build your PC

Off-Topic Games, Gaming and Hardware
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Linus Tech Tips uploaded a video yesterday, he wanted to test out pre built PC companies like Alienware, iBuyPower, etc., To see how honest they are. So he got one of his employees to try to buy a gaming PC over the phone and whatnot. The employee was pretty much a test dummy by pretending she knew nothing about PC parts.

Only Maingear (very last one) was the most honest company in my opinion.

But the others. I like how they were trying to offer the best high end parts but the rest of the build would be terrible.

I also like how they tried to sell a non k Intel chip with a z390 because “higher number means better!” :rofl:

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Part 2 is on Float Plane (I watched it). I was surprised at the OEMs to be honest. They aren’t making a horrible product anymore.

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CyberpowerPC was actually very honest and didn’t try to screw people.

They still have terrible PSUs though

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I don’t think you watched the same video…

For cyberpowerPC they didn’t even do a sale over the phone… Which was the point of the video

If you aren’t tech savvy you call these said gaming PC companies to find out what is recommended in your budget.

They just literally said, “welp go to our website and do it your self lul, the i7 is the best gaming CPU though”

That’s like someone going on here saying they have this amount of money to spend and we just tell them “lol Google it bye bye”

I really don’t think you watched the same video

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Yes they didn’t buy a PC. Are you confusing them with IBuyPower maybe?

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I did; im saying they didn’t try to sell anyone on stuff they didn’t need. They did the “no recommendations, and reference game requirements” which is fine. They didn’t do themselves any favors, but at the same time they didn’t cheat anyone. That’s honest, if not counter productive to their sales.

I was fully expecting them to try to upsell her on junk.

Ibuyower and the final one were okay.

The others did dumb stuff scamming customers.

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A single 120GB SSD for all your storage I’m sure that will work out well…

That was probably a moment they NEEDED to upsell!!

2 Likes
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You could compress your filesystem…

/s

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Little late but Linus did a follow up

After watching this video:

Alienware is 100% not upgradeable with the way its set up lol. Basically ripped you off.

HP Omen: Great looking case, the main parts inside still looks like your typical $300 office PC you would find at Walmart/OfficeMax. The video card it looks like you have to make sure the card isn’t too long or it won’t fit should you upgrade.

iBuyPower: Better, but for $1500 the motherboard could have been better… stands out vs the other parts around it. Bland case.

Origin PC: lol what is that piece of junk? all that for $1500? video card not mounted properly, i5 8400, cooling is ok though but lol.

Maingear: I think it was the best review, they actually kept contact with the buyer over the days and kept them updated. The accessories was very nice and labeled out. parts inside is nothing fancy but still would get the job done. Think they should have changed the 1060 to a 1070 and it would be better imo.

Overall, I feel like Maingear would be an honest company to buy a pre built pc from. I would actually consider buying from them if I ever need to in the future or whatever. I’d probably recommend them to friends too for being honest, unlike Origin and Alienware lol

I’m sure building your own PC is better overall experience, but Maingear could be a choice to pick if you had to.

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Dunno how Origin is still in business. Guess if people like Swifty and Bahjeera promote their PCs in return for free PCs then all power to them.

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That’s pretty much it.

Fools and their money, yada yada.

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Did you watch the tech support follow up video he did?

Origin and main gear did great, and Alienware/hp were typical major Oem bs, but ibuypower was abysmal.

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Did they ask Origin why they paid $1500 for an 8400 and 1050 TI?

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For the amazing tech support, obviously :joy:

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The tech support video was funny and sad at the same time.

I would still buy a pc from them if I didnt want to build my own and the price was right ( who buys at full/msrp anyways)

How picky I am with the parts I want though, it usually isnt worth it.

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The reality of Alienware. After owning 4 systems that have performed admirably over the years, I have only 1 gripe about Alienware and TBH, it wasn’t that big of a deal to begin with. Here’s a summary of my experience owning Alienware systems (3 desktops, 1 laptop) over the years

2012 (Alienware Area-51 X58) Purchased my first Alienware. Display model from Micro Center. 0 issues. It was a pre-Dell model and cost me $1k for an i7 920 processor, 8gb ram, 500gb hard drive, 2x GTX 9700 in SLi. Sold it to a buddy only 4 years ago. Made several upgrades including SSDs, performance ram, closed loop cooling, Blu-ray reader, and adding 2x Nvidia 9800GTX in SLI. Eventually upgraded to GTX 560Ti in SLi.

2013 (Alienware M18x) - Purchased laptop direct from Dell through website, then phone (issue withdrawing $2k from my checking account. Dell acted like it was their fault and gave me expedited 2 day shipping). Received laptop, connected S/PDIF adapter and lost sound (unless I uninstalled sound driver and let windows install their own). 2 hours with customer support, them refusing to allow me to return laptop until I received someone with an Australian accent and he approved the return and repurchase. Still works after all this time and runs WoW on medium graphics settings. Upgrades ram to performance gaming ram. Still pending a HD replacement, but waiting until SSHD finally kicks the bucket (everything is already backed up)

2015 (Alienware Area-51 R2) - This massive behemoth was purchased from a Dell refurbisher in Texas (not surprised as most of Dell’s operates from Texas). i7 930, 12gb ram, 1Tb HD, GTX 480 for $1k. Still runs great although I need to install everything onto SSD since HD is getting real sluggish. Upgraded from 2x GTX 560Ti in SLi to a single GTX 970.

2017 (Alienware Aurora) - I spared no bells and whistles (mostly) for this bad boy which is what I use to play WoW, Doom, Wolfenstein: TNO, Overwatch, and others. i7 8700k, 16gb DDR4, 512 NVMe SSD, 1 Tb SSD, and a GTX 1080Ti (waiting for prices to go down to add a 2nd one for SLi). Ordered through Dell’s website. 0 delays, and paid a bit over $2k during a Cyber Monday sale that netted me $500 off my specific build. During the time of the crypto currency craze, and with 1080Ti’s going for an average of $800 if not more, I maybe paid $200 more than building it myself.

0 issues with Alienware. If you get caught in a customer service loop, continue to get them to escalate you higher. Problem is most people get too fed up and frustrated that they give up easily. Be nice, play nice and you’ll be connected to the right person. And if not, try again the next day, and the next. Eventually you’ll talk to the right person.

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I bought an Alienware when the i7 chips first became available and it rocked along for about 4 years. I briefly looked at them again after Dell had bought them and they still have good hardware, but the price was astonishing. A custom case isn’t all that. So I’ve been back to building my own since. Just to be clear, Alienware was a great performer…the price not so much.

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They didn’t test the new hotness. NZXTs BLD program. MSRP parts with a 99 dollar build fee. Seem very thorough, only think I don’t know about is their tech support. But they offer FPS estimates and actually hit them.

(not that I by prebuilt, but there is people who have to, I have a buddy who can’t build anymore cause his hands are messed up)

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Because the point was to call pretending to be a newb who had no idea what to buy, and then buy what was recommended, which you literally cannot do with BLD.

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Which I suppose means that NZXTs BLD program actually makes it the most newb friendly… win for them I suppose lol