Mike Builds Computers!
First and foremost let me say this, I do this as a hobby. If I have too much going on at the moment, chances are I won't have time to build anything for you. I'm not a business, I don't do this for a living. And I'm certainly not tech support.
With that said, here's what you can expect when buying a custom built computer from me:
- A fast reliable machine for hundreds, if not thousands less than you'd pay from a major retailer
- No bloatware at all. You know, all that worthless shit companies put on your computer? Yea, none of that.
- Advice on fast, reliable protection for your computer. Norton sucks, McAfee sucks, and just about everything a store will try to sell you sucks.
- Personalization. You want lights? Cool. You want a certain case? Awesome. You want everything tie wrapped inside? Not a problem.
- High quality parts. If you don't already know what parts you want, I'll recommend you the best parts at the best price. And I always recommend buying from NewEgg.com
What you shouldn't expect:
- To have me be "on call" for any questions or problems you might have.
- To have priority over other people. If I'm already working on a computer when you place your order, you'll have to wait till I finish. This is a first come first served thing
- Tech Support - I have to say this multiple times. I am not, nor will I ever be, tech support. If you have a problem, theres this thing called Google you can use to find solutions. Use it. If the solution is something beyond what you're comfortable doing, you might be able to bribe me with pizza and beer to come fix it.
Now that all that is out of the way, here's how the process usually works:
ORDERING PARTS:
As I mentioned already, I buy everything from NewEgg.com, and I recommend you do the same. If you don't know what parts you want exactly, you can tell me what you want to use your computer for, a price range, and I will get you the most power possible for the price. After I've put the list together, I'll send it to you for final approval, and purchasing.
Also please note that I only do Windows based systems. If you want a Mac, sorry, but you're stuck paying around %100 more than what a comparable home built Windows based computer would cost.
When purchasing, you have two options. You can either ship the parts to me directly and have me build the computer at my place, or ship it to yourself and have me built it on site. I'll tell you right now, I charge an extra $20 to build on site, to cover gas and time.
THE BUILD:
Building the computer usually take about 2-3 hours, depending on the complexity of the build. If you want to watch me do it so you can learn for yourself, that's perfectly fine, and I actually encourage it. Things really only tend to go longer if there happens to be a problem, which is extremely rare. Usually when a problem arises, it because of a defective part, which brings me to the next section...
WARRANTIES:
All part warranties will be either through NewEgg.com or the manufacturer of the part itself. So I recommend you save your receipts and boxes for a couple weeks after the build is complete, just in case hell should freeze over and a part dies. If you have a defective part, it is up to you to get a replacement from either NewEgg or the manufacturer. I will install the new part once it arrives, but it's on you to get the part sent. NewEgg is very good when it comes to this, which is a huge reason why I recommend them.
Now on to what you really care about:
PRICE:
I charge $100 for my services, and an extra $20 if I build on site. The cost of the computer itself is entirely dependent on the parts you decide on. I will however guarantee that you save hundreds of dollars over what you'd buy in a store.
For example, here's a computer from Dell for $1,599 + shipping:
- Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz Quad Core Processor
- 3GB DDR3 Memory
- 500GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
- nVidia GeForce 9800GT 512MB Video Card
- 7.1 integrated sound
- Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit
- Likely an off-brand motherboard, since I couldn't find it mentioned anywhere
Now, here's what I can build, for much less:
- Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz Quad Core Processor (well, it is a really good processor)
- ASUS P6T SE ATX Motherboard
- 6GB GSkill DDR3 Memory
- 1TB (That's 1000GB) Seagate 7200RPM Hard Drive
- EVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB Video Card
- 7.1 integrated sound
- Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit configured to not suck
- Antec 300 SE Black computer case (Much better airflow for better cooling)
Total including build fee: $1128
So for $400 less, you get double the RAM, double the storage space, a much better video card, an awesome case, and Vista Home Premium actually configured not to be incredibly annoying. Not to mention all name brand parts, better build quality, and the chance to hang out with me! Plus, I'll even teach you how to do this yourself, so you don't ever have to pay for a computer to be built again!
Seems like a pretty good deal to me! 
If you'd like to have me build a computer for you, you can either call me, or email me at mtslick@gmail.com