A Few Misc Questions

[tshayter]

Hello. Sorry if this is in the wrong place, I wasn't sure really where it belonged.

I've had a bit of a search and can't for the life of my find the information that I remember seeing about the collect and return part of the warranty but I have a question about it.

Living outside of the UK, delivery of a computer to me is about 50 euros. The collect and return aspect of the warranty is free for the time period stated on each tier of warranty however, I know that for customers outside of the UK, you have to pay the postage to send the defective computer to PC Specialist (and once fixed they will cover the cost of posting it back out to you). E.g. Your PC breaks due to examples reason, you box it up and pay 50 euros to mail it back to PC specialist. They fix it and then pay the postage cost to mail it back.

This is my understanding of how it works for a customer outside of the UK - I can't find where I actually read this though!

If In the warranty I buy, the collect and return part expires after X months, what happens then? Do I just need to pay the postage both ways?

The standard (and free) warranty is 1 month collect and return, 1 year parts and 3 years labour. The silver tier of warranty is the exact same except instead of 1 month collect and return, you get 12. While this is obviously a good deal for UK customers, I'm interested to know how this affects non-uk customers. By just being outside of the UK it instantly makes the collect and return aspect far less attractive (of course it's fair enough that's it's not free) and I suppose if I would need to pay the postage both ways once that part of the warranty is up then it's still probably worth getting at least silver but I'm just not sure exactly how it works.

As I said I've had rather a good search online trying to find the answer myself but I've come up short so just wondering if one of you guys can explain it a bit for me.

Thanks!

p.s. If I would need to pay the postage both ways, how is that done? Do I just get a bill sent to me or do I need to pay it once PC specialist have received my computer or?

 

[keynes]

You pay the postage both ways regardless, when living outside of the UK the warranty, silver for example, cover parts for 1 year no postage cost. Regarding the delivery I think you are the one in charge of getting it sorted not PCS but for an official response you should contact PCS directly

 

[tshayter]

Extra questions

Hmm well does seem slightly different to what I remember. I still could swear that I read somewhere on this website that they could cover the returns cost of the PC during the collect & return time period. I just asked here on these forums as I thought this would be the best place to go for an official response but perhaps not hehe. Thanks though!

I have 2 other questions I'm unable to find answers too but I'll ask them in this thread rather than stinking up the forum with 100 different threads.

1) Do PCs from PC Specialist come with a lot of/any preloaded software junk? My current PC came with a handful of rubbish programs installed that I didn't ask for/need and one of them broke so badly during removal that it was permanently attached to the computer and not able to be removed due to it missing some of the parts it needed in order to get removed. Only by reinstalling the operating system recently was I able to finally eradicate it.

2) Do I get the physical copy (disc) of the operating system that I purchase for my computer during the order? Or do PC Specialist just install the OS and keep the disc?

Thanks !

 

[SlimCini]

Hmm well does seem slightly different to what I remember. I still could swear that I read somewhere on this website that they could cover the returns cost of the PC during the collect & return time period. I just asked here on these forums as I thought this would be the best place to go for an official response but perhaps not hehe. Thanks though!

I have 2 other questions I'm unable to find answers too but I'll ask them in this thread rather than stinking up the forum with 100 different threads.

1) Do PCs from PC Specialist come with much/any preloaded software junk? My current PC came with a handful of rubbish programs installed that I didn't ask for/need and one of them broke so badly during removal that it was permanently attached to the computer and not able to be removed due to it missing some of the parts it needed in order to get removed.

whoops wrong button - to editing and awayyyyy!

Could just re-install windows as soon as it arrives as long as you know what you're doing with drivers etc? That will give you a completely fresh windows install with no bloatware (not that PCS really leave that much on there).

 

[tshayter]

Hehe, I clicked post by mistake in my second post there and had to edit in the second question about whether or not you get given the OS disc with your order. Good idea though Slim Cini (SlimCini?). I'll make sure I have a good look around at what's on the system when I first get it (if they send the OS discs of course). Though I'll probably just be lazy and use the system as-is lol.

One thing I've just thought though, If you are correct Keynes about having to pay postage both directions whether collect & return is active on your warranty or not, then there is no point in buying the silver tier over the free tier of warranty for customers outside of the UK I suppose. Easy 7 euros saved there then.

 

[keynes]

Hehe, I clicked post by mistake in my second post there and had to edit in the second question about whether or not you get given the OS disc with your order. Good idea though Slim Cini (SlimCini?). I'll make sure I have a good look around at what's on the system when I first get it (if they send the OS discs of course). Though I'll probably just be lazy and use the system as-is lol.

One thing I've just thought though, If you are correct Keynes about having to pay postage both directions whether collect & return is active on your warranty or not, then there is no point in buying the silver tier over the free tier of warranty for customers outside of the UK I suppose. Easy 7 euros saved there then.

That's correct, there wouldn't be a point on getting silver warranty. It has been mentioned before as well so I am pretty certain any postage cost and arrangement of delivery is covered by you but best to verify that with PCS directly

 

[tshayter]

Okay thanks man! See? Shaved a little bit there eh

 

[tshayter]

Got another little question here, bit of a noob one and I recon I know the answer anyway but.. (also is there a way to change the thread title to like Misc Questions or would it be better for me to make new threads for new questions?)

Say you get a CPU that's overclocked from, for example, 3GHz to 3.8 GHz. Normally it would only need to run Game X at 2.8GHz at maximum graphics you can set with all the fps (this is hypothetical obviously). Being overclocked, will it run that same game at a higher speed even though it wouldn't need to or would it still just run up to the 2.8GHz needed?

What I'm trying to ask here is that if you overclock a CPU, will it run faster (thus at a speed higher than it was designed for) for programs that it doesn't need the extra overclocked speed for? Or does it work in such a way that it'll only run faster than it was designed to do (thus overclocked speed) if you throw something at it that requires more speed?

My understanding is that as long as you have sufficient cooling, overclocking doesn't do any harm though but I'm just trying to work out whether or not an overclocked CPU will only run at overclocked speeds if it needs to. - Which I think is how it works?

--

Also I'm still looking for an answer to my other question in this thread, do PCS send you the physical copy of the OS you order for your build?

Thanks guys.

 

[DeadEyeDuk]

Thinking back to when I got mine, I am sure it didn't have the physical copy.

/puts on Hat of Knowledge (it's made mostly Play-Doh, along with PVA and glitter)

I think it is because PCS install an OEM copy of the OS on your PC, so not sure there is even a physical copy to give you!

 

[Rakk]

Got another little question here, bit of a noob one and I recon I know the answer anyway but.. (also is there a way to change the thread title to like Misc Questions or would it be better for me to make new threads for new questions?)

I've changed the title for you, only mods can change thread titles

Also I'm still looking for an answer to my other question in this thread, do PCS send you the physical copy of the OS you order for your build?

I know I got physical copies of the Windows DVDs for at least the last two PCs I've had (I'm pretty sure I did from the one before that as well but I just cant remember)

 

[SpyderTracks]

When you're in the configurator you have the option to choose if you get a Physical DVD sent or just the OEM copy, so yes, you will get the DVD if you choose that.

On an overclocked CPU, it will only affect programs that can make use of it, so for instance it won't affect any games.

 

[DeadEyeDuk]

Looking at the configuratron, it does seem that the only option is "incl DVD & Licence" whatever version etc. So don't know if it changed at some point, or I was just talking utter bollocks...but more than likely the latter (destroys Play-Doh Hat of Knowledge - useless thing)

 

[DannyWanny]

Also I'm still looking for an answer to my other question in this thread, do PCS send you the physical copy of the OS you order for your build?

Yes - Every system with an OS ordered will have a corresponding physical disc included in the welcome pack.

 

[tshayter]

Thanks guys, appreciate the help!

When you're in the configurator you have the option to choose if you get a Physical DVD sent or just the OEM copy, so yes, you will get the DVD if you choose that.

On an overclocked CPU, it will only affect programs that can make use of it, so for instance it won't affect any games.

In regards to the overclocking, does that mean in terms of CPU strain, an overclocked CPU will only run at overclocked speeds for things that would require a higher speed? I'm just asking as I've heard that overclocking can reduce the lifespan of a CPU (unless you have it cooled properly?) so I'm curious to know whether or not the CPU is only under additional strain from being overclocked at times where it actually needs more speed rather than running at a higher speed for things that it wouldn't need to (if it wasn't over clocked).

Sorry if that sounds a bit confusing, it's a bit hard for me to explain it properly I think hehe

The computer I'm looking at isn't overclocked by default but it's unlocked so I think that means I'm able to overclock it later on in the future to keep it competitive. Building the same machine however in the overclocked section of the website lets me add on the better thermal paste and obviously has it overclocked for me so I'm thinking it might just be easier to buy it overclocked so I don't need to faff about with it later on. Of course if that constantly puts unnecessary strain on the CPU (which will be cooled with a corsair h100i) then It might not be a good idea to do that right now but if the CPU will only strain more when it needs too (which is unlikely to be any time soon with current software/games) then it sounds like a better idea to just have it overclocked now + overclocked by someone who knows what they're doing

I hope some of this makes sense :s

 

[keynes]

Overclocking won't add any noticeable improvement in performance for general use or gaming, it leads to a reduce lifespan as you indicated and it can make your system unstable. Saying that it is pretty difficult to brick your cpu when overclocking it yourself unless you do something really bad and the reduction in lifespan won't matter much since it should easily last long enough until an upgrade is needed and even further that that.
The cpu speed will vary depending on how cpu demanding the task is.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Thanks guys, appreciate the help!



In regards to the overclocking, does that mean in terms of CPU strain, an overclocked CPU will only run at overclocked speeds for things that would require a higher speed? I'm just asking as I've heard that overclocking can reduce the lifespan of a CPU (unless you have it cooled properly?) so I'm curious to know whether or not the CPU is only under additional strain from being overclocked at times where it actually needs more speed rather than running at a higher speed for things that it wouldn't need to (if it wasn't over clocked).

Sorry if that sounds a bit confusing, it's a bit hard for me to explain it properly I think hehe

The computer I'm looking at isn't overclocked by default but it's unlocked so I think that means I'm able to overclock it later on in the future to keep it competitive. Building the same machine however in the overclocked section of the website lets me add on the better thermal paste and obviously has it overclocked for me so I'm thinking it might just be easier to buy it overclocked so I don't need to faff about with it later on. Of course if that constantly puts unnecessary strain on the CPU (which will be cooled with a corsair h100i) then It might not be a good idea to do that right now but if the CPU will only strain more when it needs too (which is unlikely to be any time soon with current software/games) then it sounds like a better idea to just have it overclocked now + overclocked by someone who knows what they're doing

I hope some of this makes sense :s

That's what I meant, yes, only certain CPU intensive programs such as compilers or very large database queries or CAD programs or something like that would actually make use of the overclock. General programs like office, browsers, gaming etc will not benefit from overclocking. Games generally take most of their power from the GPU, not the CPU.

In an overclock though, I believe the CPU is only clocked at the increased speed when demand is there so won't always be under the extra strain. Even with effective cooling, it will essentially reduce the life of the chip, if only by a margin.

 

[tshayter]

Okay that's interesting to know.

Might not bother with the overclocking on my build then. Thanks guys

 

[tshayter]

By the way, if I overclock the CPU in the future it would probably be a good idea to improve the thermal paste?

With that in mind, I don't really fancy re-pasting things myself (my friend did it once and buggered his CPU but he might be a little less 'careful' than me hehe), I'm not saying it's something I wouldn't be able to do but it's not something I want to risk on the chance that I screw myself. I know that overclocking CPUs do not effect things like gaming by awful lot but I do plan on doing some video editing in the future so perhaps it might be worth getting it overclocked anyway.

At least if I order it overclocked now, I wont need to do it in the future + wouldn't need to think about the thermal paste. There doesn't seem to be the option to choose a better paste with standard orders which obviously isn't surprising as they're not really required when you're not overclocking.

I'm still mostly just playing around with ideas while I wait for my bank to sort their arses out with my money > : (

Then again the CPU I'm looking at is an i7-4790k so I can think that I might not really need to bother.

 

[keynes]

You can request better thermal paste probably by giving them a call however I don't really see the point of it if you are not overclocking it now since I beleive it degrades over time. I think any queries you have on overclocking or going with a specific system really depends on you. If you are set in overclocking then go for it.

 

[tshayter]

Yeah that's well remembered actually. Thermal compound does degrade slightly over time. I dunno, I'll ask me mate who fried his CPU, he's more of the computer-know how guy out of my friends.

Thanks guys