TL;DR: Tell us what you do (gaming, CAD, edit, dev), and we’ll turn that into a quiet, cool, and reliable custom PC—safely assembled, benchmarked, and ready for work. Bring parts or let us source; you’ll get ESD-safe assembly, thermal tuning, cable management, and burn-in—all with CPA-backed workmanship.

Technician cabling a new custom PC with ESD strap in a Stellenbosch workshop; tidy airflow and labeled cables

Stellenbosch is packed with students and SMEs who outgrow cookie-cutter desktops. Whether you’re building a 144 Hz esports rig, a quiet color-accurate edit station, or a workstation for CAD/compute, the right choices up front deliver years of stability and performance. This guide shows our advisory-first approach, what “safe assembly” really means, and how we hand back a machine that’s tuned, tested, and documented.

What you’ll learn (quick wins)

How to translate a workload & budget into the right CPU/GPU/RAM/storage mix.
Why PSU headroom, airflow, and thermals matter more than RGB.
The build flow we follow (ESD, BIOS, drivers, burn-in) so you avoid teething problems.
When to upgrade vs when a fresh build is the better spend.

Identify your use-case (so parts fit the job)

Gaming (1080p/1440p/4K): GPU tier and monitor refresh lead; CPU follows. Aim for 16–32 GB RAM and fast NVMe.
Design/Adobe/DaVinci: GPU VRAM + fast scratch SSD; color-quiet case and fan curves; 32–64 GB RAM.
CAD/Engineering: CPU instructions/single-thread, ECC where required, professional-grade GPU if the app benefits; 32–64+ GB RAM.
Data/Dev: cores + RAM capacity, quiet cooling for long tasks, fast NVMe with good TBW for build caches.

We’ll map software to parts (and drivers) so you don’t overspend where it doesn’t help.

Safe steps (our advisory → assembly workflow)

Brief & compatibility
- We capture your apps, monitors, ports, space, and noise limits. We check socket, chipset, RAM speed, and GPU clearance.
Thermals & airflow plan
- Choose a case with front intake + rear/top exhaust, dust filters, and room for cables. Positive pressure beats dust in Cape summers.
Power budget
- Size an 80+ Gold PSU with 30–50% headroom over typical load; modular cables reduce clutter and heat.
ESD-safe assembly
- Bench-test board/CPU/RAM first; apply quality thermal paste; route cables for unobstructed airflow; label front-panel and PSU leads.
BIOS/UEFI & drivers
- Update BIOS, enable EXPO/XMP (stable profile), set boot order, then clean-install OS. Apply chipset, GPU, storage controller drivers.
Burn-in & validation
- Run CPU/GPU/memory stress, game/creator benchmarks, and thermal checks at ambient. Verify idle temps, load temps, and noise.
Delivery & docs
- Provide a build sheet (serials, profiles, temps, benchmarks) and simple care tips. Optional on-site placement and cable routing.

Do-nots (avoid expensive mistakes)

Don’t pair bargain-bin PSUs with high-end GPUs. Voltage ripple kills stability.
Don’t mix random RAM kits; buy a matched kit for fewer QVL headaches.
Don’t choke airflow with glass-fronted cases and no intake.
Don’t skip paste quality or reuse factory pads outside spec.
Don’t run open-bench PCs in dusty rooms—fans become vacuums.

Time & cost in Stellenbosch (realistic guide)

Custom PC Build Advice (consult): scope, parts list, and compatibility plan (credited if we assemble).
PC Assembly (Full Build): ESD-safe assembly, cable-management, BIOS update, OS/drivers, and burn-in.
GPU/CPU Upgrade: quick install + firmware/driver tune and stability check.
On-site delivery & setup (optional): desk placement, dual-monitor cable routing, printer/network checks.

Labour is published on Standard Fees; parts are quoted at current supplier rates. Turnaround is typically 1–3 business days after parts arrive, plus an optional 24-hour burn-in.

When to upgrade vs rebuild

Upgrade GPU if your CPU is recent and the workload is GPU-bound.
Add RAM/NVMe for creators who hit cache/scratch limits.
Rebuild if you’ve hit a platform ceiling (older socket/chipset) or thermals/noise can’t be fixed economically.

Book help (fast)

FAQs

Q: Can I bring a parts list you found online?
A: Yes—send it over. We’ll spot bottlenecks (PSU, airflow, RAM kits) and adjust to local stock/prices.

Q: Do you undervolt or overclock?
A: We prioritise stable, cool, quiet builds. Light undervolts or DOCP/EXPO memory profiles are applied if stable; heavy OC only on request.

Q: Will you migrate my data and apps?
A: Yes—clean OS install plus data migration from your old machine, then reinstall key apps and set your cloud sign-ins.

Q: What happens if something fails during burn-in?
A: We fix root cause before handover and retest. You only receive a machine that passes stability and thermal checks.

Q: Can you rack/secure office PCs?
A: We can supply mounts, do neat cable runs, and verify UPS/network for SMEs—done under our On-Site Safety procedures.

Compliance & trust

Updated on 2025-09-22.

Close-up: EXPO/XMP enabled in BIOS, tidy cable routing, and GPU power cables with proper strain relief after a Stellenbosch build