Puget Systems — Local services in Auburn

I am thrilled with the custom desktop computer Puget Systems assembled for me.

This desktop, built around their Serenity small form-factor configuration (micro-ATX size motherboard and case), is tailored to exactly meet my needs as a photographer who makes heavy use of Adobe’s Lightroom, Photoshop and other allied applications. Some of the key attributes I wanted and found in the Puget Systems machine:

• A top-end Core i7 processor, sixth generation. That is currently the i7-6700K with a base clock speed of 4 GHz. • 500 GByte SSD to be the boot drive and contain my executables and current working photography files. • 2 TByte 3.5” drive for bulk data file and image file storage. • Expandable for more drives: this machine can accommodate one more 2.5” drive and two more 3.5” drives. • 16 GBytes of DDR4 RAM with room for an additional 16 GBytes. • A mid-range video card with 4 GBytes of VRAM (my card is based on the NVIDIA GE Force GTX 960 processor). • Plenty of USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 ports (eight and two). • Sufficient power supply (650 W) to support all that future expansion. • A quiet machine. Who wants to sit alongside a vacuum cleaner when trying to optimize photos? • All in a handsome case that measures approximately 9” wide x 12” tall x 14” deep.

As I started my search, I checked carefully with the “Big 3” PC companies (you know them). What I found:

• Few systems that supported any level of customization. Increasingly, these vendors want to sell pre-packaged systems. • For systems that did allow some level of customization, the machines I configured inevitably came up short on one or more key attributes: o Still shipping fourth generation Core i7 processors, rather than sixth generation. o Shipping sixth gen Core i7 but not the top of the line i7-6700K. o Option for an SSD but limited to 256 GB. o One SSD plus one spinning drive maxes out the system. o Very limited power supply, say 250 W max. o No discussion of system noise.

I considered building my own system but did not want to take on the integration job. A Google search for custom PC builders lead me to Puget Systems. I discovered a custom system from them would be in the same price class the best systems I could configure from the Big 3 but would meet 100% of my design goals for performance and expandability.

Some of the highlights of my experience with Puget include the following: • Their website has a trove of knowledge. I found white papers on system performance for photographers, specifically outlining the performance needs of Lightroom and Photoshop. (There are papers for CAD-folks and others, too.) • Their pre-sales support is highly responsive, knowledgeable yet unobtrusive (no annoying pop-up “chat/sales” windows.) That person efficiently answered my questions and helped me tune the configuration that produced a better system than I might have initially ordered. • Their build process is totally transparent: once my order was placed, I could follow its assembly from parts staging, to assembly, to burn-in, to QA and finally to shipping. • Puget puts your system to a demanding burn-in test and performance benchmarking with all the data made available to you. Great way to confirm the build, weed-out infant parts failure and trap issues before the machine leaves their facility. • Great care in shipping. Box in a box, custom Styrofoam corners, heavy-duty corrugated boxes. Everything came through in fine shape. • Delivery included a three-ring binder specific to my machine, with a USB flash drive to rebuild the machine to the exact configuration it had when it left the factory, and finally DVDs with OS and other software that’s installed. • Speaking of software, a nice clean build: not a spec of bloatware. What a difference from the last few systems I’ve purchased from the Big 3.

If you are looking for an entry-level notebook PC, any of the Big 3 can serve you well. If you have more demanding needs and do not want to compromise on those needs, I urge you to talk to...

“Wow. This computer purchase was completely different from all previous computer purchases. I have primarily designed computers and laptops at Dell and Lenovo websites in the past. They're OK. But so many times problems arose, and the difficulty in finding someone to talk to was maddening. Not to mention the hours spent trying to disinfect the computer from all the bloatware. Now I'm in a position to spend a little more to get a great system. I've done this at least 15 times over the past 20 years (I have raised 10 kids), and 15 times I've had to grit my teeth and spend a week of my life trying to get the new computer to work right. Enter Puget. Ordering a computer from Puget was an incredibly satisfying experience. Here's how it went down: I looked at several custom computer review sites on the web and after checking the best-rated sites settled on Puget. I built my dream computer on their website and submitted it. I got an email from one of the designers at Puget within a few hours. He wanted to clarify what kinds of programs I was going to use the computer for. I gave him a rundown. He suggested that the video card i had picked was a bit overkill if I was not interested in gaming, but only P-shop and Premiere video editing, and other programs requiring less video-processing intensity. He suggested a good, but less expensive one. He asked how important noise level was (not much). He recommended faster but noisier 2TB D and E drives (a little less expensive) but a good low-noise case (a little more expensive). There were other details we covered as well, but I'm running out of space. A few days later I received an email with the pictures of my system, including infrared photos showing heat diffusion at idle and at full load. One more day of testing, then ship. I decided to buy a new high-def 27" monitor from Amazon while I waited. What a revelation! To be able to email the same guy who helped me put my system together, who wrote several of the web articles I studied, and to be able to ask him about how well various monitors will play with my new system. Extremely helpful. Not the least bit put-out by a non-techie with questions. Sweet... I received my new system and new monitor on the same day. Putting this computer together was a joy. The packaging was even a joy. Every step Puget thought of what I might need and prepared me for it. Too much to say, but I'm enjoying my new computer absolutely completely the first day I turned it on. No crapware to remove. It just works. It's perfect. The man who helped me at Puget did recommend one upgrade, that being a 500GB solid-state C Drive. I can't recommend this highly enough. Sooo fast! Nearly instantaneous boot-up. I wonder how many thousands of hours I've wasted waiting for my computers to boot up... As far as the noise recommendations: This computer is literally silent. I have to look under my desk to see if it's on! Not sure why it would need to be quieter than this? Regarding the downgrade on the video card: This beast opens and processes my 25MB RAW photos in Adobe PS nearly instantly. Haven't gotten to video editing yet, but I have no doubt that Puget hasn't led me astray. Just looked back and re-read our ten emails. Just outstanding! They really got to the bottom of what I needed, and taught me along the way. Really a pleasure. I am a very, very satisfied customer. My next computer will definitely come...

If I could rate Puget Systems higher I would! I simply love this company and I feel very grateful to have found them. I am currently on my second PC from them and couldn't be happier.

Pros: Reliable, fast response, best customer service I ever seen. Puget Systems does not add bloatware to there computers. Meaning you won't have computer with useless junk on it. Just the operating system you ask for and things you actually need. Puget Systems really listens to you and they do not try to up sale you with add-on parts that don't fit your needs or budget. When you order a PC you can watch the process with updates on there website so you know what's going on every step of the way while it's being built which is pretty cool because it's nice to see what's finished, what part are in order, and thermal pictures of your PC to show you where most of the heat is at so they can configure the fans properly to reduce heat in your PC. You can upgrade your computer you bought from them for free as part of there lifetime commitment to you as a customer and they'll even clean the dust out if you ask! So if you need a new video card and a power supply they can put it in for free. Great if your local if not it depends on shipping and handling costs. If you got a problem with your computer they actually care even after the computer is sold. Also a one year warranty and parts from Puget Systems is included. They also email you to check up on how your PC is doing after you use it 6 months or so to check if you're still satisfy with your purchase. Best benefit I found is if you're local like me you can always drive up to there place of business and avoid shipping and handling cost. Products they use are tested for reliability so there not going to sell you cheap unreliable motherboard, power supply, etc... They only sell parts for computers that they have tested a lot and feel strongly about when it comes to parts being reliable. If you call and talk to a sales rep and you have no clue about computers or what each part does they will explain every part and what it does and how it helps you when it comes to your needs in your computer you're trying to build. So you can also learn about computers parts and know which part you should spend more money on and what part you really don't need to.

Cons: Can take up to couple week since they have to build your computer and sometimes they have to get a part if its not in there inventory at the moment. With that being said this isn't really a con for me but, had to put something! If you're not local I assume things might not be good when it comes to upgrades or issues with your computer due to shipping and handling cost. They can be tad bit expensive if you're on a low budget depending on your needs of course. Nice thing though they will be honest and at least tell you the price and try there best to find best way to work with...