Opinions please from scan 3xs system owners

[asdicus]

I am thinking of ordering a complete custom 3xs system from scan and would appreciate any feedback - good or bad - from anyone with experience of their pre-built systems.

My question here relates to general stuff like :
Quality of build eg everything working on delivery, components as specified or missing etc
Dealing with problems/faults after delivery - level of on-site service and customer service via phone etc
Reliability/stabilty of the machine over time ie are all the recommended(by scan) components working well together or are there instability issues arising etc

I have found a few reviews of scan systems on the web but any comments from real end users would be appreciated. Please include a brief summary of your scan system details with any comment. Thanks.

[nvening]

I have no experience with 3xs but scan are a good company and u may be able to get free delivery via hexus.

[tkh]

Yeah scan are a top quality company, delivered my Gphics card in 2 days! (Excluding Sunday)

[asdicus]

So far my research shows a lot of positive feedback about scan on buying components. Alas there is little to go on re their 3xs built systems - apart from a few web reviews on places like trusted reviews.

I will keep looking for feedback - if you do have a scan 3xs system then please post and tell us about your buying experience.

[Errol]

My SCAN experience:


THE BUYING PROCESS

I purchased a 3XS system from SCAN in June 2005.

I customised my system specification using their excellent online ordering system (the website really is excellent), and submitted my order. Prior to this, I also discussed a variety of system options via email with the helpful SCAN sales team.

My aim was to build a gaming system. I had previously always purchased Dell but this time I wanted a more personal build. Something with a bit of style.

To this end my spec was as follows -

FX-55
2GB ram
256mb ati 850xt
Asus premium mobo
Silverstone TJ-05 case
2x Akasa amber fans etc

There were other options regarding SLI, fan configuration, heatsink choice etc. Virtually every bit of the system is user configurable. Much better than any Dell offer, in my view.

I submitted the order and waited for my system to arrive. The process was painless, easy and very exciting !

THE SYSTEM ARRIVES

My system arrived within 2 weeks, in a lovely big SCAN box. The interior of the Silverstone case was packed with protective 'stuff' to ensure a safe delivery.

With every 3XS system delivered, scan go through a whole quality control process (which you check online, via their site). They conduct memory tests, PC Mark tests etc. All the results of these tests are included in paperwork that comes with the system and PC mark etc is left installed on the machine.

The interior of the case was all neat, with all cables tied up and placed thoughtfully. It was a seriously professional job.

Needless to say, all of this was very exciting for me since I was previously used to boring DELL.

I got the PC up and running and it ran like a dream. Perfect operation. SCAN dealt with my minor queries via email and phone (they are very good in this respect).

2 MONTHS FROM PURCHASE

I love this machine. It looks great (far better than Dell) and runs perfectly. It is great for high level gaming (BF2, FEAR etc). To add to this, a similar spec from DELL would be either the same price or a bit more so SCAN are great value as well ! I have owned PC's for 15 years now, and my SCAN is easily the best. By a long, long way.

To sum this up, I will give marks out of 10 for the main areas -

Purchase process - 10
Delivery/packaging - 10
System operation - 10
Customer service - 10
Value - 9



PS - I do not work for SCAN (lol). My name is Nicholas Witcomb and a scan rep could confirm that I am a normal customer.

[asdicus]

Thank you Errol for your detailed and informative reply - it is much appreciated.

It is good to see the amount of effort scan make in preparing a well-crafted and constructed pc, with various benchmarking programs already run. I must admit as well that when I priced up my own 'perfect pc' the price turned out to be less than I would have imagined. I have looked at other high-end high-volume machines from companies like dell eg dell xps and they are no cheaper to buy. Firms like alienware are far more expensive.

Re you pc I have a few questions.

Are you using the stock athlon cooler for the fx-55 or did you spec a different model ? If so which model and how quiet is it ?

2gb ram - is that 2*1024 or 5*512 ? value or premium ram. Did scan advise on which memory configurations work best with the asus motherboard ?

I am looking for a quiet system yet it will be including fast(and hot) components like yours does. Did you include any other sound control/proofing measures and if so how effective are they ?

Thanks again for your comments and well done on getting such a great looking spec pc. I too am getting quite excited while endlessly refining the spec of my proposed choice - makes me a bit sad I think !

[Errol]

I am using the stock FX-55 cooler. Works fine for me as I don't plan to overclock. There were 4-5 other coolers available to choose from though.

My ram is 4X512 of the fastest corsair ram available (it was nearly the most expensive option/type). SCAN did offer advice on memory configurations by email. They will help a lot if you talk to them !

My system is fairly quiet, although a bit more noisy than a DELL. This is no doubt due to the amount of fans etc. I had 2 120mm akasa amber silent fans fitted by SCAN to help the noise levels. I'm not sure if other noise prevention measures are available.

My PC runs BF2 at 1280x1024 with all settings at maximum and has never crashed. Similarly, the new FEAR demo runs at 1280x960 (the max res) with all settings on Maximum and hardly breaks sweat. Again, no crashing etc.

[asdicus]

Errol - until I started looking at my proposed system spec I never really thought much about system ram except maybe how much ie more must be better ! 2gb seems to be a sensible amount given the ever increasing demands of new games.

The higher spec corsair memory is about twice the price of corsair value ram - if you are not overclocking do you feel you got value for money paying the extra ? Comments I have seen elsewhere seem to indicate the low latency ram is most valuable for overclockers. I have emailed scan sales to see what they have to say about it.

Did you consider the option of 2*1024 instead of 4*512 ?

If you have opened your case while it is running which is/are the most audible fans on the system ? cpu/graphics/power/case etc.

Thanks again.

[GarethG]

I personaly have ordered a fair bit from scan and everytime they have provided a top notch service.

As of yet i haven't had any problems with the browsing, ordering and delivery from scan.

But everyone will realise any company could have slight problems every now n again.

Scan are a good company and im sure you will think the same if you use them.

[kempez]

Well sounds good from SCAN's point of view - very good service

And as for RAM - 2 x 1024 would be better as it runs aat 1T timings giving a slight improvement for the same sort of money

[chojin]

Not a specific comment about the 3x3 systems, but all my self builds i have ordered from Scan and never had a reason to complain, had some issues witha PSU 18 months ago, but it was returned and replaced and some round IDE cables thrown in for the throuble


No complaints from me


.

[asdicus]

Thanks for the new comments guys. Nice to see a pc builder getting such good customer feedback.

[kasavien]

hi asdicus, just wondering if you have decided to go for the 3XS system yet, i'm interested in getting one myself just can't decide on the spec, or rather i can't decide what i need as opposed to what i want. If you have bought a system i would be interested in the spec and any other comments you have.

Thanks

Andy

[asdicus]

Kasavien I have not placed my new pc order yet.

To be honest until my 4 yr old evesham desktop pc P4 2mhz 1gb ram ti4400 graphics becomes too slow to do the job in hand( work and some games) I lack the final urge to go and buy a new model. It works fine - nosier than I would like but not too loud - a little slow perhaps on the graphically intensive games(I just turn down the screen res if necessary). In the past I have always bought a new pc every 3 years or less but these days there seems less reason to upgrade - I really have no interest in the ultimate pc performance anymore. Also every new pc I have ever bought (dell,evesham,amari) has had hardware problems initially - some with faults others driver issues etc -aggro I can do without really. My old pc is nice and reliable - all drivers work great and with a recent reformat windows xp is speedy too.

Scan 3xs systems website is very detailed - 99% feedback I read is positive - I spec a system up every couple of weeks or so and sooner or later I suspect the urge to buy new will become overwhelming.

[kasavien]

Well i'm in the middle of speccing one up now from scan 3XS with the aim of buying in the next week or so when i get it i'll let you know my first impressions.

Thanks

Andy

[Ben @ Scan]

If you want feedback from our existing customers prior to purchasing a 3XS System from us please go here

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