Good computer component shops in London, UK?

[AstroBenny]

Anyone who lives in the UK knows that Currys & PC World's selection of computer components is diabolical.

The only shop I know that actually stocks a decent range of parts is Epsilon PC on Tottenham Court RD but their prices are sky high.

I went in the other day and they were charging £360 for a 6700K, equivalent to $530USD

Of course I could shop online but it's just not the same as having an actual store where you can speak to people..

[NinjaJc01]

Anyone who lives in the UK knows that Currys & PC World's selection of computer components is diabolical.

The only shop I know that actually stocks a decent range of parts is Epsilon PC on Tottenham Court RD but their prices are sky high.

I went in the other day and they were charging £360 for a 6700K, equivalent to $530USD

Of course I could shop online but it's just not the same as having an actual store where you can speak to people..

Talking to people - Forums

Best prices and such - Online shopping (Try CCL, Ebuyer, Dabs, etc. Look on PCPartPicker UK for the best prices)

[Patrick Bateman]

Anyone who lives in the UK knows that Currys & PC World's selection of computer components is diabolical.

The only shop I know that actually stocks a decent range of parts is Epsilon PC on Tottenham Court RD but their prices are sky high.

I went in the other day and they were charging £360 for a 6700K, equivalent to $530USD

Of course I could shop online but it's just not the same as having an actual store where you can speak to people..

speak to people on the forums

not the people in currys.. its awful they are so stupid

get them online

scan.co.uk

overclockers.co.uk

dabs.co.uk

[CGurrell]

speak to people on the forums

not the people in currys.. its awful they are so stupid

get them online

scan.co.uk

overclockers.co.uk

dabs.co.uk

Used to work in Currys myself. There are tech savvy guys in there, but the managers seem to think that having tech savvy guys selling tech is a bad thing, and instead have them selling fridge freezers and kettles. They don't want us to "confuse" customers with "jargon", but want us to sell insurance, setups, cloud services etc. in any way possible. There's a reason I left after just a few months.

 

Back to the original question, everything in the UK seems to be online tbh, I know Game now have overclockers stock in some stores, but unless you find a great indy place, that's about it.

[Patrick Bateman]

Used to work in Currys myself. There are tech savvy guys in there, but the managers seem to think that having tech savvy guys selling tech is a bad thing, and instead have them selling fridge freezers and kettles. They don't want us to "confuse" customers with "jargon", but want us to sell insurance, setups, cloud services etc. in any way possible. There's a reason I left after just a few months.

 

Back to the original question, everything in the UK seems to be online tbh, I know Game now have overclockers stock in some stores, but unless you find a great indy place, that's about it.

its so frustrating.. 

and its crap anyway they only sell razer gear ..

[CGurrell]

its so frustrating.. 

and its crap anyway they only sell razer gear ..

As I left they had started stocking some Corsair and Logitech stuff, but the only good (i.e. mechanical) keyboards were Razer yeah. Everything was all about add-ons, I mean it didn't matter how much the system you sold was, they didn't care, they only cared about the add-ons. 

[CGurrell]

There's Maplins. but it's overpriced. Try Aria.co.uk or Scan

I always think of Maplin as that place you go to in emergency need of a SATA cable or something. I actually got most of the parts from my 1st system there, but only because I got a friends staff discount

[AstroBenny]

As I left they had started stocking some Corsair and Logitech stuff, but the only good (i.e. mechanical) keyboards were Razer yeah. Everything was all about add-ons, I mean it didn't matter how much the system you sold was, they didn't care, they only cared about the add-ons. 

I'd be interested to know how the department selects which components they stock. Is anybody there actually clued up on what's "trending" in the custom pc sector? I live very near one of the largest Currys/PC World megastores and they don't even stock processors and there is a choice of about two motherboards...

Who's in charge of this!!!!?

 

Edit: They only sell CX series PSUs as well..

[CGurrell]

I'd be interested to know how the department selects which components they stock. Is anybody there actually clued up on what's "trending" in the custom pc sector? I live very near one of the largest Currys/PC World megastores and they don't even stock processors and there is a choice of about two motherboards...

Who's in charge of this!!!!?

 

Edit: They only sell CX series PSUs as well..

Simple reason really: They don't want the business. They only want stuff that they can sell add-ons for. The one I worked at stocked a couple of ASUS ROG boards and CX PSUs, with the odd SSD and some GPUs up to a 960, and of course no CPUs. They're more interested in selling a piece of junk thrown together by HP, Lenovo, Acer etc and charge you extortinate amounts for aftercare, anti-virus, cloud services and to set it up for you.

 

Not even a SATA cable. They tried to charge me 4.50 for one. And that was discounted...

If time was of the essence, I'd pay it tbh.

[beeny]

I got my GPU from a currys megastore near Wandsworth Bridge and it was priced well. Not sure about the other things though

[AstroBenny]

I got my GPU from a currys megastore near Wandsworth Bridge and it was priced well. Not sure about the other things though

That's my store

[AstroBenny]

Simple reason really: They don't want the business. They only want stuff that they can sell add-ons for. The one I worked at stocked a couple of ASUS ROG boards and CX PSUs, with the odd SSD and some GPUs up to a 960, and of course no CPUs. They're more interested in selling a piece of junk thrown together by HP, Lenovo, Acer etc and charge you extortinate amounts for aftercare, anti-virus, cloud services and to set it up for you.

 

If time was of the essence, I'd pay it tbh.

I just find it ridiculous that it's called "PC World" yet lacks even the most basic parts to build a computer :[

[AstroBenny]

@CGurrell

 

Customer: Sorry sir, do you sell cases for computers?

PC World: No, you can use the ******* floor.

Customer: Hello, um do you sell processors?

PC World: You wot m8, this isn't a computer store..Use your brain for a processor,..

Customer:Hey there, do you sell any other PSUs apart from the Corsair CS Series?

PC World: What's a PSU?

Customer: (Power supply)

PC World: ahh, you only need these ones. The CX750 is all you could ever need anyway.

Customer: So is this your range of motherboards? (ROG Board and B150 board)

PC World: Yeah, as long as we've got a red one it'll cover everything anyone could possibly ever need,

 

(Sorry, I don't know why I pieced this together )

I just think it's a little ridiculous to name a shop after something which it barely sells

[spyder]

Around London, you wont find any good stores, here is what I know:

 

Currys/PC world - They stock only a few components such as old outdated graphics card, saw a 670 recently, the top of the line that I saw was a 960 and we all know that's not any good. I have never seen a processor or motherboard in their stores, found Corsair CX series PSU, some RAM, Corsair water coolers for the CPU such as the h40 and thats it. They do stock peripherals though such as a range of mice and keyboards including Logitech' gaming series as well as Razer, Corsair, mouse mats etc. 

 

Game - Since they partnered with Overclockers, you wont find any of their stuff in stores around London at this time since its mainly out of London game stores I think.

 

Maplin - Here you can find GPU's, case fans, Cases, Cheap RAM, good RAM, HDD, Cables, mice, keyboard - Pretty much alot of stuff except prepared to be anally raped due to the prices they sell these components at. 

 

Your best bet is going online, if only overclockers opened a retail store in London. 

[Chrizl1990]

speak to people on the forums

not the people in currys.. its awful they are so stupid

get them online

scan.co.uk

overclockers.co.uk

dabs.co.uk

 

I can vouch for both dabs and scan .... I have used them both before. Built my last computer using parts from Scan and can highly recommend them.

[Umair]

Like some people have suggested, seek guidance and support in these forums and then find the parts online.  You can also lurk on HotUKDeals to see if what you're after is on sale somewhere.

[harrynowl]

Cex have some stuff.

[cragger89]

Maplin and other similar places are good if you just want to get your gear from a physical store, but I've never once found a staff member who knew his stuff technically. A few I have met who are techy minded were in the job long enough that they knew their expertise was generally a wasted/lost cause - the majority of the shoppers who go in want dirt cheap and aren't usually interested in a quality performance orientated setup.

 

I am guilty of only buying gear from actual shops when they have stuff on sale or if it is a gadget like the 3 Chromecasts I bought at Currys which is priced the same online at somewhere like Amazon.

 

Independent stores are the only way you're going to get the experience of going to a shop and talking to someone who knows what they are talking about and how to accomodate your individual needs; the prices however are likely not going to compete with online. Just don't go to these places for the advice and then like a total douche, order online. I worked in retail and was very, very well versed on computing along with hifi/home cinema. I had the few customers who would come back to our store and deal with me and no one else for everything they required which had a plug on it (that is another way of saying anything electrical), but lots of people wasted my time by getting their information and then ordering from Amazon/Richer Sounds, etc.

[beeny]

That's my store

Check what they have because I haven't been there in a while.

[AstroBenny]

You work there?

No, it's just my local one.

[drc00k3]

There aren't many physical stores that are any good. Maplin prices are ridiculously high, I saw a stick of generic 4gb ddr3 for £80. PCWorld have an amazing selection of components(the motherboard selection is the best, they sell 3 motherboards!) and the staff know nothing. The smaller shops will try to sell you low end hardware at sky high prices. Your best option is online.

[MattBoxer]

The only good actual shops I know of are Novatech, OCUK, Aria and scan but they only have a few stores in the whole of the UK for example Newcastle-Under-Lyme for OCUK and Cosham (South of UK) for novatech.

[AstroBenny]

The only good actual shops I know of are Novatech, OCUK, Aria and scan but they only have a few stores in the whole of the UK for example Newcastle-Under-Lyme for OCUK and Cosham (South of UK) for novatech.

Wow, thanks for pointing out Novatech! It's only just over an hour outside of London and I visit Portsmouth every other month or so

You sir have made my day.

Yes, I could just order online instead but it's pretty satisfying being able to choose from a wide range of parts and buy them there and then..

Have you visited the Novatech store yourself?

[MattBoxer]

Wow, thanks for pointing out Novatech! It's only just over an hour outside of London and I visit Portsmouth every other month or so

You sir have made my day.

Yes, I could just order online instead but it's pretty satisfying being able to choose from a wide range of parts and buy them there and then..

Have you visited the Novatech store yourself?

I haven't personally, however I have had a friend or two go before and they said it was nicely laid out and as I have ordered from them before, they usually deliver early, they have excellent customer support (the best I have ever seen) and they are really competitively priced and even offering their own brand items that are still really good!