Wired2Fire Hellspawn Ultima review

I can't find this PC at Wired2Fire's website, what I'm finding for the Hellspawn Ultima is this: http://www.wired2fire.co.uk/build.php?systype=2&fs
b=17
This Ultima PC has a totally different spec from that given in your test, the test machine has all the extra cost options, graphics card +£47, 4GB memory +£46, decent power supply +47,%00Gb HDD +£7, and the Ultima is listed as a 3.8GHz overclock not 4.0GHz, and the monitor is extra.
So where did you find your review sample at this price? or is there more than one Hellspawn Ultima? The build that you tested isn't in the Review/Offer systems either. http://www.wired2fire.co.uk/ccc.php?systype=11

By stokegabriel on 13 Apr 2010

Hellspawn Ultima availability

Thanks for alerting me to this issue!

I've spoken to Wired2Fire this morning and the guys there have assured me that the system that will be made live today will be identical the one reviewed here.

Thanks :)

By Mikey_Jennings on 14 Apr 2010

Peter

This is now available.
http://www.wired2fire.co.uk/build.php?systype=11&f
sb=50

By Mark_J on 14 Apr 2010

Thanks for sorting it out guys, but would it be too much to ask that in future, when you publish a review that you also publish a link to where the gear can be bought. Thanks

By stokegabriel on 14 Apr 2010

Good for a non-gamer?

I'm a web designer and looking to upgrade to a much faster PC. This PC looks dead attractive but is it appropriate to a non-gamer just wanting to speed things up generally (in a business environment). I mainly use dreamweaver and Photoshop. Any advice appreciated.

By Nicedreams on 9 May 2010

Spec'd up

Hi all.
I couldn't help thinking that this system (as seen in the i3 labs in your magazine) was quite expensive, so I went about specking up the bits and pieces from Overclockers.co.uk -
All in all, with some creative choices of the unknown components, I added it all up to £504.78, this is minus the monitor, kbd and mouse -
Intel i3 530 93.89
Gigabyte H55M 69.98
4GB Patriot Viper DDR3 1333Mhz 88.99
Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000 40.98
Antec Basiq Plus 550W 49.98
LG GH22NS50 22x DVD±RW SATA 14.99
Antec 300 gaming case 40.98
XFX ATI Radeon HD 5750 512MB 104.99

Now on the Wired2Fire product page you can subtract £100 for the monitor and a few quid for the last bits.
So are they really claiming a full £100 plus retail benefits MORE for this system than if you were to build it yourself!?
I'm in the wrong business, for a while I thought that the industry had evened out the options so you don't end up with an advantage in price for building it yourself. It seems the trend has reversed to being more costly again!

Stuart

By Heliosphan on 24 May 2010

Heliosphan, unless I’m missing something you would need to add Windows 7 OEM to your price list as well.

The additional cost over doing it yourself covers two things imo, the convenience of not having to either build it or over clock it. Still way better value than anything from PC world!

I’m actually looking at this pc myself, with some minor upgrades on the processor and graphics card. My PC is getting long in the tooth and I’ve pretty much run the limit on over clocking it.

By mas220oyama on 6 Jun 2010

Unimpressed By Wired2Fire

Ordered one of these with a few modifications and was impressed with the initial customer service. However everything went downhill from there. Went to collect my order personally after being assured it was ready only to find that they hadn't ordered the twin monitors. These they couriered to me next day but on set up PC would not run for more than 20 minutes without a terminal crash. Wasn't informed that upgrading the processor would result in a much lower overclock.

Lengthy email conversations followed which included W2F refusing to refund me for the monitors that they had to order in because they were "non-stock". Strange how their web-site says they'll do their best to get you anything that you can't immediately see on there... I eventually got bored and agreed to keep these even though I had a legal right to return them for a full refund.

Returned base unit personally to W2F for a refund although they didn't seem to be all that bothered...

They couldn't even bring themselves to apologise when I was there in person. Terrible customer experience from your regular A Listers

By Dave300 on 22 Jun 2010

Victim of their own success?

I ordered one of these on 1st June. Despite their claimed maximum of 15 days for delivery (this has now been removed from their site) I'm still waiting; and they seem unable, and in fact unwilling, to provide any indication of when I can expect it.

My first such enquiry received a response of "soon". When I'd heard nothing a week later and chased it up they brushed me off with "we're very busy etc. but it will be worth the wait"... I replied insisting they give me some indication of when I might receive my order and now they seem to be ignoring me altogether.

Clearly they're not equipped to deal with the number of orders they're receiving on the back of this review; in which case they certainly shouldn't have been making claims they could not meet. I fully expected to wait the 'maximum' 15 days - I didn't doubt they'd be busy - but this is getting beyond a joke. Are such false claims not the sort of thing I can report to trading standards?

If you order one now you'd better be prepared to wait... And how long that will be is anyone's guess: they're certainly not telling.

By blindfish on 2 Jul 2010

Victim of their own success?

ordered mine 21st June, got it today on 9th July. Just about in the 15 working day limit. So far so good!

By kennyguk on 9 Jul 2010

Victim of their own success?

ok I retract so far so good - starting to see BSOD's on a regular basis when trying to boot windows.

By kennyguk on 13 Jul 2010

Disappointing service

Well mine turned up in the end. Apparently they were having problems getting it to overclock and thought they'd sit on it until they got it working (and not bother informing me what was going on, depsite the assurances made on their site)...

All this after I had deliberately unchecked the overclock box on the order form: I just wanted a decent, future-proof and quiet PC.

What I have at the moment is a machine with various warning symbols in Device Manager (e.g. USB Controller driver not installed) and that sounds like there's a gale blowing... And they didn't even bother to include a power cable. Not exactly what you'd expect after such a glowing review.

By blindfish on 20 Jul 2010

I was seriously considering ordering one of these, but I'm rather dubious now. I wonder if they simply can't cope with the demand after being included in the A-List, and things are suffering as a result.

By Nutter44 on 29 Jul 2010

ORDER UPDATE

Ordered PC and was told we will try to get it built in 5 days but if we have problems in previous builds we will refund the £30 BUILD FEE.
It was held up for 2 days as i changed the Spec still gave me refund of the £30.
Unit delivered very well packed.
Works like a DREAM so fast 11/8/10

By podgas on 11 Aug 2010

Good service

I ordered one of these for a friend of mine after seeing it recommended by PC Pro. I added a slight upgrade to the HD and graphics. Communications was good and we was informed of the different statuses of build/testing and delivery and delivery was prompt. Was ready for shipping about the 15th day mark. All in all, good service from them.

By Cookieman on 23 Aug 2010

Poor warranty

Why do they only give a 12 month free warranty when Aldi are able to give a three year free warranty on their PCs that cost half the price?

By Derichleau on 27 Aug 2010

Disappointing Service

Very unfortunate lack of service despite initial good expectations.

After waiting 5 days beyond the standard build time, received PC with equipment which was substituted without service. When the PC arrived, I also had to reconfigure the drivers as got BSODs from startup due to incompatible motherboard driver being installed. Was also missing some of the original installation discs.


Had to quibble to get a refund for the substituted item and continually got the "we only make small margins of profit with our PCs excuse". Has also taken over a month after delivery to get a receipt from them.

By jossman on 13 Sep 2010