» What do I really need for my computer?
That is up to you! Ask yourself what you will really use your computer for, and what you’d like to be able to use it for in the future. We suggest not letting major computer manufacturers tell you what your needs are by buying a pre-assembled PC. They are often times heavy on some items and light on others, leaving your specific computer needs unaddressed. We can help you determine what your computer needs, what is optional, and what fits into your budget.

» How do I choose a computer that is right for my needs?
Choosing a computer that matches your needs is fairly easy. Just determine what you will use your PC for, what you’d like to use your PC for, and how much you want to spend on it. With this information we can custom tailor a PC for you and your exact needs without being wasteful or unprepared for possible future upgrades.

» Why should I buy a custom computer instead of a pre-built computer (like a Dell or Gateway)?
Pre-built computer manufacturers don’t know exactly who is going to buy their PCs and they can’t afford to make 800 different configurations of one type of PC, so they compromise. They may compromise with the brand of parts, sometimes with parts that wont fit any other PC, or even parts that aren’t upgradeable unless you buy directly from them. You will also undoubtedly find that your brand new, possibly expensive, PC has too much of one thing and too little of another. Depending on your needs, you may require a better video card, more memory, a faster or larger hard drive, or perhaps you don’t really need that flat screen monitor that comes with the package.
Having an expert build you a custom PC (or building one yourself, if you are able to) ensures that your needs are being met, and not just those of the computer manufacturers.

» Are custom computers more expensive that pre-built computers?
Nope, in fact they most often tend to be much less expensive because you aren’t buying what you won’t use, and aren’t paying for a corporate branded machine.

» Why should I get a Shuttle XPC computer case?
Space: The small, cube-like shape allows XPC to blend into any room or
situation. At about 1/7th the volume of typical desktop PCs, the XPC isn't
forced to hide underneath the desk by your feet.

Style: As the world's first all-aluminum mainstream PC, the XPC combines a sleek brushed metal finish with incredibly light weight. The focus on aesthetics is apparent when looking at the design details of XPC: the aluminum switchgear, the high intensity orange and blue status LEDs, and the stainless steel countersunk fastening screws. Compare XPC to your typical beige box PC, and the difference in quality will be striking.
High Performance: XPC has been designed from the ground up to support the newest and the fastest components available.

Noise: The XPC is small and compact with attention to noise reduction. With super silent power supplies that only emit a low 32 db of noise at full load and strategic fan placement when not running at full load you will have to put your ear up to the XPC to even hear it.

Expandability: XPCs come with a plethora of ports on the front for
convenience and on the back for hiding cables when needed. From 1394
(Firewire) ports, microphone, 5.1 surround sound, headphone output, USB 2.0, SPDIF, LAN/Ethernet, COM ports, VGA connectors, PS/2, S-Video, Parallel port, there is virtually nothing stopping full expansion of these high powered PCs.

» Don't XPC cases get too hot and overheat?
Nope, Shuttle has thought of everything and created their I.C.E. (Integrated Cooling Engine) module. That can cool even the hottest processors on the market today.

» Are XPC cases reliable?
Yes, these XPCs have been sold since 2001 and have been highly tested and acclaimed by hardcore computer gamers worldwide. Shuttle was the first to market and be successful with the SFF (Small Form Factor) PC, and they continue to dominate the SFF market. On a personal level, Such Great Heights has been creating and using XPCs both professionally and personally with great success since 2003, and we have received nothing but praise.

» Can I add an AGP graphics card to an XPC?
Yes. There are plenty of options for this type of setup and we have some recommendations listed on our custom computers page.

» Can I add a PCI Express graphics card to an XPC?
Yes there are XPCs available upon request that can handle PCI Express
graphic cards.

» Don't I need a floppy drive?
Floppy disks have been replaced by CD and DVD burners and USB thumb drives. Floppy disks can only hold 1.44MB of memory, whereas USB thumb drives can hold anywhere from 16MB to 2GB (2,000MB) and a double layer DVD can hold 8.5GB. There's simply no comparison!

If you absolutely have to have a floppy drive in your PC, just make sure to mention it and we will ensure that one is included in your new custom
computer.

» Can you just upgrade my current computer?
Yes, we can. Contact us with your system specs to determine if it is worth upgrading, which parts should be upgraded, and how much it will cost.

» Can I purchase a custom computer with cash or a check?
Yes, you can. Although paying online with Paypal is the quickest and easiest way to get your order to us, we gladly accept other forms of payment. If you would like to pay with a check or cash, just contact us and we can arrange payment details based on your needs.

» How can I get my system specs to you?
Well we find the easiest way is to use Microsoft’s Direct X Diagnostic Tool. To do this in a Windows OS simply click on the Start button in the lower left of your screen, click on “Run” (usually your second choice from the bottom). From there type in “dxdiag” without quotes and click OK. This process might take a few minutes so be patient. After it is done determining what your system specs are, click on “Save all Information” on the bottom right of the new window that popped up. This will save your system specs to a text file. So save that file to your desktop and attach it to an email to us. From there we can help you determine what you might want to get or do to help your computer running more smoothly.