ARC Builds

Valentine's Day will be upon us before we know it!

Instead of a chocolate box, why not get your loved one a computer box, custom-built to their desires?

Place your order by next week, or you may just miss out on a special gift for your beloved! (Note: we are limited to the Calgary area)

You can contact us at [email protected]

Or fill out an order form here:

ARC Builds Custom Computer Request Please click the link to complete this form.

Any service outside of computer building is limited to the Calgary area.

We do not tolerate harassment or bigotry of any sort. This includes, but is not limited to: slurs, mocking individuals, name-calling, excessive swearing, homophobia, transphobia, racism, antisemitism, religious discrimination, classism, sexism, ableism, and body-shaming.

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ARC Builds is a Calgary-based custom computer building service.

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You can place an order request at

ARC Builds Custom Computer Request Please click the link to complete this form.

What's the advantage of a custom computer build vs. a pre-built?

To be honest, it depends. If you're looking for something with no immediate hassle, something that'll last you a good few years before it gives out, a pre-built is a good way to go.
Pre-built computers are often smaller and more compact, without much wiggle room. This is convenient for manufacturers, as they save on material and ship more units at once. This can also be convenient for a consumer who is living in a small space and doesn't have much wiggle room of their own.

Custom-built computers can be a lot bulkier, though it depends on the build. This bulk, however, has its advantages. If something goes wrong with the hardware, it's easier to open things up and take parts out as needed. It's much easier to get one with a transparent side panel, so you can see the innards of the computer itself (this usually doesn't have a practical advantage, but it is pretty awesome to look at).
Another advantage of custom-built computers is that, well, they're custom-built. Tailor-made. If you want something with all the bells and whistles, custom-built is the way to go. If you want something with no bells or whistles, custom-built may also be the way to go.
If you're doing 3D rendering, photo editing, audio mixing, intense gaming, or running a business from your home, custom-built may be right for you.

More on why a custom build may be right for you:
If there is hands-on, documented experience of building a computer, it can be easier to reverse-engineer and correct any errors made in the process.
If you have an old hard drive that you want to have constant access to, a custom computer can include that with no issue.
If you are simply not sure what you want, support is much more accessible and personalized—it's your own unique computer, after all!

Another advantage often touted by computer enthusiasts is that pre-built computers are more expensive.
That's true, but not in the way one might think. I've found pre-built computers with comparable or even superior specifications to certain custom builds, at equal or cheaper prices. Sounds like a heck of a deal, right? At first, it is. Until you see where it's coming from—random manufacturers from random places, marketplace sellers with no reviews—sources devoid of trust and backing.
It's a gamble worth a lot of money. If things do work out, that's great! If they don't, though, you're out a good several hundred dollars and a working computer. Getting the computer to work again runs into the issues I mentioned earlier.

A pre-built computer may be cheaper up front, but it very well may be more expensive in the long run.

Ultimately, it's about what works best for you as a consumer. For those in the Calgary area, you can get in touch and figure out what's right for you at [email protected], or send us a message on Facebook.
And, of course, you can place a custom computer build order request at https://form.jotform.com/240016451937049

A build from about a month ago.

Now, this customer can actually play Yahtzee, rather than just stacking their monitor on top of it!

Unfortunately I did not get the exact specs of the old computer, however I do know that it was still running Windows 7, its boot drive was an HDD, it had been in use since 2014... and it was probably the slowest computer I've seen in my life!

Once all parts had been received, it took about two weeks for the new one to be fully assembled and set up. As it's a custom build, it's much more future-proof and serviceable. Plus, it's no longer on the floor, thus less susceptible to gathering dust and cat hair (you do NOT want to see how the old one looked inside).

--- Specs ---
Operating System: Windows 11 Professional
Motherboard: ASRock B550M Pro4
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600G
Memory: 32 GB (4x Gigabyte AORUS RGB 8GB DDR4-4400 CL20)
Graphics: Integrated (Radeon Vega 7)
Storage: Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB (plus a 1TB hard drive brought over from old build)
Power Supply: Gigabyte UD750GM
Wi-Fi Adapter: Intel AX200
Optical Drive: ASUS DRW 24-F1ST
Card Reader: Vantec UGT-CR935
Case: Cooler Master N400

--- Peripherals ---
Headphones: Unknown (brought over from old build)
Speakers: Unknown (brought over from old build)
We**am: Logitech, exact model unknown (brought over from old build)
Microphone: Blue Yeti (brought over from old build)
Monitor: Dell Profe​ssional P2​213
Keyboard: Perixx PER​IBOARD-312
Mouse: Logitech M100
Printer: Brother MFC-J4535​DW