4/5
posted Nov-26-2008
I. Shipping and Handling
Ordered on Nov. 5 and the computer shipped out on Nov. 17. I guess there was probably a holiday I didn't know about, otherewise it took 8 business days for AscendTech to process and ship my order. Not loyal to their 3-7 business days policy. Nevertheless one day delay is tolerable. Yet at least please don't reply with ONLY one sentence, "The standard processing time is 3-7 business days" when I asked on the 3rd (or 4th) business days about my order via email and then ended up not meeting your own words.
Anyhow, AscendTech did not charge my credit card until they shipped my computer. And the packaging was actually very good (double boxxed). The motherboard driver was included as well.
II. Website Order Process
The custimizing page caused error and could not complete the order when I used IE to browse the page. However it ran fine on FireFox.
The AscendTech website is probably only for people who know exactly what they are looking for and willing to take risks and/or a little sacrifice. It offers a wide range of products and customizing options - including antique parts and models. If one still uses an old PC (3years+) and needs a replacement part, AscendTech is actually a good place to check. On the other hand, because there are so many products, it's easy to be lost and buy something unsatisfactory for one's need.
In my case, I knew what I was looking for, so I pretty much got what I wanted, (though by the time of the post, the PC is only up and running for 2 days, so component stabilities and qualities are still during test period). However, there were things I'm not quite happy about when using AscendTech website's custom system building page I used:
1. No way to know the manufacturer of the system memeory
2. No way to know the Hard Drive model and manufacturer
3. No way to know the manufacturer of the "CD-Rom Driver Internal IDE"
4. No way to know the brand of Flash Memory Card Reader
5. No way to know the brand and power output of the standard default power supply unit
6. No way to know the brand of the Case
7. No way to know what kind of "heavy-duty" CPU fan ( and the fact it's pretty loud!)
All the "No way"'s above are the "risks" I mentioned earlier. One can't be 100% sure about what one will get until one actually gets them.
Now about the "sacrifice." It seems that AscendTech wants to get rid of its old stock as soon as possible. The custimization option available for optical drive(s) at the time, was CD-ROM(default), CD-R/RW, and DVD-ROM in one category, and DVD-ROM DVD-R/RW in the other. Which meant: there was no way I can just buy a DVD-R/RW without ending up with an antique 2004 Hitachi CD-ROM drive. As the result, I chose not to buy a DVD-R/RW and swapped the default Hitachi with my old-but-younger-than-the-Hitachi DVD-R/RW by myself later - not a wise idea to indirectly force customers into buying more stuff, AscendTech, since I ended up buying less.
P.S. Please don't tell me I need to phone you (AscendTech) to make further custimzations. Otherwise I might as well not to use your website to custimize my PC at all.
III. Internal Hardware Assembly
Inside my computer case, the assembly was simple, nothing fancy. However the wires from the power unit are all stringed tightly with the cheap plastic ring that can only be cut to be loose. Had to cut them manually in order to extend them to where needed.
-----update 12/14------
The MediaMax harddrive is extremely loud even at slightly intensive hard drive usage. Defrag did not help it to quiet down a bit. I've even started to wonder whehter the harddrive is loud this way, or it's already dying and worried so much that I already placed an order to buy another harddrive somewhere else.
This review was modified by
SesenKe on December 14 2008 02:58:00 AM
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![Share](javascript:share_rating({"review_body":"I. Shipping and Handling<br><br>Ordered on Nov. 5 and the computer shipped out on Nov. 17. I guess there was probably a holiday I didn\u0027t know about, otherewise it took 8 business days for AscendTech to process and ship my order. Not loyal to their 3-7 business days policy. Nevertheless one day delay is tolerable. Yet at least please don\u0027t reply with ONLY one sentence, \u0022The standard processing time is 3-7 business days\u0022 when I asked on the 3rd (or 4th) business days about my order via email and then ended up not meeting your own words.<br><br>Anyhow, AscendTech did not charge my credit card until they shipped my computer. And the packaging was actually very good (double boxxed). The motherboard driver was included as well.<br><br><br><br>II. Website Order Process<br><br>The custimizing page caused error and could not complete the order when I used IE to browse the page. However it ran fine on FireFox.<br><br>The AscendTech website is probably only for people who know exactly what they are looking for and willing to take risks and\/or a little sacrifice. It offers a wide range of products and customizing options - including antique parts and models. If one still uses an old PC (3years+) and needs a replacement part, AscendTech is actually a good place to check. On the other hand, because there are so many products, it\u0027s easy to be lost and buy something unsatisfactory for one\u0027s need.<br><br>In my case, I knew what I was looking for, so I pretty much got what I wanted, (though by the time of the post, the PC is only up and running for 2 days, so component stabilities and qualities are still during test period). However, there were things I\u0027m not quite happy about when using AscendTech website\u0027s custom system building page I used:<br><br>1. No way to know the manufacturer of the system memeory<br><br>2. No way to know the Hard Drive model and manufacturer<br><br>3. No way to know the manufacturer of the \u0022CD-Rom Driver Internal IDE\u0022<br><br>4. No way to know the brand of Flash Memory Card Reader<br><br>5. No way to know the brand and power output of the standard default power supply unit<br><br>6. No way to know the brand of the Case<br><br>7. No way to know what kind of \u0022heavy-duty\u0022 CPU fan ( and the fact it\u0027s pretty loud!)<br><br>All the \u0022No way\u0022\u0027s above are the \u0022risks\u0022 I mentioned earlier. One can\u0027t be 100% sure about what one will get until one actually gets them.<br><br>Now about the \u0022sacrifice.\u0022 It seems that AscendTech wants to get rid of its old stock as soon as possible. The custimization option available for optical drive(s) at the time, was CD-ROM(default), CD-R\/RW, and DVD-ROM in one category, and DVD-ROM DVD-R\/RW in the other. Which meant: there was no way I can just buy a DVD-R\/RW without ending up with an antique 2004 Hitachi CD-ROM drive. As the result, I chose not to buy a DVD-R\/RW and swapped the default Hitachi with my old-but-younger-than-the-Hitachi DVD-R\/RW by myself later - not a wise idea to indirectly force customers into buying more stuff, AscendTech, since I ended up buying less.<br><br>P.S. Please don\u0027t tell me I need to phone you (AscendTech) to make further custimzations. Otherwise I might as well not to use your website to custimize my PC at all.<br><br><br><br>III. Internal Hardware Assembly<br><br>Inside my computer case, the assembly was simple, nothing fancy. However the wires from the power unit are all stringed tightly with the cheap plastic ring that can only be cut to be loose. Had to cut them manually in order to extend them to where needed.<br><br>-----update 12\/14------<br>The MediaMax harddrive is extremely loud even at slightly intensive hard drive usage. Defrag did not help it to quiet down a bit. I\u0027ve even started to wonder whehter the harddrive is loud this way, or it\u0027s already dying and worried so much that I already placed an order to buy another harddrive somewhere else.","link":"http:\/\/www.resellerratings.com\/store\/AscendTech_Inc\/comment\/421682#comment421682","store_thumb":"http:\/\/www.resellerratings.com\/store\/thumbnail\/AscendTech_Inc.jpg","store_name":"AscendTech, Inc. \/ asendtek.com \/ BareboneKit.net","username":"SesenKe","rating":"4"}, "single");){kind=link}
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