Desktops are built to be opened, which is exactly what makes them worth upgrading rather than replacing. A machine that feels slow or dated often just needs one or two components brought up to date, and a custom build lets you choose exactly what goes into a new one from the start.

Upgrading what you've already got

The three upgrades that make the biggest practical difference are a solid state drive in place of a spinning hard drive, more memory if the machine is running below eight gigabytes, and a newer graphics card if gaming or video work is the goal. Not every machine needs all three, and we'll tell you honestly which ones are actually worth spending on for what you use it for.

Custom builds

A build starts with what you're actually trying to do with the machine, gaming, video editing, general use, rather than a fixed parts list. From there it's component selection within your budget, checking every part is compatible with the others, assembly, cable management, and testing under load before it's handed over.

How it works

  1. Tell us what you're after

    An upgrade for an existing machine, or a build from scratch, and what you'll mainly use it for.

  2. We recommend or confirm the parts

    Checked for compatibility and value, not just the biggest number on the box.

  3. We do the work

    Fitted, assembled, cabled and tested, on-site or in for the day.

  4. Tested under load before handover

    We run it hard first, so any issue shows up before you're relying on it.

What it costs

Labour is $150 per hour. Parts are quoted separately once we know what suits the machine and the budget, and nothing is bought without your sign-off first.

Common questions

What's the single best upgrade for an old, slow desktop?

If it's still running a mechanical hard drive, switching to an SSD, usually the single biggest improvement available for the money. See our slow computer repair page for how to check which one you've got.

Can any desktop be upgraded, or does it depend on the model?

Mostly, but not entirely. Older motherboards have limits on how much memory or how new a graphics card they can support. We'll check compatibility before recommending anything.

How is a custom build different from a repair?

A repair fixes something broken. A build is assembling new components into a working machine from scratch, choosing parts that suit what you actually want to do with it and making sure they're compatible with each other.

Do you help pick the parts, or do I need to know what I want already?

Either. Tell us your budget and what you'll mainly use it for, gaming, work, general use, and we'll put together a sensible parts list, or work from one you've already chosen.

“I was well overdue for an upgrade of several programs on my computer. Thought I may have also required a new computer, but Robert worked his magic and installed upgrades for me, so I did not have to purchase a new computer. Robert is very knowledgeable and professional.”
Jenny Brookes 11 May 2026 Upgrade