In order to explain how Corvus Computing differs from its competition, there are a handful of terms that must first be clarified:

A Brief Glossary 

Pre-Built Computer

A pre-built computer is a computer that is delivered to you fully assembled and functional, with little to no input or work required on the customer’s behalf. Depending on the seller, customization options for a pre-built may range from limited to non-existent. 

The primary benefit of pre-built computers is their simplicity; they are, for the most part, plug and play. For those who may lack technical expertise, a pre-built system offers a quick and easy way to upgrade to modern computer hardware.

However, this simplicity comes with many drawbacks, which are detailed more in the “what are the benefits to a building a custom PC?” field below.

OEM

OEM, short for Original Equipment Manufacturer, usually refers to large, multi-billion dollar corporations that sell computers and other related hardware. Some examples of OEMs include Dell (Alienware), HP (Omen), Lenovo (Legion), and ASUS (ROG), to name a few.

OEMs tend to sell pre-built systems by the hundreds of thousands, and as such, they often manufacture their own proprietary hardware that is not available to the average consumer.

System Integrator

A System Integrator (SI) is unlike an OEM, in that SI’s are usually smaller companies that ship systems internationally on the order of thousands instead of millions. Additionally, SI’s do not typically manufacture their own hardware, opting instead to build their systems using mostly the same hardware that you can purchase from any major retailer.

Some popular examples of System Integrators include CyberPowerPC, iBUYPOWER, Maingear, and Origin PC.

While SI’s do offer more customization options than an OEM, some have been known to “cheap-out” on more mundane components that may escape an uninformed customer’s notice, such as motherboards, power supplies, or RAM. 

Boutique 

Boutique PC builders tend to operate on the smallest scale, and often with the highest level of specialization. They may not have traditional store fronts, and instead require custom quotes for their product. Whereas OEMs are massive, publicly traded corporations, and some of the largest SIs are multi-million dollar operations, most Boutiques are small, personal, and may be run by a small team or even a single individual. 

What Is Corvus Computing?

Corvus Computing is a boutique manufacturer of custom, high performance computers, where we see our systems as much works of art as they are useful tools. Corvus offers the simplicity of a pre-built, but with the cost savings, standardized hardware, and customization options of a fully custom build.   

All Corvus machines are hand built, and made to order using standardized, off-the-shelf hardware. We even offer the option to have your new PC assembled in your home (provided you live within our service area).

Unlike an OEM or even an SI, Corvus will work with you every step of the way to ensure you know exactly what you’re paying for. If you’ve opted for off-site assembly, your computer will be hand-delivered to you by an experienced technician who can help you install your new system.

You will not see this level of service from an OEM or even an SI. If you desire a more personalized purchasing experience, while simultaneously saving money and supporting a local Boise business, I hope you will consider working with Corvus Computing. 

Why Build Custom?

1) Lower Prices

When you purchase an OEM pre-built system, not only are you paying for the hardware inside the computer and any associated licensing, but you’re also paying for the R&D that might have gone into developing the system, the tooling required to outfit the assembly lines used to manufacture any proprietary components, the marketing the OEM used to advertise the system, the logistics necessary to distribute the final product and source its requisite parts, and the labor for every employee involved at every step of this process.

OEM’s do not just absorb these costs. Instead, they pass them down to you, the consumer, in the form of higher prices. 

When you buy parts directly from the component manufacturer, however, as you do in a custom build, you’re effectively cutting out the OEM middleman. This means you’re no longer subsidizing the cost of bringing your computer to market.

2) Higher Quality Hardware

Not only are OEM pre-builts more expensive, but they often utilize cheaper, mass-produced hardware that cuts corners in order to maximize profit margins. After all, when you’re an OEM and you’re manufacturing a million systems, the pennies you save by eliminating an “unnecessary” cable or using cheaper, lower quality RAM adds up fast. 

This is why OEM pre-built’s are so difficult to upgrade or repair, while simultaneously having notably higher failure rates – such systems have been stripped down to meet only a minimum set of requirements, and what hardware is utilized is designed to be as cheap as physically possible while still “technically” meeting its advertised specifications.

When you build custom, however, you select all your parts individually, which means you can be confident that you’re putting quality hardware in your machine. 

Corvus proudly publishes all hardware used in our builds, because we know it to be reliable and reputable.

3) Better Performance

Both OEMs and SIs tend to suffer from a focus on “form over function.” Many pre-builts packing the shelves of your local big box store might look pretty with their solid glass panels and eye-catching lights, but those often come with the tradeoff of abysmal thermal performance and excessive noise. 

PC enthusiasts call these kinds of systems “hotboxes,” and they are disturbingly common amongst pre-builts.

Given that most modern CPU’s and GPU’s alter their performance based on their temperature, a system that can’t adequately cool itself is going to run noticeably slower and louder. Not only that, but improper airflow can actually reduce the lifespan of your components by literally baking them.  

At Corvus, we’ve taken the opposite approach. Our systems have been designed to be unobtrusive, with a focus on low noise and proper airflow that allows your components to function at their best. 

4) A Standardized, Sustainable System With Room For Expansion

Another benefit of a custom build is standardized hardware. 

It is not uncommon to see large OEMs outfit their systems with proprietary hardware that only works in the system for which it was designed. This may take the form of non-standard motherboard layouts, or a power supply with hardwired connections designed for only a single system configuration. 

These proprietary parts are not flexible. If one fails, you have no choice but to purchase a replacement from the OEM, often at a considerable markup. If there is no replacement available because the manufacture no longer produces it, your only option is to buy an entire new system, even if the rest of your hardware is perfectly functional. 

Not only is this a waste of resources and a contributor to a growing global e-waste problem, but it’s a waste of your money. 

Conversely, when you purchase a custom system, every component is designed with modularity in mind. An ATX motherboard will fit into ANY case designed to support the ATX form factor, of which there are thousands. A modular ATX power supply will have configurable connections to support a wide array of different hardware layouts, and many ship with warranties exceeding a decade. 

Should a component fail, you only need to replace that part, instead of the entire system. 

Similarly, upgrading components is as easy in a custom system as taking the old one out and putting the new one in.

If that’s not enough, there is a thriving market for used PC hardware in nearly every country in the world, so you may even be able to recoup some of the price of your upgrade by selling the used parts you’re replacing. 

If owning a product that is more repairable, more upgradable, more customizable, and more sustainable is at all important to you, a custom-built PC is the way to go.

4) Immense Customization Options

On the topic of customization, one of the largest benefits of a custom build is perhaps simultaneously one of its most intimidating barriers to entry: the immense amount of options available to you. 

At Corvus, I have designed my systems to meet certain performance, noise, and aesthetic standards, and to take some of the guesswork out of building a custom computer for those who may not have much experience in this industry. With that said, my builds are by no means the only way to do things. 

Want a system that’s a color other than black? We can do that. Want lots of RGB lights and flashy colors? We can do that. Want a silence-focused system that you’ll never hear, or a system made of glass we can mount on the wall as a display-piece? We can do that. 

There are an effectively infinite number of different ways to build a custom system. The only real limits are your imagination, and your budget.  

If you have an idea that isn’t realized in one of my standardized builds, please let me know, as there is almost certainly alternative options we can discuss. 

5) No Bloatware

Bloatware is the term used in the computer industry to describe unwanted software included on a new computer or mobile device by the manufacturer. 

At best, bloatware takes up unnecessary storage space that could be used for other things, and at worst, it’s comparable to malware: unwanted and sometimes unremovable software that drains your system resources, slowing it down, while simultaneously intrusively collecting your private data to send back to the manufacturer. 

When you build a custom PC and install only a clean version of your chosen operating system, you don’t need to worry about useless and potentially invasive software coming pre-installed on your shiny new machine.

Yes.

The builds listed on the home page are meant to act as starting points, and as a preconfigured solution for those who may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available within the custom PC building space.

With that said, if you desire a custom touch for your machine, that can easily be arranged. One of the many benefits of building a custom computer is that nearly every component is configurable.

Have a different color scheme in mind? Want to fit powerful hardware into a tiny footprint? Do you want to add extra flair in the form of custom cables and color-matched cosmetic upgrades? All of that is doable. 

If you’re interested in a custom quote, please contact me using the form in the “Contact” page so we can discuss your needs. 

Yes*

For the most part, I do not recommend buying a new computer for less than $1,000. Below that amount, and the frequency of hardware designed to be as cheap as possible increases dramatically. Such components are often only able to meet these low price points due to several sacrifices made by the manufacturer, such as reduced quality control, sub-par performance, and poor long-term reliability.

The baseline builds I offer from Corvus use quality hardware from reputable manufacturers whose reliability I can personally vouch for. I want you to be able to use your Corvus machine for years to come, and the components in my builds have been specifically selected with this in mind. 

With that said, if Corvus’ new offerings are outside of your price range, I also stock a small inventory of used hardware that may be an option for you. These components still meet my standards of quality and have all been tested and verified as functional, but they may not come with a manufacturer’s warranty.

Due to the highly variable nature of this used inventory, I do not have these components listed on my site. If you’d like to know what parts I have available for a used build, please contact me. 

I have been building computers for many years now, and in that time I have developed a familiarity with brands that I trust to strike a balance between performance and affordability. 

I do not like the idea of wasting people’s money, and I’m fully cognizant of the law of diminishing returns when designing my builds. Realistically, the differences between a $5,000 computer and a $10,000 one are going to be negligible for the vast majority of users. 

With that in mind, I also believe that purchasing reliable components from reputable manufacturers not only lends to a longer lifetime for the computer, but a more pleasant usage experience overall. As an example, the differences in system responsiveness when using a Solid State Drive as opposed to a Hard Disk Drive is dramatic, and represents an upgrade I believe to be well worth the slight upcharge. 

In essence, my goal with Corvus is to offer systems that are elegant, unobtrusive, reliable, and that use your money efficiently. This does not always mean opting for the cheapest possible option, but those concessions are made with good reason based on years of industry experience, and I truly believe they will provide a tangible benefit to the final product.  

In the majority of circumstances, I believe Air Cooling to be more than adequate for most end user’s needs. 

Modern air coolers not only perform on par with most all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooling solutions on the market, but they do so at a lower price point, with reduced complexity, and often with a lower price tag. 

In contrast, AIO liquid coolers introduce more potential points of failure in the form of additional moving parts, are prone to damage if not oriented correctly, and may leak water into your computer should they ever fail. 

Above all else, Corvus builds for reliability, and in that regard, Air Cooling has no equal.