Syntech Computer Services

17/09/2026

💻 **Thinking about upgrading or replacing your PC? It may be worth keeping an eye on component prices.**

If you've looked at the price of computer memory recently, you may have noticed that **RAM has become considerably more expensive**.

Throughout 2026 we've seen significant increases in the cost of memory, with DDR5 RAM particularly affected. SSD storage has also become more expensive.

One of the major reasons is the enormous demand for memory from AI and data centers, which is putting pressure on the supply available for ordinary desktop PCs and laptops.

So what does this mean if you're thinking about a new computer?

🔹 New PCs may cost more due to higher component prices.

🔹 Upgrades aren't as cheap as they were, particularly if you're looking to add RAM or replace an SSD.

🔹 If you're planning a custom-built gaming or home/office PC, waiting for prices to fall may not necessarily pay off in the short term.

That doesn't mean everyone should rush out and buy a new computer! In many cases, upgrading an existing PC can still be a much more economical option than replacing it.

If you're considering a new PC or wondering whether your existing computer would benefit from an upgrade, we're always happy to offer some friendly advice.

Syntech Computer Services - your local computer repair & custom-build specialists, covering Blackwood (South Wales), and surrounding areas. 🖥️🔧

27/08/2026

30/07/2026

🖥️ Customers first attempt at building their own Gaming PC... a great first attempt but a couple of minor issues meant it kept crashing as soon as Windows loaded, and performance wasn't optimised.

A customer brought this brand-new build into the workshop after spending hours trying to figure out why it kept crashing.

The first issue was immediately obvious.

❌ The graphics card had been installed in a PCIe x1 slot instead of the primary PCIe x16 slot. While it physically fit, a PCIe x1 slot is designed for expansion cards, WiFi cards etc, and doesn't provide the bandwidth a graphics card needs, so it wasn't installed in the correct location.

As we continued our inspection, we found a few more areas that could be improved.

🌬️ Airflow: The system only had a single front intake fan and one rear exhaust fan. We recommended adding two additional front intake fans to improve cooling performance while helping to reduce dust entering the case.

🌡️ CPU cooling: The cooler was correctly installed, but it simply wasn't capable of handling the processor. The CPU was operating at between 70°C during normal use, and quickly hit its 95°C thermal limit during stress testing.

What we changed

✅ Moved the graphics card into the correct PCIe slot.
✅ Carefully undervolted the CPU, reducing power consumption and temperatures while allowing it to maintain higher boost speeds for longer with no loss in performance.
✅ Optimised the memory settings in the BIOS, allowing the RAM to run at its full advertised speed instead of the slower default settings.
✅ Tidied the cabling, leaving only the essentials visible and properly routing the remaining cables behind the motherboard tray for a cleaner finish and improved airflow.

The results

📉 Idle CPU temperature dropped to 38°C.
✔️ Completely stable operation.
✔️ Significantly lower temperatures.
✔️ Improved airflow.
✔️ Quieter, more efficient performance.

Building your own PC is incredibly rewarding, and full credit to the customer for taking on their first build.
Every self-builder learns something along the way, and mistakes like these are far more common than many people realise. Even experienced builders can overlook BIOS optimisation, cooling, or airflow, all of which can have a huge impact on stability and performance.

If your custom-built PC is running hotter than expected, crashing under load, or you simply want to make sure everything is configured and performing as it should, we'd be happy to help.

26/06/2026

Need advice on your upgrade options? Get in touch – we're happy to help!

19/06/2026

Only one available - collection only from our Pontllanfraith workshop.

22/04/2026

Another Gaming PC ready to go! Built to the customer’s budget, includes an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor, RTX 5070 Ti Graphics Card, 1TB Gen 5 High Performance NVMe SSD, and 32GB High Performance Memory.

25/03/2026

Cooling system upgrade - CPU now operating well below the maximum recommended temperature.