Why can’t PCS deliver what they promise?

[RalPhi]

Back in November last year, I tried to buy a Recoil Laptop from PCS.

As part of the spec, I selected 64gB of 5600mHz Corsair ram from the website. When the laptop was in testing however, I was contacted to say the ram was causing instability, and I was told I had to select slower ram.

I baulked at this, and ultimately cancelled the order.

With the newer laptop models available this spring, I decided to have another go. After waiting several weeks for stock to arrive, I spec’d a Defiance Pro laptop with 96gB 5600mHz Corsair ram.

Surprise surprise! Two weeks later, I receive the following message:

Unfortunately, the 96GB Corsair 5600MHz RAM is causing the laptop to be unstable.

The laptop team recommend changing the RAM.

We have the following options available.

1. 64GB Corsair 4800MHz SODIMM DDR5 (2 x 32GB) --- A refund of £63.00
2. 64GB PCS PRO SODIMM DDR5 5200MHz (2 x 32GB) --- A refund of £67.00

Please reply to this email with your preferred choice of RAM.

NB I am not offered the original amount (96gB) at any speed. I am only offered 64gB of 5200mHz. (64gB Corsair 5600mHz is still available on the website, although 96gB option is removed).

Why do PCS offer builds that they can’t deliver? Other options/models that I could have pursued are now no longer available.

I’m frustrated beyond words about this. I would be grateful for any suggestions on how to proceed.

 

[Ekans2011]

With the newer laptop models available this spring, I decided to have another go. After waiting several weeks for stock to arrive, I spec’d a Defiance Pro laptop with 96gB 5600mHz Corsair ram.

Surprise surprise! Two weeks later, I receive the following message:

Unfortunately, the 96GB Corsair 5600MHz RAM is causing the laptop to be unstable.

The laptop team recommend changing the RAM.

We have the following options available.

1. 64GB Corsair 4800MHz SODIMM DDR5 (2 x 32GB) --- A refund of £63.00
2. 64GB PCS PRO SODIMM DDR5 5200MHz (2 x 32GB) --- A refund of £67.00

Please reply to this email with your preferred choice of RAM.

NB I am not offered the original amount (96gB) at any speed. I am only offered 64gB of 5200mHz. (64gB Corsair 5600mHz is still available on the website, although 96gB option is removed).

As @Scott correctly pointed out, huge amount of RAM at high frequencies is prone to instability.

Laptop power supply and ram questions

Hello All, I am building up to order the spec below, and I have a couple of questions; 1) Is there any reason why the maximum amount of 5600mHz Corsair Ram is 32gB, whereas slower ram permits 64gB? 2) This laptop comes with a 280w ‘brick’ power supply. The connector looks like one of the many...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

Given that the Defiance Pro (as well as the Recoil) has a broken CPU (14900HX), I'm not surprised that the laptop failed the tests.

INTEL has not been a viable option for some years now.

Intel 13th and 14th Gen confirmed defective

So there's been a lot of upset gathering steam on the inter webs with intermittent games crashes on Intel 13th and 14th gen. Workarounds range from underclocking to disabling ecores. BUT, there are a lot of people finding that simply disabling hyperthreading is a proper solution. The findings...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

I’m frustrated beyond words about this. I would be grateful for any suggestions on how to proceed.

To receive proper guidance, I suggest that you read this and provide all of the essential information.

Please read before posting:- Collaboration of Helpful Hints

If you have been referred to this hyperlink then it is because your request for spec advice is missing some vital pieces of information to enable us to provide appropriate advice around your proposed machine. Please read below and then amend your original request accordingly. Thank you. We all...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

 

[RalPhi]

Thanks for your reply.

My question is more about about PCS’s apparently limited knowledge of the product they are selling, rather than a technical query.

But nevertheless…

Chassis & Display
Defiance Series: 16" Matte QHD+ 300Hz, 500nits, sRGB 100% LED Widescreen (2560x1600)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 24 Core Processor 14900HX (5.8GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
96GB Corsair 5600MHz SODIMM DDR5 (2 x 48GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 5070Ti - 12GB GDDR7 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.2
1st M.2 SSD Drive
4TB SAMSUNG 9100 PRO M.2, PCIe 5.0 NVMe (up to 14,800MB/R, 13,400MB/W)
2nd M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SAMSUNG 990 PRO M.2, PCIe 4.0 NVMe (up to 7450MB/R, 6900MB/W)
AC Adaptor
2 x 250W Ultra-Slim AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery
Defiance Pro Battery 80WH
Thermal Paste
ID-COOLING FROST X45 THERMAL PASTE APPLICATION
Sound Card
2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6E AX211 + BT 5.3
USB/Thunderbolt Options
2 x USB 3.2 PORTS (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.2 PORTS
Keyboard Language
DEFIANCE 16 SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 11 Professional 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence

 

[Ekans2011]

My question is more about about PCS’s apparently limited knowledge of the product they are selling, rather than a technical query.

Well, they offer what the chassis theoretically supports, but it's always subjected to a thorough testing phase and QC before shipping, which is something that should be valued.

But nevertheless…

Chassis & Display
Defiance Series: 16" Matte QHD+ 300Hz, 500nits, sRGB 100% LED Widescreen (2560x1600)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 24 Core Processor 14900HX (5.8GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
96GB Corsair 5600MHz SODIMM DDR5 (2 x 48GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 5070Ti - 12GB GDDR7 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.2
1st M.2 SSD Drive
4TB SAMSUNG 9100 PRO M.2, PCIe 5.0 NVMe (up to 14,800MB/R, 13,400MB/W)
2nd M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SAMSUNG 990 PRO M.2, PCIe 4.0 NVMe (up to 7450MB/R, 6900MB/W)
AC Adaptor
2 x 250W Ultra-Slim AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery
Defiance Pro Battery 80WH
Thermal Paste
ID-COOLING FROST X45 THERMAL PASTE APPLICATION
Sound Card
2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6E AX211 + BT 5.3
USB/Thunderbolt Options
2 x USB 3.2 PORTS (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.2 PORTS
Keyboard Language
DEFIANCE 16 SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 11 Professional 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence

I don't understand: what is this? Is this your current configuration, or something you plan to buy?

If it's the former, I would ask a refund and provide the information requested above; if it's the latter, I would provide the information requested above to get appropriate guidance.

In both cases, 14th Gen INTEL is NOT the way to go for a viable solution.