Custom PC

What Custom PC does

Custom PC is a digital media publication that has been covering computer hardware, gaming peripherals, and PC builds continuously since 2003. The publication delivers expert editorial content including hands-on product reviews, curated buying guides, and how-to tutorials targeted at PC gamers and enthusiasts who build or upgrade their own systems. Coverage spans graphics cards, CPUs, gaming keyboards, headsets, mice, monitors, memory, SSDs, and CPU coolers, with depth in branded hubs for major OEMs including Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Corsair, Razer, Asus, Logitech, and NZXT. The publication operates with a small editorial team of approximately 7 people and is structured as a brand under Network N Media Ltd., a UK-based private media company.

The underlying technology is Network N Media's content management system, used to publish and syndicate content across the website, newsletter, RSS, and social channels including a 375,000+ member Facebook community (Custom PC and Gaming Setup). Distribution is digital-only and global, with primary audience concentration in the United States and United Kingdom. The publication offers no paid subscription; all content is free to readers.

The business model is affiliate-driven editorial commerce layered with content licensing and occasional sponsored content. The site earns commissions when readers purchase products through retail links embedded in reviews and buying guides. Custom PC also licenses review scores, quotes, and awards to manufacturers for reuse in their own marketing, and publishes clearly labeled advertorials on behalf of gaming brand clients. The combination of 20+ years of editorial authority, a large owned social audience, and diversified affiliate relationships across multiple product categories provides the commercial foundation of the business.

Name

Custom PC

Legal name

Custom PC

Website

https://custompc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Custom PC is a digital media publication, founded in 2003 and operated under UK-based Network N Media, that delivers expert hardware reviews, buying guides, and tutorials to PC gamers and enthusiasts, monetizing via affiliate commissions, content licensing, and sponsored content.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Media

SIC

Retail-Computer & Computer Software Stores (5734)

akta.pro primary industry

PC Gaming Hardware Retail (GPUs, CPUs, RAM, Storage) (CRACAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

PC Gaming Peripherals Retail (Keyboards, Mice, Headsets, Controllers) (CRACAFAD)

Keywords

• PC hardware reviews
• Gaming buying guides
• PC building tutorials
• Tech editorial content
• Gaming peripheral reviews

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Affiliate links and commissions: Custom PC earns commissions when readers purchase products through retail links on the site. The site states it receives a small commission from qualifying purchases and other affiliate schemes.
2. Licensing: After independently reviewing products and providing scores, quotes, and awards, Custom PC sometimes licenses this content to manufacturers who pay for the use of these materials in their marketing.
3. Sponsored content and advertorials: Custom PC occasionally publishes sponsored content created by Project N on behalf of gaming brand clients, clearly marked as promoted content.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Custom PC is a digital media publication that publishes expert hardware reviews, comprehensive buying guides, and how-to tutorials covering PC gaming components and peripherals. The site produces content on CPUs, graphics cards, gaming keyboards, headsets, mice, monitors, memory, SSDs, and CPU coolers, helping readers make informed purchasing decisions for gaming PC components. The publication generates revenue through affiliate commissions, licensing of editorial content, and sponsored content.

Product overview

Custom PC is a gaming hardware review website and buying guide platform that provides expert, hands-on reviews and recommendations for PC gaming components and peripherals. The offering consists of multiple specialized buying guides covering gaming keyboards, headsets, CPUs, graphics cards, CPU coolers, and mouse modding tutorials. Each guide features detailed specifications, performance benchmarking, and expert recommendations across various price points from budget to enthusiast-grade products. The platform is operated by Network N Media and serves as a trusted resource for gamers building or upgrading their PC setups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gaming Keyboard Reviews and Buying Guide A comprehensive buying guide featuring expert reviews and recommendations of the best gaming keyboards for 2024, covering mechanical and membrane models from brands including Mountain, SteelSeries, Logitech, NZXT, Monsgeek, Ducky, and Razer.
• Gaming Headset Reviews and Buying Guide A comprehensive buying guide for the best wired and wireless PC gaming headsets, featuring models from Corsair, EPOS, Razer, and Roccat with detailed reviews of audio quality, comfort, and microphone performance.
• CPU Reviews and Buying Guide A comprehensive gaming CPU buyers guide featuring the best processors from AMD and Intel, covering budget options under $200 to high-end 24-core processors over $600.
• Graphics Card Reviews and Buying Guide A comprehensive graphics card buyers guide covering budget 1080p cards to premium 4K GPUs from AMD and Nvidia, with detailed benchmarking and value assessments.
• CPU Cooler Reviews and Buying Guide A buying guide for the best air coolers and AIO liquid coolers for Intel and AMD CPUs, featuring options ranging from budget air coolers to 360mm AIO liquid coolers from brands including Noctua, NZXT, EK, and Phanteks.
• Gaming Mouse Modding Guide A comprehensive guide on how to upgrade and mod gaming mice, including instructions for changing mouse feet, upgrading switches, replacing cables, reducing weight, and painting or adding grips.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 375,000 community members in the Custom PC Facebook group

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TechPowerUp: Niche PC hardware enthusiast site with detailed GPU, CPU, and component reviews, plus an industry-leading hardware database. Closest direct peer in terms of audience focus (enthusiast PC builders) and affiliate-driven hardware review model.
• Linus Tech Tips: Major PC hardware review media brand (forum + YouTube + written content) covering CPUs, GPUs, peripherals, and custom builds. Directly comparable in audience (DIY PC builders) and affiliate revenue model, though significantly larger and video-led.
• PCGamesN: Sister publication under Network N Media covering PC gaming news, hardware, and buying guides. Directly comparable in monetization model (affiliate hardware reviews) and audience, and is even promoted from the Custom PC homepage, indicating direct portfolio overlap.
• GamersNexus: Independent PC hardware review brand known for deep technical analysis, teardowns, and advocacy-driven content. Closely comparable in niche (enthusiast PC builders) and monetization (affiliate links), with a primary video-first format alongside written reviews.
• bit-tech.net: UK-based PC enthusiast and modding publication focused on high-end builds and component reviews. Directly comparable as a niche PC hardware/modding community site; Custom PC's deputy editor previously served as Editor here, indicating strong historical and audience overlap.
• HotHardware: US-focused enthusiast tech publication covering PC hardware reviews, component benchmarks, and gaming peripherals. Closely comparable as an affiliate-driven PC component review site targeting enthusiast builders and gamers.

Broad incumbents

• PC Gamer: Flagship PC gaming publication with a deep hardware reviews section covering GPUs, CPUs, peripherals, and prebuilt systems. Comparable as a PC gaming-focused editorial brand monetizing hardware content via affiliate links, though broader in remit (also covers games).
• AnandTech: Long-running deep-dive PC hardware review and benchmark publication, historically known for granular technical analysis of CPUs, GPUs, and chipsets. Directly comparable as a specialist PC hardware review site with similar benchmarking methodology.
• Tom's Hardware: One of the most established global PC hardware review and buying guide publications, covering CPUs, GPUs, peripherals, and component builds. Directly comparable in scope (component reviews and buying guides), with a much larger audience and broader editorial team.

Regional players

• TrustedReviews: UK-based general consumer technology review site covering PCs, peripherals, and components. Comparable as a UK affiliate-driven tech review publication; notably, Custom PC's deputy editor previously served as Acting Editor here.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CustomPCcom
• Facebookfacebook.com/CustomPCcom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/custom-pc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Custom PC