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Key people at Custom PC Magazine.
Custom PC Magazine is a digital publication focused on personal computer hardware, modding, overclocking, and custom gaming builds for technology enthusiasts. The organization originally operated as a monthly print magazine that published 235 total issues and reached a peak recorded print circulation of 9,428 readers in 2014 before transitioning to an online-only business model. The brand generates digital publishing and advertising revenue as a core part of the broader media portfolio owned by Network N Media, which is currently led by executives James Binns and Tim Edwards. Following its acquisition in early 2023, the publication relaunched as CustomPC.com and subsequently integrated its dedicated editorial staff into the hardware division at the popular gaming website PCGamesN. Custom PC Magazine was founded in 2003 by Gareth Ogden and James Gorbold under the corporate umbrella of Dennis Publishing.
Custom PC (often abbreviated as CPC) is a UK-based media brand dedicated to PC hardware enthusiasts, delivering in-depth reviews, guides, tutorials, news, and features on topics like modding, overclocking, gaming rigs, and custom builds.[1][8][9] Originally a monthly print magazine launched in 2003 by Dennis Publishing, it ceased print production in February 2023 (issue 235) due to rising printing costs and transitioned to an online-only platform at CustomPC.com under Network N Media ownership.[1][3] It serves hobbyists, gamers, and builders seeking authoritative insights into desktop PC components from brands like Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and Corsair, with a focus on performance hardware, witty analysis, and practical "tinkering" content.[5][6][8][9]
The brand solves the problem of navigating complex, rapidly evolving PC hardware by providing hands-on testing, step-by-step builds, and expert picks—positioning it as the UK's best-selling title in its niche until its print end.[3][4] Post-transition, it maintains momentum through active digital content, including recent reviews of Intel Core i9-14900K and i5-14600K processors, best gaming peripherals lists, and build guides as of late 2024.[9]
Custom PC launched its first issue in October 2003 under Dennis Publishing Ltd., targeting PC enthusiasts amid skepticism about print media in the internet era—yet it endured nearly 20 years as one of the last standing PC magazines.[1][3] Key figures included long-time contributors like James Gorbold, who became Group Editor during a 2009-2012 partnership with bit-tech.net (merging editorial teams for shared resources), and production editor Julie Birrell.[1][3] The magazine evolved from hardware-focused reviews and modding tutorials to include gaming, software analysis, and reader sections, building a loyal readership.[1]
Ownership shifted in 2019 when it was sold (alongside Digital SLR Photography) to Raspberry Pi Trading, a Raspberry Pi Foundation subsidiary.[1] Print ended in February 2023 amid unsustainable costs, with the brand acquired by Network N Media in April 2023 for online revival at CustomPC.com—though editorial staff migrated to PCGamesN due to redundancies.[1][3][8] This digital pivot preserved its legacy of original, enthusiast-driven content since 2003.[9]
Custom PC rides the enduring wave of PC gaming and custom hardware enthusiasm, fueled by trends like high-performance computing, esports growth, and DIY modding communities amid rising component accessibility from Nvidia/AMD advancements.[9] Its timing as a 2003 launch capitalized on the post-internet bubble's hardware boom, while the 2023 digital shift aligns with print media's decline and online content dominance—reflecting market forces like escalating paper costs and ad revenue migration to sites like CustomPC.com.[1][3]
It influences the ecosystem by educating builders on optimal gear (e.g., via build guides and reviews), fostering enthusiast networks akin to its bit-tech era, and bridging hardware makers with consumers—amplifying voices in a landscape shifting toward pre-builts and cloud gaming, yet sustained by modding's niche appeal.[1][9]
Custom PC's digital era under Network N positions it to thrive amid AI-enhanced hardware and next-gen GPUs, expanding with video tutorials, VR build coverage, and community forums to recapture print loyalists. Trends like sustainable modding and edge computing will shape it, potentially evolving influence through partnerships (e.g., with Raspberry Pi alumni) or acquisitions amplifying its voice in enthusiast media. As the go-to for "going all out on desktop PC hardware," it remains essential for tinkerers navigating tomorrow's rigs.[8][9]
Key people at Custom PC Magazine.
