Puget Systems vs Exxact: Which Custom AI Builder Should You Choose?
The Custom Builder Landscape
When you're spending $5,000-$50,000 on an AI workstation, the vendor matters as much as the specs. A misconfigured system, inadequate cooling, or poor support can turn expensive hardware into an expensive paperweight.
Two names dominate discussions in AI/ML communities: Puget Systems and Exxact Corporation. Both build custom workstations and servers. Both have strong reputations. But they serve different needs and take different approaches.
After researching both companies and talking to customers who've bought from each, here's how they compare.
Company Backgrounds
Puget Systems
- Founded: 2000 (Auburn, Washington)
- Focus: Custom workstations for creative professionals and researchers
- Reputation: Premium quality, exceptional support, extensive testing
- Market position: Boutique builder with loyal following
Puget Systems started as a general custom PC builder but evolved to focus on professional workstations. They're known for meticulous component testing—they publish benchmarks for every CPU, GPU, and software combination they sell.
Notable customers: Film studios, universities, research labs, content creators.
Exxact Corporation
- Founded: 1988 (Fremont, California)
- Focus: Deep learning workstations, GPU servers, HPC clusters
- Reputation: AI-first design, pre-validated configurations, fast deployment
- Market position: Enterprise AI solutions provider
Exxact pivoted hard into AI/ML hardware around 2015-2016, ahead of most competitors. They work directly with NVIDIA and offer pre-configured systems optimized for specific AI frameworks.
Notable customers: AI startups, research institutions, enterprise ML teams.
Product Lines Compared
Puget Systems AI Products
Peak Series (Single GPU workstations):
- 1x RTX 4090 or RTX 6000 Ada
- Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processors
- 64-128GB DDR5 RAM
- Price range: $4,000-$12,000
Peak HPC (Multi-GPU workstations):
- 2-4x RTX 4090 or professional GPUs
- AMD Threadripper or Intel Xeon W
- 128-512GB RAM
- Price range: $12,000-$40,000
Strengths: Extensive thermal testing, quiet operation, aesthetic builds, detailed documentation.
Weaknesses: Longer lead times (2-4 weeks), fewer enterprise/datacenter options, premium pricing.
Exxact AI Products
TensorEX Workstations:
- 1-8x NVIDIA GPUs (RTX, A-series, H-series)
- AMD EPYC or Intel Xeon processors
- Up to 2TB RAM
- Price range: $5,000-$100,000+
TensorEX Servers:
- 4-8x datacenter GPUs (A100, H100, H200)
- Rack-mount form factors (2U-8U)
- NVLink/NVSwitch support
- Price range: $30,000-$300,000+
Valence AI Clusters:
- Multi-node training infrastructure
- InfiniBand networking
- Turnkey deployment
- Price range: $100,000-$1M+
Strengths: AI-optimized from the ground up, faster lead times, enterprise scale options.
Weaknesses: Less focus on aesthetics, more utilitarian design, less comprehensive benchmark data.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Hardware Quality
Puget Systems:
- Rigorous component testing (every part benchmarked)
- Custom cable management and clean builds
- Premium case selection (Fractal, be quiet!)
- Noise-optimized configurations
Exxact:
- Pre-validated configurations for AI frameworks
- Enterprise-grade server components
- Functional over aesthetic design
- Optimized for performance, not noise
Verdict: Puget for build quality and aesthetics. Exxact for raw AI performance.
Software Support
Puget Systems:
- Ships with OS installed and tested
- Detailed guides for software setup
- No AI-specific software pre-configuration
- You handle framework installation
Exxact:
- Pre-installed AI software stack (optional)
- PyTorch, TensorFlow, CUDA pre-configured
- Docker containers for common workflows
- Turnkey "power on and train" systems
Verdict: Exxact for AI-ready systems. Puget if you prefer to configure yourself.
Customer Support
Puget Systems:
- Legendary phone/email support
- Same team handles sales and support
- Will help troubleshoot software issues (unusual for hardware vendors)
- 3-year parts warranty, lifetime labor
Exxact:
- Enterprise support tiers available
- On-site support for large installations
- AI/ML specialists on staff
- Standard hardware warranty (3 years typical)
Verdict: Puget for personal attention. Exxact for enterprise support infrastructure.
Pricing
Puget Systems:
- Transparent pricing online
- 10-20% premium over DIY equivalent
- No hidden fees
- Price reflects extensive testing and support
Exxact:
- Many products require quote
- Competitive pricing for enterprise systems
- Volume discounts available
- Pricing varies by configuration
Verdict: Puget for price transparency. Exxact for enterprise negotiation.
Lead Times
Puget Systems:
- 2-4 weeks typical (custom builds)
- Every system built to order
- No inventory of pre-built systems
Exxact:
- 1-2 weeks for standard configs
- Quick-ship options available
- Larger inventory of common configurations
Verdict: Exxact for faster delivery. Puget if you can wait for customization.
Configuration Comparison: RTX 4090 Workstation
Let's compare equivalent systems:
| Spec | Puget Peak | Exxact TensorEX |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | RTX 4090 24GB | RTX 4090 24GB |
| CPU | Intel Core i9-14900K | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X |
| RAM | 64GB DDR5 | 64GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 2TB NVMe | 2TB NVMe |
| PSU | 1000W 80+ Platinum | 1000W 80+ Gold |
| Cooling | Custom quiet config | Standard air |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro | Ubuntu or Windows |
| Warranty | 3yr parts, lifetime labor | 3yr standard |
| Price | ~$5,500-6,500 | ~$4,800-5,500 |
Analysis: Puget costs ~10-15% more but includes quieter components, cleaner builds, and better warranty terms. Exxact offers better value if you prioritize price over polish.
Configuration Comparison: Multi-GPU Server
| Spec | Puget Peak HPC | Exxact TensorEX |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | 4x RTX 4090 | 4x RTX 4090 |
| CPU | AMD Threadripper 7970X | AMD EPYC 9354 |
| RAM | 256GB DDR5 | 512GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 4TB NVMe RAID | 8TB NVMe RAID |
| Networking | 10GbE | 10GbE + optional InfiniBand |
| Form Factor | Tower | Tower or 4U rack |
| Price | ~$25,000-30,000 | ~$22,000-35,000 |
Analysis: Exxact offers more flexibility for enterprise deployment (rack-mount, higher RAM, InfiniBand). Puget focuses on tower workstations with better noise management.
Use Case Recommendations
Choose Puget Systems If:
- You work in a shared office (quiet operation matters)
- You value aesthetics (clean builds, cable management)
- You want personal support (talk to the same person throughout)
- You need a workstation (not a server/rack-mount system)
- You're buying 1-3 systems (individual or small team)
Ideal customer: Content creator, researcher at a university, solo ML engineer.
Choose Exxact If:
- You need AI-ready systems (pre-configured software stacks)
- You're buying for a datacenter (rack-mount servers)
- You need fast delivery (quick-ship options)
- You're building a cluster (multi-node with InfiniBand)
- You're buying 4+ systems (enterprise volume)
Ideal customer: AI startup, enterprise ML team, research lab with grant funding.
The Third Option: Other Custom Builders
Puget and Exxact aren't the only players. Consider also:
BOXX Technologies:
- Premium workstations (similar to Puget)
- Strong in media/entertainment
- Higher pricing tier
Bizon Tech:
- Budget-friendly AI workstations
- Good value for multi-GPU systems
- Less established support infrastructure
Lambda Labs:
- Cloud + hardware hybrid model
- Pre-configured for ML frameworks
- Strong community reputation
Silicon Mechanics:
- Enterprise servers and HPC
- Similar market position to Exxact
- Strong in research/academic markets
The Decision Framework
Step 1: Determine your deployment environment
- Office/studio → Puget (quiet, aesthetic)
- Server room/datacenter → Exxact (rack-mount, enterprise)
Step 2: Assess your software needs
- Will configure myself → Puget
- Want turnkey AI stack → Exxact
Step 3: Consider volume
- 1-3 systems → Puget (personal service)
- 4+ systems → Exxact (volume pricing, enterprise support)
Step 4: Evaluate budget
- Premium budget, value polish → Puget
- Value-focused, prioritize specs → Exxact
Final Verdict
Puget Systems builds beautiful, quiet, meticulously tested workstations with legendary support. They're the right choice for individuals and small teams who value the complete experience and will keep systems for years.
Exxact Corporation builds powerful, AI-optimized systems for teams that need to deploy fast and scale up. They're the right choice for enterprises and research labs with dedicated IT staff and datacenter infrastructure.
Neither is "better"—they serve different customers.
If you're debating between them, the deployment environment usually decides: office desk (Puget) vs server rack (Exxact).
And if budget is the primary constraint, both have competitors worth considering. The custom builder market is competitive enough that you won't go wrong with any reputable vendor—just make sure the specs match your workload.
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Ready to explore your options?
Published November 26, 2025
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