A computer is a serious and expensive investment. For many people, it is where they get their work done. For others, it is their entertainment center. When you require a new system, you can go one of two ways—build your own PC or buy a pre-built system.
Before you can choose the best option for your needs, you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of both options.
Building Your Custom PC
For a PC enthusiast, there can be no greater feeling than building their own system. When you decide to build your own PC, you have the chance to own a system that is unique and customized to accommodate your needs.
While building a PC will require effort and detailed research on your part, you will have a ton of resources at your disposal. Because of the growing popularity of PC building, the internet is full of how-to guides, step-by-step videos, and forums to interact with other PC builders.
You will also have access to websites that will help you streamline your build process by checking to see if the parts you have chosen are compatible with each other.
Despite the resources available to newcomers and even seasoned builders, building a PC can be stressful. There is the chance that things can go wrong, with the user having little to no clue how to fix their issues.
Before you decide to build your PC, you may want to consider its advantages and disadvantages and only take the plunge if you decide you’re up for it.
Advantages
Building a custom PC has several advantages.
Customization
When you build your own PC, you have the option to hand-pick every component. You choose the case, CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, and power supply. You will have control over how powerful your machine is and how it should look—all the while remaining within your budget.
Building your own PC allows a level of customization simply not possible with a pre-built machine. You can personalize your PC to your specifications and design choices.
Limitless Choices
Picking every component means you have numerous options in terms of pricing and upgrading.
If you want a budget machine for gaming, then you can build one with affordable components. You will also have the choice to buy used parts—and that will make the overall cost of your PC significantly lower than a pre-built machine.
If you already have a PC, but you feel the need for an upgrade, then you can simply replace the components that are no longer working for you. This may require replacing your GPU with a better option, increasing the RAM, or the storage capacity of your PC.
Cost-Effective
A pre-built PC will cost more than the total cost of its parts. This is because companies tack on the costs of assembly and some extra markup on the overall price. Therefore, the PC you build can be as cheap or as expensive as you want. If you have a tight budget, then you will have the choice of buying less expensive components.
You can also build a powerful machine at a relatively low cost by choosing to buy used components.
Disadvantages
While building your PC can be rewarding, it does have certain drawbacks:
Requires Technical Knowledge
If you have never built a PC before, you will need to research the various parts and what goes where. Technical knowledge is crucial when it comes to PC building. You will be dealing with fragile components, and you must know how to put together your machine properly.
While you’ll have resources such as guides and video tutorials at your disposal, you will still need to invest several hours into learning how to build the PC.
High Risk of Incompatibility
There is a chance of something going wrong when you’re building your PC. Since you are putting together several separate components, there is the chance that your components might be incompatible with each other. Websites like PCPartPicker are perfect in this scenario, allowing you to choose from a list of compatible components, making sure each bit works together.
User Error
Building a PC is equal parts rewarding and challenging. If you do not have much experience with PC building, there is a higher chance that something might go wrong. If you’re not careful, you might end up bending the pins on your CPU or snapping an important cable.
You may also end up putting the parts together incorrectly. User error while building your PC could mean ruining expensive components.
Buying a Pre-Built PC
While building your PC can be an exciting endeavor, it is not for everyone. A lot of people just want a system that works without the extra steps. If you prefer to have a machine that you can simply plug-and-play, then a pre-built system is a great option for you.
Advantages
A pre-built system offers quite a few advantages over building a PC:
Simple Setup
With a pre-made PC, you can have the machine up and running in no time. You don’t need the technical knowledge or to understand how the components work to use a pre-made PC. It may also come preloaded with essential software, which means setup is relatively easy.
Compatible Components
A pre-made system was most likely put together by a professional and tested for stability and compatibility. This ensures that you will run into little to no problems when you boot up your PC.
Easy Repairs
Most pre-built systems come with a seller warranty. This ensures that you will have support and access to easy repairs even if things go wrong with your PC.
Disadvantages
While a pre-made PC can be a decent buy for most people, it comes with drawbacks:
Limited Configurations
With a pre-built system, you have limited or no say in its internal components. So while you may be able to make certain upgrades, such as increasing the storage capacity or the RAM, you will not be able to customize it fully. That said, you can opt for a custom pre-built PC, which does allow you to choose the components, but you’re definitely going to pay a premium on parts, pushing the final PC price much higher.
More Expensive
Because of the assembly costs, warranties, and preloaded software, pre-made PCs often cost more than the cost of their internal components.
Lower Quality
Many manufacturers use cheaper components when they can. Usually, this means that the less important parts are where these components are used—such as the case, the cables, or the power supply.
The Current GPU Market
At the time of writing, there is a huge shortage of GPUs. This shortage has been attributed to the silicon chip shortages and the rise of crypto mining. Because of the higher demand and lower supply, scalping has become a huge problem. Scalpers have been buying up stock from websites and reselling them at a huge markup. As a result, GPUs are being sold at ridiculous prices, sometimes over 80% of the MSRP.
Building your own PC has always been considered to be the less expensive option. But with the current GPU market, more and more people are considering buying a pre-built PC instead. Even if the PC does not meet the user’s requirements, they can replace the components they dislike and keep the rest.
With a pre-made PC, the user can take out the components they require, such as the GPU, and sell the rest. In some cases, this is a more affordable option than buying from scalpers.
Building Your Own PC vs. Buying Pre-Made: What’s Best for You?
Whether you build your PC or buy a pre-built one, both options will have pros and cons. So, which one should you choose? Well, it depends on your needs and what you require out of your PC.
If you do not have the time to understand the technical know-how of PC building, then a pre-built system will be perfect for you. On the other hand, if you are a PC enthusiast who is very particular about customization, building your own PC will be highly rewarding.
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