Pre-built PCs promise comfort. However after years of constructing my very own rigs, I’ve discovered that what they save in time typically prices you in flexibility, high quality, and cash.
5
A Greater Price In comparison with Constructing Your Personal System
Pre-built PCs are costlier than custom-built ones, however how rather more costly? Whether or not you are shopping for from OEMs like HP and Dell, system integrators, or shopping the cabinets at your native electronics retailer, you are paying another person to do work you can deal with your self—therefore the premium.
Think about a typical $1,400 gaming PC from a serious retailer. In case you look previous the price of meeting and branding, the precise {hardware} inside typically totals round $900-1,000. That is a 30-40% premium for somebody to spend an hour placing elements collectively. With that additional $400, you can improve to a beefier GPU, double your RAM, or seize one in every of these excessive refresh charge displays that’ll make your video games look higher.
Justin Duino / MakeUseOf
Justin Duino / MakeUseOf
I lately priced out a price range gaming construct on PCPartPicker that matched the specs of a number of in style pre-built PCs (see the desk under). It had an equivalent processor, graphics card, and reminiscence configuration—however $380 cheaper.
Sure, you will have to supply a Home windows key individually, however yow will discover official ones for a fraction of the retail worth. Plus, you will skip all that producer bloatware that bogs down pre-built techniques from day one.
Element
Chosen Element
Value
CPU
Intel Core i5-14400F 2.5 GHz 10-Core Processor
$135.99
CPU Cooler
NZXT T120 RGB 50.18 CFM CPU Cooler
$32.99
Motherboard
Gigabyte B760M GAMING PLUS WIFI DDR4 Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
$109.99
Reminiscence
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Reminiscence
$47.99
Storage
Essential P3 Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Stable State Drive
$61.95
Video Card
MSI VENTUS 2X PLUS OC GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB Video Card
$339.99
Case
NZXT H5 Move RGB (2024) ATX Mid Tower Case
$79.98
Energy Provide
NZXT C650 (2022) 650 W 80+ Gold Licensed Absolutely Modular ATX Energy Provide
$139.98
Case Fan
Corsair RS120 ARGB 72.8 CFM 120 mm Followers 3-Pack
$47.99
Whole
–
$996.85
As well as, part costs fluctuate with frequent gross sales, together with Black Friday, Prime Day, and random Tuesday afternoon reductions. In case you’re affected person and look ahead to offers, it can save you more cash in your PC elements. Pre-built PCs not often get significant reductions, and after they do, it is normally as a result of newer fashions are about to drop.
4
Restricted Improve Choices and Proprietary Elements
If you purchase a factory-built PC from OEMs like HP, Dell, or Lenovo, you are caught with proprietary elements. The case, energy provide, and motherboard typically use non-standard designs that will not work with common elements. So when it is time to improve, you’ll be able to’t simply drop in a brand new GPU or CPU—you are pressured to interchange half the system.
Hannah Stryker / MakeUseOf
Hannah Stryker / MakeUseOf
I might quite custom-build a PC utilizing customary elements. That manner, if I wish to improve to a greater GPU or CPU or add extra RAM, I can do it with out changing a bottleneck motherboard that solely has a restricted variety of slots. It isn’t solely extra versatile, but additionally extra sustainable, since fewer completely good elements find yourself in landfills.
3
Much less Management Over Element High quality and Specs
The standard of the {hardware} elements issues as a lot because the specs. Pre-built spec sheets let you know what you are getting, however not who made it. Other than the GPU and CPU, producers keep imprecise about part manufacturers.
That 1TB NVMe could possibly be a Samsung 980 Professional or a primary mannequin that runs slower. The 16GB of RAM could be high quality sticks or price range ones operating at decrease speeds. The identical goes for the ability provide, CPU coolers, case followers, and the motherboard. Most often, it’s the price range elements that get included.
Hannah Stryker / MakeUseOf
Hannah Stryker / MakeUseOf
I am specific in regards to the manufacturers I select for PC elements. I’ve used them for years, and I’m typically extra snug shopping for a particular model due to the peace of thoughts it provides. A Samsung NVMe drive will nearly all the time outperform a less expensive, lesser-known various.
With a pre-built PC, you normally gained’t know the precise elements till after buy—and the one manner to make sure is to take the system aside. After spending over a thousand {dollars}, that’s a expensive gamble most patrons shouldn’t should make.
2
A Longer Guarantee Claims Course of and Producer Dependencies
Most pre-built PCs include a typical one-year guarantee; perhaps two in the event you’re fortunate. In the meantime, particular person elements typically carry rather more prolonged protection—energy provides and reminiscence regularly provide 5–10-year warranties, SSDs sometimes cowl 3-5 years, and even price range motherboards normally embody three-year safety.
Hannah Stryker / MakeUseOf
Hannah Stryker / MakeUseOf
When one thing fails in a pre-built machine after that first 12 months, you are by yourself. Even through the guarantee interval, the method is usually a nightmare. You will seemingly pay transport each methods for RMA service, and in contrast to particular person elements (the place you ship simply the failed half), you may have to ship your total tower—a $50-100 expense.
Evaluate this to dealing immediately with part producers. If my graphics card begins appearing up, I can contact ASUS or MSI immediately. These corporations specialise in particular merchandise and usually present extra educated assist about their elements. Whereas RMA processes nonetheless take time, you are coping with the individuals who made the half, not a intermediary making an attempt to diagnose points throughout dozens of various elements.
To be truthful, some boutique system integrators like Origin PC or Maingear provide glorious assist. However you are paying a fair increased premium for that service.
1
Making the Selection: Pre-Constructed or Customized Construct
Constructing a PC your self does sound scary, nevertheless it’s not rocket science. A little bit of analysis and a free afternoon is normally all it takes. Having a buddy who’s completed it earlier than makes the method simpler, and even seasoned builders recognize a second pair of eyes when putting in costly {hardware}.
I’ll admit pre-built PCs have their use circumstances. Perhaps you want a machine immediately, otherwise you discovered an distinctive clearance deal. Companies additionally just like the simplicity of single-vendor assist. These are legitimate causes, and I will not decide anybody for selecting comfort when it is sensible.
However for many of us who care about what goes inside our PCs, constructing your personal makes much more sense. You get higher worth, full management over the elements, and the liberty to construct a future-proof PC with out spending a fortune. And when you’ve completed it, you’ll by no means take a look at pre-builts the identical manner once more.
