Yes the age-old question whether to build your own PC or by a pre-built. We will be answering it, for the last time, and here it is. Some of my regular viewers actually might not really like this but anyway I really feel the answer is, do whatever you want. There is no absolute right way to buy a PC.
Let us start by taking an objective look at some of the advantages to pre-built tier 1 PCs. you know the ones that guys like HP or Acer make. Number 1 is discounted windows licenses for big system builders mean that particularly at the low-end, pricing is just plain better than what you can achieve building it for yourself.
Number 2 is that some people just want a warranty. Yes, I know your CPU comes with a warranty, your memory comes with warranty, but many people do not want to deal with that. You might as well tell them that their new car has individual warranties on the muffler, shocks, engine, and remote entry system. If they want anything fixed, they will have to diagnosis, pull that part out, ship it to the individual manufacturer, and then reinstall it once the new one arrives. What are you high? I would stick my Mac to the Apple store and they will fix it for me.
Number 3 is closely related to number one – Support. Not everyone has a tech-savvy niece or nephew to help diagnose issues. They just wanted to play and work out of the box. If it does not, they want to call someone to help them.
The next option is getting a rig from a custom or boutique system builder. The advantages here are simple. Number 1 is customizability. Many boutique builders offer extensive options for the different components that you can have them install. If you are willing to do a little bit of learning about the parts, you can get something that is just right for you even if you do not want to deal with the hassle of actually assembling it.
Number 2 ties in pretty closely to the last one and it is quality. If you are buying a mid-range to high-end custom system from a reputable builder, they are using better components than any tier-one commodity system. Your PC will likely run cooler, quieter, and last longer.
Number 3 is time. I know, I know, you have heard it repeatedly – time. It does not take that long to build a PC and you know what those people are right actually. However, this is my response; what does take a long time is troubleshooting a PC. This is especially true if you do not have a garage full of spare parts to use for diagnosing an issue.
Many people do not have a bucket of graphics cards on hand and they just do not want to deal with that crap. Speaking of bucket of graphics cards, the reason that many of us have such things is related to benefit number one of picking everything for yourself and building your own PC.
You can save a few bucks and you can have fun doing it. It is great. Once you start doing it, you will love it. Water-cooling is a great example. It just doesn't make much sense from a performance standpoint anymore, but I take pride in knowing that my system is faster, runs quieter, and looks better than what anyone who isn't willing to put in the time and effort can buy.
Benefit number 2 of DIY is infinite customizability and upgradability. Because you have been through the gauntlet of actually building it in the first place, you never have to be afraid of the guts again and upgrading is easy. Just set aside some cash and some space in a closet for a graphics card bucket and then you are all good.
Benefit number 3 is community. The PC enthusiast community is always a good place to join. There are risks associated with building it yourself and you will have no one else to point to if you break something. However, at least to have other folks who have been there before to help you through it and, for me personally, the benefits outweigh the risks. If you want to get over the fear of opening up your PC case and building a PC for the first time, you can read this blog occasionally.
