10 Things You Want To Consider Should I buy or build a PC?.
Desktop computers are still the best choice if you want maximum performance for the minimum money. Laptops offer portability, but a trade-off when it comes to performance and upgradeability.
When you are looking to buy a desktop computer, there is one important decision to make. Should you buy a ready-made computer or build your own? It’s a tough choice, but these ten considerations will help you decide which is right for you.
1. Building a PC: A Moderate Challenge
Can a non-technical person build their own system? The answer is unequivocal: yes! The components of modern computers are quite reliable. All you have to do is watch some good PC building videos on YouTube and you will know everything you need to do to assemble them safely.
Not to mention, you probably have at least one friend who can help you if you get stuck. While we won’t argue that assembling a computer from components is as easy as assembling toy blocks together, it’s definitely simple enough for anyone who can use Google and follow the instructions.
2. Buying Prebuilt: Parts Unknown
The biggest problem with buying an off-the-shelf computer is that you don’t know what components are included in the system beyond the underlying technology. Many off-the-shelf systems advertise CPU and GPU extensively, but forget to mention that components like RAM, motherboard, or power supply are stripped down, unnamed junk.
Profit is the name of the game and most users don’t think of less attractive components. If you’re buying a pre-assembled computer, be sure to see if you can determine where all the components come from. Remember, a computer is only as good as its weakest component. Paying attention to the quality of each component is a guarantee of longevity and reliability of calculations.
3. Building a PC: A Penny Saved
Building your own PC is almost always cheaper than buying a finished computer with the same components and specifications. There are several reasons for this, but the main reason is that you are taking away labor costs and total profit margins on the finished machine.
Of course, if your own time is worth a lot of money, you can ask someone to build it instead. But in terms of net costs, you can get by with a lower price point when using your own PC. Don’t forget that you can also shop for specialty ingredients.
4. Buying Prebuilt: A Holistic Warranty
One of the main benefits of buying a pre-built computer is that you have one warranty for your entire computer. When you buy and assemble a computer from individual components, each component has its own warranty. If something goes wrong, it’s not only an administrative pain but if your PSU fires up your motherboard and processor, it’s not covered under the PSU warranty.
Although not common, it can happen that one defective component will damage another. In such cases, a full warranty on all components helps.
5. Building a PC: Complete Customization
When you assemble a PC yourself, you can choose each component. Even ready-made systems that offer customization have limitations on the choice of combinations and parts.
This means you have complete control over the performance, system balancing, and (perhaps most importantly) the look of the system. Are you looking for a state-of-the-art plexiglass case with beautiful water cooling circuits and full-color combinations? No problems! Are you looking to build the best Hello Kitty performance machine? Let’s not judge, come on!
6. Buying Prebuilt: Potential Upgrade Problems
While upgradeability is a key benefit of desktop PCs in general, you can run into unexpected limitations in this regard when it comes to off-the-shelf computers. This is especially true if the finished computer uses an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) motherboard.
These motherboards may not support long term upgrades or have as many physical expansion slots as the standard models. So it’s worth exploring the expansion options of your finished computer to make sure you can get some extra life out of it if needed.
7. Building a PC: Measure Twice, Cut Once
The hardest part of assembling a PC isn’t actually assembling the parts. It’s a choice of which parts to get first. Not only do all the parts need to be compatible with each other, but you also need to balance your budget and make sure you get a computer that has the right specs for your needs.
Fortunately, there are fantastic resources like PC Part Picker where you can make sure all the parts you choose work together. You can also find great recommended builds for any budget.
8. Buying Prebuilt: Instant Gratification
You cannot argue with the fact that a turnkey computer is a paid solution. Once your computer appears, all you have to do is plug it in and turn it on.
If you’re impatient and don’t want to spend a few hours a day or two building and configuring your PC, then a turnkey solution is a great solution. However, it might be worth a little thought. Building a PC is just a day or two out of a decades-long relationship with your computer.
9. Building a PC: Overclocking Potential
If you want to get the most out of your hardware, then overclocking your system is the way to go. Overclocking is becoming an increasingly popular practice and easier than ever.
If you build a new computer, you can optimize it for overclocking and get a lot more for your money. It can be relatively inexpensive. Choosing a motherboard with more overclocking options, an unlocked CPU, and a slightly better cooling solution can yield a larger performance boost than a small increase in cost.
Some specialty manufacturers do offer pre-overclocked systems, but they only make sense at the top of the product stack with additional costs in mind.
10. Buying Prebuilt: Bloatware Nightmares
While an off-the-shelf computer can save you time and effort so you can continue your business, you may never be able to completely cleanse it of malware. Bloat is a bunch of unwanted software that’s ready and waiting on your new computer, taking up space and resources.
Computer makers make a bunch of money by allowing software makers to clog your computer with demos and trials of their products, and getting rid of it all can be a daunting task. The time and effort spent working with malware may end up being the same as you would spend building your own system.
Should You Buy or Build a PC?
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with any choice, but buying a computer is a pretty serious financial decision. So whichever route you choose, do a lot of homework and don’t just buy the first thing that looks good. Buying the wrong computer today can lead to a costly and wasteful future.
–
10 Things You Want To Consider Should I buy or build a PC?
10 Things You Want To Consider Should I buy or build a PC?