Updated at: 03-05-2022 - By: Leo Hall

The beauty of building a PC lies in its ability to be customized. Putting together a gaming PC is a lot like putting together a puzzle, with so many options for customizing your system.

As a result, pre-built gaming PCs are becoming increasingly popular. To help you decide whether or not you should build your own gaming PC or buy one ready-made, below are the main advantages and disadvantages of each!

Pre-Built

  • Fewer options when it comes to system components.
  • Convenient
  • Makes it easier to determine what kind of CPU and GPU you desire.

Pre-built systems are a good choice for folks who aren’t too bothered about the smallest of design elements (such as the manufacturer and detailed specifications like RAM speed).

A builder who prefers convenience over the ability to choose all of their components would find these kits excellent.

Having a general idea of what you’re looking for (like your favorite CPU and GPU) will help you buy the proper PC, but you’ll have to rely on the PC manufacturer to choose the other hardware for you.

Prebuilt vs Custom PC - Which Should You Choose? [Simple Guide] - YouTube

Custom

  • Hardware setups that can be altered to suit individual needs.
  • Expert-built
  • Your desired specifications should be clear at this point.

Consider getting a custom-built computer from a PC building firm if you want flexibility and easy hardware upgrades in the future but don’t want to build your own computer.

You can pick and choose the components you desire in this choice, which has some of the advantages of creating your own PC. The main difference is that the PC will be assembled by a professional computer builder instead of you.

You should be aware that the recommended hardware configurations may not always meet your specific requirements. Having a rough notion of the hardware specifications you’ll require is helpful. This gives you the ability to fine-tune your build parameters to get exactly what you want.

Flexibility

A bespoke PC allows you to choose the components that best suit your needs, guaranteeing that you don’t wind up with any components that don’t work for you.

With pre-built PCs, there are always modifications that can be made to make the configuration more efficient and more cost-effective. Increasing or decreasing the amount of RAM, swapping out HDD storage for SSD storage, or just finding a better CPU/GPU balance are all examples of these improvements.

When it comes to prebuilt computers, an i7 processor, 32 GB of RAM, and a GTX 1060 graphics card are all included. You’d be better off with something like the GTX 1660 Ti or RTX 2060 instead, which are newer and more powerful graphics cards.

Future-proofing should also be considered. Because of the age of the processor and chipset, some pre-built computers may not be able to be upgraded.

If you’re searching for a prebuilt gaming PC on a budget, you can consider an AMD FX or an Intel Core CPU from an earlier generation. In order to change the CPU in the future, you’d have to replace the motherboard as well, because these CPUs use outdated chipsets and obsolete sockets.

Despite this, many prebuilt gaming PCs allow for a wide range of customization options. As long as the configuration isn’t employing any outdated parts, you should definitely consider purchasing one. To ensure you receive your money’s worth and that you don’t end up spending more money than necessary on future upgrades, you should consider purchasing a pre-installed version of the software.

Pricing

With the help of a custom PC builder, you’ll be able to put up an affordable gaming system that doesn’t squander money on unnecessary components. Where does prebuilt PC pricing fit into this picture?

Off-the-shelf components, it turns out, can be pricey. A supercomputer was built out of PS3 consoles that were connected to each other through the Internet. Just take a look at how GPU prices were affected by the cryptocurrency mining mania or how pricey DDR4 RAM may be. Prebuilt PCs, on the other hand, might occasionally offer superior value for money.

Companies that create computers have to cover the cost of components, profit, and other costs associated with running a business, but they can also buy components from OEMs at lower prices.

In the long run, purchasing a pre-assembled PC is more cost-effective than building the identical setup from scratch. In addition, you may save a lot of money if you can get a deal on a PC like this.

Convenience

Prebuilt PCs also feature one of the most important selling points: convenience.

If you don’t know much about PC components or don’t want to deal with the trouble of wire management, a prebuilt PC is the most convenient option.

As a bonus, there are companies that can create custom PCs for specific needs. You receive a pre-built PC, but you can tweak it to some extent — it’s the best of all worlds, to a degree. Because many organizations charge for their services, purchasing a customized PC this way isn’t always the most cost-effective option.

Prebuilt PC vs Custom PC

Building a PC from scratch instead of purchasing one is the primary reason we encourage our readers to do so. If you want to get the most out of your money, a custom built PC is the way to go. The markup on prebuilt computers is frequently the same as the cost of a whole component.

Performance

While the prebuilt gaming PC’s performance is rarely questioned, you could theoretically include a better CPU or GPU in your computer for less when making your own. As a consequence, you’ll be able to get more bang for your buck, see improved game performance, and enjoy the benefits of your investment for longer.

Convenience

Prebuilt gaming PCs are popular because they save you time and money by eliminating the need to do everything from scratch. For those who don’t know how to put up a computer and don’t have time to learn, the convenience of prebuilt computers makes perfect sense. Of course, there are many other advantages to purchasing a prebuilt gaming PC from a manufacturer, such as removing the stress of finding all the necessary components and preventing damage to those components when the time comes to assemble it.

If something goes wrong with your prebuilt gaming PC, you’ll be able to return it to the manufacturer. Suppliers, on the other hand, often take care of this for you or at least request that you send it to them for an upgrade if you feel it is necessary. Manufacturers often include a one-year guarantee for parts and labor, but some firms provide longer warranties and you can always purchase additional insurance to extend the warranty to a longer period of time or even give you a lifetime warranty.

Because these prebuilt computers come from major companies, you can rest assured that they’ve been thoroughly tested to ensure that they’ll work properly when you receive them. You’ll also get pre-installed software, like as Windows and drivers, so you can simply plug it in and begin downloading games.

Pre Built PC vs Custom PC - HMT Computers

Why You Should Buy a Prebuilt PC?

  • There is no need to worry about compatibility between components because prebuilt PCs are tested and certified to work.
  • Stock difficulties currently afflicting the market have made it more difficult than ever before to get some critical components
  • If you don’t have the time to learn how to build a PC, a prebuilt PC takes the stress out of the equation, arriving ready to use straight out of the box.
  • It is possible to have hardware problems fixed by sending it back to the manufacturer.
  • Prebuilt gaming PCs are covered by warranties for at least one year.
  • Some of the best gaming PCs have peripherals like a keyboard and mouse, but they are usually entry-level models that will require an upgrade in the future.
  • Windows 10 is almost always pre-installed on pre-built PCs.

To summarize, purchasing a prebuilt system has several advantages, but buyers must keep in mind there is a labor cost associated with these systems. A markup is to be expected from prebuilt manufacturers, since they are in the business of making money. The only major drawback of a prebuilt PC is its cost; you can always save money by building your own gaming rig with higher specifications on the cheap. Building a PC isn’t that difficult given to all the written and video tutorials out there, so why not give it a whirl? It’s up to you!

GPU Price Increase

Current market conditions are one of the strongest arguments for purchasing a pre-built gaming PC right now. We’ve never experienced stock shortages like this before because of tremendous demand for the current generation of graphics cards, a global pandemic affecting production and distribution, and the continuous popularity of cryptocurrency mining. With such tremendous demand, we’ve seen GPU prices soar to record highs. It’s clear that the GPU is a critical component in any gaming PC.

For the advertised MSRP, it’s been a real problem to get your hands on the GPU you want, but prebuilt PC builders are still able to get their hands on some. Prebuilt PCs are becoming more and more expensive as demand grows, but there are still some nice discounts to be had.

A Prebuilt Gaming PC Is Plug And Play

A pre-built gaming PC can get you up and running as soon as it arrives, even if you have to download your games first. Windows 10 and any necessary drivers and BIOS updates are almost typically pre-installed by manufacturers on PCs. You won’t have to fiddle with the BIOS or XMP settings in order for the PC’s RAM to run at its advertised speeds.

Don’t forget that a mouse and keyboard are often included in the purchase price of a PC, so you may start using it right away.

Beware Of Entry-Level Prebuilts

Some entry-level prebuilt gaming PCs aren’t worth your money, even while mid-range to high-end prebuilt gaming PCs have exceptional performance. Buying a low-end computer with integrated graphics or a poor graphics card is a waste of time and money. Despite the fact that you can play games on them, your experience will be hampered by the low settings and resolutions.

If you have a limited budget, you should think twice about buying one of these prebuilts in favor of creating your own gaming PC and getting the most bang for your buck.

The graph above was created to demonstrate the impact of adding a few hundred dollars to your PC-building budget on overall performance. What does this have to do with prebuilt PCs? Well, because of the markup we stated before, you might have the performance of the $400 build above for as much as $500 or $600, which is a lot of money. At higher price points, this example becomes less extreme, yet it still provides a useful lesson on value.

Prebuilt PC Is The Easier Option

Any PC, whether pre-built or custom, will have its own idiosyncrasies, it’s an inevitability in the world of computing. However, it’s worth noting that, on average, a prebuilt PC will require less maintenance than a custom-built PC.

It’s better for folks who don’t want to go into the fine gritty of PC building if they buy a prebuilt machine. It’s also a lot more secure because there’s virtually no danger of you damaging any of the PC components within the case.

To put it another way, when you buy a PC from the store, you can plug anything in and use it for whatever you want, whether you want to play video games or do professional work.

In addition, there is an important point to keep in mind. Prebuilt PCs aren’t always as optimized as you’d like them to be. This is to be expected, as all PC components come pre-configured, but the good news is that you may tweak the settings to your heart’s content.

If you’re careful, you should be able to get the most out of your pre-built PC without too much difficulty.

Prebuilt PCs tend to be less expensive. While it’s nice to find a pre-assembled PC that has all the components you’d need to build your own, it’s even better when you consider that a pre-built PC is cheaper.

Custom PC Is Best For Enthusiasts

People who wish to buy a new computer face two major hurdles when considering a custom-built one. For starters, it’s important to have a thorough understanding of how various components work and whether or not they’re compatible with one another. The second step is to put it all together and see how it works.

In actuality, you don’t have to put together a bespoke PC yourself. There are places where you can build your own PC from the ground up, with the components you select and advice you receive combined into a pre-assembled unit.

Custom PC vs Pre-Built PC - Which should you choose? - YouTube

Even yet, we know that the actual excitement of building your own computer comes from picking and choosing your own components and then putting them all together. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how a computer works, this is an excellent opportunity. If you’re lacking in that area, an online tutorial can help you catch up.

A site like PCPartPicker is a great place to start learning about the components you’ll need. If you know what you’re searching for, you may use the search function to find it and add it to your shopping list. This platform’s genius lies in the fact that it includes a compatibility tool.

You can find out whether or not the parts you’ve selected are compatible, as well as the reasons why they won’t. Additionally, if you’re planning to overclock your GPU or CPU, this program includes a wattage calculator.

Assembling your PC is easier if your work surface is anti-static. While this isn’t your only concern, it should be at the top of your priority list when planning. Using your motherboard box as a work surface is a handy trick.

Zip ties or any similar item are the most common tools you’ll need to get the job done. The final two aren’t required, but they’re a good idea.

Having a smaller screwdriver is ideal because most of the screws in your PC are really small, and you’ll use it a lot. To open the packaging, you’ll need a box cutter, and zip ties can help you organize your cables.

FAQS:

Which are better prebuilt or custom PC?

Pre-built PCs have significantly fewer possibilities for customizing their hardware than do DIY and custom-built PCs. Pre-built, custom-built, and DIY PCs don’t all have to be expensive, but cost-cutting measures can help you save money. Assembling time, customer service, and pre-installed operating systems are all factors to consider.

Are prebuilt computers worth it?

Can I save money by building my own gaming computer? As of right now, prebuilt PCs are the best option if you want a gaming machine. Pre-built PCs are the only way to purchase a current graphics card if you don’t want to pay exorbitant prices or become extraordinarily lucky in the graphics card market.

Is prebuilt more expensive?

You will pay more for a pre-built PC than the sum of its parts. This is due to the fact that corporations mark up the entire price to cover the cost of assembly. As a result, you have complete control over the price of your custom PC.

Conclusion:

As previously noted, building a PC from the ground up can help you save money and create a machine that is tailored to your specific requirements and preferences..

A prebuilt PC can save you money and effort, and if you’re making an informed purchase, you’re unlikely to go wrong with them.

Prebuilt PCs are the best option for those who are either ignorant with computer technology or who do not know how to build a PC and do not have access to anyone who can assist them. Even yet, if you want to avoid being saddled with out-of-date parts or inadequate builds, it’s important to do your research and get advice from someone with more experience.