When you are in the market looking for a new PC, it is safe to say that there are countless options that you want to choose from. However, the thing that you must understand is that whenever you are looking into the options, you will have the ability to get your hands on something that is prebuilt or build your own gaming PC.
Now, I hail from the generation that did not have access to good prebuilt PCs, in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, the generation had a lot of prebuilt PCs, but most of them were built using proprietary parts, locking us to a single OEM with little to no hopes of upgrading. Not to forget, those PCs were expensive as anything and more often than not, average at best.
I grew up in an era where custom gaming PCs ruled, and while they are still ruling proudly in the modern day and age, there has been a shift in prebuilt market, as well. System integration companies figured that if they want to sell prebuilt gaming PCs, why not sell them with off-the-shelf parts so users can upgrade should they wish to.
This started a whole new generation of prebuilt gaming PCs that actually came with a set of benefits over the custom-built gaming PCs. However, the gap, even though smaller than before, is still there, and we are going to take a look at the situation and see what the deal is all about.
Pre-Built vs Custom PC – How to Make the Right Decision
Now that we know the situation a little better, we can go ahead and start looking at the nitty gritty of a custom gaming PC and a pre-built gaming PC. The comparison is not as unfair as it used to be at one point, with the convenience overtaking the whole hassle that comes with going custom. Still, if you are looking for some assistance, we are here to help you with that and we are going to take a look at everything in detail.
Pre-Built vs Custom PC – Is There a Performance Difference?
The first metric that we are going to look into is the performance that is going to be associated with both pre-built and custom PCs. You will realise that the pre-built gaming PCs are no longer being held back by the performance as in almost all the cases, they are also using off the shelf components, which ensure that the performance remains excellent across the board, and that too, without any issue coming in the way.
On the other hand, a custom PC, is more or less, going to deliver the same level of performance, so you can be certain that the experience entirely is on your hands and how you pick and choose the components
There is no clear winner here because at the end of the day, you are getting the same experience and that is what I like.
Pre-Built vs Custom PC – Which One Offers Better Convenience
Now, I will be honest, I love the whole process of building a custom gaming PC. However, the same cannot be said about everyone and I do understand the logic behind that. Most of the times, when it comes to building a custom gaming PC, you have to go through the process of choosing the components, making sure that they fit, getting them ready for the installation, going ahead and putting them altogether, and hoping that the system boots without any issues. Now, if you are experienced enough, you know that everything is going to go smoothly, however, if you are someone who’s just built a PC, you might end up freaking out if the PC doesn’t boot up in the first attempt.
With a prebuilt gaming PC, you really do not have to worry about anything that might go wrong, to be honest. The PCs are built and tested before they are shipped to you. Once you have received the PC, you only have to go ahead and turn them on and you are good to go.
Another great thing is that if you are getting your hands on a prebuilt gaming PC, you will get a blanket warranty for all the components. So, if something does go wrong, you do not have to worry about going to different retailers to get things done. Just send it back to the system integrator that you bought your PC from, and they’ll take care of everything.
Needless to say, the convenience is something that cannot be defeated when you are looking at a prebuilt gaming PC. So, if you genuinely are looking for a great overall experience, I’d highly advise you are going for prebuilt gaming PCs.
Pre-Built vs Custom PC – Are Custom PCs Cheaper?
The last part that we are going to look into is the pricing factor. Now, a lot of times, we have seen prebuilt PCs being more expensive than custom gaming PCs, and that is true. However, with prebuilt gaming PCs, you certainly are paying for the convenience more than anything else. So, yes, custom gaming PCs are cheaper.
However, you have to keep in mind that the inflation and the shortage has made things even more expensive and finding parts for your custom PC is much harder than it used to be. Therefore, whenever you are in the market trying to find the right offering, you have to be really careful as to what you are going to buy and once you have done that, you can buy the PC you want.
It is true that custom-built PCs are cheaper but it all comes down to the part selection.
Pre-Built vs Custom PC – Which Offers Better Part Selection?
Now this is where a custom gaming PC is not going to have any contender. Simply put, whenever you are picking up a prebuilt gaming PC, you are not going to get a better part selection. Most of the time, the off-the-shelf parts are going to be the basic variants of the GPUs and motherboards, and there is very little customization offered.
However, you do not have to worry about the same issue with custom gaming PCs allow you endless customization and the ability to choose whatever parts you want, without any issues whatsoever. You can make the changes you want, and sure, you might have to pay a higher amount but at the end of the day, you will be able to change whatever aspect of the PC you want, and the best of all, you can make something truly your own.
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Conclusion
If you are in the market trying to figure out what you are going to spend your money on, the best thing is that there is no definitive answer. You can get your hands on the prebuilt PC if you are looking for convenience. However, if you are looking for the complete customization, then a custom gaming PC is the one that you should be going for.
Needless to say, a custom gaming PC and a prebuilt gaming are two sides of the same coin and if you have been looking at making sure that you have access to the experience you want, it is all going to depend on what you are looking for. There simply is no direct comparison and direct winner of the situation.
