Should I build my own gaming PC or just buy it from company?

[MasterMind123]

I can not decide. What are the good and bad things for building my own PC? what are the good and bad things for buying a PC from a Name Brand company?

Also, Can a mod or admin move this if this is in the wrong place? Thanks!


Moved from PC Gaming

Anandtech PC Gaming Moderator
KeithTalent

 

[Inspector Jihad]

build your own unless money is of no concern/don't have a few hours to spend building it yourself.

 

[BW86]

definitely build your own

 

[schneiderguy]

Build your own. If you don't know how, theres plenty of people in the hardware forums who would help you

 

[MasterMind123]

Build your own. If you don't know how, theres plenty of people in the hardware forums who would help you

Well actually i was going to order the parts from newegg.com and then go to a PC repair shop and have them build it for me. i already talked to them and they said they would do it. i dont mind having to pay them for it.

That was my original plan, now i cant decide what to do! Build it or buy it?

 

[Maximilian]

Build it, building its fun. Not too difficult either.

 

[Firsttime]

Build it. A computer is like a 15 piece puzzle. It's not that hard to put together. Find a guide on the internet and save yourself some money.

 

[Martimus]

I would never buy anything but a bargain basement computer or laptop. Build it yourself, and it won't be full of bloatware, and it will not be made of substandard equipment like OEM computers are.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

Depends on what you are going for. Lower to mid-range comp it might be cheaper and easier to buy a pre-built comp and add a videocard and PSU if necessary. If you want more tweakability or more performance, then building it yourself is the way to go.

 

[vj8usa]

Well actually i was going to order the parts from newegg.com and then go to a PC repair shop and have them build it for me. i already talked to them and they said they would do it. i dont mind having to pay them for it.

I wouldn't recommend that unless you're very short on time or hate the idea of learning how to put it together. It's surprisingly simple - all you really do is put your CPU + heatsink onto your motherboard, put your motherboard into your case, and then add in your drives/video card/PSU/etc.

You could potentially save a significant amount of money by picking your own parts and building it yourself. As a general rule of thumb, prebuilt gaming computers are overpriced, not to mention you don't have as much flexibility in your hardware selection. You usually don't get a good value with a prebuilt unless it's a low end machine.

 

[zerocool84]

Well don't forget that the first time anyone does something, it always takes a lot longer. I enjoy building my own computer but wouldn't recommend it to everyone and if it's your first time, you should set aside a whole weekend to iron out the kinks and bugs you will have. You'll also need to make sure you have access to a spare computer so you can go online and check schematics and ask for help while you're building it as well.

 

[TXAngel08]

This is a common question, and one to which there is no right answer.

First, not everyone is cut out to build their own computer, some people really should just buy one. But that doesn't mean Dell/HP/Etc. are your only choices. Companies like iBuyPower can build you a machine for very close to NewEgg prices, and you get a good level of control over the parts that go into it.

Second, it is much easier to build a computer if you already have one or more working computers. It lets you get online, download drivers, etc. It also might give you spare parts to test with if needed. Nothing is more annoying than putting together a machine on a Saturday evening only to boot it up and something is wrong, but you don't know what because you only have 1 of everything.

Once you get into building your own computer, it gets a lot easier, however there is a learning curve, to be sure. Something to be said to let someone else have that headache and just buy a computer. Also something to be said for really knowing how your computer is put together and works.

Have fun either way!

 

[AndroidVageta]

Well don't forget that the first time anyone does something, it always takes a lot longer. I enjoy building my own computer but wouldn't recommend it to everyone and if it's your first time, you should set aside a whole weekend to iron out the kinks and bugs you will have. You'll also need to make sure you have access to a spare computer so you can go online and check schematics and ask for help while you're building it as well.

Schematics? Youre making it sound 1000x more difficult than it is. Honestly, out of all the years of building PC's I havent once run across a time where I had to spend more than a couple of hours building a fully functional PC. As long as you buy compatible parts (as in, dont buy a AMD CPU for a Intel motherboard) it really shouldn't be that big of a deal to build your own. You buy the motherboard, CPU, RAM, video card, case/power supply, hard drives and optical drives (CD/DVD/BD-ROM) and slap it all together.

As long as one of the parts just isnt working, it should all just boot up and run fine. Now obviously theres a lot to do if you want to tweak the hell out of your system (RAM timings to an exact T, overclocking, voltages, etc...) but I have found that most hardware is pretty good at automatically setting all this perimeters itself and needs little interaction from you.

Now, unless you bootleg a copy, Windows and all the software needed for a PC can be kind of expensive...depending on your budget Id say the best bet would to get a cheap pre-built Dell or HP that already has some good hardware (quad core CPU, 4GB+ of RAM, plenty of hard drive space) and just add a new video card. Not only is this usually cheaper, but you also get Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional at no additional cost to you...plus other software like DVD/Blu-Ray software and all that...which this stuff by it self can cost $100's!

So in conclusion...building your own PC is not only fun, but if you get good parts it should all just be able to be put together and power on ready to go...but usually the money saved from building your own PC is wasted once you add in things like the operating system and other software...Prebuilt PC's are genuinely a pretty good deal, most being about what you would pay if you built it yourself, but you also get Windows and stuff for free too, and sometimes a pretty nice keyboard and mouse, possibly even a monitor too!

 

[mhouck]

This is a common question, and one to which there is no right answer.

First, not everyone is cut out to build their own computer, some people really should just buy one. But that doesn't mean Dell/HP/Etc. are your only choices. Companies like iBuyPower can build you a machine for very close to NewEgg prices, and you get a good level of control over the parts that go into it.

Second, it is much easier to build a computer if you already have one or more working computers. It lets you get online, download drivers, etc. It also might give you spare parts to test with if needed. Nothing is more annoying than putting together a machine on a Saturday evening only to boot it up and something is wrong, but you don't know what because you only have 1 of everything.

Once you get into building your own computer, it gets a lot easier, however there is a learning curve, to be sure. Something to be said to let someone else have that headache and just buy a computer. Also something to be said for really knowing how your computer is put together and works.

Have fun either way!

+1 on the learning curve. But it is worth it. It took me a bit to put my first system together (getting all the power, resest, hdd jumpers set correctly on the mother board was the bane of my existence (so tiny and in an akward spot in my case)) but after you get it together... glorious. You made it!!! No bloat ware!!!!!!!

But definitely take your time and know what you are getting. Don't skimp on the case and PSU and you will live a long and healthy life.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Building a PC is fun and the advantage is that you know exactly which components are in the PC. I'd say build your own -- why pay a shop to do it?

 

[rudder]

If you had the money to buy a configurable system (like cyberpowerpc.com) and you did not have time to install and possibly troubleshoot... there is nothing wrong with that type of prebuilt system.

But it is always fun doing it yourself... and you can pick components base on a good upgrade plan.

 

[0roo0roo]

depends on your expertise and salary

 

[al4x]

for me building mine was as expensive as a bought one [UK] and it was my first build, but you get to pick your own bits, ie PSU and ram in particular, its also quite fun, and nerve wracking when you first turn it on!

i spent weeks looking for deals etc went to 7 different companies in the end!

when i finished building mine it did not turn on! i forgot to flick the switch on the PSU!! but it was well worth it!

 

[firebolt059]

*bump*

 

[lxskllr]

Building a high end rig is one of the cases where you always do better than buying. Good arguments either way can be made for low-medium end, but I've never seen a oem high end machine that was close to the cost of self built.

 

[jae]

The hardest part about building a computer is designing it.

I don't know if you should take it to shop. I understand you pick your components (a plus), but youre cutting into you savings of not buying a preconfigured brand name computer.

 

[Fayd]

Build it. A computer is like a 15 piece puzzle. It's not that hard to put together. Find a guide on the internet and save yourself some money.

yep. to quote a friend, "they go together like legos!"

 

[Fayd]

for me building mine was as expensive as a bought one [UK] and it was my first build, but you get to pick your own bits, ie PSU and ram in particular, its also quite fun, and nerve wracking when you first turn it on!

i spent weeks looking for deals etc went to 7 different companies in the end!

when i finished building mine it did not turn on! i forgot to flick the switch on the PSU!! but it was well worth it!

it's always the dumb mistakes.

i've sat stressing over a build for over an hour before realizing i forgot to plug the PCI-E cable into the video card.

 

[M0RPH]

Well if you don't want to build yourself you can use one the builders who just assembles them from parts. Or, you can buy from one of the large OEMs that actually custom designs their systems. Alienware is one example, but way overpriced. Gateway, though, has some gaming systems that I think are well worth the price. For example:
http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668417.php
$1300 and if you build the equivalent with current Newegg prices you will spend right around $1300

I don't know if you can overclock their systems, so that's one thing that may be a trade-off, but on the other hand you get something with some slick design.

 

[Blain]

As long as you have some funds in reserve, try building one youself.
If you screw something up, you can always buy more parts and give it another go.