Getting a new PC is a thrilling time for any gamer, but before doing that, they have to stop and wonder which option is best for them. A prebuilt or custom PC?
Choosing a prebuilt PC has benefits and drawbacks, while personally building a custom PC presents its own challenges but also offers unique rewards. Let’s take a closer look and see which option is the best for you.
Before delving into the substance of the matter, let’s clear up what these terms mean.
A prebuilt PC means it was fully assembled by someone else before being sold. It could be a store or a particular company that provides these services, but once you buy a prebuilt computer, you can easily connect it and use it.
Custom PC indicates that you personally choose every component inside the PC and either assemble it yourself or have someone else do it. In either case, you have the ultimate control over your PC’s specifications with this approach, at the cost of more effort on your part.
Let’s explore more to determine the top choice for you.
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Prebuilt PC Is The Easier Option
It goes without saying that no PC is without its unique quirks, whether it is prebuilt or one that you have personally customized. However, it’s important to state that, on average, the prebuilt PC will require less work once you own it.
A prebuilt computer is the best option for people who aren’t too interested in the nitty-gritty part of the PC-building process. It’s also more secure as there is virtually no chance of you inadvertently damaging any of the PC components inside the case.
The best part of buying a PC from the store is that all the parts are compatible, and you will be able to plug everything in and use it for whatever purpose you desire, whether it is playing video games or occupational work.
There’s also something important to note here. Sometimes, the prebuilt PC won’t be as optimized as you would like it to be. This is understandable, as all PC parts are sold with their default settings, but the good news is that you should be able to overclock the components to your liking.
Naturally, this is not without its hazards, but if you’re cautious, you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting the best from your prebuilt PC.
The biggest advantage of a prebuilt PC is the price. It’s great to find a PC that’s already put together and has all the same components as you would include in a custom PC, but when you consider that a prebuilt one is actually cheaper, the decision becomes a no-brainer for many people.
Custom PC Is Best For Enthusiasts
There are two main obstacles for people who want to get a new PC when considering a custom-built one. The first is the need for the basic knowledge of how components work and whether they are compatible. The second is the process of putting it all together.
Actually, having a personalized computer does not need constructing it on your own. There are stores that not only permit you to select every component yourself and provide suggestions but also put together those parts into a pre-built PC.
However, we understand that the genuine delight of having a custom PC is to choose your own parts, which means doing extensive research, and then putting them all together. While this is far easier than it used to be, you will still need at least a fundamental understanding of how computers work. If you feel that you lack that, you can always learn by following an online tutorial.
One major source for gathering information on which components you need is a site such as PCPartPicker. On there, you can search for the part you need, by whichever criteria you specify, and add it to a list of the parts you’re looking to get. The cleverness of this platform is in its inclusion of a compatibility tool.
You can check whether or not the parts you’ve picked are compatible but also learn why they won’t function properly together. This tool also provides a wattage calculator, which is especially useful if you intend to overclock your GPU or CPU.
When the time comes to actually assemble all the parts of your PC, the key is to ensure that your work surface is non-conductive to avoid any potential mishaps. This isn’t the only thing you need to worry about, but it is probably top of the list of things you should do when preparing. A reliable trick here is to use your motherboard box as your assembly area.
The standard tools you will need are a screwdriver, a cutter, and zip-ties, or another analogous tool. The latter two aren’t obligatory but are greatly recommended.
The screwdriver is something you will use a lot, and it’s desirable if you have a smaller one, as most of the screws within your PC are rather tiny. A box cutter is a tool you will use to open the packaging, and zip-ties are useful to ensure the simplest possible cable management setup.
For a more detailed, step-by-step process, we recommend watching some excellent tech YouTubers, as many have their own videos showcasing their comprehensive process, such as LinusTechTips, shown below.
