Expert Consulted: Adrian Gardiner. Years of experience buying both computers and computer parts for my own new builds has given me a keen eye for spotting the best deals when shopping. In this article, I’ll be sharing my knowledge and tips with you to find the best value.
Should I buy a Prebuilt Gaming PC? The decision to buy a prebuilt versus building one from scratch can be a difficult one and needs careful thought.
In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of purchasing a prebuilt gaming PC and help you decide if it’s the best choice for your gaming needs.
The following section provides an answer to the decision between purchasing a prebuilt Gaming PC or building one yourself.
Whether you should buy a prebuilt gaming PC or a self build depends on your technical expertise, budget, and convenience needs. Prebuilt Gaming PCs offer ease of use with technical support, while self building your PC can save money and provide greater customization options. Weigh the pros and cons and research carefully before making a decision.
Our article covers the 5 key areas you need to consider to be able to make an informed decision on which way to go.
Should I Buy a Prebuilt Gaming PC – 5 Key Steps
In the following 5 steps, I’ve covered the most important areas you need to consider in order to make the best decision.
Step 1 – Budget
How much do you want to spend? Prebuilt gaming PCs can vary widely in price, so it’s important to figure out how much you’re willing to spend before you start shopping.
Consider what kind of games you want to play and at what settings, as this will influence the components you’ll need (go to: www.systemrequirementslab.com to find out what hardware you need to play a particular game). For example, some games may need a faster processor (CPU) and/or a better graphics card.
Step 2 – Research
Check out the main brands selling prebuilt gaming PCs and assess their reputation.
Research prebuilt gaming PC brands: not all prebuilt gaming PCs are created equal. Look for reputable brands with good customer reviews and warranties.
Check out tech forums (i.e., Reddit, Quora, etc.) and websites to see what other gamers are saying about different brands and models.
Pros and Cons
Here are a few pros and cons to be aware of when deciding whether to buy a prebuilt Gaming PC:
Pros
- Convenience – your new PC would be ready to use straight away instead of having to build it first as with a self-build
- Warranty and support – the peace of mind from a warranty that covers the whole system is reassuring to have
- Technical Support – useful to have if you run into any problems and would include regular software and driver updates
Cons
- Limited customization – you won’t be able to pick and choose components like a self-build
- Upgradability – upgrade options can be limited on prebuilt computers due to OEM custom parts
- Limited future-proofing – prebuilt gaming PCs are designed to meet specific specifications at the time of purchase and may not be as future-proof as a custom-built PC. This means you may need to upgrade components sooner than with a custom-built PC to keep up with new games and technologies.
Step 3 – Compare Specs
Compare the specifications (i.e., CPU, RAM, Storage, and Graphics Card) of different prebuilt Gaming PCs to find out which offers the best value for money.
Make sure that whichever PC you choose will meet the specification requirements to be able to play your chosen games (visit www.systemrequirementslab.com to find out what hardware you need to play a particular game).
Here’s what to look out for:
Try to ensure that whatever computer you buy has the following specifications as a minimum:
- CPU: Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor (socket AM5 if possible as it is more current)
- RAM: 8 GB memory but preferably 16 GB – DDR5 if possible (more current and faster)
- STORAGE: 500 GB SSD Drive but pref. at least 1 TB – M.2 if possible (more current and faster)
- GRAPHICS: nVidia GeForce RTX 3050 or AMD Radeon 6600 XT.
Note: These are just ideal targets to aim for and will, of course, depend on budget and availability.
Step 4 – Upgradability
One advantage of building your own Gaming PC is that you have more control over the components and can easily upgrade them in the future.
Check to see if the prebuilt Gaming PC you’re considering has upgrade options for the CPU, RAM, Graphics Card, and Power Supply Unit (PSU) – are they standard components that you could replace with off-the-shelf parts? These are the main items you’re most likely to want to upgrade in the future.
PC manufacturers often design their computers in such a way that they cannot easily be upgraded, forcing customers to buy a completely new computer when they would otherwise just upgrade to keep current.
Non-Replaceable Parts: Some manufacturers are now soldering the RAM modules to the motherboard, making it impossible to upgrade memory! Definitely a prebuild to avoid if your chosen PC has this restriction.
Bespoke Parts: I’ve also seen Gaming PCs with bespoke manufacturer motherboards and power supply units that can’t be upgraded at all or replaced if they go wrong after a few years (after the warranty ends, of course).
Step 5 – Final Checklist
Check the following to make sure you’re getting the best deal:
- Is an extended warranty included at no extra cost? Not usual, but sometimes offered.
- Are you getting a good deal for the performance offered?
- Keep a close eye on any deals, discounts, or freebies (like free software) that may be available at the time of purchase.
- Is the computer brand reputable and reliable (based on your research at Step 2)?
- When actually buying your computer, watch out for the usual and unnecessary sales pitch to get you to buy other things you probably don’t need (like a subscription to Microsoft Office or an expensive security software product, all of which mean more commission for the salesperson)
- Is a monitor, mouse, and keyboard included? Very good if included, and it fits in with your budget.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether to buy a prebuilt gaming PC or build one yourself depends on your needs, budget, and level of technical expertise.
If you’re not comfortable building a PC yourself, a prebuilt gaming PC can be a good option, but if you have specific requirements or want the ability to upgrade your PC over time, building your own PC may be a better choice.