In the 1970s, when the first PCs became available for home use, they were delivered as a build-it-yourself kit.
These days, a lot has changed and thanks to big brand companies we can buy a high-spec PC off the shelf in a store and just plug it in at home.
Despite this change, an eternal debate still rages on: building vs buying a PC. Which is best?
Zealots on both sides will try and convince you that their way is the only true path. But in reality, there are good points to be made on both sides of the argument.
Do you want to spend money on a top-notch gaming PC or do you want to learn new skills a build a PC yourself?
Read this article to get a good look at both sides of the argument. Then you can decide which route is best for you.
Argument 1: Building a PC Is Cheaper
One of the main reasons you may decide to self-build is that it is much cheaper in the long run. You can save costs on your parts and professional services.
Build It: You Can Buy Only What You Need
The primary reason you may want to consider building your PC is that you will have ultimate control of what you own. You control your costs as you can choose exactly what parts you want down to the screws that hold it all together.
If you wanted to spend more money on a decent PSU (a very wise move in a self-build) and save money on RAM, you can do that. Where you save on costs is your choice, not that of some unseen engineer.
Plus, the great enjoyment of self-building a PC is spending time researching different parts incompatibilities on sites like PC Part Picker. You can finesse your machine to your perfect spec and then tweak it to exactly how you want it.
Buy It: Spend a Little More, Save a Lot of Time and Stress
Seriously though, who has time these days to sit and sift through every individual part in a catalog and check compatibility? Not you. You’re busy. You have a life.
Plus, think of the headache of making sure the RAM matches with the motherboard which matches with the case size which matches with…we could go on.
Not only that, but if you just want a fantastic gaming machine you can just buy it. There are some excellent rigs pre-built available both online and in-store. They are built by professionals who are experts in this field. Yes, you are spending more for their time and effort, but it is worth it to be sure it works from day one.
Best of all, you could buy it in your lunch break and be sitting down and using it by dinnertime. Job done.
Argument 2: You Can’t Build Mobility
There are some fantastically inventive PC builders out there. Some have built steampunk-themed PCs, PCs in wooden boxes or even PCs without cases. The imagination is limitless.
Build It: Make it Personal
You could be one of them. You can theme your build around what you love. Are you passionate about retro consoles? Why not try building a PC inside an old arcade machine?
You can include RGB lighting to really make your PC the centerpiece of the room. The only real limit is your imagination and how much time and money you want to spend.
Also, you can still add personal touches to a PC that you buy from a store. Often you can choose the casing, peripherals, and even RGB lighting to style it to fit your decor.
Buy It: You Can’t Build a Laptop
All that said, the bigger problem is mobility. Unless you are an expert you are not going to be able to build a laptop. Laptops use specialized, miniaturized hardware, and you will need to buy them prebuilt.
If you are looking for mobility over everything else then you will need a laptop. That’s not to say you have to completely sacrifice hardware. You can buy some powerful gaming laptops these days that can run the most demanding applications.
Argument 3: Learning Experience
How long does it take to build a PC? A lot depends on your skill level and experience. If you are starting from scratch then you will need to find time to learn and practice your art. But by doing this, you could be saving yourself time and money in the future.
Build It: Build Once, Customize For Life
Building your own PC is an experience. Sure it can be difficult, but there are lots of really useful guides available to help you. The skills you develop along the way will be invaluable for future builds and upgrades.
Once you know how to replace RAM or install a motherboard, you can then use those skills to continually upgrade your PC. This will allow you to keep using your computer a lot longer than any prebuilt device.
Buy It: Protected By Warranties
Whilst it is true that you can learn a lot from building your own PC you need to also remember that the responsibility for keeping it functioning is now yours.
If you buy your PC that responsibility lies with the professionals. You will have warranties on your device that can protect you from catastrophic failures.
If you spill a drink into a self-build case you will need to replace all those parts yourself. If you bought it, you can take it back in to the shop for repairs.
Building vs Buying a PC: Which Way Is best?
In the end, building vs buying a PC will always come down to a personal choice.
If you enjoy the challenge of putting a PC together from scratch then there are advantages to be found in sourcing all the parts yourself. Be sure you understand what you are undertaking before you start.
However, if you prefer the comfort of knowing you are protected by warranties, and you are prepared to spend more money for this ease of mind, then buying is certainly for you.
Whatever route you choose make sure you research properly to get a machine that meets your needs.
If you enjoyed reading this article and found it helpful why not check out some more how-to guides on our website.
