The Benefits of Building Your Own PC
Building a PC has been a popular hobby amongst gamers and computer enthusiasts for many years now. Being able to create a system that is designed for your wants and needs is not only an amazing skill but also not as difficult as many people think it is.
There are also multiple benefits that come with building your own PC, and if you have never done it before, here are some of the biggest ones.
Cost efficient
While a budget gaming PC may be a better prospect financially, there is a chance it may not have everything you want. However, building your own PC gives you a chance to build a system that has everything you want and, more importantly, only things that you want.
Building your own system also excludes other costs such as labor, markup, import fees, etc. While parts may seem expensive, a pre-built system that includes all the parts you want will often be more expensive than buying all the parts separately.
Easier to upgrade
When you build a PC, one of the most important things you want to be able to do is upgrade it. Whether it be the cooling system, GPU, connectors, or whatever it may be, at some point, you are going to want to add better parts.
Building your own system gives you insight into how your PC performs and what needs to be upgraded or changed to improve its performance. You can’t gain this type of knowledge if you simply bought something that was pre-built.
Builds skills
As mentioned above, building a PC imparts you with invaluable skills and knowledge. While the process is fairly simple, there is a lot you need to learn about CPUs, overclocking, cooling systems, and everything in between.
These skills can be incredibly helpful as you will learn more about the parts, and all the specs will make more sense when you are looking for upgrades.
You can use higher-quality parts
When it comes to pre-built PCs, no matter how expensive they are, manufacturers will always find ways to spend less money and use cheaper parts where they can. This can range from the type of plastic they use for a case to the quality of the connectors.
While this may not sound like a big deal, you can think of it like a Ferrari having plastic wheel nuts; while they may work, it isn’t the best you can get. Building your own PC allows you to choose the very best parts, no matter how big or small, and you won’t have to cut any corners.
Eliminates bloatware
As mentioned earlier, being able to pick exactly what goes into your system is the best way to avoid any bloatware. Essentially, bloatware is anything added that is usually unnecessary but is included so that manufacturers can increase the price of the system.
Bloatware can also include software, with one of the best examples nowadays being smartphones; how many times have you bought a new phone and it is packed with apps you don’t need and can’t uninstall? This is bloatware.
Control over customization
Finally, building your own PC gives you complete control over how it looks and operates. You can choose what materials to use, which operating system to install, if you want lighting or not, etc.
What to consider before building a PC
Before you go out and buy everything for your new PC build, there are a few things you need to remember before you start.
Research
Take the time to research parts, builds, tools, and everything else you may need to know to build a fully functional PC. There are a lot of steps that aren’t very obvious and things you need to remember.
There are correct ways to install RAM, how to apply thermal paste, and how to wire everything together. This is all important information to know, as doing even one thing incorrectly can permanently damage the part and your system.
Spend where you need to
While building your own PC can be cost-effective, there will be times when spending more money is the better option. Some parts, like a GPU or CPU, are worth the extra money as they have a bigger impact on performance.
Finding a balance between what you should and shouldn’t spend money on is also a factor, as something like a bespoke case isn’t equally as valuable as a better monitor or motherboard.
Slow & steady
Finally, building a PC isn’t a race, and unless you have a very large budget and a lot of time, it is going to take a while. One mistake many new builders make is thinking that they need the best of everything from the start. Rather start with a more simple system, and upgrade when you have taken the time to see where you need improvements.
