Have you ever experienced the rage of having to ‘hard reset’ your computer due to malfunctioning hardware or slow applications? Many gamers do, even to this day. With all the hype and marketing surrounding the latest PCs on the current market today, why are prebuilt PCs just so bad to begin with?
Prebuilt computers are usually made of lower quality components that wear down easily and are difficult to upgrade compared to building your own PC. Generally, they do not hit their expected performance benchmark marks, have minimal resale value, and need to be upgraded to fix bottle neck issues.
Bottlenecking issues are the insufficient power or capabilities of certain computer hardware which limits the overall PC’s function.
An example is where a 4GB DDR3 RAM will not be able to keep up with Cyberpunk 2077, even if you are rocking a powerful NVIDIA RTX 3080 together with an Intel i7 10th-generation processor if your pre-built PC doesn’t have enough RAM the other parts are meaningless.
Want to know more about other general problems that gamers usually face by owning a prebuilt computer PC? Continue reading to find out/
Common Problems of Buying a Prebuilt PC
A few other common problems that gamers have to endure by purchasing prebuilt PCs are:
- Low-grade hardware components
- Difficulties to upgrade the PC components in the future
- Unrealized expectations of gaming performances and benchmarks
- Cheap components wear down pretty easily, affecting all other computer processes too
- Minimal resale value
- May need to buy more key components and accessories to supplement the over PCs shortcomings/ bottlenecking issues
When it comes to owning a PC – especially a gaming rig – the true objective is not to have the most premium parts or components available on the market.
Instead, it is all about finding that ‘sweet spot’ in balancing all the PC components together, to achieve maximum output by utilizing all computer parts at their peak capacity, at the same time.
This is where most prebuilt PCs get wrong, due to most manufacturers’ focus on keeping the overall costs at a bare minimum (by using low-tier PC components) to maximize their potential profit margins. Remember their aim is to turn a profit not to give you the best PC for your money.
Sometimes you can also tweak specific computer processes like fan output and GPU clock speeds to manually optimize your computer’s capabilities, but these come at an increased risk of damaging those respective components (as well as voiding any warranties in place). To see the different components that make up a PC check out my article.
However, if you do wish to squeeze some additional FPS in-game, MSI Afterburner and Razer Cortex are two amazing software applications that let you tweak certain PC aspects to push your computer just a little bit further.
CAUTION: Tampering with your PC’s hardware comes with its own risks, so do so at your own volition.
When you factor all these into perspective, does the general consensus of prebuilt PCs being cheaper than custom PCs ring true after all?
Read on to find out.
Are Prebuilt PCs Cheaper than Custom PCs?
Building a PC can be cheaper, more rewarding, and offer greater customization compared to buying a pre-built one. But buying prebuilt is easier, quicker, and can be more reliable if you don’t know what you’re doing. Companies like PC master race offer quality pre-built rigs at reasonable prices.
All PC manufacturers have to be regulated by government bodies and follow technology laws and market regulations, to ensure there is nothing shady going on. So the price you pay will be higher to compensate for the manufacturers’ law & labor costs.
So why do people buy prebuilt PCs anyway?
It all falls down to personal preferences, specific scenarios, and current circumstances which may influence the final decision that you will need to make.
In 2021, prebuilt PCs are now much more advanced and ‘complete’ than how the practice was a decade ago. The company PC gaming master race has the highest quality pre-built rigs money can buy, they are built by PC gamers FOR PC gamers check them out in my article.
Why You Should Buy A Pre-Built PC
- Saves time, effort, and headaches to build
- Actually ‘cheaper’ if you know how to compare, and where to buy
- Longer warranty periods provide the safety net that most custom PCs do not offer
- Dedicated customer support/ technical support
- Risks of component defects and malfunctioning parts are mostly borne by the manufacturer
- Rare components may actually be easier to find in prebuilt PCs, as is the case with the lack of custom GPUs currently in the market (overwhelming demand, low supply due to scalpers)
With that being said, should you consider buying a prebuilt PC then? Read on below to find out.
Should I Buy a Prebuilt PC?
Buying a prebuilt PC is a good choice as PC manufacturers have improved various aspects of their PCs, to cater to a more tech-savvy audience of the world in modern times. Unless you are knowledgeable about the aspects of custom PC-building, it is advisable to buy a prebuilt PC instead.
When it comes to building your own custom PC, you will need to shoulder all the responsibilities associated with the practice, including the potential risks involved.
There are a lot of considerations that need to be weighed upon, before deciding to build your own custom PC. If you are determined to proceed in building your very own gaming rig, ask yourself these simple questions first:
- Do I know which motherboard to buy, to fit the compositions of my current PC case/ chassis?
- Which manufacturer of GPU cards should I opt for, even though they are of the same specs (PNY, ZOTAC, MSI, etc.)?
- Can I link the right cables and wires to their respective ports and components?
- Is there any professional technical support that I can refer to, if things go horribly wrong?
- Do I know how to disassemble the PC components again, if I need to change or upgrade any parts?
By opting for a trusted prebuilt PC, you do not need to worry yourself with all these niggling questions anymore, as they are all designed, shaped and built together by the manufacturers themselves.
What you do need to do is arm yourself with neccesary knowledge and internet research first, before making an informed decision on which prebuilt PC or if you built your own PC. Some say it’s like building legos, but logos won’t cost $400+ a peice and cannot break easily!
To discover how difficult it is to built a custom PC and the necessary parts you need please do yourself a favor and check out my dedicated post.
