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If you’ve ever done even a cursory search on gaming computers, you’ve probably seen a million comments about how you should build your own computer instead of buying a pre-built one. It is generally cheaper to buy the parts for a computer and assemble them yourself than it is to buy a comparable pre-built computer. Let’s assess the cost difference between a new pre-built PC and one assembled by the user.
Building a Gaming PC Prices: At a Glance
We picked a random pre-built gaming PC off Amazon, the AVGPC Blizzard Gaming Computer. Now, let’s look at those parts if we were to buy them separately and assemble the computer ourselves.
| Component | Self-Built (New) | Self-Built (Used) |
|---|---|---|
| Motherboard (ASROCK Z590 Chipset, 11th Gen Intel) | $299.99 | $254.99 |
| CPU (Intel i9-11900K) | $259.99 | $228.00 |
| GPU (MSI RTX 4090) | $1,888.95 | $1,729.00 |
| PSU (CoolerMaster V850) | $139.99 | $99.35 |
| RAM (3600 MHz, 64 GB) | $200 | $134 |
| SSD (2 TB NVMe M.2) | $124.99 | $123.99 |
| Heatsink (LGA 1200-compatible with RGB LEDs) | $16.95 | $11.95 |
| Case (White Mid-Tower with RGB LED Fans) |
The AVGPC Blizzard Gaming Computer comes at a hefty pricetag of $3,499.99. However, if you buy all the parts separately and assemble them yourself, you’re looking at a price of $2,930.77 if you buy all the parts new, or around $2,581.28 if you buy all the parts used. That’s a difference of almost $1,000 if you choose to purchase second-hand parts.
Is Building a Computer Hard?
Building a computer is pretty easy. It takes me around 1–2 hours from start to getting the computer up and running. However, it’s worth noting that I have a lot of experience with computer building and maintenance. I’ve been doing it for ten years and have no intention of going back to buying pre-built computers unless they’re designed to be portable. Laptop parts aren’t standardized. So, it’s much harder to construct your own laptop if you want a sleek, easy-to-carry model.
For the most part, the parts in your computer will fit together like puzzle. If you just follow the instructions in the manual you’ll be told exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Just remember not to push on your CPU when seating it in the socket. The CPU is not meant to “click” into place. If you push it too hard, you will crack the motherboard and render it entirely useless and un-RMA-able.
Who Should Build Their Own Computers?
The truth is that you don’t need to build a gaming PC to get a discount from building your own computer. You can buy budget PC parts and fit them together into a suitable computer for browsing the internet and watching YouTube. You’ll get a discount for assembling it yourself. What would be an $800 PC can usually be built for around $500–$600.
Anyone who wants a discount on their PC should consider building their own.
Luxia Le 
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