Luxia Le

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Building computers seems to be all the rage right now. The process of picking out parts, buying them, and putting them together gets easier and more accessible with each passing year. However, people who are new to the computer world often wonder: Why? What’s the benefit of building your own computer? Is the money you save really worth the effort of putting the parts together? What about warranties? I’m going to do my best to answer these questions for you. Let’s dive right in.

Why Build Your Own Computer? What Are the Benefits?

Why someone chooses to build their own computer will vary depending on who you ask. As with any course of action, multiple reasons and thought processes can all lead to the same outcome. However, there are a few prevailing reasons that typically end up being a part of most people’s overall reasoning.

Firstly, it is cheaper to build your own computer. For a computer that costs less than $800, you might see diminishing returns on the money you save when building it yourself. However, most of the people who choose to build their own computers have a vested interest in high-powered hardware. The reasoning why can vary. Powerful computers are necessary for more than just gaming. Programmers, visual media editors (video and still photos), and artists may all benefit from a more powerful machine. Additionally, many stock pre-built computers lack feature components that people who may not need a graphically powerful PC require for jobs or hobbies. Audio designers and musicians might need a dedicated sound card to process high-fidelity sound and most pre-built computers—and even many self-built computers—rely solely on the integrated sound card that comes with the CPU.

Finally, there’s the ability to choose exactly what parts go into your PC. When buying a pre-built PC, you’re locked into whatever the manufacturer decided to use on your computer. If you think a part isn’t powerful enough—or, conversely, if it comes with a part that you don’t need—you have no choice but to accept the burden or choose a different PC. For people who have specific workstation needs for jobs or hobbies, building their own computer gives them full control over what money goes into which parts. If you need a part, you can allocate funds to it. If you don’t, you can ignore it altogether. This control can help limit the overall cost of a powerful computer or save tons of money on a less potent machine.

For more information about building your own PC, check out my quick start guide to ensure you have all the parts you need.

Is the Money You Save When Building a PC Really Worth the Extra Effort?

Again, this is a subjective concept. However, when looking at high-powered machines, the price difference between a self-built and pre-built computer can be upwards of $1,000. If a grand is no object to you, then, by all means, buy a pre-built computer. When purchasing a high-power workstation, you can save a good chunk of money by building it yourself. When you add in the ability to futureproof and control over the parts included, it paints a strong case for building your own computer. For people buying cheap computers for simple tasks, the return is much less significant. In those cases, buying a pre-built PC is probably better as it requires less technical knowledge and the effort for $100–200 isn’t as significant as the higher cost differences in high-powered machines.

What About Warranties?

The only time you would truly void the warranty on your computer is if you bought all the parts secondhand. This method of purchase can be an excellent way to save even more money on your computer. However, it does leave you open to fraud and DOA parts with little recourse. If you bought your parts new from the original manufacturer or a certified retailer, the individual parts typically come with their own manufacturing warranty. This does mean that if something goes wrong with your computer, you’ll need to be able to diagnose which part is faulty to replace it. However, this process isn’t as hard as it might seem, and it will save you money compared to taking your computer to a repair center. If you choose to have your computer repaired professionally, be prudent about what center you choose. Best Buy is known for fleecing people for all they’re worth. Last time I had a computer repaired at Best Buy I was 13 and they charged me $500 to replace a $50 component.