{"id":24507,"date":"2023-11-10T15:08:22","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T14:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=24507"},"modified":"2023-11-10T15:08:27","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T14:08:27","slug":"should-you-build-a-pc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Build a PC? [7 Great Reasons]"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Today, we\u2019re breaking down a big question: should you build a PC?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What are the reasons for building a PC, and are there any compelling risks or disadvantages to building a PC compared to just buying a pre-built one instead?<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll be tackling these questions and more in the article below, in hopes of providing the definitive answer to whether or not you should build a PC. Let\u2019s get into it!<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6681dbaa95ff8\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6681dbaa95ff8\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6681dbaa95ff8\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#A_Brief_on_PC_Building_vs_PC_Buying\" title=\"A Brief on PC Building vs. PC Buying\">A Brief on PC Building vs. PC Buying<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#Should_You_Build_a_PC_7_Reasons_For_Building_A_PC\" title=\"Should You Build a PC? 7 Reasons For Building A PC\">Should You Build a PC? 7 Reasons For Building A PC<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#1_Save_Money_On_Powerful_Hardware\" title=\"1. Save Money On Powerful Hardware\">1. Save Money On Powerful Hardware<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#2_Full_Cosmetic_Build_Customization\" title=\"2. Full Cosmetic Build Customization\">2. Full Cosmetic Build Customization<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#3_Per-Part_Warranty_and_Returns\" title=\"3. Per-Part Warranty and Returns\">3. Per-Part Warranty and Returns<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#4_Long-Term_Upgradeability\" title=\"4. Long-Term Upgradeability\">4. Long-Term Upgradeability<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#5_Improved_Cooling_Compared_To_Laptops_and_Consoles\" title=\"5. Improved Cooling Compared To Laptops and Consoles\">5. Improved Cooling Compared To Laptops and Consoles<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#6_Avoid_Bloatware_and_Other_Prebuilt_Pitfalls\" title=\"6. Avoid Bloatware and Other Prebuilt Pitfalls\">6. Avoid Bloatware and Other Prebuilt Pitfalls<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#7_Youll_Get_Better_at_PC_Building_and_Repairs\" title=\"7. You\u2019ll Get Better at PC Building and Repairs\">7. You\u2019ll Get Better at PC Building and Repairs<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#Bonus_Reason\" title=\"Bonus Reason\">Bonus Reason<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#Can_a_Beginner_Build_a_PC\" title=\"Can a Beginner Build a PC?\">Can a Beginner Build a PC?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#Can_You_Build_a_Decent_PC_For_500\" title=\"Can You Build a Decent PC For $500?\">Can You Build a Decent PC For $500?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#What_Is_The_Risk_In_Building_a_PC\" title=\"What Is The Risk In Building a PC?\">What Is The Risk In Building a PC?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#What_Are_The_Disadvantages_of_Building_Your_Own_Computer\" title=\"What Are The Disadvantages of Building Your Own Computer?\">What Are The Disadvantages of Building Your Own Computer?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#What_Do_You_Do_After_Building_a_PC\" title=\"What Do You Do After Building a PC?\">What Do You Do After Building a PC?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/should-you-build-a-pc\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Brief_on_PC_Building_vs_PC_Buying\"><\/span>A Brief on PC Building vs. PC Buying<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So, let\u2019s take a moment to talk about the difference between \u201cPC building\u201d and \u201cPC buying\u201d, as well as the areas where that distinction gets a little fuzzy.<\/p>\n<p>In this context, <strong>\u201cPC buying\u201d<\/strong> just means getting a regular old (or new) <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>prebuilt<\/em><\/span> <\/strong>PC or laptop from your retailer of choice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cPC <em>building<\/em>\u201d<\/strong> refers to a PC whose <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/parts-needed-to-build-a-pc\/\">individual parts<\/a> you have to pick and assemble yourself, though technically, you\u2019ll still enjoy most benefits of PC building if someone else does the final assembly for you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>There can also be some crossover between \u201cPC building\u201d and \u201cPC buying\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>For example, boutique PC providers provide an extreme degree of PC build customization since, while they are selling prebuilts, you do still get to pick major components and peripherals from a variety of options. This isn\u2019t really \u201cbuilding\u201d a PC, though, since the choices you make are from pre-selected options and you're not physically putting the PC together at home.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_You_Build_a_PC_7_Reasons_For_Building_A_PC\"><\/span>Should You Build a PC? 7 Reasons For Building A PC<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We're big advocates of building PCs yourself, and have collected our favorite reasons why:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-24510\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC.jpg\" alt=\"Reasons to build your own PC\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-24510 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Reasons to build your own PC\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Reasons-to-build-your-own-PC.jpg\"><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Save_Money_On_Powerful_Hardware\"><\/span>1. Save Money On Powerful Hardware<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>One of the main reasons people choose to build instead of buy a PC is actually to save money<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>PC hardware can get expensive, especially if your needs push toward high-end rendering and other hardware-taxing workloads, like editing and gaming. Prebuilt PCs come with a price premium for their convenience, often adding hundreds of dollars to the final price tag.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Full_Cosmetic_Build_Customization\"><\/span>2. Full Cosmetic Build Customization<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Another reason to build a PC instead of buying one is that you get <em>full<\/em> control and customization of your PC parts, so long as compatibility is maintained<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Custom PC build projects allow for a much wider variety of case form factor, size, and color. They even allow for extra flashy cooling setups like a <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/aio-vs-custom-loop-liquid-cooling\/\"><strong>custom loop<\/strong><\/a>, though certain boutique prebuilt providers actually can do things like that, too.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Per-Part_Warranty_and_Returns\"><\/span>3. Per-Part Warranty and Returns<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Another benefit of building instead of buying a PC is that you get to handle your warranty and returns on a per-part basis, instead of the entire machine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>This usually means you get a longer warranty (especially on components like the power supply) than you would otherwise, which is nice for protection against potential defects. Of course, you\u2019ll need to register each of your components with their respective manufacturer to make the most of this.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Long-Term_Upgradeability\"><\/span>4. Long-Term Upgradeability<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The long-term upgradability offered to a desktop PC user<\/strong>, especially compared to a laptop user or any console or smart device user, <strong>is one of the best assets of the PC platform<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Being able to completely upgrade and replace every component in your system with a better version (as long as you stay within your motherboard spec) is a pretty enticing deal.<\/p>\n<p>There are limits to consider with this upside, of course.<\/p>\n<p>For example, AMD motherboards tend to fare better on this front due to offering multiple CPU generations on the same CPU socket, whereas Intel changes CPU socket more frequently. This means in the long-run, investing in a new AMD motherboard will give you more CPU upgrade options to choose from than with Intel.<\/p>\n<p>Besides CPU upgrades being limited by CPU socket, though, most major system upgrades should be a pretty seamless experience when you build a desktop PC.<\/p>\n<p>Increasing RAM capacity, replacing storage drives, and replacing your GPU are all high-impact changes you can make to your PC years down the line.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Improved_Cooling_Compared_To_Laptops_and_Consoles\"><\/span>5. Improved Cooling Compared To Laptops and Consoles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>One of the best parts of building a desktop PC is being able to make the most of your PC\u2019s cooling configuration.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15223\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop VS Desktop Cooling\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15223 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Laptop VS Desktop Cooling\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Laptops, gaming consoles, and even many prebuilt PCs all suffer from compromised cooling, whether due to fundamental design constraints or poor building work.<\/p>\n<p>Building a PC yourself doesn\u2019t guarantee that it will have good airflow, but it does give you control of those decisions.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re unfamiliar with PC airflow and cooling, I recommend maintaining a positive pressure (more intake fans than exhaust fans) airflow setup inside your chassis. I\u2019ve also written an extended <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/how-many-case-fans\/\"><strong>Best Case Fans Guide<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Avoid_Bloatware_and_Other_Prebuilt_Pitfalls\"><\/span>6. Avoid Bloatware and Other Prebuilt Pitfalls<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Bloatware is the bane of many a prebuilt buyer\u2019s existence.<\/strong> <strong>Bloatware<\/strong>, if you\u2019re unfamiliar, <strong>refers to software pre-installed on your PC by the builder or manufacturer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>On rare occasions, this can actually be useful, but more frequently this bloatware will be software that launches automatically and periodically interrupts your user experience, a la the maligned Norton Antivirus.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Besides unwanted software, you can also avoid <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/top-10-pc-building-mistakes\"><strong>common PC building mistakes<\/strong><\/a><strong> and mixing truly awful hardware into your build<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Many prebuilt providers have been caught using very low-budget power supplies and cooling hardware in their prebuilt PCs, and having the quality control to avoid pitfalls like this is a key advantage of PC building.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Youll_Get_Better_at_PC_Building_and_Repairs\"><\/span>7. You\u2019ll Get Better at PC Building and Repairs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Last but not least, let\u2019s talk about the long-term benefit: <em>you<\/em> getting better at PC building, troubleshooting, and repairs!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Now, this benefit won\u2019t apply if you don\u2019t actually finish up the build process by assembling it yourself. Assembling a PC gives you intimate familiarity with that machine that makes it easier to open it up and upgrade or fix it up later, depending on what comes up.<\/p>\n<p>The more times you build or open up a PC, the more familiar and comfortable you will become with the process.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re hoping to pursue a deeper career in PC hardware or want the confidence that you can work on your PC yourself, building a PC is a great first step.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bonus_Reason\"><\/span>Bonus Reason<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>And while you don't <em><strong>have to<\/strong> <\/em>learn anything about how a PC works, we find it to be a nice side benefit of building a PC yourself. That also means you know much better how all of your parts work and can more easily troubleshoot and upgrade them yourself if any issues arise after a few years or you'd like to increase your performance with new parts!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_Beginner_Build_a_PC\"><\/span>Can a Beginner Build a PC?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Yes!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Every PC builder starts off as a beginner, and PC building itself isn\u2019t necessarily impenetrable to a newcomer. A beginner will need to take a longer time going through the build process, but there\u2019s no reason they can\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n<p>I recommend our full, step-by-step (with video!) <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/how-to-build-a-pc\/\"><strong>How To Build a PC Guide<\/strong><\/a> if you\u2019re a beginner worried about any step of the process.<\/p>\n<p>If you don\u2019t want to build a PC yourself, there\u2019s also no shame in simply paying a qualified local PC store or repair technician to do it for you. This will be more expensive than doing it yourself but can save significant headaches.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_You_Build_a_Decent_PC_For_500\"><\/span>Can You Build a Decent PC For $500?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Yes, especially if you\u2019re smart with the used PC hardware market. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t <em>have<\/em> to go with used hardware to get a good PC for $500, though.<\/p>\n<p>If you use our very own <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/pc-builder\/\"><strong>G100 PC Builder tool<\/strong><\/a>, you\u2019ll see we actually<em> can <\/em>assemble a new, full PC with a discrete GPU at that price point. You just might get a better deal on a GPU if you go used instead.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_The_Risk_In_Building_a_PC\"><\/span>What Is The Risk In Building a PC?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The main risk in building a PC is that you might mistakenly do damage to your components during the assembly process. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As long as you follow the correct steps to safe PC building and don\u2019t try to force anything into a place where it shouldn\u2019t be, though, you don\u2019t generally need to worry about this.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re particularly concerned that you might not be able to do the assembly yourself, consider paying a local technician to do it for you.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_The_Disadvantages_of_Building_Your_Own_Computer\"><\/span>What Are The Disadvantages of Building Your Own Computer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>There are a few disadvantages to building your own PC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The main one is discussed in the question and answer above\u2014 the risk that you may damage your own hardware during assembly, especially as an inexperienced or impatient builder. This is the biggest disadvantage, but becomes a non-concern after a successful build.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The other disadvantages are just about embracing the D.I.Y. aspect of things, and come with trade-offs of their own<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>For example, you\u2019ll be responsible for all the troubleshooting and tech support on your own.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-24511\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors.jpg\" alt=\"Troubleshooting common POST errors\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-24511 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Troubleshooting common POST errors\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2023\/11\/Troubleshooting-common-POST-errors.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>However, your per-part warranties will be longer than for just a single prebuilt on its own, and building your PC will give you hands-on familiarity for future troubleshooting, repairs, and upgrades.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Do_You_Do_After_Building_a_PC\"><\/span>What Do You Do After Building a PC?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After building your PC, there are many things you\u2019ll want to do! The full scope of that is a bit too much for <em>this<\/em> article, but fortunately, we\u2019ve already covered this elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve written a guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-to-do-after-building-a-pc\/\"><strong>What Drivers To Install After Building a New PC<\/strong><\/a>, and Alex has an extended guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/what-drivers-install-new-pc\/\"><strong>What To Do After Building a PC<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>I recommend following one or both of these pieces after finishing your PC build, just to make sure your PC has everything it needs to provide an optimal experience.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>And that\u2019s all!<\/p>\n<p><strong>I hope this article helped you determine whether or not you should build a PC.<\/strong> I gave my best reasons for and against throughout this article, and (as you may have guessed) I firmly believe that you <em>should<\/em> build a PC, even as a newcomer to PC hardware.<\/p>\n<p>PC building may seem intimidating on the onset, but once you\u2019ve acquired the experience and familiarity required to do it, it becomes outright easy\u2014 and still the best way to get a PC.<\/p>\n<p><strong>But what do you think?<\/strong> Do you have any other questions, or opinions of your own? Feel free to fire off in the <a href=\"#comments\">comments<\/a> section below! Me or another member of the CGD team will be happy to talk to you down there.<\/p>\n<p>You could also try interacting with us or another Expert on the G100 <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/?__cf_chl_tk=HkodZNwZzSMACMUTM46pE8b7yuxG7gG8GEFmkqA67uE-1694010335-0-gaNycGzND7s\"><strong>Forum<\/strong><\/a>, where we have longer-form tech discussions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Until then or until next time, happy building<\/strong>! And don\u2019t forget: it\u2019s about the journey, not the destination. Don\u2019t rush your PC assembly\u2014 try to have fun with it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today, we\u2019re breaking down a big question: should you build a PC? What are the reasons for building a PC, and are there any compelling risks or disadvantages to building a PC compared to just buying a pre-built one instead? We\u2019ll be tackling these questions and more in the article below, in hopes of providing...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2339,"featured_media":24508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[112],"tags":[122],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24507"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2339"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24507"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24650,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24507\/revisions\/24650"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}