If you are looking for a new rig, you now have two options available – building or buying. Since both choices have their own advantages and disadvantages, selecting between them can be tricky. This is especially true if you are new to the gaming world.
If you are looking for some guidance, you have come to the right place. Here you will be able to see how each option fares under different categories. With this information on hand, you will find it a lot simpler to make a more informed decision for yourself. So, let’s get started.
The Cost
If you are like most gamers, then you are probably on a budget. This means that the first thing you will consider when shopping around for a PC is the cost. So, when you compare customized and pre-built computers, which one comes out on top?
Now, for a while, pre-built options were less costly. This is because you got to pick and choose exactly what you wanted to go into your rig. So, as long as you stuck with low or mid-range products, you could put together a machine for a fairly reasonable price.
These days, though, it isn’t as simple. For one thing, newer games have higher spec demands. As a result, you need more RAM, better graphics cards, and in general higher-quality components. Now, considering that a good graphic card can’t be found for less than $100, the overall cost of building your rig will have skyrocketed.
There is also the fact that laptop manufacturers are able to get various components for a discounted, bulk price. Due to this, the cost of these computers drops considerably. Don’t think so? Well, just take a look at the best cheap gaming laptop on the market right now. Not only does it come with top specs but the price is a lot lower than you might expect as well.
Customization
Each gamer is going to want something different from their rig. For some, it is all about the graphics and resolution. For others, there is absolutely no substitute for speed and performance. In short, many gamers would prefer to customize their rig as they see fit.
In such an instance, there is no denying that building your PC will make it a lot easier to tailor it to your needs. Since you get to select every component, you have total say in what goes into your computer. Therefore, you get all the customization rights.
With pre-built laptops, this isn’t really possible. While you do get to select between various features and specs, there is still a limit to how much you can customize in such a rig. Therefore, in this case, building a rig would work best for you.
The Compatibility
On the surface, putting together a gaming PC may seem rather straightforward. After all, you just need the main components – processor, motherboard, RAM, GPU, hard drive (or SSD), storage, power supply unit, CPU cooler, and case. What most people don’t take into account, though, is the compatibility.
See, it isn’t enough just to get the best of these components. No, you have to make sure that they are compatible with each other as well. Therefore, you will have your work cut out for you and will have to do quite a bit of research.
If you don’t select elements that work well together, then your rig isn’t going to work. Instead, you will have to return a certain piece, find the right one, and then begin to put the computer together again. This can be tricky if you aren’t overly knowledgeable about computers.
As you can imagine, this isn’t something you have to worry about with a pre-built machine. The manufacturer has sorted out all the components and so, you can guarantee that everything works well together. All you have to do is set the machine up, plug it in, and get playing.
The Support
At some point or another, you will find that you need some kind of technical help with your computer. Now, if you have a pre-built rig, the process is fairly straightforward. Simply get in touch with the manufacturer and inform them of what is wrong. They will give you instructions on how to proceed from there. More often than not, you can either ship the machine over or take it to a local store.
With a customized kit, though, each of the components will belong to a different manufacturer. So, if something does go wrong, you have to first identify which part is to blame. Then, you will have to contact separate manufacturers, if it is a widespread issue. Clearly, this is the more troublesome route.
Upgrades
Games are constantly progressing and evolving. This means that you need to keep upgrading your rig as well. Otherwise, after a while, your performance is going to suffer if your laptop can’t keep up with the demands of a particular game.
Here, you will find that custom laptops are actually a lot easier to upgrade. As long as the upgrade is compatible with the existing hardware, you should find it relatively simple to improve a certain component.
It isn’t quite as straightforward with pre-built models, though. The way they have been designed places limits on how many changes you can make. So, you may be able to add some RAM and perhaps switch up the graphics card. If the model allows it, you could transition from an HDD to an SSD. Apart from this, it is unlikely that you will be allowed to make any changes to the machine.
As you can see, each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. So, is there a winner here? Well, for all intents and purposes, it would appear that buying a pre-built rig makes more sense for you. It is easier, cheaper, and may even be able to function better. So, unless you are very skilled in building computers, it is best to leave this kind of job to the pros. You will be glad that you did so.