Is it Really Worthwhile to Build Your Own Gaming PC (Part 1)?

The evolution of PC gaming usually goes something like this:

• You buy a computer game to play on the laptop or PC that you use for other things, like work or school.
• You realize it’s super fun, but you could be missing out on some of the experience because your computer doesn’t have the performance capabilities that the game needs.
• You start to look into the possibility of buying a gaming PC that is specifically made to handle amazing video games.
• You find a blog that says you should just build your own and wonder whether it’s a good idea to do that instead of buying one off the shelf or buying a custom computer that someone else has built.

Just about everyone who has ever looked into buying a machine specifically for gaming has, at some point, thought about whether they should build their own. Like many things, the answer of whether you should or should not depends on a lot of things. For many the decision to build is out of a desire to get something that you can’t find in off-the-shelf models at your local electronics store, or to build a better PC at a lower cost. So let’s talk about the pros and cons for both of those situations in this two-part blog series.

In this first part we’re going to cover the benefits and drawbacks for getting exceptional system components. In part two we’ll discuss the price differences.

Getting the Best Configuration

If you are considering building your own PC because you want to have a super-customized machine that can handle all your specific gaming needs, that is a good reason to think about it. Building a PC from scratch means that you can get all the components you want—from the top-of-the-line graphics card to a supercharged cooling system.

The biggest challenge with this approach is that you have to have a lot of expertise in building your own machine. First, you’ll need to put in significant time to research components based on what you want. Then you will need to do even more research to make sure you put it all together correctly—one wrong connection and your machine won’t work, or worse, it might be at risk of catching fire, leaking coolant, or blowing up as you turn on your favorite game.

The reality is that most people just don’t have that level of expertise and instead of getting a top-of-the-line build you will end up with a frustrating and disappointing PC.

In part two we’ll discuss the potential for cost savings on your own build. If you want to check out a custom option where you can still get great prices, you can start building your own gaming PC at Xidax now.