While console gamers have several options to choose from – PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch – the choice for PC gamers is a lot more streamlined. Do you build a gaming PC or do you buy a pre-built one?
For anybody enthusiastic about PC gaming, it’s a constant toss-up between buying a ready-made gaming setup or building your own exactly how you want it.
For some gamers, having a laptop to casually play games with low-level graphics is enough. However, for many passionate gamers, a much more powerful desktop PC is required, with a large power supply unit, a high-quality CPU cooler, a top-of-the-range graphics processing unit (GPU), and more.
Building their own PC is a hobby for a lot of gamers but is it still worth the effort in 2024? There are many excellent pre-built PCs on the market at fairly affordable price points, but does it quite match up to the opportunity to build your very own custom PC?
Why build a gaming PC?
So you’re passionate about PC gaming and you’re considering building your own machine? There are many benefits to owning and building your own gaming PC, including the choice of components.
PC gaming involves a huge array of options in terms of parts, graphics cards, CPU coolers, and even the operating system. That’s just the start, too.
Here are the reasons why you may want to build your gaming PC:
- Cost-effective option
- Customisation
- Expand your knowledge
Cost-effective option
Building a gaming PC can be a more cost-effective option than buying a pre-built machine. If you’re on a budget, you can scour the internet to find the right components for your performance requirements. For example, if you can afford a mid-range machine, you can power it with an Intel Core CPU or you can find bargains in the second-hand market.
Like most pieces of technology in the industry, you can pick up a great deal on an older component that’s still good enough for your system without investing in the most powerful component for every aspect of your build. So, if you are on a budget, you could quite easily find a CPU socket or a power supply at great prices, for example.
Customisation
A custom PC build also allows you to customise the system to your exact preferences. If you were to buy a pre-built PC, you may have to compromise on certain aspects of the machine, but if you’re building it yourself, you can source all the components you want in your dream setup.
Plus, you can always upgrade components, like graphics cards and CPU cores, to produce greater performance while gaming when your budget can afford it.
Expand your knowledge
The final benefit of PC building is how much you’ll learn along the way. If you’re a complete newbie, it can take you a little longer than you may have anticipated, but you’ll learn new things every time you sit down with your setup.
This way, you can learn how to build the best PC for even the most demanding games. And, if you don’t have the budget for the top, high-end components, you’ll at least know what to do the next time you go to build a PC.
For example, before sitting down to build, did you know about the importance of thermal performance? After some research during the build, you’ll soon be an expert!
Are there any downsides to building your own gaming PC?
Depending on how passionate you are about building gaming PCs, there may be a couple of downsides to committing to a big build.
A considerable time investment
For starters, the time it takes to build a PC is a lot to commit to. If you’re short of time because of a heavy workload and busy family life, you might find it difficult to give the build enough time to make plenty of progress.
But, for very passionate gamers, the time taken to build a PC can be fun – almost like the journey itself is better than the destination. Plus, once you’ve completed it and put in the hours, it can be extremely rewarding and a huge boost for your self-esteem to know you’ve achieved something impressive.
Stress during the build
The second possible downside is the stress the build may produce. If you’re new to building PCs, the whole process can be quite stressful if things aren’t working as planned, as it can lead to a lot of troubleshooting and time spent wondering why you’ve decided to do it.
However, the feeling of succeeding after powering through the stress can be huge.
What do you need to build your own PC?
Building a machine for PC gaming requires a lot of components and accessories, so we thought we’d give you a helping hand with a checklist so you don’t miss out on something important.
Here’s what you need if you’re committed to building a new PC:
- Case (most PC cases have a tempered glass side panel but this is personal preference)
- Central processing unit (CPU)
- Graphics video card
- Motherboard
- RAM
- Power supply
- Hard drive
- Solid state drives
- CPU cooler/liquid cooling
- Up-to-date operating system (Windows 11)
- One or two monitors
- Keyboard and mouse
- Accessories like headphones, LED lights, and small gadgets to hide all the cables
With this checklist, you have everything you need to build the PC of your dreams for high-end gaming. Go through each part of the list and find the right component that performs as well as possible on your budget.
To play the best games, you’ll need an excellent power supply, a great graphics card that supports high-quality ray tracing, and gaming CPUs that can withstand larger games. Of course, everything is important within the build but if you get the best possible versions of these components, and a large RAM (at least 16GB), your new PC will be extremely fun to use.
Why buy a custom PC?
PC gaming is fun and the majority of users will testify that it’s better than consoles. So, if PC gaming is so good, why wait to play on your new system? You can get right down to playing your favourite games when you buy a pre-built PC.
That’s the one major benefit to buying a custom PC instead of building it yourself. Take it out of the box, plug it in and it’s ready to go, but is it the purest way of PC gaming?
How much does a pre-built PC cost?
Custom gaming builds are available with a variety of specific components that offer a wide array of performances. Just like when building a PC for gaming, pre-built models also have varying levels of quality and performance for different budgets.
For a budget machine that will suit the average gamer, it will cost around £400 to £600, which is the same price as you’ll pay for a Playstation 5 or Xbox Series X.
However, for a high-end gaming setup, a custom pre-built machine will cost between £1,000 and £5,000 which is a lot to commit to for many people.
Build vs buy – what should you do?
In 2024, despite there being plenty more pre-built options available for the everyday gamer, there isn’t anything quite like building your own machine.
Choosing to build a gaming PC is the best solution for individuals who want full control over every step of their build. It offers the most customisation options for every single component, and you can put as much care as you want into the build.
However, if you don’t have the time, the energy or the desire to scour the internet for parts and build it yourself, buying a pre-built PC is perfect for you.
Fortunately, at Inside Tech, there are plenty of choices for both types of PC gamers and we’d be pleased to help you find the ideal machine for your needs.
Contact us today if you have any questions.
