Want to build your own gaming PC but have no idea about the current market situation? In our buying guide for gaming PC configurations, we look at the advantages and disadvantages of DIY PCs compared to pre-built PCs and explain what you need to pay particular attention to when putting together a DIY PC for gaming.
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DIY PC vs. complete PC - the advantages
You wouldn't have ended up in this article if you wanted to buy a pre-built PC. Nevertheless, as a member of the PC Master Race, it's never too bad for me to rattle off the advantages of a DIY PC compared to a pre-built PC. Even for those who feel overwhelmed by the DIY work, the amount of around 100 dollars invested in an enthusiastic DIY buddy or an online assembly often more than pays off given the lifespan of the DIY PC. By the way: In our Nbb stores, we also assemble PCs of all kinds for you on site and you can take them home with you straight afterwards.
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| How to Build a Gaming PC: Tips, Components, and Performance Optimization |
1. Maximum individuality
If you assemble your new gaming PC yourself, you benefit from the maximum variety of components compared to ready-made PCs and can concentrate on one or even several focal points. Silent build, maximum performance, RGB escalation, maximum performance RGB escalation? It's up to you and the limit is usually only set by the available budget. If you love games and are good with money, you might be interested in the opportunity to relax and play slots at Staycasino no deposit bonus. A huge collection of games from the best providers will not leave you indifferent.
2. The best price-performance ratio
You almost always get more for your money if you assemble the PC yourself. The disparity increases with the absolute price. This means that the more expensive a ready-made PC is, the worse the price-performance ratio usually is. Example: You can get a pre-built PC up to €2000 in our shop with a GeForce RTX 3070 and AMD Ryzen 7 5800X at most. This is actually a pretty reasonable offer at the moment, but it also has many weaknesses. Depending on your preferences, a GeForce RTX 3080 or Radeon RX 7900 XT is also possible when building your own.
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3. Long service life
The calculation from point 2 does not even include the entire service life. Although branded components are more expensive than OEM goods, the hardware can easily last 5 to 10 years or even longer if it is treated properly. The keyword is compatibility. I still use my ten-year-old branded power supply unit today, as well as my case of the same age. Even my large Noctua NH-U12P CPU fan has been used on three processors over the course of 12 years thanks to great support in the form of free mounting kits. It still worked when I switched to a different cooler.
4. Upgrading can be planned for the long term
With the right planning, you can use many components over several CPU or GPU generations, as my examples above show. A spacious and modular case and an extensively equipped mainboard are particularly important here. So think carefully about how big or small the case really needs to be and whether a motherboard with more PCIe slots, M.2 ports and SATA connections will ultimately pay off in view of the upgrade options for expansion cards, SSDs and the like. There are now even PCIe x4 to M.2 expansion cards that allow you to add additional M.2 SSDs if the slots on the motherboard are all occupied.
5. Efficient cooling concepts with low noise levels
While pre-built PCs are often sewn to the edge and this is particularly evident in the heat sinks and fans used, you can more or less determine the temperatures and, at the same time, the noise level of a DIY PC yourself. A large and efficient processor cooler, the quietest triple-fan graphics card and case fans with a diameter of 140 mm? Your ears will thank you just as much as the components, which will run more quietly, stay cooler and ultimately last longer.
Note: Large fans can move just as much air at lower speeds as small fans at higher speeds. And: The faster a fan turns, the louder it gets. So it's best to install as large a fan as possible. Even better temperatures can only be achieved with water cooling. Modern AiO water cooling systems for the CPU are quickly installed. Ambitious hobbyists can ensure extremely quiet operation of the processor and graphics card with a complete water cooling system, even with very CPU-intensive applications and games. However, the maintenance requirements can then be higher.
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6. Maintenance and sales
OEM hardware is fairly maintenance-unfriendly because the components are not available to end customers and are often difficult to replace. With a DIY PC, replacing the SSD, RAM, power supply unit or graphics card can be done in just a few simple steps. This applies to both upgrading and maintenance. So if the GPU does give up the ghost, a new graphics card can be ordered and installed quickly. More effort is required when replacing the processor, for example, if you change the motherboard socket.
This means you don't have the problem of having to send the entire finished PC to the manufacturer if a defect occurs. Thanks to the compatibility of the components, you can also easily sell the old hardware and pay for the new GeForce RTX 4070 Ti with the proceeds from the old RTX 2070 Super. Even if the GPU of the finished PC can be removed, the trimmed OEM components are not of interest to many hobbyists.
7. Learning effect and happiness hormones
Nobody is born a professional hobbyist. Those who take on the task of building their own PC often have to follow instructions, video tutorials and perhaps even visit a service workshop. Not only will you get to know the PC and how the components work better, you will also become more independent when it comes to repairs and hardware upgrades, as you can carry out the necessary steps yourself.
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Cheers, you've done it!
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And let's be honest: the joy you feel when you switch on your new gaming PC for the first time is by no means comparable to unpacking a complete PC. Provided that everything works. For some self-builders, this joy is so great that assembling the PC is more exciting for them than the gaming itself.
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DIY PC vs. complete PC - the disadvantages
As an enthusiastic hobbyist, you can already tell that I always prefer the do-it-yourself PC to the complete PC. Nevertheless, the complete PC has a legitimate raison d'�tre for many users. Many gamers don't have the confidence to assemble a PC or simply don't have the time for hours of tinkering. They therefore often consider the disadvantages of DIY PCs to be far more serious than the advantages. But where can the pre-built PC still show its advantages over the home-built PC?
1. The time factor: research, assembly, troubleshooting
Ordering, unpacking, setting up, connecting, gaming: the journey to the finished self-built gaming PC is not as relaxed as with a complete PC. Which components fit together? How much will the PC cost in the end? Does this screw have to be left over? Why does the PC switch off when it boots up? Do I have to contact my son-in-law after all? These hurdles are certainly familiar to most DIY enthusiasts.
If the time required for research, assembly and potentially necessary troubleshooting is included in the cost calculation for the new gaming PC and multiplied by the average hourly wage, then a DIY PC is significantly more expensive. In addition, you don't have to consider the availability of the individual components and different delivery times.
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2. Knowledge and ambition required
The time required for assembly and installation depends heavily on your existing knowledge and dexterity. If you don't enjoy poring over forums, buying guides and manuals, are the proud owner of two left hands and have to push the assembly into the night on already packed weekends, you may be doing yourself a bigger favour with a ready-made PC.
3. Peripherals cost extra
Ready-made PCs are often supplied with input devices. Although these are rarely of high quality, the PC is still ready to use straight away. With a do-it-yourself PC, you also have to factor in a gaming mouse and keyboard. The advantage? You can choose what you want and go straight for higher-quality input devices with the functions you need.
If you build your own, you can choose the peripherals yourself, but you have to budget for them right from the start.
4. Warranty and service jungle
Another disadvantage of a do-it-yourself PC is the different modalities for warranty, service, etc. If something really does happen, you have different contacts and, in case of doubt, you have to check exactly which manufacturer is liable for which damage. If a component fails to work, it is also up to you (or a local helper) to find the fault. With a ready-made PC, however, you have to send in the complete PC. However, you will get the complete PC back repaired and in one piece.
5. More packaging waste
For many users today, the environmental footprint is no longer unimportant. Many small and large parcels generate significantly more packaging waste than one large parcel. In addition, the delivery effort is greater and many small parts are left over. However, this can also be an advantage for later upgrades.
What do you need to look out for when building a gaming PC?
There are a few things you should consider when putting together a DIY PC. Of course, you need to consider which components fit together best. It is also important to allocate the budget sensibly to the respective components. There are also individual requirements: How big can or should the gaming PC be? Should it be as quiet as possible? Which games do I want to play and in which resolution? How many years do I want to use the gaming PC? Ultimately, however, the most important factor is the available budget.
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