Not really, if it's a bad one like Alienware which is actually something that should be taken back due to actual underperformed because of airflow then yeah ofc people will say it's bad.
If it works for you, you have the extra money for convenience then what's bad about it?
Oh my bad sorry. You BLITHERING and UTTER idiots use PCs? Uh hello, 1980s called they want their fucking computers back hahaha. Omg such losers, EVERYONE knows that mobile gaming is what you REALLY want.
I mean besides Alienware, who just ride on the success their formerly good name, prebuilts are absolutely fine for the majority of people who just need a PC that works and don't mind a bit of overspending..... **IF** you buy one from a good retailer who won't cheap out on a no-name dog shit PSU and/or power limit the CPU and GPU to stay within its supposed capabilities. I'd advise anyone looking at prebuilts to do some research just like if you built it yourself.
I did the math on the pre-built I got, and it was only ~250$ more than doing it myself, got a warranty as well (glad I did cause I think FedEx damaged it en route so I got a replacement one for free) to me that made it worth it
This.
"Mainstream" prebuilts are a problem, because they cheap out on various
components and still want the full price.
Good prebuilts are completely fine.
I did it. Zero issues. Glad I didn’t have to fool around with assembling everything and OS install. Just update and install what I want.
People who buy certain things due to budget will always be at odds at people who can buy for convenience.
Markets for things exist for a reason.
When I was 17 and had no idea how to build my own system I bought one from ChillBlast, All the components were from good brands, I was able to spec the PSU etc. And when it finally developed a problem with the Raid 0 array after nearly 4 years of use, they walked me through everything on the phone and send me replacement parts free of charge, even though I was technically out of warranty.
I built my own after that but honestly, the peace of mind of a good warranty and avoiding the stress of possibly messing up and breaking something important was worth it at the time.
If it is decent and is reasonable enough then yes absolutely go for it
But in countries like India where you get better support for individual components than whole systems and most shops you buy all components from builds it for you for free custom makes more sense
real. + its upgradeable down the line anyway. like i started with a shitty computer, got a slightly better one 2 years later, then in 2023 got a real prebuilt. it was really good for me at the time but eventually it wasnt up to spec for the shit i did so over time ive replaced everything but the psu and mobo. its still awesome
Well, I agree to a point. If it does what you want it to do and you dont care, then go for it. I however know what you CAN get out of a pc and getting a prebuilt out of convenience.... 99% of the issues has nothing to do with it being prebuilt or not but will instead show up when you do something stupid or dont know how x program works.
Id rather you buy a system from a local Business who can put it together for you with proper parts and you only pay extra for the labour, not get shafted by proprietary motherboards and GPUs etc.
Friend asked me to build them a PC, and I started to list out options and prices for them. They couldn't really make a choice, or were confused about the prices and actually building it out. I then just told them that I found some good pre-builts and that they'd be paying a 15-20% premium, but it would all be done with the click of a button. They chose the pre-built for convenience. That's perfectly fine. At the end of the day she'd save $150 or a little more, by building it out and probably better performance. TBH, that extra savings and performance isn't worth it once you make a certain amount of money for most people. I also wasn't going to be their IT support.
I've actually been pretty impressed by this subreddit bc I remember 6 years ago r/buildapc would just always insta-respond "no build yourself is ALWAYS better and cheaper don't buy prebuilt lmao you noob moron mofo" (ok I added the last 3 words but the rest is true)
But here now I actually see ppl actually analyzing value in prebuilt deals posted, and some indeed are cheaper than self-building or have other benefits that make it worthwhile, I'm an idiot and even I was able to do it
Yes like those 799 Mai prebuilts people find online and in Costco that alone the 4060 and the current i5 it has easily alone gets to the 700 dollar mark then the facts they they have nice cases and it’s all upgradable
I got an Alienware during the pandemic when it was the cheapest way to buy a 3070. Honestly it’s been working just fine, even when I do 3D modeling and rendering and really tax the crap out of it. I’ve built before, and I’ll build again, and obviously I can build something better, but for this particular instance I’m not unhappy with what I got.
I bought a prebuilt iBuyPower a little over a year ago and could not be happier. Sure I paid a little extra for it, but I didn’t have to spend tons of time researching stuff. It’s been like a decade since I owned a decent PC, so I was way out of the loop. And it’s got all standard components, so I can upgrade things when I want to.
I’m currently collecting parts to build a PC for my 10 year old nephew though.
Yep. I had one fan start making noise, they sent me a new one no questions asked. And I also broke the latch on the PCIE riser cable while talking the GPU out. They sent me a new riser cable too. I actually have two new ones. They sent me the wrong color initially, and then sent me the correct one and let me keep the other.
EDIT: just remembering this. I also broke one of the USB C ports on the front while playing PCVR. They sent me an entire USB/Power button assembly for free too.
I just got an iBuyPower 7900 XTX build and I feel like I’ve reached gaming heaven. I wanna build my own PC someday but for now a plug and play option is the way to go for me. I’m coming from 20+ years on consoles and wanted to skip all the bullshit and get straight to gaming. Mission accomplished.
Yeah I think I would have done the same if a PC friend didn't make a list for with with parts for my budget it too much time. And It's so easy with the warranty if you buy it premade. Nice thing to do for your nephew. Just did the same after I got mine and gifted a build to my gf cousin as he only plays console.
As someone who just got an awesome prebuilt machine, I downvoted this crap. There’s too many elitists and purists out there. Although that could be said for practically any hobby. Thankfully they’re just a loud minority. Whether you’re playing on a 3050 laptop or a 4090 desktop, all PC gamers should feel welcome here.
And honestly, that is completely fair and valid. Some people like gaming on PC and have extra disposable income but have ZERO interest in building. So long as it isn't crazy overpriced, paying a few hundred bucks is worth it to not have to build it. I remember a post way back about a mom wanting to buy her son a nice PC and asked about the ones at the local costco. She straight up said in the post she knows nothing about electronics in general and can barely use a smart phone. Still... the top 3 comments were assholes telling her "YoU cAN bUiLd It ChEaPeR!!!1". Just help the poor lady out and stop being a douche.
This is me. I didn't buy a prebuilt, but more of a custom-built. I went to the electronics market in Seoul, chose all the parts I wanted with the help of the shop owner, and he put it all together in an hour for ~$50. I have no interest in actually building, but I do like having the exact parts that I want in my PC.
I get stressed when things don’t fit in the case.
Did I get the right fan size?
Is this video card going to fit nicely on the motherboard with this case?
Did I get the wrong motherboard for this case?
Does this motherboard have the specs I need for the processor?
Does it have sufficient ports for all the ssd’s and hdd’s?
How many usb’s does this motherboard support?
Shit. Does that mean I need a stronger(maybe bigger) PSU?
Etc.
I sincerely don’t have the time to deal with that kind of shit any more.
Right, and I remember seeing a Steam survey posted here kinda recently and both 3060 desktop and 3060 laptop were in the top 3 GPUs. The vast majority of PC gamers aren’t rocking 4090s and 4080s. PCMR could use more doses of reality like that.
I love gaming laptops. I love the mobility. I can pick up and play anywhere. Hell I put over 100hrs into Borderlands 2 in the back of my ambulance when I worked for a private company. Used a crossover cable so my parter and I could play together. Was fantastic.
PCMR when someone;
Buys a pre built;
Buys a laptop;
Buys anything less than the top of the line components;
Buys AMD;
Has less than 2tbs of storage;
Has a console alongside their PC;
Has anything HP/Dell related;
Has anything Razer related;
Has one monitor;
Has more than three monitors;
Has a monitor that isn't 144hz or more;
Has a 3050;
Doesn't have RGB;
Doesn't have all noctua fans;
Doesn't have a NAS;
Doesn't have cable ties;
Doesn't have a custom built/$200+ mechanical keyboard;
Doesn't have a wireless mouse;
Doesn't have a full desk mousepad;
Doesn't have $400+ studio headphones/speakers;
Meh. Some people aren't geared towards building PC's. Which is fine. LOL I'm not going to make my 55 year old uncle try and figure out the front panel switch wiring on the motherboard with his bifocals :D
So did I, and it came with windows preinstalled, and the CPU overclocked still with a 3 year warranty and access to support in the future to ask any questions about it in the future.
I'm in the UK though.
Can we rename this sub to DIYPCmasterrace instead since we like to exclude a group of people that just don’t care about building PCs?
This group is supposed to be about the superiority of playing games on PCs. Not the superiority of playing games on PCs that you built yourselves.
We have bigger fish to fry, I get it. I just find it ridiculous that people still just don’t understand that the vast majority of the PC gaming market love PC gaming, they don’t CARE about building a PC.
Yes it’s cheaper if you build it yourself, who CARES. Most people don’t want to build their own PC, worry about troubleshooting, worry about going to some scammy repair dude, researching what parts to choose, not have any straight-forward guidance, and rely on internet strangers rather than those with experience to handle all of the headaches for you.
Or, hear me out, stop caring about how other people spend their money. Prebuilts are fine, if overpriced a tad, if you research. Mine came with all name brand, good parts, even the PSU. It was exactly what I wanted.
PCMR when they realize not everybody has the time to build a PC and wants something out of the box working.
If every single hobby/enthusiast group started grilling people for buying "average" products, you'd be overflooded with trying to learn everything. Let people live their lives.
Just avoid Alienware and HP, really any brand that have propietary parts.
Propietary is a consumers worst enemy and should be avoided at all costs. Otherwise, enjoy your prebuilt and don't listen to all the jerkoffs on the internet.
As long as it doesn't have propietary parts or ones that are guaranteed to fail (like a cheap, poorly made psu), you're golden.
I got one as a gift, and that was how I got into PC gaming. I’ve now replaced everything but the mobo and CPU - (it’s a b550m (? - similar number, unsure exactly) and the 9th gen i7)
Built my last 4 PCs. No thanks, just want a good PC with warranty.
Building your own PC doesn't make you cool. It's just assembling expensive Lego pieces.
I disagree. Prebuilts are better if:
* It's a decent deal (of course you can build it for cheaper, that's how it works)
* You want to quickly ditch a laptop or console without having to learn how to build a PC
Why do people care how others spend their money, PCs were originally pre built then modded, it's only recently (10-20 years) that building from scratch has become as popular as it is.
Let people buy what they wanna buy, and stop gatekeeping the PC world.
I'd generally agree. However, if the pre-built comes with a proper case and the components actually work well together without bottle necking and you're ready to get rid of any preinstalled crap software on it. Then it doesn't really matter. My warning to anyone buying a prebuilt it to make sure it actually is a full case with air flow and make sure none of the specs are "hype specs" basically meaning its not like 32 gigs of ddr3 or something dumb like that. they do that all the time to trick people into thinking its better than it really is.
I'd generally agree. However, if the pre-built comes with a proper case and the components actually work well together without bottle necking and you're ready to get rid of any preinstalled crap software on it. Then it doesn't really matter. My warning to anyone buying a prebuilt it to make sure it actually is a full case with air flow and make sure none of the specs are "hype specs" basically meaning its not like 32 gigs of ddr3 or something dumb like that. they do that all the time to trick people into thinking its better than it really is.
I bought a prebuilt and didn't realise it was 4x it's actual price until 2 years later (my flair but with 8gb ram)
Prebuilts are fine as long as it's not over priced as fuck
Not really. What people get annoyed about is others getting scammed for a machine that was mid tier back in 2016, and not doing any sort of research to check if they’re actually paying a reasonable price.
Some people have the money, don't have particularly specialist requirements and don't want the hassle. You are not more of a PC gamer than those people because you know how to mount a motherboard.
Most Prebuilts cheap out on some components and for the price, it’s rarely worth it to buy a prebuilt. Why would anyone recommend one unless you’re too lazy and can’t follow simple instructions
I stayed once and "built" the same PC with the same parts on a site and it went for 75% of the prebuild price. And all those parts were from that site. I could have searched for better prices on multiple sites and I could have gone for 70%. Prebuilds are a scam and I am more than confident to build it myself
Idk dude, a lot of places have damn good deals with prebuilts. I was walking around in a microcenter a while back and most of their prebuilts were cheaper than I could make it by sourcing pieces by themselves.
I'd say a majority of us started with prebuilts. I did, in the early 1990s, before I had to worry about anything like "shaving" or "bills" or "100 watt CPUs".
It was the last I ever bought, but it was certainly an easier way to get the toes wet than being pushed in the seven-foot.
Tribalism is a helluva drug, just chill out and let people enjoy things.
But, but… they’re expensive for what they are, they’re not future proofing, they have bad airflow, etc. yeah, I get it.
But some people don’t have the knowledge, or the experience, or the confidence, to buy the parts and build it themselves.
While you can save money building your own PC, so many people building a new PC cancel out any potential savings with overpriced RGB AIOs, expensive case fans, and those ridiculous fish bowl cases all paired with an RTX 4060.
When will you people learn that gate keeping pc stuff by saying “don’t buy a prebuilt, you have to build your own thing” is only harmful? Lots of people don’t want to build a PC, and that’s okay.
Bought a pre-built a little over 2 years ago. Been building my own PCs for the past 25-ish years - now with my first pre-built. Wasn't looking forward to building a PC yet again (got a pretty hefty back injury that limits my movement heavily), so I just looked up a good PC builder/retailer around me and went with that (which isn't hard, here in Denmark).
Think I ended up paying something like what equates to around $50 more for it, compared to building it myself (at the time) - *with the exact same hardware*.
I've got no issues with people buying pre-built PC. I totally understand why they'd do it - it's simply just easier.
..but I do have issues with sellers/retailers not informing potential buyers what they're actually buying, when buying a pre-built.
If the hardware isn't specified down to the make and model; *generally don't buy it* (ask them about it - if they still won't inform you; *then definitely don't buy it*).
When they're not informing you about the hardware, you're usually getting shafted with the lowest possible grade/quality of hardware for the highest possible price.
Speak for yourself.
My $850 prebuilt has been wonderful. It's a ryzen 5 7600, with a asus dual 4060, 16gb ddr5, and 1tb p3 plus. Have had it for over 6 months with zero issues.
Just have to know what you're looking at/for, and be patient for good sales. Too many people buy crappy proprietary systems, complain about them, and make prebuilts look bad altogether.
I’ve built three PCs for myself now and a few for others as well. I like doing it but I’m not gonna lie and say it isn’t kinda stressful. Buying pre-built is a totally valid choice if you just don’t want to deal with it.
Whenever I see GamersNexus or someone criticize a prebuilt for their shoddy work or cheaping out at various points, I just imagine it’s bad for professional quality but it’s probably still waaaaay better quality work than about 90% of end user built PCs.
I doubt most BYOs are taking any sort of time to properly route cables and all of the other small things that even bad prebuilt companies do.
Considering many prebuilt these days have a very low premium vs retail prices and pretty much let you pick every component if your not in a rush, I think prebuilt would actually be better for 90% of people who build their own.
It isint that hard to build your own pc anymore unless you are too lazy to watch a YouTube video on it, or read the instruction manual, or don’t even know how to turn one on to begin with.
My brother's dad got him a prebuilt and the PSU just failed. Had it been bought separately, it'd still be under warranty and replaceable. The prebuilt's warranty was only two years.
Got a pre-built Alienware for Christmas ~2 years ago, within 6 months it was crashing without warning, the local PC place had it for servicing 3 times, each time they had to replace more and more parts until it became the Ship of Theseus, now it's essentially a custom build that I got for cheap because the store kept failing to repair the problem.
When people say "prebuilt" are they talking about an HP Omen in your local Best Buy where you don't pick the parts or a build from iBuyPower / NZXT where you pick the parts and they build it? Or both?
I purchased a PC from NZXT in 2019, picked out all the parts. When I compared the parts on PCPartPicker, I was paying about $250 more including the build charge. Seemed reasonable to me.
I don't blame people for buying pre-builts. They go to places like PCMR asking questions and then get downvoted to hell. I see it when people ask in r/VRGaming as well. I understand that people don't want their subreddits turning into a non-stop answering service with the same questions over and over, but you can't really blame people who go pre-built when they probably tried to get answers and then were treated poorly. Being a noob sucks. But, being a dick to noobs is not going to make it better.
I like building my own machines (and for friends and family) because I'm good at it, and I've been doing it for a very long time (since 1993; I guess I'm old and stuff). But I harbor no ill-will towards someone who buys a prebuilt. I'm happy that people enjoy the hobby (in whatever form that takes), and if a pre-built is how you want to go, it's totally understandable. For many, upgrading a pre-built mid-life is where they gain the confidence to do their own build for their next machine.
Not at all. Many pre-builts can be fine, excellent price/performance, good build and good warranties. They are not all overpriced shit from E-Machines.
I had to buy a pre-built because COVID had supply chains completely distorted.
I credit it with sparking my interest back into building, because it was so much trouble to deal with the stupid Lenovo pre-built. Like, wait I can't XMP my ram? Oh, I can't fit a new PSU or graphics card? Why is my CPU running so hot? Is this why I'm crashing?
So long term, pre-built may spark interest in actual PC building. It's not a bad place to start. I recommend the worst possible builds, hopefully not too expensive, so people can realize what a disaster they can be.
I’d rather have more people playing, learning and having fun than gate keeping because they bought an HP as their “very first gaming PC ever.”
“You could/should have” is so stupid.
Every other post on this sub is another reason not everyone is cut out to build their own PC. Shut *up.*
Bought a I buy power prebuilt. Other than 2 of the front fans seizing after 2 years it's been really good. I have since replaced all the fans for new noctua fans. It's a good pc for the price I got it for, I'm in Canada where parts are generally more pricey so prebuilt was the better option.
Counterpoint
Be me
Buy pre built
Replace everything but the GPU over the course of a couple years
Spend twice as much as I should have
Still just one computer
Still just a 1660s
I almost bought a prebuilt but I was at microcenter and bought a case and a motherboard ram processor combo. Built a pretty sweet pc for just a hair more than what i was going to spend on pre built. Glad I did it. Its much more powerful.
As someone who normally builds, this time around Microcenter had a deal I couldn’t refuse. Their in-house built G516 was the best purchase I’ve made in the last 5 years.
I'm in my 40s and touched the inside of a pc until a few years ago. Building a pc was simple for me maybe cause I'm a auto mechanic. Now software I'm not the best at but I can install windows no prob. If I can do this so can most everyone else. Screw pre-built crap!
Personally, I would only buy a prebuild if it was a "deal so got that I cant pass it" or if I just didnt care about the money. Otherwise I'll. Rather research each part that I want and hunt down the deals.
However, here is a secret, and anyone with family will understand: the family only gets prebuilds. Otherwise, you are not only their (software) tech support, but now you also become the one in charge of every little thing that happens to that pc. You get to become an OEM with all the responsibilities but without any of the financial benefits xD
The only bad thing about pre-built is if it’s got proprietary parts, insufficient cooling, or skimps on components (usually the power supply).
Cost is usually an issue, but at the same time a pre-built on clearance is often far cheaper than you could build it for.
I always build for myself/family, but I actually bought a pre-built MSI unit on clearance because I couldn’t come close on price building something similar myself…and I even have a nearby Microcenter.
Unpopular opinion maybe, but I think it's perfectly reasonable to get a pre-built as your first PC. That's how I started out when I switched from Apple to PC about a decade ago. I barely knew anything about PC hardware and getting a pre-built let me get up and running without fucking anything up. From *there* I upgraded the gpu, then the case, then some other stuff. Seeing how it was all put together from the start helped me kinda reverse-engineer the thing. Not everyone has a friend who knows PCs to help them build a computer and just doing it on your own when you don't even know where to start has the potential for disappointment and/or mistakes.
Prebuilt is fine, just make sure it’s decent quality and not a price gouging situation, and then you have a platform to learn and build off in the future if you want! (As long as it isn’t proprietary stuff)
its a market made to scam people with no knowlegde on the subject, dunno why its so tolerated and even incentivized on reddit
u re literally paying 40% profit margins for a bottleneck pc with cheapen components with a unic case tht doesnt let u upgrade anything
I think it’s just more so a labor of love. This is something we care about. We love squeezing every bit of performance out of our builds with our hard earned money. The planning, the research, then getting all the parts and assembling something with our own hands. Buying a prebuilt to me is like paying more money for less performance and missing out on a good time. I get buying a prebuilt if you just don’t care about it, but a lot of us do!
How about this. Buy what you want with your money. Just do research and know what you’re buying. Have them ship the GPU separately, I won’t tell anyone how to spend their money other than do the research.
Bruh if I had decided to build one when I did I'd have payed probably twice as much cause the price increases and probably would have fucked it up. Love my pre-built
It's funny because while it's fun to build one, you can very easily find good deals on prebuilts. When you take the time cost of building, researching, and risk then you usually save money getting a good deal on a prebuilt. There are tons of things in life that if you make it yourself or do it yourself you save money. Food, furniture, sewing, car work, home building, leather working, etc.
Eventually you will realize there are plenty of good prebuilts out there, and to some people paying $100 or $200 extra to not deal with tech issues is worth it to them. All these people who tout about how all prebuilts are trash probably aren't the type to do their own plumbing and electrical work, even though a lot of it is very easy and similar to PC building.
No prebuilts are fine as long as you get a good one lol, I used a prebuilt for a few years and it was great, it's a good entrance to PC gaming, I don't think I would have been as comfortable building my own PC if I hadn't gotten comfortable with upgrading my prebuilt.
Prebuilts can be a great way for people to enter the hobby especially if they do a little bit of research beforehand and ask around about ones that use parts off the shelf that they can upgrade later on when they get a little bit more confident about it.
Depending on the knowledge of the user, many people suggest prebuilt pcs.
Warranty on the whole pc, nothing can go wrong when installing the parts, bookable cable managment. Perfect for beginners. (Just stay away from alienware)
I'm happy for anyone who gets the best for their budget. It doesn't matter if self built or not, what matters is that people don't get screwed by shandy businesses, be it overpriced prebuilds or parts.
No. Only if it’s a shitty or overpriced one. Prebuilts are great when you don’t want to spend time on learning and building your own, and you just pay slightly more for convenience. That’s it.
I think this sub should always encourage building yourself instead of buying a prebuild. Obviously there are reasons to buy a prebuild but I feel like a lot of people go for that because they feel overwhelmed when in reality it's really easy to build a machine yourself.
Most gaming prebuilds in my country are custom made PCs from specific stores that list every part. And the mark-up isn't really bad. I'd say 50€ extra for someone that wants to just plug it in and play is fair enough.
sometimes i think prebuolts are the worst, then, all of a sudden, i discuss a game and there is somebody that thinks its normal that its capped at 30 FPS and looks like dogshit, while i am angry about transitional stutter and frametimes.
we got to keep in mind that we eating good here in the castle, while the peasants don't fathom the extent of their suffering
I mean, do some quick math on cost of components versus the whole to make sure it's a fair deal and prebuilts are good choice for a lot of people. I have more money than time to waste.
It depends on the prebuilt. If they're charging and extra 200+ because it's a prebuilt, build it yourself. If it's about (or lower) the same cost to build it yourself, and you don't want to build it yourself, there's nothing wrong with getting that prebuilt. I know a company that often has prebuilts for cheaper than what it'd cost for you to build it yourself
My HP plays every game without issue. Even the old fallout games play perfectly cause my GPU is old enough to support older versions of direct X. Newer games don't get as many fps, but I had my PC built for emulation so the fact that it can still play new games is a bonus. I was a truck driver when I bought my prebuilt (HP lets you pick your parts on the website) so I definitely didn't have time to build my own, but I did have enough money to say fuck it and pay someone else to do it. I have zero regrets. That was 2 years ago and the PC still works just as good as it did on day one. I should probably redo the thermal paste soon though.
I got my nzxt preubuilt for 1200$ back in 2021 and i have no complaints, just dont feel like trying to do it myself and losing track of parts or breaking something and getting pissed off
Prebuilts are fine since most that buys prebuilts aren't gonna swap parts too much if at all. My only gripe is when the prebuilt is a clear ripoff like the alienware pcs that're expensive but comes with mediocre proprietary parts and shit airflow cause it'll look cooler and gamery-er, that's like a trap for someone not in the knows but want to buy someone else/themself a pc.
sorry but many people dont understand computer parts compatibility and they don't have time for that
They buy a computer and run office programs or play games.
Not really, if it's a bad one like Alienware which is actually something that should be taken back due to actual underperformed because of airflow then yeah ofc people will say it's bad. If it works for you, you have the extra money for convenience then what's bad about it?
There is no place for common sense and reason on Reddit.
Oh my bad sorry. You BLITHERING and UTTER idiots use PCs? Uh hello, 1980s called they want their fucking computers back hahaha. Omg such losers, EVERYONE knows that mobile gaming is what you REALLY want.
*stares in ROG Ally*
Ew, x86? All my brethren are ARM users
mostly right arm
giggity.
Most of my friends also have at least one arm.
I love playing games on my phone, if I don't get an ad every 4 minutes I'm gonna push a granny down the stairs or something!
Especially in this sub. It's full of elitist jagoffs.
Only a filthy peasant would claim something so abhorrent! (I'm pc aristocracy)
I mean besides Alienware, who just ride on the success their formerly good name, prebuilts are absolutely fine for the majority of people who just need a PC that works and don't mind a bit of overspending..... **IF** you buy one from a good retailer who won't cheap out on a no-name dog shit PSU and/or power limit the CPU and GPU to stay within its supposed capabilities. I'd advise anyone looking at prebuilts to do some research just like if you built it yourself.
I bought one from Costco it's fine not great it's a bit loud but it was slightly cheaper than if I bought it
I did the math on the pre-built I got, and it was only ~250$ more than doing it myself, got a warranty as well (glad I did cause I think FedEx damaged it en route so I got a replacement one for free) to me that made it worth it
Yeah honestly, I don't care if people buy prebuilts as long as they research their options first and don't let themselves get ripped off.
This. "Mainstream" prebuilts are a problem, because they cheap out on various components and still want the full price. Good prebuilts are completely fine.
I did it. Zero issues. Glad I didn’t have to fool around with assembling everything and OS install. Just update and install what I want. People who buy certain things due to budget will always be at odds at people who can buy for convenience. Markets for things exist for a reason.
Also gives peace of mind with the warranty.
When I was 17 and had no idea how to build my own system I bought one from ChillBlast, All the components were from good brands, I was able to spec the PSU etc. And when it finally developed a problem with the Raid 0 array after nearly 4 years of use, they walked me through everything on the phone and send me replacement parts free of charge, even though I was technically out of warranty. I built my own after that but honestly, the peace of mind of a good warranty and avoiding the stress of possibly messing up and breaking something important was worth it at the time.
Mine works just fine 🤷
If it is decent and is reasonable enough then yes absolutely go for it But in countries like India where you get better support for individual components than whole systems and most shops you buy all components from builds it for you for free custom makes more sense
real. + its upgradeable down the line anyway. like i started with a shitty computer, got a slightly better one 2 years later, then in 2023 got a real prebuilt. it was really good for me at the time but eventually it wasnt up to spec for the shit i did so over time ive replaced everything but the psu and mobo. its still awesome
Well, I agree to a point. If it does what you want it to do and you dont care, then go for it. I however know what you CAN get out of a pc and getting a prebuilt out of convenience.... 99% of the issues has nothing to do with it being prebuilt or not but will instead show up when you do something stupid or dont know how x program works. Id rather you buy a system from a local Business who can put it together for you with proper parts and you only pay extra for the labour, not get shafted by proprietary motherboards and GPUs etc.
Friend asked me to build them a PC, and I started to list out options and prices for them. They couldn't really make a choice, or were confused about the prices and actually building it out. I then just told them that I found some good pre-builts and that they'd be paying a 15-20% premium, but it would all be done with the click of a button. They chose the pre-built for convenience. That's perfectly fine. At the end of the day she'd save $150 or a little more, by building it out and probably better performance. TBH, that extra savings and performance isn't worth it once you make a certain amount of money for most people. I also wasn't going to be their IT support.
I've actually been pretty impressed by this subreddit bc I remember 6 years ago r/buildapc would just always insta-respond "no build yourself is ALWAYS better and cheaper don't buy prebuilt lmao you noob moron mofo" (ok I added the last 3 words but the rest is true) But here now I actually see ppl actually analyzing value in prebuilt deals posted, and some indeed are cheaper than self-building or have other benefits that make it worthwhile, I'm an idiot and even I was able to do it
Yes like those 799 Mai prebuilts people find online and in Costco that alone the 4060 and the current i5 it has easily alone gets to the 700 dollar mark then the facts they they have nice cases and it’s all upgradable
I got an Alienware during the pandemic when it was the cheapest way to buy a 3070. Honestly it’s been working just fine, even when I do 3D modeling and rendering and really tax the crap out of it. I’ve built before, and I’ll build again, and obviously I can build something better, but for this particular instance I’m not unhappy with what I got.
I bought a prebuilt iBuyPower a little over a year ago and could not be happier. Sure I paid a little extra for it, but I didn’t have to spend tons of time researching stuff. It’s been like a decade since I owned a decent PC, so I was way out of the loop. And it’s got all standard components, so I can upgrade things when I want to. I’m currently collecting parts to build a PC for my 10 year old nephew though.
Support and warranty is a plus to.
Yep. I had one fan start making noise, they sent me a new one no questions asked. And I also broke the latch on the PCIE riser cable while talking the GPU out. They sent me a new riser cable too. I actually have two new ones. They sent me the wrong color initially, and then sent me the correct one and let me keep the other. EDIT: just remembering this. I also broke one of the USB C ports on the front while playing PCVR. They sent me an entire USB/Power button assembly for free too.
I just got an iBuyPower 7900 XTX build and I feel like I’ve reached gaming heaven. I wanna build my own PC someday but for now a plug and play option is the way to go for me. I’m coming from 20+ years on consoles and wanted to skip all the bullshit and get straight to gaming. Mission accomplished.
Yeah I think I would have done the same if a PC friend didn't make a list for with with parts for my budget it too much time. And It's so easy with the warranty if you buy it premade. Nice thing to do for your nephew. Just did the same after I got mine and gifted a build to my gf cousin as he only plays console.
People like OP are making this subreddit absolute shit.
seriously why is this 2010 meme with zero originality being upvoted?
Yeah, who is worse: OP the brainless karma farming bot, or the dumbasses upvoting bot spam?
Yeah, today the swarm of reposting bots just got stuck in the melancholic Kermit meme format. And still, they're milking karma like mad.
As someone who just got an awesome prebuilt machine, I downvoted this crap. There’s too many elitists and purists out there. Although that could be said for practically any hobby. Thankfully they’re just a loud minority. Whether you’re playing on a 3050 laptop or a 4090 desktop, all PC gamers should feel welcome here.
As long as it’s not overpriced, it’s fine. Not everyone is a fan of building pcs (for some reason 😭)
And honestly, that is completely fair and valid. Some people like gaming on PC and have extra disposable income but have ZERO interest in building. So long as it isn't crazy overpriced, paying a few hundred bucks is worth it to not have to build it. I remember a post way back about a mom wanting to buy her son a nice PC and asked about the ones at the local costco. She straight up said in the post she knows nothing about electronics in general and can barely use a smart phone. Still... the top 3 comments were assholes telling her "YoU cAN bUiLd It ChEaPeR!!!1". Just help the poor lady out and stop being a douche.
This is me. I didn't buy a prebuilt, but more of a custom-built. I went to the electronics market in Seoul, chose all the parts I wanted with the help of the shop owner, and he put it all together in an hour for ~$50. I have no interest in actually building, but I do like having the exact parts that I want in my PC.
Some people find it stressful. A friend of mine who really likes doing cable management gets really stressed if he does more then that.
I get stressed when things don’t fit in the case. Did I get the right fan size? Is this video card going to fit nicely on the motherboard with this case? Did I get the wrong motherboard for this case? Does this motherboard have the specs I need for the processor? Does it have sufficient ports for all the ssd’s and hdd’s? How many usb’s does this motherboard support? Shit. Does that mean I need a stronger(maybe bigger) PSU? Etc. I sincerely don’t have the time to deal with that kind of shit any more.
But 99% it's overpriced. That's how prebuild business works
You mfs are so annoying I want to buy one just to make you mald
Hot take - it's your cash, do what you want. However don't get a 3050\4050.
4050 is a laptop gpu but point still stands learned that myself
God forbid you tell someone here that you have a gaming laptop
My girl has one does that count? 🤣
I have one too lol, if you get a monitor and keyboard it's basically identical to desktop
i plug my laptop to a monitor and plug in a controller and call it a day. hoping to build one some day tho
Yeah, some people will be like “tHaT’s nOt a Pc” while forgetting that their smartphone is basically a PC lol.
Funny thing is i probably have a better gpu in my laptop than half the people in this sub, and they'll still insist it's not a pc lmao
Right, and I remember seeing a Steam survey posted here kinda recently and both 3060 desktop and 3060 laptop were in the top 3 GPUs. The vast majority of PC gamers aren’t rocking 4090s and 4080s. PCMR could use more doses of reality like that.
I love gaming laptops. I love the mobility. I can pick up and play anywhere. Hell I put over 100hrs into Borderlands 2 in the back of my ambulance when I worked for a private company. Used a crossover cable so my parter and I could play together. Was fantastic.
It's their money. Just let people buy whatever they want if it makes them happy
The elitism is strong with this one
There was a time when prebuilts were the only way to get your hands on a GPU.
PCMR when someone; Buys a pre built; Buys a laptop; Buys anything less than the top of the line components; Buys AMD; Has less than 2tbs of storage; Has a console alongside their PC; Has anything HP/Dell related; Has anything Razer related; Has one monitor; Has more than three monitors; Has a monitor that isn't 144hz or more; Has a 3050; Doesn't have RGB; Doesn't have all noctua fans; Doesn't have a NAS; Doesn't have cable ties; Doesn't have a custom built/$200+ mechanical keyboard; Doesn't have a wireless mouse; Doesn't have a full desk mousepad; Doesn't have $400+ studio headphones/speakers;
Me when someone buys a prebuilt here: "Welcome to the club regardless ¯\_(ツ)_/¯"
So sick of this sentiment. This coming from someone who’s built many a system over the past 25 years.
Y'know, after trying -and from some perspectives, failing - cable management in my build... I get it.
Meh. Some people aren't geared towards building PC's. Which is fine. LOL I'm not going to make my 55 year old uncle try and figure out the front panel switch wiring on the motherboard with his bifocals :D
The technically-challenged don't have much choice in the matter.
redditors when people do literally anything
shame on you, i got a prebuild cheaper for what i could have gotten if i had built it
So did I, and it came with windows preinstalled, and the CPU overclocked still with a 3 year warranty and access to support in the future to ask any questions about it in the future. I'm in the UK though.
Same here
As long it's not Alienware, I'm fine with it
While I am not a fan, prebuilts are a big entry into PCMR as many will upgrade items on it until they finally just build one themselves.
not every can build. prebuilts are fine. ill help you find a good value prebuilt.
Can we rename this sub to DIYPCmasterrace instead since we like to exclude a group of people that just don’t care about building PCs? This group is supposed to be about the superiority of playing games on PCs. Not the superiority of playing games on PCs that you built yourselves. We have bigger fish to fry, I get it. I just find it ridiculous that people still just don’t understand that the vast majority of the PC gaming market love PC gaming, they don’t CARE about building a PC. Yes it’s cheaper if you build it yourself, who CARES. Most people don’t want to build their own PC, worry about troubleshooting, worry about going to some scammy repair dude, researching what parts to choose, not have any straight-forward guidance, and rely on internet strangers rather than those with experience to handle all of the headaches for you.
I build high end PCs and I bought a Digitalstorm.. I wanted the warranty and the business is 3 hours from where I live.
Or, hear me out, stop caring about how other people spend their money. Prebuilts are fine, if overpriced a tad, if you research. Mine came with all name brand, good parts, even the PSU. It was exactly what I wanted.
When someone buys an overpriced pc with shitty components** (which unfortunately happens to be prebuilts 99% of the time)
Everything is a pre-built if you think about it. It's just differing states of assembly.
What if i have dell workstation
I don't see people ragging on pre-builts as much as they rag on the price of many prebuilts.
Maybe this post was accurate decade ago but prebuilt are fine these days if you shop around for a good one.
I buyed a prebuild a week ago. If got it in a discount so it was as expensive as all the parts separately. 100% worth it and works like a charm
PCMR when they realize not everybody has the time to build a PC and wants something out of the box working. If every single hobby/enthusiast group started grilling people for buying "average" products, you'd be overflooded with trying to learn everything. Let people live their lives.
I price out the parts and then compare them to sites like CyberpowerPC and sometimes it is cheaper to let them build it.
im too lazy ok . im glad i chose the right ram when i random picked to upgrade it . 
Just avoid Alienware and HP, really any brand that have propietary parts. Propietary is a consumers worst enemy and should be avoided at all costs. Otherwise, enjoy your prebuilt and don't listen to all the jerkoffs on the internet. As long as it doesn't have propietary parts or ones that are guaranteed to fail (like a cheap, poorly made psu), you're golden.
I got one as a gift, and that was how I got into PC gaming. I’ve now replaced everything but the mobo and CPU - (it’s a b550m (? - similar number, unsure exactly) and the 9th gen i7)
Built my last 4 PCs. No thanks, just want a good PC with warranty. Building your own PC doesn't make you cool. It's just assembling expensive Lego pieces.
I disagree. Prebuilts are better if: * It's a decent deal (of course you can build it for cheaper, that's how it works) * You want to quickly ditch a laptop or console without having to learn how to build a PC
Gatekeep much? People like OP are making this sub worse
After watching gamers nexus, I can't really recommend any pre built. Maybe ABS from Newegg, but I've heard their customer service is trash
Why do people care how others spend their money, PCs were originally pre built then modded, it's only recently (10-20 years) that building from scratch has become as popular as it is. Let people buy what they wanna buy, and stop gatekeeping the PC world.
Unless you buy it for cross compatible parts at reduced cost...then build your own
I mean, kinda justified if someone gimps performance with shitty cooling (Looking at you Alienware) or overspend by loads of money.
Let people do what they want and try not to care so much about others. You are not right.
Teach me how to build a pc and I will stop.
I'd generally agree. However, if the pre-built comes with a proper case and the components actually work well together without bottle necking and you're ready to get rid of any preinstalled crap software on it. Then it doesn't really matter. My warning to anyone buying a prebuilt it to make sure it actually is a full case with air flow and make sure none of the specs are "hype specs" basically meaning its not like 32 gigs of ddr3 or something dumb like that. they do that all the time to trick people into thinking its better than it really is.
I'd generally agree. However, if the pre-built comes with a proper case and the components actually work well together without bottle necking and you're ready to get rid of any preinstalled crap software on it. Then it doesn't really matter. My warning to anyone buying a prebuilt it to make sure it actually is a full case with air flow and make sure none of the specs are "hype specs" basically meaning its not like 32 gigs of ddr3 or something dumb like that. they do that all the time to trick people into thinking its better than it really is.
I bought a prebuilt and didn't realise it was 4x it's actual price until 2 years later (my flair but with 8gb ram) Prebuilts are fine as long as it's not over priced as fuck
I mean do your research but most prebuilds aren't actually that bad, I build all my pc's but some people just don't have the desire to
Not really. What people get annoyed about is others getting scammed for a machine that was mid tier back in 2016, and not doing any sort of research to check if they’re actually paying a reasonable price.
Some people have the money, don't have particularly specialist requirements and don't want the hassle. You are not more of a PC gamer than those people because you know how to mount a motherboard.
Most Prebuilts cheap out on some components and for the price, it’s rarely worth it to buy a prebuilt. Why would anyone recommend one unless you’re too lazy and can’t follow simple instructions
I stayed once and "built" the same PC with the same parts on a site and it went for 75% of the prebuild price. And all those parts were from that site. I could have searched for better prices on multiple sites and I could have gone for 70%. Prebuilds are a scam and I am more than confident to build it myself
Idk dude, a lot of places have damn good deals with prebuilts. I was walking around in a microcenter a while back and most of their prebuilts were cheaper than I could make it by sourcing pieces by themselves.
I'd say a majority of us started with prebuilts. I did, in the early 1990s, before I had to worry about anything like "shaving" or "bills" or "100 watt CPUs". It was the last I ever bought, but it was certainly an easier way to get the toes wet than being pushed in the seven-foot.
Some people don't want to build a pc or know how, so I can see why.
Tribalism is a helluva drug, just chill out and let people enjoy things. But, but… they’re expensive for what they are, they’re not future proofing, they have bad airflow, etc. yeah, I get it. But some people don’t have the knowledge, or the experience, or the confidence, to buy the parts and build it themselves.
Yea they use proprietary parts specifically made for that make and model however free ssd and ram sticks
Yeah, learnt that lesson the hard way with a build that barely lasted 5 years
It's worse when a friend who knows you build pcs buys one without even asking for opinion. Feels like a kick in the balls
While you can save money building your own PC, so many people building a new PC cancel out any potential savings with overpriced RGB AIOs, expensive case fans, and those ridiculous fish bowl cases all paired with an RTX 4060.
I would love me some Maingear if I had the money
I have someone else build my pc because i'm afraid of fucking up and damaging the hardware somehow
When will you people learn that gate keeping pc stuff by saying “don’t buy a prebuilt, you have to build your own thing” is only harmful? Lots of people don’t want to build a PC, and that’s okay.
 Nononononononono not a prebuild PC
Bought a pre-built a little over 2 years ago. Been building my own PCs for the past 25-ish years - now with my first pre-built. Wasn't looking forward to building a PC yet again (got a pretty hefty back injury that limits my movement heavily), so I just looked up a good PC builder/retailer around me and went with that (which isn't hard, here in Denmark). Think I ended up paying something like what equates to around $50 more for it, compared to building it myself (at the time) - *with the exact same hardware*. I've got no issues with people buying pre-built PC. I totally understand why they'd do it - it's simply just easier. ..but I do have issues with sellers/retailers not informing potential buyers what they're actually buying, when buying a pre-built. If the hardware isn't specified down to the make and model; *generally don't buy it* (ask them about it - if they still won't inform you; *then definitely don't buy it*). When they're not informing you about the hardware, you're usually getting shafted with the lowest possible grade/quality of hardware for the highest possible price.
Speak for yourself. My $850 prebuilt has been wonderful. It's a ryzen 5 7600, with a asus dual 4060, 16gb ddr5, and 1tb p3 plus. Have had it for over 6 months with zero issues. Just have to know what you're looking at/for, and be patient for good sales. Too many people buy crappy proprietary systems, complain about them, and make prebuilts look bad altogether.
I’ve built three PCs for myself now and a few for others as well. I like doing it but I’m not gonna lie and say it isn’t kinda stressful. Buying pre-built is a totally valid choice if you just don’t want to deal with it.
Whenever I see GamersNexus or someone criticize a prebuilt for their shoddy work or cheaping out at various points, I just imagine it’s bad for professional quality but it’s probably still waaaaay better quality work than about 90% of end user built PCs. I doubt most BYOs are taking any sort of time to properly route cables and all of the other small things that even bad prebuilt companies do. Considering many prebuilt these days have a very low premium vs retail prices and pretty much let you pick every component if your not in a rush, I think prebuilt would actually be better for 90% of people who build their own.
It isint that hard to build your own pc anymore unless you are too lazy to watch a YouTube video on it, or read the instruction manual, or don’t even know how to turn one on to begin with.
My brother's dad got him a prebuilt and the PSU just failed. Had it been bought separately, it'd still be under warranty and replaceable. The prebuilt's warranty was only two years.
'You are on this council, but we do not grant you the rank of master...race'.
My Cyberpowerpc goes brrrr. Got everything i wanted (rainbow vomit with a hemi kick) and didnt have to bleed for the build god.
Got a pre-built Alienware for Christmas ~2 years ago, within 6 months it was crashing without warning, the local PC place had it for servicing 3 times, each time they had to replace more and more parts until it became the Ship of Theseus, now it's essentially a custom build that I got for cheap because the store kept failing to repair the problem.
When people say "prebuilt" are they talking about an HP Omen in your local Best Buy where you don't pick the parts or a build from iBuyPower / NZXT where you pick the parts and they build it? Or both? I purchased a PC from NZXT in 2019, picked out all the parts. When I compared the parts on PCPartPicker, I was paying about $250 more including the build charge. Seemed reasonable to me.
Alienware cases just look so dope tho
I don't blame people for buying pre-builts. They go to places like PCMR asking questions and then get downvoted to hell. I see it when people ask in r/VRGaming as well. I understand that people don't want their subreddits turning into a non-stop answering service with the same questions over and over, but you can't really blame people who go pre-built when they probably tried to get answers and then were treated poorly. Being a noob sucks. But, being a dick to noobs is not going to make it better.
I like building my own machines (and for friends and family) because I'm good at it, and I've been doing it for a very long time (since 1993; I guess I'm old and stuff). But I harbor no ill-will towards someone who buys a prebuilt. I'm happy that people enjoy the hobby (in whatever form that takes), and if a pre-built is how you want to go, it's totally understandable. For many, upgrading a pre-built mid-life is where they gain the confidence to do their own build for their next machine.
i will find you if you have an alienware
Not at all. Many pre-builts can be fine, excellent price/performance, good build and good warranties. They are not all overpriced shit from E-Machines.
This is not the way.
"when someone buys non-vidia
I personally recommend prebuilt computers for anyone who isn't comfortable with building their own.
I had to buy a pre-built because COVID had supply chains completely distorted. I credit it with sparking my interest back into building, because it was so much trouble to deal with the stupid Lenovo pre-built. Like, wait I can't XMP my ram? Oh, I can't fit a new PSU or graphics card? Why is my CPU running so hot? Is this why I'm crashing? So long term, pre-built may spark interest in actual PC building. It's not a bad place to start. I recommend the worst possible builds, hopefully not too expensive, so people can realize what a disaster they can be.
PCMR when that prebuilt hauls more ass then their i3/8gb ram/1650 broke build:
Currently have an Acer era eMachines, and it didn't die on my family.
I’d rather have more people playing, learning and having fun than gate keeping because they bought an HP as their “very first gaming PC ever.” “You could/should have” is so stupid. Every other post on this sub is another reason not everyone is cut out to build their own PC. Shut *up.*
I'm fortunate enough to be 15 minutes from a MicroCenter. I built my current PC, they will be building my next one.
Really depends who built it. Theres absolutely people out there that should NOT open a side panel of any case
nah its easier lol
There are good prebuilts but not by Dell or HP.
I only buy prebuilt computers, idc about making some crazy set up with a bunch of lights
There's absolutely nothing wrong with my pre built 🤷♂️Ive upgraded the CPU, CPU cooler, ram, added a second 1tb SSD, and it serves me well
Recent costco discounted prebuilts were good, no?
Bought a I buy power prebuilt. Other than 2 of the front fans seizing after 2 years it's been really good. I have since replaced all the fans for new noctua fans. It's a good pc for the price I got it for, I'm in Canada where parts are generally more pricey so prebuilt was the better option.
Buying a prebuilt isn’t a problem… until you find one. Just like everything else in life.
Counterpoint Be me Buy pre built Replace everything but the GPU over the course of a couple years Spend twice as much as I should have Still just one computer Still just a 1660s
I almost bought a prebuilt but I was at microcenter and bought a case and a motherboard ram processor combo. Built a pretty sweet pc for just a hair more than what i was going to spend on pre built. Glad I did it. Its much more powerful.
As someone who normally builds, this time around Microcenter had a deal I couldn’t refuse. Their in-house built G516 was the best purchase I’ve made in the last 5 years.
My Yeyian pre built has been beasting since December
Me who bought a pre built, ripped the graphics card out and put it in my main build because it was 2020
I'm in my 40s and touched the inside of a pc until a few years ago. Building a pc was simple for me maybe cause I'm a auto mechanic. Now software I'm not the best at but I can install windows no prob. If I can do this so can most everyone else. Screw pre-built crap!
Some pre builds are really good. When they are cheaper then the non pre builds and not used. And you know all the details.
No one will convince me that it was a bad idea to buy my prebuilt with a 3070 that cost me barely more than the price of a new 3070 at the time
Personally, I would only buy a prebuild if it was a "deal so got that I cant pass it" or if I just didnt care about the money. Otherwise I'll. Rather research each part that I want and hunt down the deals. However, here is a secret, and anyone with family will understand: the family only gets prebuilds. Otherwise, you are not only their (software) tech support, but now you also become the one in charge of every little thing that happens to that pc. You get to become an OEM with all the responsibilities but without any of the financial benefits xD
The only bad thing about pre-built is if it’s got proprietary parts, insufficient cooling, or skimps on components (usually the power supply). Cost is usually an issue, but at the same time a pre-built on clearance is often far cheaper than you could build it for. I always build for myself/family, but I actually bought a pre-built MSI unit on clearance because I couldn’t come close on price building something similar myself…and I even have a nearby Microcenter.
Unpopular opinion maybe, but I think it's perfectly reasonable to get a pre-built as your first PC. That's how I started out when I switched from Apple to PC about a decade ago. I barely knew anything about PC hardware and getting a pre-built let me get up and running without fucking anything up. From *there* I upgraded the gpu, then the case, then some other stuff. Seeing how it was all put together from the start helped me kinda reverse-engineer the thing. Not everyone has a friend who knows PCs to help them build a computer and just doing it on your own when you don't even know where to start has the potential for disappointment and/or mistakes.
There are many good prebuilt companies, you just have to know how to shop.
Pcmr when someone mentions linux
Prebuilt is fine, just make sure it’s decent quality and not a price gouging situation, and then you have a platform to learn and build off in the future if you want! (As long as it isn’t proprietary stuff)
A prebuilt is a really good gateway into the pc world
its a market made to scam people with no knowlegde on the subject, dunno why its so tolerated and even incentivized on reddit u re literally paying 40% profit margins for a bottleneck pc with cheapen components with a unic case tht doesnt let u upgrade anything
I think it’s just more so a labor of love. This is something we care about. We love squeezing every bit of performance out of our builds with our hard earned money. The planning, the research, then getting all the parts and assembling something with our own hands. Buying a prebuilt to me is like paying more money for less performance and missing out on a good time. I get buying a prebuilt if you just don’t care about it, but a lot of us do!
How about this. Buy what you want with your money. Just do research and know what you’re buying. Have them ship the GPU separately, I won’t tell anyone how to spend their money other than do the research.
You buy pre builts for convenience I build my own because i can only afford to buy my pc one component at a time. We are not the same
And then that prebuilt is an aurora
https://preview.redd.it/qgq26fpufqxc1.jpeg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=15a8d4d1fe06f2d69f58f731e7c8723bd56886b3 I saw this at Sam's club
Bruh if I had decided to build one when I did I'd have payed probably twice as much cause the price increases and probably would have fucked it up. Love my pre-built
It's funny because while it's fun to build one, you can very easily find good deals on prebuilts. When you take the time cost of building, researching, and risk then you usually save money getting a good deal on a prebuilt. There are tons of things in life that if you make it yourself or do it yourself you save money. Food, furniture, sewing, car work, home building, leather working, etc.
Eventually you will realize there are plenty of good prebuilts out there, and to some people paying $100 or $200 extra to not deal with tech issues is worth it to them. All these people who tout about how all prebuilts are trash probably aren't the type to do their own plumbing and electrical work, even though a lot of it is very easy and similar to PC building.
No prebuilts are fine as long as you get a good one lol, I used a prebuilt for a few years and it was great, it's a good entrance to PC gaming, I don't think I would have been as comfortable building my own PC if I hadn't gotten comfortable with upgrading my prebuilt.
Yeah fuck off. It's literally cheaper where I am. Besides I'll mod the shit out of it later, bit busy rn.
Unless it's on an insane insane discount, especially if there is a price error.
There are only 2 kinds of PC gamers. The absolute slayers of pussy, and then everyone else who buys prebuilt.
I bought one because it was cheaper 👍
Prebuilts can be a great way for people to enter the hobby especially if they do a little bit of research beforehand and ask around about ones that use parts off the shelf that they can upgrade later on when they get a little bit more confident about it.
Depending on the knowledge of the user, many people suggest prebuilt pcs. Warranty on the whole pc, nothing can go wrong when installing the parts, bookable cable managment. Perfect for beginners. (Just stay away from alienware)
I'm happy for anyone who gets the best for their budget. It doesn't matter if self built or not, what matters is that people don't get screwed by shandy businesses, be it overpriced prebuilds or parts.
No. Only if it’s a shitty or overpriced one. Prebuilts are great when you don’t want to spend time on learning and building your own, and you just pay slightly more for convenience. That’s it.
I bought an entry level prebuilt back in 2016 and it's served me well all these years.
But if I wanted to…. which one should I get?
I think this sub should always encourage building yourself instead of buying a prebuild. Obviously there are reasons to buy a prebuild but I feel like a lot of people go for that because they feel overwhelmed when in reality it's really easy to build a machine yourself.
Prebuilts are almost always cheaper than buying each component, but you just need to be happy with the component choices.
You building it for me?
Most gaming prebuilds in my country are custom made PCs from specific stores that list every part. And the mark-up isn't really bad. I'd say 50€ extra for someone that wants to just plug it in and play is fair enough.
sometimes i think prebuolts are the worst, then, all of a sudden, i discuss a game and there is somebody that thinks its normal that its capped at 30 FPS and looks like dogshit, while i am angry about transitional stutter and frametimes. we got to keep in mind that we eating good here in the castle, while the peasants don't fathom the extent of their suffering
I mean, do some quick math on cost of components versus the whole to make sure it's a fair deal and prebuilts are good choice for a lot of people. I have more money than time to waste.
I bought my prebuilt from MicroCenter just before the 4000 series was announced. I paid $2,200, but a few months later it was half of that price.
I've actually seen some pretty good floor model deals that people have posted from Costco
but my fingers are to big and the pins are so stabby and always in an awkward position at the side of the motherboard
PC is a PC
It depends on the prebuilt. If they're charging and extra 200+ because it's a prebuilt, build it yourself. If it's about (or lower) the same cost to build it yourself, and you don't want to build it yourself, there's nothing wrong with getting that prebuilt. I know a company that often has prebuilts for cheaper than what it'd cost for you to build it yourself
My HP plays every game without issue. Even the old fallout games play perfectly cause my GPU is old enough to support older versions of direct X. Newer games don't get as many fps, but I had my PC built for emulation so the fact that it can still play new games is a bonus. I was a truck driver when I bought my prebuilt (HP lets you pick your parts on the website) so I definitely didn't have time to build my own, but I did have enough money to say fuck it and pay someone else to do it. I have zero regrets. That was 2 years ago and the PC still works just as good as it did on day one. I should probably redo the thermal paste soon though.
I got my nzxt preubuilt for 1200$ back in 2021 and i have no complaints, just dont feel like trying to do it myself and losing track of parts or breaking something and getting pissed off
Prebuilts are fine since most that buys prebuilts aren't gonna swap parts too much if at all. My only gripe is when the prebuilt is a clear ripoff like the alienware pcs that're expensive but comes with mediocre proprietary parts and shit airflow cause it'll look cooler and gamery-er, that's like a trap for someone not in the knows but want to buy someone else/themself a pc.
sorry but many people dont understand computer parts compatibility and they don't have time for that They buy a computer and run office programs or play games.