For anyone who has an interest in computers, the thought should have crossed their mind whether it is better to buy or build their next personal computer.  There are pros and cons to both sides of this problem and I will do my best to outline each so that you can make an informed decision for the next time.

As a warning, building your own PC should not be attempted unless you have a good grasp on how a computer works or are willing to put in the work and time it requires to build a working PC.  There is a lot of research that needs to be done before hand about the compatibilities one piece of hardware has with another and so on.  There are sites out there that list the compatibilities for you so that is not that big of an issue.  Assembling and getting your PC running with the appropriate software is where most people find a lot of frustration.  Buying is definitely the easier option of the two.  The manufacturer does all of that work for you and they should come with 24/7 support and a warranty  should you have any problems with it.  There is no warranty or 24/7 support should you decide to build your own PC.  All of the problems that those services solve for you, will have to be done personally.  That is something that most people don’t consider.

There comes a great sense of accomplishment from building a computer from scratch and a deeper understanding on how they work since you will be setting up everything yourself.  You know exactly what is under the hood and what it can do.  There are a plethora of reasons why someone may want to build their own PC but the most common is for gaming.  Building your own gaming rig allows someone to choose the parts specifically for their purposes and to save money as well.  A computer that may cost two thousand dollars from the manufacturer may only cost one thousand two hundred with the same parts because you are putting in the work assembling and setting up the software.  That is another major factor to consider.

For someone who has a basic understanding of computers, wants to learn more about them or is willing to put in the work to build one beginning to end, I highly suggest that you build your own PC.  There is greater sense of achievement and understanding of what a computer is capable of if you put in the work to build it yourself.  There is a large amount of information on the internet for fixing any problem that may arise while building or setting up your PC.  Sure, it is easier to call the support line of your respective manufacturer and have them tell you the solution but through the research you did in building your computer, you may have already have seen or know how to fix it yourself.  I think the big question you need to ask yourself is whether or not you want to expand your own knowledge of computers or if you are happy with knowing the minimum and calling the support line for help?

If there are any problems or concerns, please feel free to leave a comment.  How do you feel about building a personal computer vs buying one?  Has anyone had the same problems as me?  Are there any unique problems that someone may have encountered and would like to share?

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