How to Future-Proof Your Prebuilt PC Purchase

Vincent Potter
4 min readDec 14, 2018
Photo by Alexandru-Bogdan Ghita on Unsplash

There’s no reason to ever buy a prebuilt gaming computer. At least, that’s the answer you’ll get if you ask around on a PC forum. Dedicated hobbyists are prone to discouraging and belittling those who suggest taking the easy route when it comes to purchasing a new gaming rig, and they can often provide a persuasive argument. Building your own PC (for gaming or otherwise) allows you to choose your own parts, focus your budget on that which you need most, reuse old components, make use of individual warranties, and etcetera. Some services even allow you to order custom-built computers at the click of a button, quenching your fear of snapping, frying, or otherwise bricking your own parts. So why buy a prebuilt?

Price.

Component prices are on the rise, and whether it’s due to cryptocurrency mining or market monopolization, buying individually is no longer the default budget-friendly option. In fact, you might be able to save hundreds of dollars by avoiding customization, especially if you buy during a sale. Two of the primary reasons console gamers avoid switching to PC are that the entrance fee is too high and the setup too complicated. Prebuilt markets target this crowd, offering discounts and simplicity as their attempt at conversion. You may or may not fall into this targeted audience; either way, however, you can take advantage of the…

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Vincent Potter

Prose editor at FreeFall literary magazine and full-time writer.