Learning how to build a PC is easier than ever. Hundreds of YouTube videos, books, blogs, and forums are dedicated to building custom PCs. Heck, you might even know someone who can mentor you.
PC-building resources are all over the web, and there are plenty of people (whether online or in-person) who you can ask for help. There's no reason why you shouldn't take the plunge and build your own PC.
As someone who was hesitant about building their own computer, I can tell you that it was definitely worth it. If you've already spent way too long fighting yourself about building a custom PC, there are several advantages that should push you over the edge.
1. You Can Build a Computer That Suits Your Needs
When you build a custom PC, you can tailor it to your needs and interests. Whether you want to use your PC to immerse yourself in the world of VR or play lesser-known indie games, you can create a PC that reflects these preferences.
A custom PC gives you the power to pick every part that goes into the machine. This means that you don't have to spend thousands of dollars if you don't want to.
You might not get the greatest performance for a PC on the cheaper side, but as long as it does what you want, you can pat yourself on the back for saving some cash.
On the other end of the spectrum, you can also opt to build a cutting-edge computer that can tackle virtually any game. How you build your PC all comes down to how you plan to use it.
You don't have to scour the web to find the perfect pre-built PC when you can just build and customize it yourself!
2. It's All About Upgrades
Remember when I mentioned that you can save some cash by building a low-end PC? Well, your PC doesn't have to stay that way forever.
If you happen to save up extra money, you can put that towards PC upgrades. Replacing your budget parts with something with a little extra oomph is what PC building is all about—nothing has to stay the same.
There are always new computer parts coming out, and fortunately, the PC-building market doesn't behave like console gaming. You don't always have to upgrade to the next-gen graphics card in order to play new games, as a mid-range setup can last you several years.
3. Cross-Platform Gaming
Console-exclusive games are just another ploy to make you spend more money. Even if you already own an Xbox One, you'll probably end up buying a PlayStation 4 to play PS4-exclusive games like Persona 5 or God of War.
PCs in general give you the best of both worlds when it comes to gaming. Since most console games end up coming to PC (excluding Nintendo games), you can be happy knowing that you can play almost all console games, along with an amazing collection of PC-exclusive games.
This is just an extra perk that comes along with building a PC.
4. Choices, Choices, Choices
Tired of Windows and want to run Linux? With a custom PC, you aren't bound to a single operating system. Most store-bought PCs come with Windows pre-installed, which forces you to use that platform.
Even if you do want to use Windows, it's still nice to know that your custom-built PC is basically a blank slate, and you won't even have to deal with any annoying bloatware.
When you boot up your computer for the first time, you can decide what steps to take from there.
5. It's a Fun Learning Experience
Building a PC gives you the chance to learn something new. Even if you're not an IT expert or a software engineer, you can still learn how to build a PC.
In fact, it's even more fun if you're not the most technologically-savvy—it might take you a bit longer to build your PC, but you'll get to marvel at how much you've learned.
PC building is an impressive skill that will likely stick with you for life. Figuring out what each part does, and where it goes will become ingrained in your mind.
Better yet, the learning process doesn't stop after you finish building your PC. You'll quickly learn how to troubleshoot if something goes wrong in the future.
Stop Thinking and Start Doing
It's scary to invest your time and money into something that you're not even sure you know how to do. In the end, you shouldn't be worried. You can always refer to online PC-building resources if you get stuck. The end result makes the hard work worth it.
Looking for games to play on your future custom-built PC? Build your collection in advance by learning how to acquire free PC games.