Are "Off The Shelf" Pre-builts Ever Okay?

[Starlifter60 83]

Is there such a thing as an off the rack pre-built that doesn't trade off performance for the convenience of having someone else building a new system for you?

[frankla 44]

There are a lot of them.  Usually, they either have prebuilt pcs as well as built to your spec pcs.  I got mine built by Cyberpowerpc.com.

 

[Silverbird 115]

7 hours ago, Starlifter60 said:

Is there such a thing as an off the rack pre-built that doesn't trade off performance for the convenience of having someone else building a new system for you?

There's some decent  ones out there If i were getting something prebuilt i would probably go with https://nzxt.com

[stans 702]

Yes, there are pre-built computers that are really good, but they will cost more than doing it yourself.  During the pandemic, I could not obtain components to build a computer to replace my ancient Windows XP based system, so I went pre-built.  Given the issues I had, I would not get one from Newegg, but it was on the low end of the cost spectrum and it was available.

[martin-w 3,234]

4 hours ago, stans said:

Yes, there are pre-built computers that are really good, but they will cost more than doing it yourself.  During the pandemic, I could not obtain components to build a computer to replace my ancient Windows XP based system, so I went pre-built.  Given the issues I had, I would not get one from Newegg, but it was on the low end of the cost spectrum and it was available.

 

I agree, but would disagree with costing more than doing it yourself.

My last self build  a few months ago cost a bomb! 

What you gain from a self build is the ability to choose each and every component yourself. And the enjoyment of building yourself. 

[stans 702]

21 hours ago, martin-w said:

 

I agree, but would disagree with costing more than doing it yourself.

My last self build  a few months ago cost a bomb! 

What you gain from a self build is the ability to choose each and every component yourself. And the enjoyment of building yourself. 

My current computer was purchased in mid-2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic and everyone was shut in and working from home.  At that time, between a massive demand for computers to allow people to work from home and manufacturing slow downs and shut downs, components, especially PSU's and graphics cards, were hard to obtain and extremely expensive.  It appeared to me that system builders were first in line to get components, which meant any components on the DIY market were scarce and scarcity plus demand creates very high prices.  It was the first time for me that buying pre-built was actually a less expensive than buying all the components and building it myself.  It was a crazy time.

[frankla 44]

On 6/1/2023 at 2:08 AM, stans said:

Yes, there are pre-built computers that are really good, but they will cost more than doing it yourself.  During the pandemic, I could not obtain components to build a computer to replace my ancient Windows XP based system, so I went pre-built.  Given the issues I had, I would not get one from Newegg, but it was on the low end of the cost spectrum and it was available.

The builders usually get parts at better prices so that building yourself is not usually any better price.

[stans 702]

16 hours ago, frankla said:

The builders usually get parts at better prices so that building yourself is not usually any better price.

That is certainly the post-pandemic computer build climate.  I had hoped things would change, but here we are in the middle of 2023 and components, especially graphics cards, are still pricey.  Perhaps the golden age of DIY builds is forever gone?

[micstatic 4,316]

My last build I easily saved about 1500 building myself.  These days I'm more in a component replacement cycle vs total replacement.  I've used the same case three builds in a row.  But I think a prebuilt has the advantage of warranty/support if that's needed.  

[odourboy 1,288]

44 minutes ago, micstatic said:

My last build I easily saved about 1500 building myself.

I second this. Also in the $1500 range, a portion of which I 'reinvested' in quality and the remainder into an upgraded HOTAS and VR HMD.

[Starlifter60 83]

2 hours ago, micstatic said:

My last build I easily saved about 1500 building myself.  These days I'm more in a component replacement cycle vs total replacement.  I've used the same case three builds in a row.  But I think a prebuilt has the advantage of warranty/support if that's needed.  

I built a system many moons ago (2000-ish) and enjoyed the process very much but at this stage the convenience factor kind of outweighs the DIY vibe. Once I lock in a budget, I'm comfortable with spending the money...just want to get the most value out of the deal. I've had some pretty subpar pre-builts and that's on me but times and technology change. The warranty angle is a factor, though. Thanks 

[micstatic 4,316]

1 hour ago, Starlifter60 said:

I built a system many moons ago (2000-ish) and enjoyed the process very much but at this stage the convenience factor kind of outweighs the DIY vibe. Once I lock in a budget, I'm comfortable with spending the money...just want to get the most value out of the deal. I've had some pretty subpar pre-builts and that's on me but times and technology change. The warranty angle is a factor, though. Thanks 

in all fairness the process in my opinion is much simpler than 20 years ago.  especially when you go to do a build in the same case.  My last build had the same Power Supply and case.  So it was basically just putting a motherboard in and a few other steps.  

[Bob Scott 7,716]

On 6/3/2023 at 9:21 AM, Starlifter60 said:

I built a system many moons ago (2000-ish) and enjoyed the process very much but at this stage the convenience factor kind of outweighs the DIY vibe. Once I lock in a budget, I'm comfortable with spending the money...just want to get the most value out of the deal. I've had some pretty subpar pre-builts and that's on me but times and technology change. The warranty angle is a factor, though. Thanks 

There are some custom shops that specialize in building computers specifically for flight sims--Jetline and XForce PC both come to mind.  I have a good friend that got a Jetline system with the sim already installed and configured on it...the experience was a favorable one.

 

[joemiller 269]

On 5/31/2023 at 10:48 AM, Starlifter60 said:

Is there such a thing as an off the rack pre-built that doesn't trade off performance for the convenience of having someone else building a new system for you?

Never! Unless money is no problem. 'Gaming' computers cost up to 300% more than if you built it yourself. 

[Noel 4,487]

On 6/11/2023 at 6:16 PM, joemiller said:

Never! Unless money is no problem. 'Gaming' computers cost up to 300% more than if you built it yourself. 

Best decide exactly what you need it to do.  This seems grossly overpriced:

Gravity GTX – Jetline Systems