Does Building Your Own Computer Still Save Money?

[Polaris]

It saves you money if you are into a serious rig because you won't get charged ridiculous prices for upgrades.....computers are cheap if you buy a per-configured model that the seller does not have to get their employees to change (keeping it simple keeps costs down).

Also what is great about building your own computer is the flexibility to choose what components you want (given they are compatible with the other components you choose to use). It is so annoying to look at a seller's computer selection (even Velocity Micro and similar sites where they allow you to make changes to the customized rig) and just think how cool would it be if they allowed me to choose this option or that option instead.

[fr0d0]

Building your own opens you up to risks that large manufaturers can shoulder. The best components don't necessarily work together well. It's a problem with open architecture. The whole nightmare of tracking warranties on individual components adds enough stress to put me right off. I used to do it. Not any more.

I've also known large suppliers fail on component matching. And dogs do happen. Even with the best will in the world you can guarantee a certain percentage of builds will suck. The small builder has no buffer to take these hits.