Is it Better to Build a PC or Buy One? ECPI University Rams Coaches Discuss this Hot Topic
Rams Coaches Lead Gaming PC Seminar
Every year in early November, Hampton, Virginia hosts one of the world’s largest anime conventions. It’s called NekoCon, and thousands of attendees come from near and far to celebrate this Japanese form of animation which encompasses both entertainment and gaming.
Last year, organizers invited culinary students from ECPI University’s College of Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of Virginia, to compete in an anime-style cooking contest. This year, they also asked members of ECPI University’s eSports team, the Rams, to lead a seminar about gaming PCs.
Athletic Director Mike Glover and Coach Stephen Arthur lead a lively discussion about a hot topic among gamers… whether to buy a PC off the shelf or go for a custom build. Not long ago, mid to top range gaming PCs were out reach for many people. They were just too expensive. Upgrading parts required technical knowledge, and tech support was virtually non-existent.
Now, however, Glover and Arthur said there are many affordable options, with mid-level gaming PCs starting under $700. Moreover, doing your own upgrades requires little, if any, technical skill. Plus, almost all gaming PC manufacturers offer warranties and 24/7 tech support.
On the higher end, initial capital outlay can be substantial and custom builds can take weeks to deliver. If the company you buy from is far away, sending your PC back for warranty work can take a long time, and return material authorization (RMA) for that warranty work can be a hassle.
What if you want to build your gaming PC yourself? Up until just a few years ago, only specialists could build their own PCs. What’s more, modifying them often required extensive knowledge of circuitry. Additionally, parts were not standardized which made buying individual parts for your own computer quite difficult.
Today, Coach Arthur said virtually anyone can build a PC. Major PC companies like Dell and HP all have standardized parts and their roles in the computer are well defined. As a result, plug-and-play is at an all-time high. Mr. Glover offered up the pros and cons of both:
Pros of Building Your PC:
- Usually less expensive
- Can pick and choose parts to meet your exact needs
- Easier to upgrade or replace parts since our built it in the first place
- Eliminates bloatware/trialware annoyances
- Better warranty conditions and control – you can buy cheaper and longer warranties for the parts that matter the most instead of the entire computer
Cons of Building Your PC:
- Time consuming
- Can take longer to find the parts you want at the price you want
- If part breaks, you have to keep records and warranty documentation for each part purchased
Nearly 70 attendees came out to the event, what turned out to be one of the more popular offerings at the convention.
Are you interested in technology or eSports? If you want to be a part of ECPI University and participate in our hands-on educational style, connect today with a helpful admissions advisor for more details.
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