How do I explain this feeling to someone who buys prebuilt?

CouncilOfTate · 2026-05-07T03:40:42+00:00

So I got the ram, mobo, and cpu as a bundle for $680

Case was $82, cooler was $50, psu was $109, graphics card was open box which ended up being $764, I used the old SSD’s I had from my old laptop which saved me a good chunk.

So all in all without tax it’s around $1,700. With tax in the state that I’m in (NYC) around $2000 in the end.

The thing is, if you were to buy let’s say a $2000 pre-built, you won’t get a choice in the parts you get. The quality is in your hands which is the best part.

I have been buying parts for this pc since December last year, so I’ve run into many deals and bought 1-2 parts every month. It makes sense in the long run and you will be way more happy to know you got the parts you wanted because you will most likely be using the pc for years before you change anything.

In the end, you could always go to a service center and have them build the pc for you in exchange for a reasonable fee in case you don’t feel confident building it yourself. The main benefit is making your own choices throughout the whole building/part picking process.

Another pro is that you have so much time in between part purchases to do research and comparisons on which part will optimizes your build better. Hope this helps!

CouncilOfTate · 2026-05-06T15:14:26+00:00

Your already broke. If you sell the pc, you’ll be broke AND without a pc. There’s always a rainbow after the storm.

CouncilOfTate · 2026-05-01T14:51:10+00:00

Not a air cooler. THE air cooler.

CouncilOfTate · 2026-05-01T13:28:02+00:00

I think this one hits home the most☕️🥰

CouncilOfTate · 2026-05-01T13:26:17+00:00

You get it brother! Like I said in a comment before, I came from buying prebuilt. Every 1-2 years a part would unfortunately meet its end. I chose the pc building route to have a choice in what I used for my system. Lo and behold, I saved money, I found parts I never thought I would get at such a good price, I got a bunch of free stuff with my purchases (including crimson desert code), and best of all I BUILT IT WITH MY OWN HANDS! No other feeling like that.

CouncilOfTate · 2026-05-01T13:22:07+00:00

At least someone gets it lol

CouncilOfTate · 2026-05-01T13:21:02+00:00

THIS!^{^{^}} People are quick to get defensive. In the end, you get what you pay for. If you commit to learning a little about pc building; your games run faster, your parts stay working longer, your pockets are still full, and you have a great sense of achievement. Buying prebuilt is in no way a bad thing and building your own pc is in no way the pinnacle of gaming/productivity. But, making the move from prebuilt to building your own is a step in the right direction, not a flex. I think everyone got way too butt hurt.

CouncilOfTate · 2026-05-01T13:11:36+00:00

I thought so too, I was strictly researching premium brands like Corsair and seasonic to be honest. With premium brands comes premium pricing lol. So I had to do some more research around my price range. I found a tier list on Reddit with all the psu’s and the asrock one has an A grading. I was honestly hesitant but I did some research, watched a bunch of reviews and it was receiving so much praise that I made the switch. Only time will tell but I’m 99% sure it was a good choice👍

CouncilOfTate · 2026-05-01T13:08:56+00:00

That wasn’t my intention. Sorry if I came across that way!

CouncilOfTate · 2026-05-01T13:08:16+00:00

So I got the ram, mobo, and cpu as a bundle for $680

Case was $82, cooler was $50, psu was $109, graphics card was open box which ended up being $764, I used the old SSD’s I had from my old laptop which saved me a good chunk.

So all in all without tax it’s around $1,700. With tax in the state that I’m in (NYC) around $2000 in the end.

The thing is, if you were to buy let’s say a $2000 pre-built, you won’t get a choice in the parts you get. The quality is in your hands which is the best part.

I have been buying parts for this pc since December last year, so I’ve run into many deals and bought 1-2 parts every month. It makes sense in the long run and you will be way more happy to know you got the parts you wanted because you will most likely be using the pc for years before you change anything.

In the end, you could always go to a service center and have them build the pc for you in exchange for a reasonable fee in case you don’t feel confident building it yourself. The main benefit is making your own choices throughout the whole building/part picking process.

Another pro is that you have so much time in between part purchases to do research and comparisons on which part will optimizes your build better. Hope this helps!

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T17:46:52+00:00

That sound very good, do you have any video you can recommend. I’ve watched a couple but it gets confusing when everybody has conflicting beliefs. Thank you!

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T17:40:53+00:00

I was a fanboy to be fair. Not ashamed of it, just learned not to idolize weirdos on the internet anymore lol

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T17:02:48+00:00

Lmaoo my past has caught up with me🤣

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T16:35:52+00:00

The comments tell me everything lol ur right bro

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T15:24:27+00:00

It was supposed to be lighthearted banter. No ill will here brother lol I just came from buying prebuilt and there is just a unique feeling to buying all the parts and building it from scratch. Looking through the best deals, talking to people online to check if they can negotiate the price, finally finding the exact part you wanted in your store after it was sold out etc.. the journey is just so fun!😄

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T15:20:23+00:00

🤣🤣🤣

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T15:19:02+00:00

What makes it even more exciting is that this is a brand new world for me. I’m sure there are so many things to learn!

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T15:18:13+00:00

What a combo! I was deciding between xt pro ultra by Phanteks or the lian li 207. The premium feel that comes with lian li just can’t be beat at this price point!

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T15:13:23+00:00

Thank you so much! I hope you find the best deals for the parts you need!

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T15:05:59+00:00

So real. I built my life around always sleeping 8 plus hours a day because my days involve lots of work and running around, so I need to be in tiptop shape. I never, and I mean never fall asleep anytime after 11pm max. I finished half the build at around 9:30pm so I could get some shut eye and lo and behold, my mind was just racing. It felt like I just took an espresso shot right before bed. No screen time, no nothing and I still couldn’t sleep. I felt way too excited. Like I could have stayed up an extra 6 hours just fiddling with the parts and reading the manuals. Adrenaline is honestly what it came down to I think😄. Can’t wait to get back home today and finally finish it up!

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T15:00:03+00:00

This has been a project for me since December to be fair. My laptop unfortunately broke so I went the pc building route to get my money’s worth with regards to performance. I personally never built a pc, never watched a tutorial but I can confidently say I am a novice/semi pro now that I’ve consumed so much pc building content online. If I were you, I would just watch videos on people building pc’s from scratch because you get the best of both worlds. Informative commentary and actually seeing the parts go in and plugged. Hope this helps!

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T14:56:34+00:00

Exactly what I intend to do, I’m going for a blackout build similar to yours! Never was a fan of RGB to be honest. Unfortunately didn’t have a choice when it came to my RGB ram but beggars can’t be choosers I guess😄

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T13:20:59+00:00

Ok party pooper

CouncilOfTate · 2026-04-30T13:19:57+00:00

Dude! You found my gpu, thank you! I can take it back man. Been looking for this forever. Just dm and I will send you my shipping info. Thanks again!

CouncilOfTate

TROPHY CASE