Custom built computers have so many advantages over pre-fab models it's impossible to list them all on one page. From price to expandability to customization, building your own computer will almost inevitably leave you with a machine that is more reliable and more useful. If you're considering building your own computer, you'll also be happy to learn that it's pretty easy to do.

Advantages of Custom Built Computers

Price is one of the main advantages of building your own computer. If you buy all the parts yourself and build your own machine, you can save literally hundreds of dollars off the price of a store-bought model. One exception is a store model that comes with massive rebates--these can be extremely cheap but usually aren't the same quality that you'll get if you build your own system.

Being able to customize your machine to your liking is really what home-built computers are all about. If you use your computer a lot and are knowledgeable about the types of components you need and don't need, you can save time and money by only focusing on the things that are important to you. For instance, maybe you need a great video card but you don't need a DVD burner. Building your own computer will allow you to spend your money in the right place.

Home-built computers are all about expandability. If you buy a store model, the likelihood is that it was not designed with expansion in mind. Most computer manufacturers actually try to make it difficult to upgrade in the hopes that you'll just go out and buy a new computer. With a home-built PC you can change anything you want any time you want to.