In today’s digital landscape, owning a computer is an absolute necessity. From passing the time on social to earning a living, you can’t live without a computer. But with so many different models, varying in specifications, you might need one that’s more personalized. For this reason, you may be inclined to take your knack for computer technology a step further, pursue a degree in computer science and learn how to build computers from scratch.
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Pro: Save Money and Increase Earning Potential
The most notable pro of building your own computer is that it can cost less than one you buy outright. You may have thought that a project like this would require a lot of money. While it does cost money to build a computer, it doesn’t cost as much as you think it would. In fact, you could invest as much as $1,500 to $2,000 into your customized computer and it would still cost less than what’s sold at the store.
Continuing on the financial aspect of things, you’re still going to need to find the proper funding in order to complete your computer. If you want to take your interest in computer technology a step further and possibly start your own company, you could go back to college for your MBA degree. Just like the creation of a custom computer, college is also an investment that requires proper funding. Your best course of action in this case is to get a loan.
Once approved, a private lender will be more than willing to provide you with a student loan that you can finance to plan for improved future earnings. And since computers are mandatory in college, it counts as something you can put your loan towards. Finally, you won’t have to worry much about student debt with a private lender because their rates are much lower than banks and federally funded loans.
Pro: You Get What You Pay For
When it comes to computers, you do get what you pay for. Some computer manufacturers often install miscellaneous programs, like anti-malware and cleaners, that take up a tremendous amount of space. They also come with little RAM, memory and a slow processor. Even pre-built computers that have a price range of over $1,000 may not be worth what you pay for them.
Custom-made computers, on the other hand, are a different story. You get to pick the parts that are going to be installed into the device. That means you’re guaranteed to have a high-functioning computer with no strings attached. What’s more is that each individual part comes with a warranty, which allows you to replace it if need be. Just remember that if you do have a problem, you must act before the warranty expires, which is usually at least a year.
Con: You Need the Right Skills
The thing with building a computer from scratch is that it requires you to have the proper knowledge. Without it, it’ll be no different than you spending money on a premade computer that doesn’t fit today’s technological standards. You need to know what each part of the computer does and where to place it. Having the right skills can make building your computer easier and most importantly, more enjoyable.
Con: It’s More Than a Financial Investment
If you’re in a situation where you need a computer ASAP, creating your own computer is not recommended. In addition to being a financial investment, it’s also an investment of time. While assembling the computer can take around 30 minutes to a few hours, acquiring the parts usually takes longer. Of course, this does depend on the parts needed and where you order them from.
