DIY vs. pre-built

We’re in an odd place with pricing, and that old adage, “It’s always cheaper to build your own rig,” doesn’t hold true right now — at least, not until Samsung and co get their extra memory plants up and running. The memory shortage and cryptocurrency mining have ruined it for everyone. So how can system integrators still offer us cheap pre-built machines? It’s down to pre-emptive bulk buying. Most companies that offer pre-built systems buy all the hardware they need in bulk, well ahead of time. So for the time being at least, they’re still running off older prices and can drastically undercut the current market.

Usually, the longer a memory standard has had to mature, the cheaper it becomes to produce, so the market stays ahead of the system integrators. But given current circumstances, that’s just not possible.

That’s not to say that system integrators don’t provide decent systems. Some of the best machines we’ve seen come from the likes of Falcon Northwest, Digital Storm and others. After all, when your livelihood revolves around building unique, bespoke, and powerful machines, you’re going to learn a thing or two about putting together a stunning rig. Couple that with extensive parts and labour warranties, and they immediately become very attractive propositions, especially if you don’t have the time or inclination to build your own.