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PCs are just a combination of hardware put together for general multitasking. You can get a basic PC for a few hundred dollars, or really deck it up for some serious performance.
For gaming though, you need a few addenda. First, you need some serious graphics processing power, i.e., a powerful graphics card.
Next, you must sort out the heating issue. Perhaps not what you were expecting as an important pointer, but heating can substantially reduce performance.
Other than these, just add the basics—a fast enough processor and enough storage, preferably SSD. However, there’s more to building a gaming PC. There is little universal compatibility other than the hidden details.
Terms like custom and pre-built PCs loudly point out customized performance as per your requirement. Customization becomes necessary when you cannot find a pre-built system to match your requirement.
While several YouTube videos give good exposure to PC building, assembling is not everyone’s cup of tea. One needs to be fluent in the hardware devices, their impact, and their capabilities.
Even then, working with actual wiring is not child’s play.
Although computer hardware is available online for a discounted price, they have individual warranties, and getting them built by professionals is a far better option.
It not only gives the confidence of a well-built machine but allows you to interact with experienced progressions to clear your doubts about any aspect of the hardware.
Just where you need to get in touch with the best pre-built gaming PC companies.
Best-Rated Custom and Pre-built PC Websites
There are a lot of players in the custom PC building market. If you wish to build your PC online, these websites will offer bang for your buck while offering extensive customization options.
Check out the best pre-built gaming PC companies around.
1. Origin PC
Besides selling customized PCs, Origin is also a custom laptop builder and offers computer accessories. Origin PC has no relation with the digital distribution partner of Electronic Arts.
In fact, Origin PC has a close relation with Alienware, as former Alienware executives founded it in 2009. The company began its stronghold in maintaining high-performance gaming and professional desktops with a lot of customization options.
But after a ten-year solo run in the custom PC market, Origin PC corporation was acquired by Corsair in July 2019. And ever since the acquisition, the range of products and customization options have exploded.
They now offer custom-based laptops and desktops in three different categories based on the user. You get separate Gaming, workstation, and Government & Corporate sections. We will focus on the custom PC/desktop building only.
First off, the website is extremely user-friendly with a simple transition and clear information. When anyone says custom PC, the first thing that comes to our mind is a gaming rig, and Origin PC specializes in this matter.
You get the option of choosing form factors from mini ATX to E-ATX. You can even customize the interiors and exteriors of the cases. They offer you 4 ranges of custom PC products with suggestions and customization options to give you an exact price.
Chronos
This range uses a smaller form factor casing, which can offer massive performance gains in smaller footprints. You have the advantage of portability with this range, with no compromise with the overall performance.
It can easily accommodate a full-size GeForce RTX 3090 Graphics card, opening the doors to 8K gaming. Its chassis supports up to 32 GB RAM, 3 SSDs, and 1 HDD on the storage front. The overall system comes with professional CPU overclocking capabilities.
The price for this range begins at around $1600 and goes on as per the customization.
Neuron
The neuron uses a standard mid-size tower, which offers a major benefit over the Chronos class in its case ranges. It offers you five standard customization options on the case itself.
All the cases offer complete support for RGB and ATX motherboards. Given its relatively larger size, you can accommodate a full-size RTX 30 series graphics card. Neuron supports up to 64 GB of DDR4 RAM, and a huge Storage slot of up to 5 SSD slots.
You get to choose between AMD and Intel processors, but each build comes with a custom-fit liquid cooling system with a 250mm radiator. You also get customizable UV glass printing or laser etching to give a personal touch to these systems.
They are currently offering 2 full-size games for free with an AMD 5000 series graphics card. The prices start at around $1600.
Millennium
The millennium range of desktops offers superior case/tower options with top-of-the-line features. All chassis in this range comprises server-grade steel, offering four variable mounting orientations.
You also get insane amounts of storage on these PC ranges, up to 8 storage drives, and upgrade options of 128 GB DDR4 RAM.
The most amazing part about the millennium range is its flexibility, which offers you to expand the button segment of the case and add a custom liquid cooling system. You can add a Hydro X with a cryo liquid cooling system. They also provide you with custom painting and UV itching options.
Genesis
Origin PC’s most premium range of customized desktops, Genesis is an advancement over the Millennium, offering e-ATX motherboard form factor and minor upgrades for the rest of the customizations.
It offers a mind-blowing amount of storage support with bottom expansion units, which can be used for both cooling and storage. You also get accessory controls at the top of the device within a sliding cover with USB ports, lighting, mic, audio, and power controls.
Currently, Origin PC is offering a limited period Custom Retro design, named RestoMOD PC. They also offer a lifetime 24*7 support rated highly by users.
Origin PC offers a wide range of customization in every budget with one to three years of labor and hardware warranty with great user assistance.
With Corsair’s management and Origin’s ten-year experience, the services are indeed premium.
2. CYBER PowerPC
Being the oldest company in the custom PC builder niche, CYBERPOWERPC has been functional since 1998. Experience speaks for itself and a visit to their website will assure you these guys are old-school.
CYBERPOWERPC is among the few PC-building websites that offer budget options. You can order anything from a mid-range PC to one with top-end configs.
You get the latest options to modify a component with the best and most diverse hardware components, starting from the motherboard. You have the option to select a motherboard form factor with 3, 4, and even 5 M.2 slots.
For RAM, you will get options to choose different brands and dual channels in multiple ranges. (i.e. – 3000, 3200, 3600, and 4000 MHz.)
It allows you to choose graphic cards based on VR-ready or 4K resolutions, including AMD’s top variant RX 6800X and NVIDIA’s RTX 3090. The same is the case with storage options and other accessories within the PC unit.
A top feature of the website is the option to add necessary gaming hardware and accessories, which are delivered along with the gaming PC. You can also add software and extend the terms of the warranty. Overall, you have eight series of gaming PCs with unique form factors.
Their custom configurator is user-friendly, for novices and experts alike. It offers the widest selection of hardware equipment among all the others on this list.
This website is truly overwhelming with comparatively lower prices. When overall aesthetics are considered, CYBERPOWERPC is easily among the best custom PC builder websites around.
3. iBuy Power
iBUYPOWER is a reputed name in the custom PC building niche. The good thing is you are not just limited to custom gaming PCs, but they offer customized gaming laptops as well!
iBUY also provides same-day ready-to-deliver PCs and Easy Builder guides to walk you through the processes involved in customizing or upgrading hardware.
The website is not that intuitive and has small fonts with a lot of flashy ads. But clicking on Gaming PCs at the menu bar beside their icon will take you to their gaming PC segment.
The content and segregation of information make it hard to pass through the significantly outrageous amount of device information. It is overwhelming.
Although the iBUYPOWER website is not the smoothest, its customization options are clear. If their bestselling options do not blow you away, head straight to the custom PC building, the options are pretty budget-friendly.
You have the option to go with 5 pre-built Intel and AMD gaming PCs, which you can further customize.
iBUYPOWER allows you to choose cases/towers from different brands and motherboard form factors with noise reduction and RGB features.
To be honest, even the customization options are mind-boggling as they offer lighting strips and USB expansion to gaming chairs and mouse pads! No wonder they have maintained a high user base over the years.
Their PC wattage requirement is a very custom touch for new users to guide them towards a suitable power supply unit.
iBUY also offers accessories including desktop monitors, keyboards, gaming mice, and others along with their PC build.
They also offer a small tab to check the FPS the custom system will render in 1080P and 1440P resolution. It will make it easier for you to remove any hardware that is not directly related to the gaming advantage.
You can even build a gaming PC online with their Easy builder option. Here you need to select the games, resolution, desktop/laptop, AMD/Intel, budget, and you are ready to proceed with further customization or adding to the cart!
iBUYPOWER will empower you to shop for all the hardware devices which you might need for converting this gaming PC into a streaming one. It is the best pre-built gaming PC company because of its ready-to-deliver desktop segment.
4. NZXT BLD
Founded in 2017, it is a subsidiary of NZXT, a USA-based computer hardware manufacturing company. It has one of the most transparent buying and customization processes.
The primary highlight of this website is its user interface, arguably the easiest to use despite the large range of features.
For new users, information and too many devices can be overwhelming, which NZXT BLD tends to ease. Its Starters PC series offers users three models under $1000—rare for one of the best pre-built gaming PC companies around.
With prices starting at $629, Starter Plus for $829, and Starter Pro for $929. NZXT BLD’s pre-built segment includes three categories: Streaming PC, H1 Mini PC, and Creator PC, with limited customizations on offer.
You get to select only the color and additional storage options. This simple process makes things easier for new users.
You can select the Get Started or Build Your Own icon to build a gaming PC online. The customization options here are like that of the Starter PC series. It is three simple steps for building a PC. You need to select three games and a resolution between 1080p and 1440p.
A $1500 gaming PC from NZXT can sufficiently run Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Red Dead Redemption 2 at 98 and 63 FPS on 2560 x 1440 resolution.
After being satisfied with the projected FPS in the games, you can proceed to buy or you can choose customizations to the case, cooling, motherboard, CPU, processor, power supply, RAM, and storage options.
You also get accessories, peripherals, monitors, software, and services to select from. You can even share your configuration with others for a second opinion. But much to our dismay, there was no AMD CPU or GPU option in the customizations.
NZXT BLD offers a standard 3-year labor and 2-year parts warranty on the purchased hardware.
They offer limited brand hardware customization and have no AMD hardware. But For intel fans, it’s a great website, perfect for those a bit low on budget.
Stuff You Should Know about Custom Gaming PCs
Proficient and experienced gamers understand the significance and capabilities of hardware components better—experience is invaluable.
Even though you will just be playing games, it is important to have a basic understanding of each hardware device.
There are a lot of options in each hardware, starting from processors to cooling systems. So, without further ado, let’s begin with the basic know-how of custom gaming PC builds.
The only components you need to know properly start with motherboards.
Every other piece of hardware, be it processors, graphic cards, RAM, storage drives, cooling systems, or other visual accessories, is a derivative of the motherboard. Here’s some insight into them.
Motherboards
For important hardware components to interact electrically with each other, they need a foundation, which is the motherboard.
It is the main circuit board of a PC. Motherboards have different form factors and are decisive in determining the overall size of the custom build. The general thumb rule of larger size, more customization is true.
After the form factor, the motherboard comes with different sockets for accommodating the processor and other components.
Currently, there are two types of motherboard sockets available in the market, AM4 and LGA1151. All major hardware manufacturers offer motherboards.
For high-performance motherboards, we recommend sticking to MSI, Gigabyte, and ASUS.
Apart from sockets and form factors, motherboards offer several M.2 or SATA interfaces for connecting storage devices to your custom PC with no hassles.
While most mid-range motherboards come with one full-size PCIe 16 express slot, expensive and higher-end models can allow you to add up to four PCIe 16 slot-based graphic cards.
Why is motherboard performance important?
If you want to slot in 64 GB RAM and two RTX graphics cards, you need a motherboard that’s big enough and has the ports to accommodate them!
The motherboard you want depends a lot on the base processor chipset you will run. Just so, the best motherboard for gaming will vary between users and preferences.
Either way, we recommend you get your gaming motherboard from Gigabyte, ASUS, or MSI.
RAM
RAM is the next most important component to select in gaming. A larger RAM size means faster game uploads and a lag-free gaming experience.
But here you have a lot of options to choose from. Straight up from 2133 MHz to 4000 MHz, you get as many as seven variants (i.e. – 2133 MHz, 2400 MHz, 2700 MHz, 3000 MHz, 3200 MHz, 3600 MHz, 4000 MHz)
After clock speeds, you have options for choosing RAM with a better heat sink and even RGB lighting controls.
You have multiple brand options from Corsair, Trident, Gskill, Vyper, HyperX fury, Team group, XPG, Visiontech, Crucial ballistics, and HP. Every company in this segment offers unique features starting from lower pricing, RGB lighting, higher frequency 4000 MHz RAM.
RAM also shares a close relationship with motherboards, based upon DIMM, or Dual in-line memory channel. When the motherboard cannot support faster memory speeds, it is clocked at the lowest speed.
It is important to choose motherboards and RAM of the same generation.
Let’s assume that you get 3600 MHz RAM, but your motherboard supports 3200 MHz. In this case, the motherboard will use only 3200 MHz of RAM.
Brands we recommend for gaming RAMs include G.Skill, Corsair, and Team XTREEM.
Graphic Cards
The graphics card has a direct impact on gaming in terms of frames per second and video quality.
It is the most important device to consider in a custom gaming PC build after the motherboard. There are 3 brands in this segment.
Intel develops integrated GPUs that are meant to only assist in application-based graphic rendering, not for gaming or creative apps.
Other than Intel integrated graphics, NVIDIA and AMD control the entire GPU market share.
NVIDIA maintains its supremacy with 66% of market control, and AMD maintains a top-tier presence with 33% percent of the market share.
Other players control the rest of the 1% market. But the important factor here is, we are talking about graphic cards, not GPUs. (Not sure what that means? Get a bit more know-how here!)
While these brands manufacture GPUs, custom PCs use graphic cards, developed by companies such as Gigabyte, MSI, XFX, EVGA, ASUS, Zotac, and others.
These manufacturers manufacture or assemble other important components, such as Heatsink, Video BIOS, Video Memory, output interface, fans, and cooling module.
It enables them to use the complete potential of the GPU architecture, be it with AMD or NVIDIA.
Without a doubt, NVIDIA graphics cards deliver a lot more performance than AMD. However, for your custom gaming PC, we recommend NVIDIA graphics cards wholeheartedly.
Just follow a simple thumb rule. Whatever your budget might be, go for the latest released graphics card!
Processors
Just like the GPU segment, the processor segment is owned by only two tech giants, Intel and AMD. Intel has recently launched its 11th generation processors and AMD has launched its 5000 series desktop processors.
Worth mentioning, AMD has manufactured the most cost-effective processors delivering frugal performance, a shy behind Intel. However, in 2022, AMD’s new desktop processors and mobile processors (for laptops and similar portable PCs) firmly compete with Intel’s performance.
Although processors are not as important as graphics cards, you should not compromise the on-base performance of your gaming PC by getting a lower core and clock speed processor.
Getting a decently powerful processor will ensure your system is working at less than 60% CPU usage. Yes, it directly affects the frame rates.
At higher resolutions, the bottleneck for the CPU decreases as the GPU takes up most of the load. But this doesn’t translate to your processor being over-stressed at a lower clock speed.
The easiest way of assessing this problem is by monitoring CPU and GPU speeds. If your CPU usage is higher than GPU or even close to 70%. In gaming, the CPU bottleneck is preferred to the GPU bottleneck.
We recommend investing in an Intel i7 processor or AMD Ryzen 5, and a GPU with at least 8 GB VRAM.
Storage
As of 2022, you have multiple storage options starting from HDDs, SSDs with SATA interface, or the latest SSD cards with M.2 form factors. HDDs are relatively cheaper hardware and offer up to 8 TB data storage, while a top-tier SSD comes with a maximum space of 4 TB.
For a custom gaming PC, you have the option to have a separate hard disk bay for storing multiple games. With the biggest games today already going beyond the 100 GB mark, you may just need it.
The best storage option you have is to store all games on hard disks. A dedicated SSD-based operating system drive will help you with faster loading speeds. Additionally, you can add storage drives for loading or booting speeds.
The latest SSDs from Samsung 980 Pro offers read and write speeds of over 7000 and 5000 MB/s respectively.
But they work only with 4th gen PCIe M.2 slots. 3rd gen M.2 SSDs are relatively cheaper, offering max read and write speeds of 3500 and 3300 MB/s. Currently,
Samsung is the undisputed champion of SSDs in terms of transfer speeds. You also have a lot of options for cheaper SSD variants from Corsair, Sabrent, Gigabyte, Crucial, XPG, Western Digital.
Cooling Accessories
One of the necessary things to keep your gaming hardware from redlining is proper cooling. Graphics cards, even processors, generate a large amount of heat at higher resolutions and graphics settings.
Although top-end graphics cards do come with their separate fan setup for cooling, they cannot get the cooling done unless your PC tower can push that air out or liquid-cool it.
You need to know some stuff about heating. Auto-shutoff temperature ranges between 85-90° Celsius with a maximum threshold of 105° before there’s a chance of permanent damage. Getting a cooling system apart from fans will insure against damage.
If you want your custom PC build to last at least a couple of years before you upgrade it, invest in a proper cooling system. There are a lot of liquid and mineral oil cooling systems you can get with your top-end gaming PC. (Check this out!)
Worth mentioning though, unless you are planning to game in room temperatures above 30°C, it is unnecessary to get a cooling system for 1080p gaming.
However, if you want to play Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K and ultra-game settings, you must get a liquid cooling system. We recommend going for the cooling accessories from MSI and Corsair.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, the best way to get your money’s worth is by building a custom PC. Sometimes the benefit of building a PC from scratch doesn’t outweigh all the hassles involved in this process.
Perhaps one simply can’t have the time to hunt for the best piece of hardware across different stores or might not have faith in their ability to handle the expensive hardware properly.
And for all, it’s worth getting your customized PC built and delivered right to your doorstep. The prebuilt gaming PC company will let you do the customization without the hassles of assembling or that of hardware warranties.
You even get an additional limited warranty that will add more value to your purchase. Go on then!
