I'm looking to get my first gaming PC and have a budget of about $1,400 CAD, preferably staying below that amount. I mainly want to play games such as Project Zomboid, Left 4 Dead 2, Minecraft, and other games with friends, sometimes using mods. I'm not aiming for ultra settings in demanding new releases, but I do want a system that will remain reliable and avoid unnecessary stuttering for several years. I feel more comfortable buying a prebuilt because I'm worried about choosing incompatible parts or making a mistake during assembly, but I also wonder whether building the PC myself would provide better performance for the money. Should I choose a prebuilt or buy the components separately? Specific part recommendations for this budget would be very helpful.
1 Answer
For the games you listed, you don't need an especially powerful system. A reasonably priced modern desktop should handle them comfortably, including many common mods. Building it yourself usually gives you better parts for the money, and the chance of something going wrong solely because you assembled it is fairly low if you follow a guide carefully. That said, a prebuilt can still be a good choice if the price is competitive and it uses a balanced configuration with a reputable power supply, enough RAM, and a real upgrade path. Compare the individual components rather than choosing based only on the graphics card or the advertised price.
Would an inexpensive prebuilt be enough for those games, or is there a risk of frequent stutters because the hardware is older? I want something that won't feel outdated too quickly.