If you’re planning to build a custom PC, be prepared for higher prices. Recently, component costs like SSDs and RAM have increased significantly. As a result, buying pre-built PCs from stores like Costco is becoming cheaper. But why? Let’s look at the computer industry as a whole.
The main reason is that many components are more expensive now than when they were assembled into prebuilt systems. Graphics cards, like Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, have seen massive price hikes. The same card that cost around $1,999 initially now sells for nearly $4,000 on marketplaces.
AI data centers are driving the changes in the PC market. To power these centers, big tech is using nuclear energy, leading to higher RAM prices due to the increased demand for new chips. This scarcity is causing laptops to make compromises on specs to keep costs down.
Costco’s prebuilt PCs offer better value because the manufacturers have either purchased components at lower prices under old contracts or already had them in stock before prices rose. The company’s exceptional warranty offering also makes buying a prebuilt system more appealing. Costco provides a two-year warranty on major electronics, plus additional protection plans for an extra fee.
When building your own PC, you’ll need to keep track of individual component warranties, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient. In contrast, getting a prebuilt Costco machine gives you a hassle-free experience with its comprehensive warranty and protection options. This has led some users to recommend Costco’s prebuilt computers over custom builds on subreddits like r/pcmasterrace.
Source: https://www.bgr.com/2089556/costco-prebuilt-pc-beating-diy-prices