{"id":384811,"date":"2021-12-22T17:00:24","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T14:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/"},"modified":"2021-12-22T17:00:24","modified_gmt":"2021-12-22T14:00:24","slug":"buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/","title":{"rendered":"#Buying a Prebuilt PC? 9 Things to Check First"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a316b6dbe37f\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a316b6dbe37f\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/#Are_All_the_Components_Branded\" >Are All the Components Branded?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/#Is_the_Build_Balanced\" >Is the Build Balanced?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/#Is_The_Power_Supply_Good_Enough\" >Is The Power Supply Good Enough?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/#Does_It_Have_a_Holistic_Warranty\" >Does It Have a Holistic Warranty?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/#Is_The_Computer_User-Serviceable\" >Is The Computer User-Serviceable?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/#Is_it_Put_Together_Competently\" >Is it Put Together Competently?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/#Do_You_Have_Upgrade_Options\" >Do You Have Upgrade Options?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/#Is_the_IO_Adequate\" >Is the IO Adequate?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/#Has_the_System_Been_Burned_In\" >Has the System Been Burned In?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#Buying a Prebuilt PC? 9 Things to Check First&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-774569 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/shutterstock_1763135054.jpg?width=398&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 400w, https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/shutterstock_1763135054.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 400w, 1200w\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/shutterstock_1763135054.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A desktop gaming PC with LED lighting.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/mexico-city-june-24-2020-professional-1763135054\" data-credittext=\"ItzaVU\/Shutterstock.com\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/mexico-city-june-24-2020-professional-1763135054\">ItzaVU\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There are many advantages to a prebuilt PC, even when there aren\u2019t global shortages of computer components to contend with. But, if you do choose the convenience of a prebuilt over a DIY PC, you should carefully consider this checklist.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_All_the_Components_Branded\"><\/span>Are All the Components Branded?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Prebuilt computers are often sold on the strength of major components such as the CPU and GPU. However, other components can have a major impact on both the performance and longevity of your computer. A good prebuilt PC should have details of the exact model for every component available. If the builder doesn\u2019t disclose the brand and model of the power supply, motherboard, RAM, and other components, that\u2019s a red flag.<\/p>\n<p>Many prebuilt systems use unbranded OEM (Original equipment manufacturer) components in order to cut down on costs. These are not necessarily poor quality simply because they are OEM components, but it\u2019s a good idea to find out whether the no-name PSU or SSD in your prebuilt computer was built by someone with a good reputation.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_Build_Balanced\"><\/span>Is the Build Balanced?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Another common issue with prebuilt computers is that they\u2019re built with strange performance balance issues. For example, the CPU or GPU may be mismatched in terms of performance, leading to bottlenecks. Manufacturers may allocate budget to flashy components that look good on a simplified specification list, but then put a single stick of RAM in single channel mode into the system or use an SSD with poor real-world performance.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that a computer is only as fast as the slowest component involved in any given job you give it. You may want to look for reviews, or real-world benchmarks of the computer to make sure that it performs as advertised.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_The_Power_Supply_Good_Enough\"><\/span>Is The Power Supply Good Enough?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A good rule of thumb with power supplies for computers is that you should overcompensate a little. You can use tools like Seasonic\u2019s <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/seasonic.com\/wattage-calculator#\">Wattage Calculator<\/a>\u00a0to see what sort of power supply the computer should have.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t just consider the wattage alone. A power supply also needs to supply enough amperage to components like the CPU and GPU for stable operation. Check the detailed PSU requirements of those components against the specifications of the power supply. It\u2019s important that the system builder doesn\u2019t skimp on the basic quality of the PSU, since this is a component that can do a lot of damage if it goes wrong!<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_It_Have_a_Holistic_Warranty\"><\/span>Does It Have a Holistic Warranty?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Carefully read the warranty documentation of the prebuilt computer to check whether the system is covered as a whole. One benefit of prebuilt systems is that the builder should warranty the computer as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>When you build a computer yourself, you only have the individual warranties of each component to cover you. So if the power supply takes out your CPU, RAM, and motherboard, only the power supply itself is covered. Make sure the prebuilt computer is covered as a whole, rather than as a set of individual parts.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_The_Computer_User-Serviceable\"><\/span>Is The Computer User-Serviceable?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-774573 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/installing-cooling-in-pc.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A person installing liquid cooling in a PC.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/computer-assembling-service-serviceman-installing-liquid-1698824008\" data-credittext=\"Dmitry Kalinovsky\/Shutterstock.com\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/computer-assembling-service-serviceman-installing-liquid-1698824008\">Dmitry Kalinovsky\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The beauty of desktop computers is that you can repair and upgrade the system as you need to, within the terms of the warranty of course. If you want your prebuilt system to remain useful for years to come, it needs to be user-serviceable.<\/p>\n<p>What does this mean in practice? First of all, a toolless chassis, or one that can be opened without special tools, is a must. If any component that should be removable is riveted in, that\u2019s not great. The same goes for the use of glue to hold things down.<\/p>\n<p>If the computer uses an OEM motherboard, it\u2019s important that it complies with established chassis standards, so that you can swap in an off-the-shelf replacement if needed. It\u2019s also a good thing if the chassis itself is designed to be user-friendly. Some cheap OEM cases have sharp internal edges, for example.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_Put_Together_Competently\"><\/span>Is it Put Together Competently?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>All prebuilt systems are not created equal. Some are made by boutique system builders, who hand-assemble the computer from quality components. Others are put together rapidly on an assembly line.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, you pay more for the boutique option, but there can be real benefits to a prebuilt that\u2019s made carefully, using best practices. Many problems can be hidden from the user as well. Cheap prebuilt systems can have messy cable management and use cheap cabling, hidden away where users won\u2019t see it. The same goes for the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>lication of thermal paste or the assembly of water-cooling loops. Mass-produced prebuilt systems often cut corners in ways they hope users won\u2019t notice.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_You_Have_Upgrade_Options\"><\/span>Do You Have Upgrade Options?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-774572 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/upgrading-a-pc.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A person installing a new GPU in a desktop PC.\" width=\"650\" height=\"433\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/esport-gamer-girl-installing-new-gpu-1873310170\" data-credittext=\"Kjetil Kolbjornsrud\/Shutterstock.com\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/esport-gamer-girl-installing-new-gpu-1873310170\">Kjetil Kolbjornsrud\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One good way to make owning a PC more affordable is to buy one with good basic specifications now and then upgrade it later. This is why it\u2019s important to buy a prebuilt with good upgrade options. For example, can you add a decent number of additional drives? Are there open RAM slots so you can add RAM without sitting with extra sticks after?<\/p>\n<p>You should also think carefully about the CPU socket that the system uses. Is it near the end of its life\u2014or might you still get another generation or two of upgrades from it?<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_IO_Adequate\"><\/span>Is the IO Adequate?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>IO (Input-Output) specifications aren\u2019t sexy, but when you realize you don\u2019t have enough ports to plug in all your peripherals, it\u2019s going to matter. Make sure there are enough USB ports and that they are of the right type for your needs. Features such as built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth are also worth looking for, as these are not a given with desktop systems. Good front-panel IO is also worth its weight in gold, making it easy to plug in headphones or flash drives.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Has_the_System_Been_Burned_In\"><\/span>Has the System Been Burned In?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Good system builders will run a 24-hours burn-in test on each system they put together. This is a stress test where all the components are run at their maximum level to ensure that the cooling system works properly and that the computer is stable. This also ensures there are no DOA (dead on arrival) components and that if a part such as the PSU has a critical fault, it will fail under stress before leaving the factory or workshop.<\/p>\n<p>If a computer survives such a test, it becomes much more likely that it will last long term as well. If the prebuilt computer you\u2019re considering doesn\u2019t get this type of quality control before going to customers, you may want to consider running such a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.passmark.com\/products\/burnintest\/index.php\">burn-in test<\/a> yourself when you first take delivery. If anything isn\u2019t right, you can send the system back as soon as possible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/773750\/buying-a-prebuilt-pc-9-things-to-check-first\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Buying a Prebuilt PC? 9 Things to Check First&#8221; ItzaVU\/Shutterstock.com There are many advantages to a prebuilt PC, even when there aren\u2019t global shortages of computer components to contend with. But, if you do choose the convenience of a prebuilt over a DIY PC, you should carefully consider this checklist. Are All the Components Branded?&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":384812,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/shutterstock_1763135054.jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-384811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=384811"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384811\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/384812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=384811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=384811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=384811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}