Build or buy a gaming PC in Australia?
Prices checked:
At each budget, Build or Buy prices the best custom build that an Australian store will assemble, the best prebuilt, and the same budget spent on parts you put together yourself. Every total includes Windows 11 and is before shipping.
Today's totals
| Budget | Custom build | Prebuilt | Build it yourself | Our pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1,500 | $1,468 Scorptec | $1,399 Nebula | $1,494 | Our pick: Nebula prebuilt Newer graphics card, $69 less |
| $2,000 | $2,086 Scorptec | $2,099 Nebula | $1,979 | Our pick: Nebula prebuilt Newer processor, DDR5 and Wi-Fi, $13 more |
| $3,000 | $3,045 Scorptec | $3,099 Radium | $3,093 | Our pick: Radium prebuilt Faster processor and DDR5, $54 more |
| $4,000 | $3,992 Scorptec | $3,899 Radium | $3,999 | Our pick: Radium prebuilt Windows 11 Pro, 3-year warranty, $93 less |
| $5,000 | $4,867 Scorptec | $4,903 Aftershock | $4,947 | Our pick: Scorptec custom build Faster memory, stated build time, $36 less |
Ready to run, the best prebuilt costs less than the best custom build at two of the five budgets, and the custom build costs less at three. The difference between the two is $13 to $93.
The pick is the cheaper of the two at three of the five budgets. At $2,000 and $3,000, it costs $13 and $54 more, because picks are made on value, not price alone; each budget's verdict sets out why.
Buying the parts and assembling them yourself costs less than the cheaper ready-to-run PC at one of the five budgets, by $107. Where it costs more, the difference is $48 to $100.
Each budget's page has the parts side by side and the reasons for the pick: Under $1,500, $2,000, $3,000, $4,000 and $5,000.
The trade-offs
Warranty
A prebuilt or a store-assembled custom build comes with one warranty for the whole PC, usually return to base. If something fails, the store works out which part failed. Built yourself, each part has its own warranty, and you find the faulty part and claim it with that store or maker.
Assembly
The custom build totals include the store's assembly fee. Doing it yourself saves that fee, but takes a few hours, some care with the processor, memory and cables, and a fix if it doesn't start the first time.
Windows
Every total includes a Windows 11 licence. Prebuilts arrive with it installed. With a parts list you install it yourself from the USB or a download.
Time and shipping
A prebuilt in stock can ship in days. A custom build is assembled to order, which usually adds a week or two. A parts list arrives from several stores, which can mean several postage charges, and then you build it. Every price is before shipping. Postage depends on where you live in Australia, so it is left off.