Building Your Dream PC? Find Out Which Custom PC Building Service or DIY Gives You the Most Bang for Your Buck!
Nowadays, everybody needs a PC.
With COVID-19 keeping all of us on a work-from-home (WFH) basis, we definitely need a good PC to ensure we can keep working with minimal interruptions.
This includes students as well, don’t try to siam (Hokkien: avoid) your work! 😉
Even in our daily lives, multiple tasks can be streamlined with the use of computers.
With everything moving online, having a PC can help you keep track of your insurance plans or investment portfolio!
Of course, you can argue that you’re able to do the same with a top-of-the-line smartphone like the Google Pixel 6.
Buuuut…
Isn’t it better to have all the information spread out over a big screen where you can see everything clearly?
Plus, streaming my favourite K-dramas on a big screen certainly feels more shiok than having to squint at a small screen!
TL;DR: Price of PCs in a Custom PC Service vs DIY
Assuming similar parts and specifications were chosen, here are the differences in prices:
| PC Part | DIY | Aftershock | Dreamcore | Mansa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case | Corsair iCUE 4000X RGB ATX Mid Tower Case | RAPID Black Mesh High Airflow Tempered Glass Chassis | Dreamcore Ghost Black | Tecware Nexus Air M (4 ARGB Fans) |
| Processor (CPU) | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X |
| Motherboard | Asus PRIME B550M-A (WI-FI) | Asus PRIME B550M-A (WI-FI) | Asus PRIME B550M-A (WI-FI) | Asus PRIME B550M-A (WI-FI) |
| Graphics Card (GPU) | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
| Cooling System | AMD Stock Cooler | AMD Stock Cooler | AMD Stock Cooler | ID Cooling SE226-XT |
| RAM | Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 | Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 | Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 | Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 |
| Solid State Drive (SSD) | Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME | 1TB Samsung 970 EVO PLUS M.2 SSD | 1TB Dreamcore Hyperion Plus Gen 4 SSD | Transcend MTE220S 1 TB NVMe |
| Hard Disk Drive (HDD) | Toshiba P300 3TB | Toshiba P300 3TB | Toshiba P300 3TB | Toshiba P300 3TB |
| Power Supply Unit (PSU) | Phanteks AMP 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply | 800W FSP HYDRO PRO 80+ Bronze Certified PSU | Corsair RM750 80 GOLD (Fully Modular) | Asus ROG Strix 550 W 80+ Gold |
| Cost | $2,252 | $2,270 | $2,343 | $2020 |
Find out more about the different parts that go into the PCs as you read further!
Why Should You Use a Custom PC Service?
Custom PC services are simple and convenient. It allows you to customise your PC to suit your needs and taste (aesthetically).
It’s also a good way for people who know nothing about computers to learn about the parts that go into their PC.
What Does Each Part Do?
For those of you who don’t know a single thing about computers, you might be confused when we get technical.
Hence, we have compiled a list of parts and what they do so you have a better understanding of what to look out for.
| PC Part | What is it? |
|---|---|
| Case | The box that holds all the parts of your PC. |
| Motherboard | The circuit board that connects all the parts together. |
| Processor (CPU) | The main chip that tells enables the computer to carry out tasks. (Basically the "brain" of the PC) |
| Cooling System | A component which cools the PC down, preventing it from overheating. |
| Graphics Card (GPU) | The device that processes all the graphics and visuals you see when you use your PC. |
| RAM | The "short-term memory" of the PC. Used to temporarily store running programs on the PC. |
| Hard Disk Drive (HDD) | Storage device for the PC (Longer lasting compared to SSDs) |
| Solid State Drive (SSD) | Storage device for the PC (Faster speeds when compared to HDDs) |
| Power Supply Unit (PSU) | Provides the electricity supply for your PC |
Another thing to note is that it’s crucial for the parts you have chosen to complement each other well.
For example, you can have the most advanced GPU, but a lousy processor won’t be able to keep up, and your graphics will still look bad on your PC.
Custom PC Building Services in Singapore
Now that you’ve got a pretty good idea of how each part works let’s dive into what you need to achieve your goals for your PC.
Here are a few different Custom PC Services you can consider checking out:
1. Aftershock
Winner of the Best Desktop Gaming Brand and proclaimed Singapore’s favourite custom PC brand, there’s no way we are leaving Aftershock out of our list!
Aftershock was founded by a team of hardware enthusiasts, competitive gamers and IT professionals, ensuring that they provide their customers with the best experience from their own point-of-view as users.
Pros:
- Widest range of selection for parts and customisation options
- Prices comparable to getting DIY
- Partners with well-known brands (e.g. Prism+, SecretLab)
Cons:
- PC might take a while to arrive due to high order volumes
- Customer support doesn’t provide the best service
Fun fact: This article was written on an Aftershock PC.
2. Dreamcore
Fueled by a passion for technology, Dreamcore exists to challenge the impossible and seeks to create better PCs for their customers.
Priding themselves on their master craftsmanship, the people behind Dreamcore ensure that their customers make informed decisions about what goes into their custom PCs.
Pros:
- Experienced staff and amazing service
- Provides same-day fulfilment
Cons:
- Most expensive option
3. Mansa
With so many brilliant and colourful visuals adorning their website, you’ll be blown away by the beautiful and vibrant choices Mansa has to offer for your custom PCs.
Along with their aesthetically pleasing cases, Mansa doesn’t fall short when it comes to the quality of their PCs, bringing their customers a delightful combination of design and function in their custom PCs.
Pros:
- Colourful and aesthetically pleasing designs
- Cheapest option
Cons:
- Limited choices compared to other services
How Much More Do Custom PC Services Charge For The Same Parts?
Still unsure which custom PC builder gives you the most bang for your buck?
One way to find out is by how the custom PC services price their parts compared to getting the parts and building it yourself!
We’ll be comparing the prices of parts listed on pcpartpicker.com with the costs from the PC builders we have listed above.
The following specifications will be used in our comparison:
| PC Part | Model |
|---|---|
| Case | Varies (Cases might be exclusive to the service) |
| Processor (CPU) | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X |
| Motherboard | Asus PRIME B550M-A (WI-FI) |
| Graphics Card (GPU) | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
| Cooling System | Varies (Options vary among different services) |
| RAM | Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 |
| Solid State Drive (SSD) | Varies (Generally looking at 1TB SSDs) |
| Hard Disk Drive (HDD) | Toshiba P300 3TB |
| Power Supply Unit (PSU) | Varies (Between 550w to 750w) |
Disclaimer: As the exact parts might not be available in all the services, we will be using the closest approximation we can get.
Here are the differences in prices:
| DIY Cost | Aftershock Cost | Dreamcore Cost | Mansa Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,252 | $2,270 | $2,343 | $2,020 |
So… Which Option Should I Pick?
When picking out similar specs, Mansa appears to offer the lowest price on top of being the most aesthetically pleasing.
However, it offers the lowest selection of customisation options compared to the other services.
While the prices of other custom PC services generally differ only slightly, they provide you with other benefits.
Such as Aftershock’s wide selection of customisation options, and Dreamcore’s impeccable customer service.
Therefore, it is advised that you do your homework and don’t just look at the prices when getting your own PC!
Wanna save extra on your dream PC?
Be sure to keep an eye out for promotions going on like IT fair or 11.11 sales or discounts when you checkout with buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services.
If you’re lucky enough, you can skip the custom PC services and just call up a PC expert friend to help you build one!
