Custom PCs are the most reliable?

[TheMechEngineer]

What do you guys reckon from your own experience?

 

After owning pre-built desktops and laptops, I'd have to say that pre-builts CAN be reliable but are still generally lesser to custom PC's.

Laptops on the other hand....get ready for the headaches if you try using one as your main computer.

[ThatOneRussian]

prebuilt desktops have guarantees

[ThatOneRussian]

but ill always build a custom pc

[TheSLSAMG]

Not always. It all depends on the quality of the components that go into them. You can build a custom PC that is as shit as the worst pre-built and you can buy an Alienware that is more reliable than your PC or mine.

[Zayzo]

This question is dumb. PCs aren't unreliable, parts are. So, more often than not, a prebuilt PC will use a shady off brand PSU(or something else) and you'll need to send it back to them because it died. Building allows you to buy what has good reviews and warranties. 

[Avalen]

Prebuilts usually skimp particularly on the PSU so I don't really trust them. Laptops are fine usually, though, as long as you are careful when picking one. Not like you have a choice there anyway.

[ThatOneRussian]

But the thing is with a psu for a custom fries half the parts. its usually guaranteed only for the psu

[Suffokation]

It depends on what parts you use, if they are second hand, and if you are a good builder.

 

There are that many variables, answering the question would just seem pointless.

[ThatOneGuyThatFlew]

it depends on a lot of stuff like the skill of the builder they have pros makes pre builts and they do it all day so their good and they have warranty so id say their more reliable and you wont get defective parts and if one is its because of shipping damage 

[Zayzo]

But the thing is with a psu for a custom fries half the parts. its usually guaranteed only for the psu

If you buy a PSU that isn't garbage, this isn't a problem nowadays. 

[QueenDemetria]

Conservative PC's are the ones that are the most reliable(mostly). When you aren't pushing the boundaries there isn't much to go wrong.

[ThatOneRussian]

Console "graphics" have more "frame rate" than titan X. Not sure if innocent mistake or a massive dig at console users that dont realize graphics dont equal framerate

[ThatOneRussian]

Conservative PC's are the ones that are the most reliable(mostly). When you aren't pushing the boundaries there isn't much to go wrong.

Edit : Wouldnt they be built of cheaper materials?

[Syntaxvgm]

A PC is only the sum of its parts. 

[hsm]

bias aside, i guess anything that comes pre build is probably better protected as long as its from a trusted seller, not like ebay or something. that being said, most of the pc parts in a custom build should have warentees but its a pain to find each one.

[QueenDemetria]

Edit : Wouldnt they be built of cheaper materials?

Conservative, as in not using power hungry/flagship parts. A pentium rig will more likely out last an i7 rig, same thing with a 750 ti vs 980 ti. The parts don't wear out the electrical components as much, making things last longer. 

[GoldSrc]

For the most part they are the same, it all comes down on how good of a job you did when you build a custom PC.

[ChookyMan1290]

I think that self built computers are better because they are more open to the things that you programmed it to do 

[Rolling Potatoe]

Many prebuilds have costum parts that come with their own drivers.

Since the manufacturer doesnt bother to update those and developers cant really take them in mind

there can be some weird issues after a couple of years.

[Godlygamer23]

Reliability when it comes to custom PCs is subjective. It's all what you put into it. If you put in some of those "gutless wonders," the PC won't be very reliable, would it? Might even be a fire hazard.

[manikyath]

a custom PC can be built with parts of the reliability you want.

 

a prebuilt is made with parts that are supposed to last 4 years. (warranty period)

 

sometimes you get that gem of a prebuilt that lasts 10 years, then catches fire, and continues to work while belching out smoke.

[Godlygamer23]

I think that self built computers are better because they are more open to the things that you programmed it to do 

Not sure what you're getting at. All computers run the same code until the CPU itself decodes it to its own architecture and you have no dictation over that. Building a PC is not programming it.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Whoops

 

[RyanMacRocks]

Depends on what parts you use, chances are though a custom PC will be more reliable because there are less areas where corners are cut, for example, more reliable PSU's, better cooling (assuming you're not using the stock heatsink), higher quality RAM, etc.

[Praesi]

I only owned one prebuild PC (not counting Pentium 1 and below) and that was a horrible mess. Every two weeks some other shit doesnt work.