Pricing and availability
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Custom Built PC.
Value and pricing
-
The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X bundle at Micro Center offers strong value, particularly for digital art and gaming, despite being in black.
Source -
While building your own PC can offer better value, prebuilt systems may offer competitive pricing on high-demand components like GPUs, occasionally matching or slightly exceeding MSRP.
Source
User experience
-
It's noted that after-sale support is crucial, especially for non-tech-savvy users, with smaller shops potentially providing more personalized assistance.
Source -
Smaller, local shops might offer personalized service like upgrading CPUs when new models are available, unlike larger builders.
Source -
Prebuilt PCs from services like iBuyPower and Maingear offer the advantage of a single point of contact for troubleshooting, which can be crucial for complex, hard-to-diagnose issues.
Source
Comparisons
-
The AMD 7800X3D is viewed as a strong CPU choice, but the 7600X serves as a practical interim alternative if the 9800X3D is unavailable.
Source
Features and functionality
-
WiFi 7 compatibility is noted as future-ready but not essential yet due to limited device support.
Source -
It's recommended to use RAM with a speed of exactly 6000 MHz and EXPO enabled for optimal performance, avoiding instability with four RAM sticks.
Source -
Users recommend NVME SSDs over SATA for better performance, suggesting separate drives for OS and applications to optimize system efficiency.
Source -
The Deepcool LS720 SE WH liquid CPU cooler is favored for its aesthetic appeal in white builds, fitting well with color-themed setups.
Source
Setup and maintenance
-
Motherboards with WiFi 6 or 6E and USB-C ports are advised for future-proofing, with a preference for boards from ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, and ASrock.
Source -
Air coolers are praised for longevity and cost-effectiveness, while water coolers offer aesthetic appeal but may require replacement after 3-4 years.
Source -
The ease of assembly is often compared to adult Legos, but potential pitfalls include static shock and bending pins, which can be a concern for first-time builders.
Source
Use cases and applications
-
Nvidia GPUs, like the 4070 Ti SUPER, are recommended for 3D applications due to their 16GB VRAM and solid gaming performance.
Source -
Custom PC builders are noted for their ability to specify components for specific needs, such as gaming or productivity, providing tailored performance over mass-produced systems.
Source
Build quality
-
Owners prefer selecting brand-name components for custom builds, particularly with power supplies, to ensure reliability and avoid issues with unbranded parts.
Source -
White GPUs are often significantly more expensive, but they can be spray painted to achieve the desired aesthetic without voiding warranties.
Source
Mods and upgrades
-
For color customization, aftermarket PSU cables in white or lilac/pink can enhance the build's cohesive look.
Source
5.0 out of 5
Based on 39 Reviews and 111 Ratings
397
I built my own PC
I built my own PC, it´s great. Windows 10, 16gb RAM, Intel Core i7 9700k, Geforce RTX 2070.
The Spec
Intel Core i7 6800K | G.Skill Ripjaws-V 2x16GB DDR4 2400Mhz Kit | Corsair Carbide Air 540 White Edition | Samsung SSD 950 PRO M.2 512GB | Asus ROG STRIX X99 | Corsair HX850i 850W Platinum | Gigabyte GTX 1080
1608
If you're not getting something low-range, look into it
My friend helped me with a PC build and it runs like a dream
170
It's ok
dual core i3, 1 tb hdd, no graphics card, random psu from a company i've never heard of before, and a random motherboard. also has an optical drive and a floppy disk drive for portable storage needs
Build
Asus Maximus Hero VIII ,Intel Core I5 6600K , Nvidia Gtx 970 G1 gaming , 8x2 GB DDR4 gSkill , SSD Samung 512GB, 1TB HDD , Corsair Carbide 400c case , Corsair H110i Aio Liquid Cooler
180
Computer knowledge helps!
I'm against who says that, if you need that you want a stable system for music production, you have to buy a pre-built rig. So I built my one, and it's working well. Having a bit of computer knowledge helps you a lot!
313
SPECS
i5-6600K 16GB DDR4 RAM ASUS H170 PRO GAMING MOBO RADEON RX 370 250GB SAMSUNG SSD + 2TB WD BLACK HDD
Artist usage
Add artistIn this Tweet, Martin is surrounded by parts— likely the mentioned parts he bought— necessary to custom-build a PC.
Arty mentioned on Twitter that he's upgrading his studio setup with a powerful custom-built PC, featuring an i7 3960x processor, PCI-E SSDs, and 32 GB of RAM.
Q: Do you use software for arrangement and then hardware for playing the music? Royksopp: that’s the most common thing. We don’t use Macs, we’re PC people
On Instagram Paris Blohm shows his custom built PC. He says, "THE BEAST IS COMPLETE". Looking closely, it appears he installed an AMD FX CPU, as well as a SeaSonic X Series power supply.
DotEXE posts a Facebook photo showing his new custom built desktop PC. He shares the specs of it as well:
"PS: i just started building this new computer and im super stoked on it for pumping out new tunes. Heres some of the specs if anyone is interested:
-Intel i7-4930k -24 gb corsair ram -250 ssd + 3 tb drive -geforce 780 gtx Ti"
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Custom Built PC, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursMore Computers & Peripherals
Similar
Gear Guides
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
equipboardGear IQ 4934
-