Does Best Buy Build PCs in 2024? (Do This Instead)
As a tech product analyst with over 10 years of experience studying consumer electronics trends, I often get asked if Best Buy‘s in-store PC building service is worth using. With big box stores pushing pre-builts and boutiques charging premiums for custom rigs, should you pay the Geek Squad to assemble your dream gaming PC or workstation? Here‘s my in-depth advice after evaluating their parts selection, service fees, and builder expertise versus going the DIY route.
How Much More Does Best Buy Charge Over DIY Building?
Building your own PC generally costs 20-30% less than buying a pre-built machine according to data from PCPartPicker. But as this cost table shows, Best Buy‘s Geek Squad building fees reduce those savings by about $160 on a $1500 rig:
| Build Approach | Component Cost | Parts Warranty | Building Cost | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY | $1500 | Varies | $0 labor | $1500 |
| Best Buy Build | $1500 | 90 days | ~$160 | ~$1660 |
So while their service technicians can expertly assemble your PC and handle cable management, you pay nearly a 11% surcharge over doing it yourself.
Key Considerations: DIY Building vs Best Buy Assembly
Below I break down the main pros and cons of outsourcing your PC build to the Geek Squad:
DIY Building Advantages
- Cheaper overall cost
- Pick every single component
- Learn new technical skills
- Feel pride of assembling it yourself!
Downsides of Self Building
- Researching parts takes many hours
- Risk damaging expensive components
- Troubleshooting build problems alone
- No guidance from experts
Best Buy Build Service Benefits
- Convenience of expert assembly
- Warranty support for defects
- Handles tricky custom loops
- Less performance testing needed
Limitations of Best Buy‘s Service
- Added fees reduce cost savings
- Restrictions on used/vintage parts
- Less case/component flexibility
- No exotic cooling options
So it mainly comes down to price, convenience, and customization flexibility based on your needs.
Bottom Line Recommendations
Here is my candid advice on whether paying Best Buy for a built PC makes sense for different users:
- Entry level and mid-range gamers – Go DIY and save money! Building is straightforward for basic single-GPU configs.
- Extreme overclockers – The restrictions may annoy hard-core enthusiasts who want exotic sub-zero cooling.
- Water cooling newbies – Paying for leak-free custom loop building can give peace of mind.
- Busy professionals – Outsourcing assembly also buys you back some time if money‘s no object.
But casual gamers on a budget should strongly consider learning PC building themselves instead of paying the Geek Squad fees. Overall the satisfaction of booting your own rig is worth it!
Hope this helps explain your options. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Mike Stevens
PC Tech Product Analyst
