A PC build kit lets you build a computer with training wheels on. These kits ship with all the components included, as well as the tools and support you’ll need, making building a custom PC simple for first-timers.
- Price: $999 to $3,699
- Build Tools: Video instructions and toolkit included
- Support: FAQ, Web chat
- Ships to: USA, Canada, Europe
- Warranty: 2-year parts
If you’re looking for something in between buying a pre-built PC or speccing a fully custom PC yourself, check out Corsair’s build kits.
Corsair nailed making decisions easy for first-time builders. Five kits are available across different budget ranges; each build comes with pre-chosen parts. That way, you don’t have to check if your PC parts are compatible and won’t make a mistake like choosing the wrong cooler.
I love their simple chart showing each build’s performance at different resolutions. Whether you need frame rates for competitive first-person shooters or expansive 4K for a flight sim, it’s a simple way to compare what you want and what you’re getting.
There are a few things to be aware of before you buy. The site removes the Add to Cart button if a kit is sold out without telling you why. The case, CPU cooler, memory, storage, and power supply are all Corsair branded, but that does help keep prices reasonable. Lastly, it wasn’t immediately clear what level of build support the company provides if you get stuck.
When all is said and done, Corsair’s build kits provide simple choices with only powerful components—it’s the right approach for gamers building their first PC.
- Price: $770 to $4,400
- Build Tools: Field manual with videos and toolkit included
- Support: Build-day chat, Phone and video support, Discord server
- Ships to: USA only
- Warranty: 2-year parts
PC CRATE specializes in build kits, and it’s primarily what the company sells.
Other build kits make it easy by selling prepackaged components, but what’s neat about PC CRATE is that you can swap out components to your liking. It’s a great option for those who know a little bit more about building and have specific components in mind for their kit.
I like how customizing takes place on one simple page of drop-down menus. It was a smart decision to make the motherboard fixed, so you don’t have to worry about choosing a new motherboard—a decision that’s often intimidating for first-time builders. There’s even a discreet shipping option if you intend to give the kit as a gift.
The site’s kit builder does have a few oddities. The current default choices are budget-oriented to a fault (e.g., no GPU), so you might want to up the specs. And if you opt for a more powerful GPU like the RTX 4080, the builder doesn’t automatically switch your power supply to the proper recommendation.
Minor complaints aside, PC CRATE is generous with build-day support for beginners. If you want to pick and choose your parts, PC CRATE has a kit for you.
- Price: $1,100 to $2,800
- Build Tools: Step-by-step instructions and PC Build Tool Kit included
- Support: Phone and email support
- Ships to: USA, Canada, Europe (select countries only)
- Warranty: 2-year parts
Sirius Power PC is worth checking out for options you can’t get from other PC build kits.
For one, the kit offerings are diverse: the company offers packages with Intel or AMD processors paired with Nvidia or Radeon graphics cards. Each package already has the parts chosen for you, so you can be sure you’re buying a well-rounded PC. Every kit also comes with a generous box of tools every PC Builder needs.
The kits from Sirius Power PC also stand out in terms of aesthetics. They come with full-window cases resembling the venerable O11 Dynamic, with many extra RGB fans included.
That being said, the site is rough around the edges. I had trouble finding the build kit section, and the site loading behaved a little wonky. The only other thing I’d watch out for is their lowest-budget kit, which I feel needs a processor update to make more sense. Nevertheless, the components chosen for all of their other kits seem like solid values to me.
If aesthetics and having more brand selection matter to you, Sirius Power PC sells some great kits.
If you’re not yet ready to build your own PC, you can always turn to the best custom PC builder websites to ship you one pre-assembled. But if you’re a tinkerer or love DIY, a PC build kit removes the stress of shopping and lets you get straight to the fun of working on your build.
