Two years ago I built a gaming PC. It was incredibly fun. That machine is now an absolute work horse for me. I maxed out so many specs and have the ultimate desktop for gaming and productivity. However, it wasn’t cheap and I learned some valuable lessons about building a gaming PC in Ireland as a result. Some lessons I want to pass on to you.
Why Build a Gaming PC?
As a gamer, you’re likely no stranger to the eternal conundrum: should you buy a pre-built gaming PC, build one yourself or just stick out life with a gaming console. I faced this very question.
My first bit of research was wandering the shops of Ireland for pre-built machines. Harvey Norman, Currys and some indie shops had some pre-built machines. Every last one of them had old parts or overpriced parts hidden behind gaudy RGB. RGB distracts and I built my own gaming PC with no priority on RGB. Since, I’m riddled the thing with RGB, but don’t let it distract you. RGB doesn’t earn you FPS.
I already had a PlayStation 5, but… I don’t know. It just wasn’t scratching the itch for me.
So it was time to build my own PC for the first time in a very long time. In fact, I think I only ever really upgraded my old machine with a GPU and the likes in the past.
The Case for Building Your Own Gaming PC
Building a gaming PC from scratch can be a cost-effective and rewarding experience. By sourcing individual components from online retailers like Amazon or specialist PC stores like Caseking.de, you can create a custom-built machine that meets your specific needs and budget.
It can often work out cheaper or offer better performance for the same money, or less, building your own computer. This approach allows you to choose exactly the components you need, avoiding the bloat and unnecessary features that can drive up the cost of pre-built PCs.
It also opens up the chance of second hand parts which can be almost as reliable as new parts.
PC Parts Builder is a fantastic website where you can start to dream about your new machine. Here, you can put togther lists of every part needed to make a functioning gaming PC. The site will even estimate what size of power supply you’ll need and if certain parts are not compatible.
I don’t know many people who have built a gaming PC that don’t have dozens of theoretical PCs in PC Parts Picker that never get built.
Which brings us onto the biggest issue with building a gaming PC in Ireland.
Where to Buy Gaming PC Parts in Ireland
The worst part about building a PC in Ireland is that we have next to no shops selling parts on the high street. There aren’t that many online options either, but here’s what I found works.
Websites Shipping to Ireland
Irish PC builder websites like Paradigit.ie are the cloest to home, but rarely offer the best value and have limited stock. Turning to mainland Europe, I had sourced some options from Caseking.de and Amazon.de in Germany. The value is a bit of a mixed bag with these sites along with some longer shipping times, but patience will return some decent avenues to PC parts for budding gamers in Ireland.
Beware the UK
Then, there are the traps like UK websites. Unfortunately, Brexit means there can be massive charges on the import of your parts. I had read up on these charges seeing that PC parts were supposed to be exempt, but this potentially is just for businesses. Either way, I tried to argue with both Irish and UK customs over charges on some parts that I paid and got nowhere. So unless it’s highly specific and the only place you can find something – stay away from the UK.
The only exception to this is using a service like OOHPod up in the North. But not every company will ship to the North and OOHPod won’t forward so you’ll have to go get it too.
The High Street
If you do find a high street retailer that does parts, I’d wager that 5 minutes on Google will bring you to a German website offering the same items or better at a much better pricepoint. Sure, you’ll have to wait but one lesson I learned is that being patient with parts can save you a small fortune.
Shop local is well and good until shopping local limits your choice and costs a small fortune.
But what about saving money with the second hand market?
Buying Second Hand
Adverts.ie is an ok spot to buy second hand parts, but it’s very hit and miss in terms of supply. Ireland just doesn’t have a culture of PC building, so the circulation of parts is low. Remember, there’s no comeback if something breaks after you buy it on Adverts either.
One shop you’ll find a surprising range of items is CeX. But as I pointed out a few years ago, value is pretty low when you spend money in CeX. Naturally, the exception to this being if you are trading in quite a few items and in return you get good store credit. It might work out for you. They’ll also usually give you a decent warranty too.
So my advice is to be patient. Build your part list using PC Part Builder and check what you can source second hand, if anything at all. Next, look towards European retailers and be patient with their shipping times. Finally, if all else fails, look towards the UK but try be saavy about getting items from there to Ireland.
How Much to Spend on a Gaming PC?
I can’t honestly answer this question in an article like this. I overspent massively on my PC because it spiralled out of control. I was first looking at AM4 motherboards but then thought to myself – I want upgrade paths in a few years. So I went with AM5 which supports DDR5. Suddenly, you’re shopping at higher pricepoints because everything is current. The bonus is you will get longer from the machine and even have the chance to buy new parts over the coming years to keep it fresh.
I’m only heading into my third year with my PC and I’m considering a new CPU to upgrade my, to be honest perfectly good, Ryzen 7 7700x.
I don’t need to, but this is the challenge with PC building. You typically want to keep going, but don’t have the release of a build to scratch the itch. I’m already looking at building a NAS just to keep my mind busy!
While there are countless websites and creators out there talking about how much you should spend on a gaming PC, Ireland is a unique case. Linus Tech Tips will make certain recommendations, but the parts just won’t be available in the volume or price in Ireland or even the EU to a certain extent.
I just recommend looking at the game you want to play most, or maybe two or three games. Check the specs and start building a list on PC Parts Picker. Then shop around and shop around some more to make sure you are getting the very best deal.
What I will say is buying a gaming PC for less than €1,000 is tough. And if you’re shopping in the likes of Harvey Norman, a lot of what you’re paying as part of that €1,000 is bloat and not performance. They have to make their margins, it’s your job to trim that back to as little as possible. This is why building a PC from parts you painstakingly source is where you find the best value.
Can a Gaming PC Last 15 Years?
While it’s unlikely that a gaming PC will last 15 years without any upgrades, it’s not impossible. With careful maintenance and regular upgrades, a well-built gaming PC can easily last 5-10 years.
It is also a bit like Trigger’s broom from Only Fool’s and Horses too though.
What you consider to be your gaming PC might last for a very long time. But how many parts will remain untouched in that time period? As I said earlier, a key strategy with PC-building is upgrade paths. That means that after 5 years, you could add a new GPU, some additional RAM and a new CPU along with maybe a new monitor. Some would argue the PC is somewhat the same because the motherboard wasn’t changed or the cost was well spread out or recovered from selling items second hand, and maybe that’s fair.
It’s Not Easy, But You Should Build a Gaming PC (Even in Ireland)
Building a gaming PC can be a fun and rewarding experience, offering a level of customisation and cost-effectiveness that’s hard to match with pre-built PCs. By sourcing components from online retailers like Amazon or specialist PC stores like Caseking.de, you can create a machine that meets your specific needs and budget.
Being an island has it’s benefits (still waiting for the zombie apocolypse) but it comes with massive draw backs too (glares at Holyhead).
Take your time, because the one thing I’m not – is patient. Looking back at building my beloved PinkyBoi PC, I spent a lot of money making mistakes (ordering from the UK) and just being impatient.
Here, you can check out the PC Parts Picker list for my own build. Since building this I have updated the RAM with new Corsair RGB sticks which are both colourful but also faster.
PC Building in Ireland Tips
- Upgrade Paths: Some parts will be with you for a long time. I got a power supply far beyond what I needed so I can upgrade parts in the coming years.
- Resale Value: Ireland doesn’t have much of a second hand PC parts market. But if you’re patient, selling parts on Adverts will lead to sales. If you’re impatient, you can also sell older parts at a discount.
- Customs: Check customs laws on imports from the UK. Or wait till you’re over there yourself and use Amazon or OOHPod lockers to manage deliveries.
- CeX: It’s probably one of the best spots in Ireland in terms of supply. But the value usually stinks. Approach with a hige degree of caution
- Shop with your Head: So aside from patience, don’t be overly romantic with “shop local”. I understand the market isn’t big here, but this approach will have you paying over the odds, or worse (genuinely) buying older parts that don’t do what you need.
This article was created with the support of Goosed.ie’s in-house AI-assisted writing tool, designed to aid our writers, not replace them. While the tool offers outlines and context, all content is crafted and edited by the Goosed team.
