I've been building PCs for 20 years — now I'd just buy a ...

Update: Since the initial writing of this piece, I’ve been trying out the ROG Zephyrus G14, and I must say, it has captured my admiration. While desktop PCs have their merits, I doubt I'll be using my custom-built setup any time soon given my possession of this incredible Asus machine.

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Looking back, constructing PCs was a misstep. Hold on, let me clarify — building gaming PCs proved to be quite a blunder. Spending 20 years on this occasionally rewarding yet often frustrating endeavor seems like the error to top all errors.

As I write this, I find myself in a bit of a pickle. My gaming PC, which is among the best on the market, is the cause of my sleepless nights after yet another issue arose with my homemade desktop. To make matters worse, I just noticed I have thermal CPU paste caked beneath my nails.

Yes, I know how to look charming at times.

My journey began with my first gaming PC, which I built years ago—back when everything seemed simpler. My Radeon SE GPU struggled to get Far Cry running above a mere 15 fps, but honestly, that was secondary.

What truly excited me was the unique thrill of piecing together different components and witnessing them unite to form a working computer.

Editor’s note: We revised the headline to accurately represent one individual’s journey. The world of PC gaming, particularly with DIY systems, varies greatly, and your experience with desktops or laptops is likely to be different from mine.

What a catastrophe

That first build made me feel like a geeky superhero. Installing a CPU surely is as impressive as having X-ray vision, right?

Fast forward 19 years later, and I can confidently say that if my younger self could see the outcome of this hobby, he’d probably decide to stick with his PS2 for eternity. It appears that assembling a PC can lead to some chaotic moments.

When everything runs smoothly, my setup looks like this:

(Image credit: Future)

And when things aren't running quite as intended? Buckle up:

(Image credit: Future)

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Recently, I attempted (and failed) to set up the 13th Gen Intel Core i9-K CPU. Unfortunately, my motherboard’s outdated BIOS prevented the world’s fastest gaming processor from booting. With my tail between my legs, I reverted back to my reliable i5-K, because yes, I genuinely use my Nvidia GeForce RTX-powered rig for work. A bit excessive, I agree.

Somewhere along the way, things went awfully wrong, as you can clearly observe above. While I managed to get my PC to boot following that point, I’m now facing the dreaded Blue Screen of Death with Windows 11. The error message reads, “Inaccessible Boot Device.”

Revisiting this message countless times after several failed attempts to launch makes me want to chuck my PC — right into the ocean.

I want to boot my PC... directly into the sea

Despite poring over forums seeking answers, the passive-aggressive suggestions I found on Reddit haven’t been particularly useful. I suspect I might have inadvertently dislodged my primary NVMe SSD while tinkering inside my PC, although I can’t be sure. The drive appears correctly installed, yet my gaming machine has been out of action for days now. At this juncture, I might just shed real tears when (or if) it ever powers back up.

I’m not quite ready to reinstall Windows 11, since I haven’t backed up my primary drive in months. Sadly, the reality is dawning on me that I might lose a plethora of documents, useful Photoshop templates, and about 14,000 Steam screenshots of games I have yet to play.

Laptop of honor

(Image credit: Future)

However, this SSD-trampling incident has taught me a vital lesson: gaming on laptops reigns supreme.

Since joining Tom's Guide, I’ve been fortunate to try out some of the finest gaming laptops, and mostly it has been a fantastic experience.

Even with the occasional noisy fan, the laptops I’ve tested have worked reliably. Being enamored with the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED and its stunning display has reaffirmed my appreciation for hassle-free gaming. Sometimes, the mere act of functioning properly is of utmost importance.

While my inner frame rate enthusiast may cringe at lowering settings from high to medium, it’s something I've quickly learned to accept. After giving my 4K-capable gaming rig a temporary lifeline, I’m more than satisfied to enjoy games on pre-assembled laptops that work seamlessly.

Plus, gaming from my couch rather than a spine-aching desk chair? Pure bliss.

If you're on the lookout for gaming laptops that I'd recommend, you can't go wrong with the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, the MSI Cyborg 15, or the Alienware m18.

Update: If you’re interested in an excellent counterpoint to everything I've mentioned, I encourage you to check out our colleagues at Tom's Hardware, who present a compelling argument for why building your own PC still holds value.

After putting my amazing gaming rig on temporary life support, I’m completely at ease gaming on pre-built laptops

This isn’t to suggest that purchasing one of the best laptops or a custom-built gaming PC won't come without challenges. Typically, there's a hefty premium for allowing a company to assemble the components that you could alongside a little research.

Nonetheless, there’s substantial value in powering on a laptop crafted by genuine professionals and diving into the captivating wonders of Night City in Cyberpunk — all without worrying if the heatsink on my NVMe drive is in peril.

Will I eventually get around to fixing my gaming rig? Absolutely. However, will I willingly get my hands dirty and rock my sanity for the fun of future builds? Probably not. There comes a time when one must bid adieu to thermal paste.

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