"Most gamers would and should be familiar with the old adage "you get what you pay for". Quality goods command a premium price, and this is certainly true where PC components are concerned. It should come as no surprise then that the most gaming capable rigs are also often the most costly.

Anyone with enough money can put down a few grand for an immensely capable Alienware, Voodoo or Falcon Northwest gaming rig (and they often do), but it takes a true genius to be able to build a similarly capable rig for a fraction of the price.

So how does one go about building a powerful gaming rig for a fraction of the cost? The answer is to D.I.Y. - Do It Yourself.

The chief reason for the popularity of DIY amongst enthusiasts is that compared to branded PCs, it is often easier to build a similar system for less. On top of that, doing it yourself gives you complete freedom and control over the components that go into your system, so you can tailor your rig to your exact specifications and needs. Need a smaller 250GB hard drive instead of a 500GB one? No problem. Don't need an optical drive at all? Sure thing, just don't buy one. Specifically want a certain brand of graphics card? It's your call. These are the kinds of freedom you don't enjoy when buying off the shelf."

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