I just snagged an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti without waiting months

I merely snagged an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti without waiting months — and you tin too

an image of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

(Image credit: Nvidia)

Obtaining one of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 30-series graphics cards has been a challenge ever since they were released in September 2020. High demand, global chip shortages, and scalpers make getting any of the GeForce thirty-series cards all but incommunicable at retail prices.

This trouble won't go away whatsoever time soon, as Nvidia warns that shortages may continue well into 2022. If y'all're a PC gamer looking to upgrade to a new GeForce RTX carte, you're going to face frustration.Or, you can practice what I did and buy a pre-built PC.

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Earlier hardcore gaming PC builders rush to the comments, I'one thousand fully aware of the disfavor some in the PC gaming community take toward pre-built rigs. Some retailers sell them for exorbitant prices and may use low-quality parts. The bloatware that oftentimes comes with these rigs isn't keen either. There'southward likewise the belief that ane should build a PC for themselves to truly sympathise its inner workings.

Those are all valid points, but I've wanted to build a new PC since late last yr and I was tired of waiting for GeForce RTX cards to become readily available. Ergo, my decision to buy a pre-congenital PC to get a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti.

Snagging an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti without breaking the bank

The initial spark for opting for a pre-built PC came when YouTube recommend a video from Linus Tech Tips where he reviewed a rig from Build Redux. My enquiry revealed that Build Redux is a service offered by Digital Storm. In business concern since 2002, Digital Storm has a reputation for building high-quality PCs. Build Redux launched last year and has earned equal praise, especially from tech-focused YouTubers.

You tin "build" your PC on Build Redux'due south site. This involves choosing PCs starting at $1,419 all the manner to $2,483 (there are three choices: Expert, Better, Best). Subsequently selecting a number of games from a list, yous're then presented with your potential PC, along with a list of the parts it will accept.

The $two,408 build it created for me was skilful but the GeForce RTX carte du jour it chose was the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080. A powerful GPU, but not what I wanted. The aforementioned was true of some of the other components.

I went into the customize carte du jour and selected private parts for the GPU, CPU, RAM, storage, and operating system. Selecting a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, Intel Core i7-10700K, 32GB DDR4 dual-channel RAM, 1TB NVMe Grand.2 + 2TB HDD, and Windows 10, I got a build that came to $2,901 before aircraft and taxes were added.

No guilt over pre-built

Build Redux pre-built PC — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Build Redux simply charges $75 to build your PC. The low markup price, quality components, and praise from YouTube tech reviewers were almost plenty for me to pull the trigger.

However, I wasn't happy with the storage options. I had my heart assail a 2TB SSD and didn't want a standard HDD. I held off on purchasing this PC to get feedback from some of my more tech-savvy friends.

One friend directed me to a company chosen NZXT. He said Build Redux was good, but that NZXT offers a wider range of PC components. The $99 markup is college than Build Redux'south $75, simply not by much. Edifice a PC on NZXT's site isn't inherently different from edifice one on Build Redux. The main point of departure is the wider range of available components, as my friend noted.

The NZXT rig ended up being $iii,500. Taxes and aircraft bumped it up to $3,900 (give thanks you, NYC taxes). Due to being in lockdown for so long and not spending money on traveling, the price wasn't out of my upkeep. I also wanted a PC that would last at least five years. I could stomach the expensive toll tag.

Here is what's inside my new PC:

NZXT pre-built PC specs — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (commonly) retails for $ane,199. The one in my rig cost $1,399. While that's higher than MSRP, information technology'due south far less than I would have paid a scalper. All the other components, such equally the Intel Core i7-11700KF ($399) and Seagate FireCuda 520 2TB SSD ($399), were at or shut to MSRP.

I should too annotation that my PC arrived a week after I ordered it. This was a dainty surprise since NZXT said it would take ii-three weeks (some people have had to look months to get pre-build PC from all manner of retailers). I believe luck played a factor in my PC shipping then quickly, simply that's not to say lightning couldn't strike twice and others could get lucky too.

The signal of this article isn't to convince you to purchase a pre-built PC, nor is it a covert advertising for NZXT. My main goal was to discuss a viable selection for obtaining a GeForce xxx-series menu. I also wanted to instill that ane shouldn't feel guilty for purchasing a pre-built PC.

While it's arguably amend to build your own rig, the difficulty of obtaining a graphics carte makes buying a pre-built PC enticing. I don't have a shred of remorse for the selection I made and y'all shouldn't either if you go downwardly a similar route.

Ownership a pre-built PC isn't the worst idea in the world — heck, information technology might but be a neat idea at the moment.

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Tony is a calculating writer at Tom'due south Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC confined with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Magazine, and various independent gaming sites.