PC/Workstation Barebones

If you are planning on building your own PC but aren’t sure where to start, a barebones PC could be a great option. A barebones PC is a kit that comes with the shell, motherboard, and power supply but leaves the rest open for customization.

This guide will teach you about three important factors that you need to consider when picking out your barebones PC.

Expansion

The main appeal to buying a barebones PC is that it is open to expansion. That being said, it’s important to make sure that the PC you choose is compatible with the expansions you’d like to do.

Make sure that there is enough space in the case to install your desired components.

Style

There are three main style options that you’ll see when looking at barebones PC kits, the tower, booksize, and mini cube.

The tower is the largest and resembles a regular PC system, the booksize is a lot thinner and slightly shorter, and the mini cube is less than half the size of a regular PC system.

The larger the barebones PC is, the more components you will be able to install and the less likely it will be to overheat.

The smaller the barebones PC is, the more portable it will be. However, you won’t be able to install as many expansions and it will be more prone to overheating.

To learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of each size, read our article on how to pick a barebones PC.

The Motherboard

The last factor you’ll need to consider is the motherboard. The motherboard is the part of the computer that connects all of the individual components and allows them to interact with each other. Therefore, you must pick a system with a high-quality motherboard with plenty of expansion slots built in.

How To Pick A Barebones PC