(Credit: Paradox Customs)
As memory prices continue to rise across the tech industry, some PC builders are now offering prebuilt systems without memory included.
Paradox Customs has begun selling PCs without RAM, as VideoCardz reports. This isn't mandatory for all orders as you can still buy your prebuilt gaming PC with RAM included, but the new option allows you to reduce the cost of a system.
Memory prices have risen dramatically in the past few months and the trend looks set to continue. Various system builders have stopped selling RAM directly to customers as standalone sticks, while others have announced price rises to combat costs.
The move from Paradox Customs may help it offer better prices for prebuilt systems, but it also leaves gamers sourcing their own components. There's no guarantee of RAM availability for those customers, and it may raise future problems with your warranty.
There are many unanswered questions for how this new purchasing option impacts future repairs. What happens if you install the memory wrong and damage something?
What happens if the system crashes six months from now, and Paradox says it's a memory stability issue? Does the warranty still apply? Will Paradox still repair it if the problem might stem from the user's memory choice or installation?
The point of buying a prebuilt gaming PC is that it works right out of the box, with predetermined performance, the correct drivers installed, and everything ready to go.
While installing RAM does only take a few minutes, tuning it can take a little longer. Enabling all the right settings isn't always straightforward, and it can introduce reboots or system crashes if your settings need tweaking. That said, if you know what you're doing with setting up RAM on a new system, this option from Paradox Customs may help you save some money.