Summary
- Renting a PC utilizing NZXT Flex has restricted advantages (like a {hardware} refresh each two years) however affords considerably worse worth for cash than even financing your PC.
- You can save essentially the most cash on a PC by constructing your personal, searching for used {hardware}, and prioritizing a very powerful elements of the construct.
- You can get a Switch Lite or a used PS4 for about $100 and play that when you’re saving for a PC.
You’ve in all probability heard about shopping for or constructing a gaming PC, however what about renting one? Let’s check out why that’s a fairly unhealthy thought.
You’ll Own Nothing and Be Happy
In August 2024, California-based system integrator NZXT expanded its fledgling Flex gaming subscription, including three tiers and elevating eyebrows all over the world. This transfer captured headlines and drew the ire of the gaming press, a number of high-profile YouTube channels, and the typical Redditor; multi function fell swoop.
The firm’s pitch is straightforward: lease a brand new or “like-new” gaming PC from us for a flat month-to-month payment. Just like renting your private home or a automotive, you received’t personal the PC when the time period is up. It’s yours for so long as you’re pleased to hold paying, and costs begin at $59 per thirty days.
The thought of renting expensive electronics isn’t new. People have unfold out the price of such gadgets for many years. Radio Rentals began within the UK in 1930, initially specializing in radio units. Rent-A-Center took off within the US within the Seventies and nonetheless operates to today.
The distinction right here is that Radio Rentals provided gadgets for a really low-cost month-to-month value, whereas Rent-A-Center works on a rent-to-own foundation. Neither of those advantages apply to NZXT Flex.
Of course, there are some advantages past the primary month being free. You can cancel at any time, and delivery is free. You get a guaranty together with your plan, however there’s no cowl in opposition to unintended injury brought on by you. Perhaps the most important boon is that NZXT guarantees to improve the rig each two years.
On the floor, the plan appears ultimate for anybody who quickly wants a performant PC for enjoying video games or doing a little bit of video enhancing. But let’s be sincere: that’s not who NZXT had in thoughts after they launched this scheme.
The Cost Is Astronomical
Perhaps essentially the most vocal criticism of the scheme got here from GamersNexus, a YouTube channel that makes a speciality of laptop {hardware} and the businesses that promote it. Editor-in-chief Steve Burke flat-out described the scheme as “predatory” and “a scam” in a fiery hour-long investigation posted in December 2024.
Chief among the many complaints was that NZXT was providing totally different specs between the PCs you possibly can lease and people you possibly can purchase, regardless of them having the identical identify. The CEO of NZXT Johnny Hou responded to criticism in a six-minute video, promising to repair the naming scheme and making a number of different concessions.
Other criticisms of the scheme included deceptive promoting campaigns (since pulled), the truth that the scheme doesn’t provide fastened specs which signifies that elements can change from time to time, and potential value will increase for subscribers (which Hou put down to state gross sales tax necessities).
But there’s one facet to the Flex lineup that may’t be fastened by a heartfelt piece-to-camera: the value. NZXT’s value tiers begin at $59 for an entry-level Intel Core i5-12400F, an RTX 3050, and 16GB of fairly gradual RAM. The highest tier jumps to $259 for an i7-14900KF, an RTX 4080 SUPER, and 64GB of decently quick RAM.
But you don’t want to perceive these specs to notice that renting affords poor worth for cash over the long run. Buying an NZXT pre-built PC with the equal specs because the $259 month-to-month rental would (on the time of writing) price you $3,399.
That’s the equal price of renting the identical PC for 13 months. Over three years of renting you’d spend $9,324 and don’t have anything to present for it. If you select to finance the identical PC over three years utilizing the Affirm button on NZXT’s web site the overall price comes to $4,241.29 (at an rate of interest of 14.99%) for a similar interval and also you personal the PC on the finish of it.
And should you select to construct your personal PC? You’ll save significantly more cash because you aren’t paying labor costs and might store round for the very best offers.
What You Should Do Instead
NZXT is providing on the spot gratification to those that can’t afford to drop a few grand on a completed construct or do not have the credit score to get finance. It’s value acknowledging that that is simply the character of renting normally. You aren’t often going to get the very best deal in life below this mannequin, although on this case renting a PC looks as if particularly poor worth for cash.
Let’s say you’re a gamer with nothing to play proper now. You can pick up a Switch Lite for under $100 should you’re on the lookout for one thing low-cost that performs video games. The PS4 is still a capable console even in 2025, and it prices about the identical. Even a crusty outdated laptop computer can deal with classic free shooter clones.
With one thing to do within the meantime, you can begin saving up for a PC. Even should you save no matter you’d spend on NZXT’s most cost-effective rental plan each month, you’ll nonetheless have $700 to play with on the finish of the 12 months. This can go a great distance in direction of constructing a PC that you just personal outright.
There’s never been a better time to buy used PC hardware. You can save some huge cash by procuring second-hand, so long as you know which parts to avoid. Of course, this includes placing the PC collectively your self, which isn’t one thing you need to be frightened of. YouTube is filled with tutorials that can information you thru the complete course of, simply follow a few basic tips and you’ll be fine.
If you’re feeling impatient, you can begin constructing and including to your PC as you go. The finest investments can be a great CPU and GPU, a serviceable motherboard, and simply sufficient RAM. You can lower your expenses with an affordable and nasty case, the naked minimal quantity of storage, and outdated peripherals. Avoiding nice-to-haves like RGB lighting or liquid coolers till you’ve received the fundamentals in place.
Alternatively, you possibly can purchase a pre-built PC outright. This saves you from having to configure your construct utilizing web sites like PC Part Picker, however bear in mind that you just’ll pay a premium for a extra hands-off strategy. Building a PC will educate you a factor or two about upkeep each by way of {hardware} and software program, so that you’ll miss out on that should you go this route too.
A cheerful medium could be to have interaction the experience of a educated buddy to make it easier to out. Many lovers see constructing a PC as a interest, not a chore, so that you could be stunned about how keen they’re to make it easier to out and get you excited too. If you’ll be able to be taught a couple of issues alongside the best way and lean on them for tech help from time to time, you’ll be set.
Whatever route you select, you’ll personal your PC outright. While you watch for all of the items to slot into place, start building a library of PC games for free so you have got one thing to play when the time comes.
