Pandemic Leads Millions to Begin Building their own Computers at Home

LEBANON, NH- Over the past year and a half, the COVID-19 pandemic has led many to take up new and old hobbies to pass the time. While many turned to selling those hobbies or doing arts and crafts, others interested in technology chose a different pastime. During the height of quarantine in April of 2020, computer hardware sales were up 89% across the country as tons looked to build their own personal computers at home.

Millions of offices and schools had moved to a remote structure requiring workers and students to adapt to home offices. Building personalized computers proved to be an entertaining way to pass the time for those interested in learning more about technology.

Google statistics for ‘PC building’ had reported a 147% increase in searches within the first four weeks of the global quarantine. With more time on their hands than ever before, it is not surprising that technology saw such a vast rise among the population.

Building a personalized PC allows users to maximize the efficiency of the product while also tailoring it to their own tastes. Jaden Giaccone started work on his PC in April of 2020 as a senior in high school. After his high school closed, all of Jaden’s classes were moved to an online platform. Knowing he had to do school from home full-time, Jaden decided to invest in his education and video gaming experience.

One of the most compelling advantages that Jaden has appreciated about building a computer himself, is the heightened sense of ownership he feels. “I think the biggest thing I like about having a customized computer is just knowing a bit more in detail about the parts in the computer and knowing I guess what I may want to upgrade in the future”. Having familiarity with the parts being used in the construction of the computer allows for an experience tailored to each individual’s needs.

The customization allows Jaden to create thousands of animated backgrounds for his PC, as well as the ability to adapt the mouse and keyboard to his liking. Specialized settings such as control over the reaction time between clicks on the mouse are ideal for boosting a gamer’s overall experience. The backlit keyboard means users can also create special light patterns from the multi-use LED lights built under the keyboard.

In order to run these operating systems at an efficient speed, these computers often require a complex processor. Jaden’s computer in particular is powered by a 9-hundred-dollar EVGA processing system. The products on EVGA’s website are currently still in such high demand that they have temporarily disabled their waitlist feature to keep up with orders. Jaden spent six months on the waitlist in early 2020 just to receive the processor he currently has from EVGA.

Brian Nicholas, a Network Engineer at Hypertherm, says quarantine coupled with curiosity surrounding cryptocurrency led to this growing interest in PC building. As more people were becoming sheltered in their houses, the desire to branch out into technology was intensified.

As this interest rose, Brian says, so have the prices for the parts required to make them.

“Well, the price range can vary, it depends on if you’re trying to build a very simple computer, a gaming computer, or if you’re going after a more specialized field: Crypto mining”.

Brian says the interest in building PCs has led to a 640 percent rise in cryptocurrency, skyrocketing its value on the market.

As the Country’s control over COVID continues to stabilize, it seems custom computers and the market growth of cryptocurrency will be on the rise for quite some time. As prices for parts continue to become more expensive, however, the overall attainability of building your own computer may be put into question. One thing is for sure, it is never too late to start crafting a new passion.