Looking at the recent PC market is enough to make anyone sigh. Demand for key components like graphics cards, memory, and SSDs has skyrocketed globally across all sectors, and supply simply cannot keep up. Naturally, prices have soared. A prime example is DDR5 16GB memory for consumer PCs. A component that hovered around 50k to ₩60k in 2024 has recently jumped to as high as ₩340k. Since a dual-channel configuration typically requires two sticks, this means memory that used to cost ₩120k now sets you back ₩680k.

As a result, gamers are hesitant to open their wallets, and it has become common practice to hold onto existing computers, telling themselves that "upgrading now is a loss." However, this mindset is often shaken by external factors rather than just psychology. What if a game you really want to play comes out and your specs can't handle it? Or, in a worst-case scenario, what if your computer suddenly dies? Even under these harsh conditions, there is no guarantee that you won't eventually be forced to buy a new machine.

The price of a computer built with these surging individual components is no joke. In the past, you could put together a system capable of playing most games for the low-to-mid ₩1 million range, but now, even ₩2 million barely gets you a decent build. We live in an era where it's easy to hit ₩3 million just by incrementally upgrading parts, thinking, "Should I spend just another 100k or ₩200k."

However, if you look at the pre-built PC market lately, you'll occasionally see deals that catch your eye. Pre-built PCs with fairly decent CPU and GPU tiers have started appearing, making you think, "Oh? This price for these specs isn't bad, is it."

While the thought that "today is the cheapest it will be for the next few years" might make your hand reach for the checkout button, I urge you to look at the product detail page more closely. There is a cleverly hidden trap. A Low-Tier PC Alert has been issued for the current PC market.

If you look at the detail pages of popular, budget-friendly pre-built PCs, you'll notice something strange. While it's hard to hide the CPU, it can be done if they really want to. Take the Ryzen 4th Gen CPU, for example. At first glance, it might look good, and many are still capable, but technically, it's based on the Zen3 architecture, which is nearly six years old.

The same goes for graphics cards. Most listings only show the numbering, such as 'RTX 5,060,' and it's hard to find information on which brand or product line these low-cost PCs are actually using.

While it's true that the CPU and graphics card are the core components of a PC, it's surprising that in a system one might label a 'low-tier PC,' these are actually the components the seller is most willing to talk about. The reality of a low-tier PC lies in the motherboard, power supply, SSD, and memory. In the industry, this is referred to as 'bundling low-tier parts' or 'holding the main components hostage.

Some might counter, "They lowered the price by using cheaper parts to make it more accessible to consumers. Is that a problem?" However, for those who are well-versed in computers—who understand the current overheating of the PC component market and the limitations of cheap parts, and who are buying them for temporary use despite the risks—this likely isn't a major issue.

Buying something while knowing the facts versus buying it in the dark are two entirely different things. The biggest victims are average gamers who aren't usually interested in computers and are making a big decision to purchase a low-tier PC..

The problems with low-tier parts are diverse, but it's not just about them being different from the listed specs or having poor durability. The biggest risk begins with the after-sales service (A/S) process when something goes wrong.

For the average gamer, when a computer suddenly slows down or won't turn on, it's not easy to even identify which part is the culprit. Furthermore, because these nameless, low-tier parts often have obscure distributors or complicated A/S procedures, a single failure can turn the entire PC into a pile of scrap metal.

This isn't just about bundling cheap parts. You should view it as a form of "clearing out inventory"—parts that don't sell well individually because they are low-tier, so they are bundled to get rid of them. Perhaps one day, a policy will emerge that says, "Having trouble? We'll send you a new part." But even if that happens, the seller likely won't be able to resolve the A/S issues. Even if such a situation arises, the burden falls entirely on the average gamer who bought the computer with their own money but can't play games while waiting for parts to be replaced.

The component market is in a very bad state. This phenomenon is even more bizarre when you look at memory. Beyond the latest DDR5, demand for already-obsolete DDR4 and even DDR2 memory—which is treated like an artifact overseas—has surged, leading to a strange phenomenon where prices have skyrocketed by up to 60% compared to cost. In the case of DDR4, AMD's revival of the 5800X3D has established it as a truly excellent choice, not just a secondary option to DDR5. Since PCs armed with the latest standard components are so expensive, a desperate struggle is happening globally to use old PCs by replacing individual parts with the bare minimum.

Ultimately, the wisest time to buy is not when others say it's cheap, but when you truly need a PC. The phrase "I'll buy it when the price drops a bit more" is a luxury reserved only for users who already have a perfectly functional computer to use right now.

Gamers planning to spend a lot of money on a gaming PC, please do not be fooled by the sweet price tags of today. Checking the brands of the individual components hidden behind the CPU and graphics card names is the only way to protect your wallet and your mental health amidst this 'Low-Tier PC Alert.'