Buying a complete gaming PC is the only way to get a graphics card without spending a fortune on the GPU alone, but even then you may have to wait weeks or even months for a custom-configured system to arrive. However, NZXT has reduced the turnaround time for custom BLD services to 48 hours.

We were impressed with NZXT's BLD system when we formally reviewed it several years ago, partly because the wait time was so short at the time. However, as with other system builders, the graphics card shortage affected NZXT's ability to ship systems quickly. Now it is different. [Fortunately,] things have calmed down, and with overnight shipping, you can now get your custom PC in less than a week. NZXT is the fastest SI [system integrator] and the only one that can get custom PCs [with 3000 series graphics cards] to gamers within that time frame."

I asked NZXT what enabled them to return to this 48-hour window. Was it some sort of voodoo magic, some sort of ritual sacrifice to the PC gods?"

I also asked if this was a sign that the GPU shortage was fading, or if the company had somehow managed to acquire a pile of GPUs waiting for their forever home.

NZXT neither confirmed nor denied the voodoo magic, but did answer my other questions. Well, that's about it.

"While overall demand for GPUs exceeds current supply, we are working closely with our partners around the world to ensure supply where possible. In addition, by increasing our production capacity and improving our manufacturing processes, we are able to ship systems as quickly as our original lead times," NZXT said. [We hope that the supply of GPUs will continue to increase, making them readily available to gamers without having to purchase them on the secondary market.

This is a near canned response and does not adequately explain how NZXT can suddenly secure enough GPUs to meet demand. Perhaps it is the trickle-down effect of China's crackdown on cryptocurrency mining. Furthermore, Ethereum will soon switch to a different type of system, which could significantly reduce demand for GPUs among crypto enthusiasts. It is possible that this effect is already being felt.

Whatever the reason, it is nice to see a return to some semblance of normalcy, at least in terms of availability; I asked NZXT if they could meet the 48-hour turnaround time all the time, or at least for a long time.

As I learned from looking through BLD's configurator, the caveat to shipping custom builds so quickly is the premium price of the available GPUs.

Let's take a look at the AMD build for about $1,900, along with NZXT's price breakdown:

Let's shelve the GPU for now and look at the other specs. For convenience, I priced the same remaining parts (including Windows 10 Home) at Newegg. Applying the coupon code to one of the parts (the cooler), the pre-tax price was $1,119.91, while NZXT's price was $1,259.92. This is a difference of $140.01, plus an additional $99 in build costs.

I don't find this difference particularly egregious. Sure, you can save some coin by buying the parts and assembling them all yourself, but there is value in having a system builder supply all the components and assemble them.

GPUs are a potential nuisance in all of this; NZXT may have solved the availability problem, but they either can't procure graphics cards at anywhere near MSRP or they charge a premium price; the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti launched for $399; the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is available for $399; the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is available for $399. You can add another $50 or even $100 to the price to account for the custom status of the factory overclocking variant, but $629.99 for the 3060 Ti is still a tough pill to swallow.

The flip side of this claim, of course, is that buying the 3060 Ti by itself would be even more expensive, if only you could find one. As of this writing, Newegg only has one model of the marketplace seller's Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Vision OC card in stock, priced at $1,156.99. Yeah, no thanks.

Here's a price breakdown of NZXT's other available GPUs:

All of these are well above Nvidia's launch price and well above the additional price expected for a custom variant. However, they are several hundred dollars lower than the prices at which these cards are traded on eBay.

In any case, if you really need a GPU and want to use an entirely new PC as well, NZXT's BLD service is the fastest option to a custom configuration. You will only pay a little more for the parts.

.