Many people ask me how much it costs to build a good gaming PC. My answer is what type of gaming performance you expect and what hardware you want inside it. Though there’s no exact figure, a decent gaming PC can cost anywhere between $500 to $2000. That’s not all, some gaming PCs equipped with the latest generation hardware cost over $3000.
The Actual Cost of Building A Gaming PC
You can build a gaming PC for as low as $500. However, achieving high-end gaming performance often requires a budget exceeding $1500, depending on the specifications of the gaming PC. The GPU or graphics card typically accounts for the highest cost, making it the most expensive component for a gaming PC.
The image above shows that it cost me around $696 to build an entry-level gaming PC with the cheapest hardware available on Amazon and BestBuy.
Factors Affecting The Cost of Building A Gaming PC
Below are the main factors that affect the overall cost of setting up a gaming computer:
- Hardware Cost (CPU, GPU, RAM, Motherboard, etc)
- Assembly Cost
The cost of building a gaming PC depends on various factors, including the choice of hardware components like the CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, motherboard, and PSU, where high-performance options significantly raise the price.
Additional expenses include the case design, advanced cooling systems, and optional peripherals such as monitors or keyboards.
Licensing an operating system and outsourcing assembly services can further add to the total cost and shipping fees for components.
1: Hardware Cost
Hardware or parts required to build a gaming PC highly influence its overall building cost.
- CPU (Processor)
- GPU (Graphics Card)
- RAM (Memory)
- Motherboard
- Storage (SSD, HDD)
- Power Supply Unit (PSU)
- Case
- Cooling System (Fans, Liquid Coolers)
GPU or graphics card consumes the most budget you set to build a gaming PC. A decent graphics card can cost anywhere between $250 to $500; this is a substantial portion of your gaming PC budget. A high-end graphics card increases your overall budget but promises more gaming performance.
The second deciding factor that influences the cost of a gaming PC is the CPU or Processor. After all, it’s the CPU that has to work along with the GPU to deliver higher FPS and seamless gaming performance.
A decent mid-range Intel or AMD CPU is priced between $80 to $200. If you select a current-gen CPU with more cores and threads, you need to pay more, adding extra dollars to your gaming PC budget.
When it comes down to choosing the RAM, motherboard, PSU, PC Chassis, Fans, etc, you don’t need to spend a fortune to buy these components. As I’ve said before, the main two components are the GPU and CPU, which drain most of your budget.
The table below helps you understand the overall scenario in a better way:
| Component | Entry-Level | Mid-Range | High-End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor (CPU) | $100 – $150 (Basic Quad-Core CPUs like AMD Ryzen 3, Intel i3) | $150 – $250 (AMD Ryzen 5, Intel i5) | $300 – $600 (AMD Ryzen 9, Intel i9) |
| Graphics Card (GPU) | $150 – $250 (NVIDIA GTX 1650, AMD RX 5500) | $250 – $400 (NVIDIA RTX 3060, AMD RX 6600) | $600 – $1200 (NVIDIA RTX 4080, AMD RX 7900) |
| Memory (RAM) | $30 – $50 (8GB DDR4) | $50 – $80 (16GB DDR4) | $100 – $200 (32GB DDR4/DDR5) |
| Storage | $40 – $60 (500GB SSD) | $70 – $120 (1TB NVMe SSD) | $150 – $300 (2TB NVMe SSD) |
| Motherboard | $50 – $100 (Basic ATX Motherboard) | $100 – $200 (Advanced ATX with Wi-Fi support) | $250 – $500 (High-end ATX with multiple PCIe slots) |
| Power Supply (PSU) | $30 – $50 (450W, 80 Plus Bronze) | $50 – $100 (650W, 80 Plus Gold) | $150 – $250 (850W-1000W, 80 Plus Platinum) |
| Case | $30 – $50 (Basic Mid-Tower) | $50 – $100 (Mid-Tower with better airflow) | $150 – $300 (Premium case with RGB and glass panels) |
| Cooling System | $0 – $20 (Stock Cooler) | $20 – $50 (Air Coolers) | $100 – $200 (Liquid Cooling System) |
| Operating System | $0 – $100 (Linux/Windows OEM) | $100 – $150 (Windows Retail License) | $150 – $200 (Windows Pro) |
Total Estimated Cost of Building a Gaming PC:
- Entry-Level: Approximately $460 – $930
- Mid-Range: Approximately $900 – $1450
- High-End: Approximately $1950 – $3750
Tip
To reduce costs, consider buying used gaming PC parts from trusted sellers on platforms like eBay, Newegg, or Amazon. Alternatively, wait for sales events such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Prime Day to purchase PC components at discounted prices.
2: Assembly Cost
The assembly cost depends on the complexity of connecting the components, such as the CPU and GPU. This includes the labor costs and all the other expenses incurred for setting up a gaming PC. Assembly cost varies from brand to brand and region (USA, UK, Canada, Asia, etc).
Hiring a professional service for assembling a gaming PC can increase the overall assembly fee but provides the benefit of a warranty on the installation, offering peace of mind and quality assurance.
For those assembling the PC themselves, a solid understanding of component compatibility is essential, as it significantly reduces labor costs while maintaining control over the process.
Hidden Costs
When ordering a custom-built gaming PC, shipping costs are often included in the overall bill. Many gaming PC brands incorporate these charges into the total price, even when advertised as ‘free shipping
Conclusion
The cost of building a gaming PC varies based on performance requirements, component quality, and additional factors. A budget-friendly gaming PC can cost $500–$700, while a mid-range system typically ranges from $1000–$1,500. High-end setups with premium components can exceed $2,000.
Mosaab Jamal Ahmed is a seasoned technology enthusiast with a passion for gaming and PC upgrades. His journey began in 1998 with a Pentium 1 PC, igniting his lifelong fascination with computer hardware.
Over the years, Mosaab has honed his skills in upgrading and optimizing PCs with the latest components, ensuring peak performance for gaming and other demanding applications.
Through his insightful articles, Mosaab shares his extensive knowledge on building and enhancing gaming PCs.