The first thing that you should consider is the size of the computer. How much space do you have available? Do you have a desk or a table where you can place the computer? Do you have any storage space? If not, you will need a place to store the computer.
The next thing that you should think about is the type of computer you want. It would be best to decide whether you want a tower or an average CPU case. To build a gaming PC, you must decide whether you want a CPU with integrated graphics or one with discrete graphics.
If you want to build a gaming PC, you should choose a motherboard that has the right amount of memory and graphics card. Knowing how much it costs to build a gaming PC can be tricky, primarily due to the current price discrepancy, but that’s not to say that the task is impossible.
So, don’t worry, as this article discusses the cost of custom gaming PCs, Parts needed to build a gaming PC, and we will compare pre-built gaming PCs versus custom gaming PCs to make it easier for beginners to take a wise decision.
Pre-built gaming PC VS A custom build gaming PC
Before starting the gaming PC discovery process, you first need to decide whether you want to buy a pre-built gaming PC or build your gaming PC by assembling its parts.
In the present situation, it is possible to both build a PC and buy a ready-made pre-made gaming PC. However, there are some fundamental differences between the two in terms of price to be aware of.
Pre-built gaming PCs
Pre-built gaming PCs are off-the-shelf gaming computers that you can buy and start playing immediately. It comes pre-assembled, so you’ll have to pay a premium over building your PC. Generally, pre-built PCs are slightly more expensive than custom PCs for the same price.
Custom gaming pc
For a custom gaming PC, you buy each part of your gaming PC individually and then assemble the entire build yourself. This can save you some labor costs associated with pre-built gaming PCs.
Overall, which option is better?
The price gap between the two has recently narrowed, making both options feasible. However, people only interested in PC gaming and not building PCs may be better off buying a pre-built gaming PC because the price margin between the two is shallow. That thin margin allows you to get a ready PC.
You can enjoy the game without any hassle. The scarcity of PC hardware and the sale of individual PC parts at prices above the MSRP stated by the manufacturer have made prefabricated PCs an attractive option.
However, the choice is yours. You better know what is good for you.
How Much Does it Cost To Build a Gaming PC
So you want to build a gaming PC, but do you know how much it costs to build one? Building a gaming PC can cost as little as $300 to as high as $2,000.
The real question is, what kind of gaming PC do you want to build and for what purpose? Here is a list of the different gaming PC builds you can own.
Also, here is a little guide on what category of gaming PCs you’re on a budget to build:
1. Affordable gaming PC costs around $400 to $700
Building an affordable gaming PC means you have to compromise on performance. With a low-budget machine, you can play most new titles on low to medium settings and still get a playable frame rate of 30 frames per second.
For $400 to $700, you can get components like an Intel Core i5-9400F, Nvidia GTX 1660, Gigabyte Z390 UD motherboard, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 500GB SSD, power supply, and case.
2. Mid-range gaming PC costs around $800 to $1,200
The mid-range gaming PC, despite its name, achieves frame rates close to 60 fps while playing various games on medium to high settings. Mid-range gaming PCs cost around $800 to $1,200. For that budget, you can get a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with a good graphics card like the Nvidia RTX 2060.
3. High-end gaming PC costs $1400 to $2,000 and can cost further
If you’re more than just a fan and have the budget to buy a high-end PC, you have to spend around $1400 to $2,000 more on a PC, depending on the model and brand.
Building a high-end gaming PC requires powerful components such as a 10th Gen Intel Core i9 processor like i9-10900K and up to 64GB of RAM. With a PC like this, you can quickly kill enemies if you have the skills.
Parts needed to build a gaming PC
In this section, you will learn PC parts and the possible costs of building a gaming PC. To get an idea of the cost of each part, below is a list of PC components and their approximate prices. Access cost considers both budget and high-end gaming PC builds from a new PC builder’s perspective. Let’s go to PC parts.
1. Processor
The central processing unit (CPU), your PC’s brain, determines your computer’s overall performance. The cost of making a gaming PC with a decent gaming CPU is between $150 and $350.
Lightning-fast processing lets you play massive A-grade games on your desktop at full settings. The low-end processor costs $100 to $200, the midrange processor $200 to $450, and an advanced processor $450 to $700.
2. Graphics card
A graphics card is a vital component of a gaming PC, a graphics processing unit (GPU) is responsible for handling all graphics-related computing tasks.
The integrated GPU of the latest generation processors runs at 30-60 frames per second (fps) at low to mid settings. You can also select 1080p, the maximum setting at 4K resolution at 45-60 fps.
Graphics cards are the largest component of your total budget. The low-end GPUs cost $150 t0 $250, the mid-range GPUs $250 to $500, and an advanced GPU $500 to $800.
3. Motherboard
Every component in a gaming PC needs to be connected somewhere to work, and the motherboard is the part that does that job by acting as the PC’s main circuit board.
Since motherboards play a significant role in a gaming PC, we don’t recommend buying them cheaply here. Also, make sure your motherboard is compatible with your processor. Intel and AMD processors have different motherboards, so check the processor’s compatibility list when buying one.
Depending on the current market price, the motherboard will give you back the following amount: a low-end motherboard costs $100 to $150, a mid-range motherboard costs $150 to $300, and a premium motherboard costs $300 to $500.
4. Desktop monitor
Desktop monitors can significantly impact the cost of building a gaming PC. As a result, your monitor choice will depend on your gaming preferences. The bigger the screen, the higher the price. The same goes for your monitor resolution.
However, the maximum resolution of your monitor does not mean the best resolution for gaming. Game configuration may vary depending on PC internal components.
The 15.6 inches monitor costs $100 to $130, 20 inches monitor $150 to 180, and 31.5 inches $220 to $270.
5. RAM
Ram (Random Access Memory) is your PC’s short-term memory storage that assists your PC in handling multiple tasks at once.
In 2023, DDR4 RAM has recently become relatively cheap, so there’s no excuse for not having at least 16GB of RAM. 8GB RAM is outdated, and I don’t think it’s enough for 2023 games. Because some games these days require more than 10GB of RAM. The 16GB RAM costs $60 to $100, a 32GB RAM $100 to $150, and 64GB RAM $150 to $230.
6. Hard Drive
The hard drive is where you keep your operating system, files, and everything. The larger the hard drive’s capacity, the more expensive it is.
We recommend installing a solid-state drive (SSD) on top of a SATA II drive for custom builds. SSDs are much more expensive than traditional HDDs, but you can boot your system in seconds.
SSDs hard disks also have a high cost-to-storage size ratio. Therefore, it is recommended to use a secondary SATA HDD to store files and installers. The 250GB costs $80 to $100, 500GB for $100 to $140, and 1Tb for $140 to $160.
7. CPU cooler
As the name suggests, the CPU cooler is the part responsible for cooling the CPU of your gaming PC. There are two mainstream CPU coolers: air coolers and liquid coolers. Which cooler you should buy is entirely up to your preference, but liquid coolers are generally more expensive than air coolers, so they’re better suited for high-end builds.
Also, many CPUs come with a cooler, so you may not need to buy it, but here are your liability costs for a CPU cooler. The low-cost CPU cooler costs $30 to $50, a mid-range CPU Cooler for around $50 to $100, and an advanced CPU Cooler for $100 to $200.
8. Power supply
A power supply, commonly referred to as a PSU, is a PC component that provides power to all other parts of the PC, including the motherboard. No matter how limited your budget, a 400W power supply should be minimal.
Ideally, a 650W power supply should be sufficient for a mid-range PC, and 700-850W is recommended for a high-end PC. The low power supplies cost $50 to $70, mid-range power supplies $70 to $120, and an advanced power supply costs $120 to $160.
9. PC case
Finally, you’ll need an enclosure to house all the components of your gaming PC, and that’s where the PC case will go.
PC cases are very subjective, and the choice here depends entirely on what the consumer wants and wants.
Choose a case with adequate airflow, and you’re all set. There isn’t much to tell the difference between low-end and high-end cases except that they use high-end materials, so you can save a bit here by offering a cheaper alternative.
The low-cost PC cases cost $50 to $80, mid-range PC cases $80 to $100, and premium PC case $100 to $130.
If you want to build a custom gaming PC, this video, “How to build a PC for beginners,” will be helpful for you.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you got the answer of “How much does it cost to build a gaming PC?” When building a gaming PC, the peripherals you choose must match the capabilities of your system.
Building a gaming PC is very useful because it is modular. Parts can be replaced when a new compatible model becomes available. Playing games on the system is an advantageous experience that you adapt and build on your own.
