How Much Will It Cost You to Build a Gaming PC in 2024
How much does it cost to build a gaming PC? The answer will depend on your budget and also whether you want extreme or average performance. Continue reading to find out a detailed input cost estimation based on the hardware you need.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Gaming PC: A Breakup
A mid-range gaming PC will cost you between $750 to $1100. It should be good for personal entertainment and light gaming.
But, if you want a professional rig for online gaming, you should be ready to shell out up to $2100. Such investments will definitely offer you an edge over your competitors.
In case, you want to enter the game streaming business, expect a premium cost upside of $3200. Don’t forget that the hardware you’ll get at this price range should future-proof your gaming rig for 5 to 7 years.
In addition to a blanket cost approximation, find out a breakdown of price distribution according to the hardware parts you need:
1. The Processor Chip (CPU)
You can check out the following for the best CPUs for different tires:
- 12th gen Intel Core i7 with 12 cores for $350+
- For extreme gaming, go for Intel Core i9 for $600+
You can also opt for the AMD equivalent for these Intel CPUs.
2. Thermal System for CPU
The best CPU coolers for gaming will be the AIO liquid CPU coolers within $100. Brands like Asus, Cooler Master, and Corsair are good choices.
3. The Graphics Processor (GPU)
You should allocate half of the investment for GPU. Look for GeForce RTX series GPUs within $900. If you can get similar features in a Radeon GPU, go for it as it’s cheaper.
4. Random Access Memory (RAM)
If you’re going for an upgrade, you should pick DDR5 RAM, which will cost around $350 for 32GB. You can also stick to DDR4 RAM and save some money since it’ll cost you less than $130 for 32GB.
5. Monitor
A 24-inch gaming monitor should be available for $150 to $180. If you’re building an extreme gaming PC for streaming, save on the monitor and invest in other parts since you’ll eventually broadcast using OBS Studio.
6. Motherboard
Intel 12th gen CPU-ready mainboards are readily available in DDR4 (<$230) and DDR5 (>$280) variants. Look for motherboards with better thermal systems that add safety to the entire rig.
7. Other PC Parts
Internal storage is an important consideration for gaming PCs. You can choose a 1TB NVMe SSD (<$100) and re-use existing SATA HDDs for non-gaming storage like movies and pictures. You’ll also need a powerful power supply that’ll be around $100.
Since you’re building a gaming PC, go for spacious computer cases. These cases keep the internal device temperature in check. Mid-tower ATX PC cases should be within $100 in online stores.
Don’t forget about ergonomic and fast I/O accessories like keyboards and mice. Since gaming involves long playing hours, you should invest $80 for a keyboard and wireless mouse for ultimate gaming.
Final Thoughts
So far, you’ve found out how much does it cost to build a gaming PC. Apart from the pricing estimations, look for promotions and discounts to save more while building a performance PC.
A custom gaming PC will definitely cost you handsomely. However, if you follow the above-mentioned resources and build your own PC, you save big by avoiding paying profit margins to manufacturers. Also, you get to cherry-pick the hardware according to your own preference for brands.
