Gaming PC Build Cost Calculator

PC build cost estimation breaks down a gaming PC into its core components, each with a market price range depending on performance tier. The total build cost is the sum of all parts, but smart builders prioritize budget allocation toward components that most impact their specific use case (gaming, content creation, streaming, or general productivity).

Total build cost formula: Total = CPU + Motherboard + RAM + GPU + Storage + PSU + Case + Cooling

Four abbreviations run through everything below, so here they are once: CPU is the central processing unit (the processor), GPU the graphics processing unit (the graphics card), PSU the power supply unit, and NVMe SSD a solid state drive that plugs straight into the motherboard rather than using a cable.

The split below covers the parts inside the box. It does not include a Windows licence, a monitor, or peripherals, so add those on top unless you already have them. Ticking the monitor option carves 20% off the budget before the parts are divided up.

Component budget allocation guidelines: For a gaming-focused build, the GPU should receive the largest share of the budget.

Budget tier guide. Prices are rough US street prices and they move constantly, so treat the model names as examples of a tier rather than a shopping list. The percentage split is the part that lasts.

Entry ($400-$700) - 1080p at 60 fps:

• CPU: $120-$200 (Intel Core i5-12400F, AMD Ryzen 5 5600)
• GPU: $200-$300 (RX 7600, RTX 5060 or a used RTX 3060)
• RAM: 16GB DDR4 or DDR5: $35-$60
• Storage: 500GB-1TB NVMe SSD: $45-$80
• PSU: 550W 80+ Bronze: $50-$70
• Motherboard: $80-$120; Case: $50-$80

Mid-range ($700-$1,100) - 1080p at high refresh, or 1440p at 60:

• CPU: $200-$300 (Ryzen 5 7600, Core i5-13600K)
• GPU: $350-$500 (RTX 5060 Ti, RX 9060 XT, RTX 4070)
• RAM: 32GB DDR5: $80-$120
• Storage: 1-2TB NVMe: $80-$150
• PSU: 750W 80+ Gold: $80-$110; Motherboard: $150-$220

High-end ($1,100-$1,800) - 1440p at high refresh:

• CPU: $300-$450 (Ryzen 7 7800X3D or 9800X3D, Core Ultra 7)
• GPU: $550-$800 (RTX 5070 Ti, RX 9070 XT)
• Storage: 2TB NVMe: $110-$180
• PSU: 850W 80+ Gold: $110-$150

Enthusiast ($1,800+) - 4K, or 1440p with everything turned on:

• CPU: $450-$700 (Ryzen 9 9950X, Core Ultra 9)
• GPU: $1,000-$2,000 (RTX 5080, RTX 5090)
• RAM: 64GB DDR5: $180-$280
• Storage: 2-4TB NVMe: $150-$300
• PSU: 1000W 80+ Platinum: $150-$220

One opinion, freely given: the X3D chips are the ones worth paying for in a gaming build. Everywhere else, spend the money on the graphics card.

Worked example - a build that lands in the high-end tier, at 1440p and 60-144 frames per second:

Total: $1,517 - a 1440p build targeting 60-100+ frames per second in current AAA titles. Notice how close that shopping list sits to the percentage split: the graphics card takes 36% of it, the processor 20%, the board 12%. That is not a coincidence, it is what a balanced build looks like.

Where builds usually go wrong

Two mistakes account for most of the bad builds people post for review. The first is a $1,500 budget with a $400 graphics card and a processor nobody needs, which produces a machine that loses to a $900 build in every game. The second is spending down to the last dollar on parts and buying a $30 power supply, which is the one component whose failure can take everything else with it. Buy a decent unit from a known brand with an 80+ Gold rating and enough headroom for the card, then stop thinking about it.

Storage is the other place to be honest with yourself. Modern games run 80 to 150 GB each, so a 1TB drive holds fewer of them than you would like. A second, cheaper drive later is easy; replacing a too-small boot drive is not.