It’s no surprise that gaming PCs are becoming increasingly popular in today’s tech-savvy world. With the ever-growing demand for faster and smoother performance, gamers are often on the lookout for the latest and most powerful gaming PCs available. So when it comes to knowing the average price of a gaming PC, what are some key factors to consider?
To start, let’s discuss the components that make up a gaming PC. All gaming PCs are comprised of some combination of the following hardware: the processor, graphics card, memory, storage, and power supply. Each of these components come at different price points depending on their performance and your budget.
The processor is the main powerhouse of the gaming PC and dictates the amount of tasks it can handle. Generally, the more expensive the processor, the more powerful it is. Higher-end processors cost anywhere between $500 and $1,200 each. Graphics cards, on the other hand, are typically the most expensive component in a gaming PC and can cost up to $1,500 each.
Next are the memory and storage. Both of these components cost much less than the processor and graphics card but still can vary in price depending on their performance. Memory prices typically range from $40 to $400, while storage costs between $50 and $500 on average. The power supply is the last component of the gaming PC. This component is vital to powering all the right components in the PC and ensuring its performance. Power supplies generally cost between $50 and $150.
With all these components taken into consideration, the average price of a gaming PC can range between $800 and $2,000. Although this is the average price, gamers with a larger budget may opt for a higher end gaming PC that could cost well over $2,000.
Processor Price Range
The processor is a primary component for a gaming PC. Therefore, it deserves its own discussion about price range. Intel currently produces three types of processors: Core-i3, Core-i5, and Core-i7. Core-i3 processors are entry-level processors that perform almost all tasks and have a price-range of between $50 and $150. Core-i5 processors offer a bump in performance compared to Core-i3 and are slightly more expensive, costing up to $250 each. Finally, Core-i7 processors are the highest-end processors and cost up to $450 each.
It’s also worth mentioning that AMD produces competitive processors to Intel, pushing each brand to up their game and provide gamers with the best possible performance. AMD processors have similar price ranges to their Intel counterparts.
Graphics Card Prices
The graphics card is one of the most important components when it comes to gaming performance. Without a powerful graphics card, the processor and memory won’t be able to perform at their best as the graphics card processes all visual data.
In terms of pricing, graphics cards range between $200 and $1,500. The entry-level graphics cards, such as the GTX 1050, cost around $200. High-end cards that are designed to provide the best possible performance, such as the RTX 3080, cost up to $1,500.
It’s important to note that the price of a graphics card isn’t necessarily an indication of its performance. Lower-end cards can offer similar performance as higher-end cards if used with the right processor and other components.
Memory and Storage Prices
Memory and storage are two of the most important components in terms of performance. Memory is the component that advises the processor on tasks, whereas storage holds all the programs, software, and games.
Generally, memory prices range from around $40 up to around $400. Lower end memory is often sufficient for most gaming PCs, but for performance-oriented gaming PCs, mid-range or higher-end memory price is often recommended.
Storage, on the other hand, comes in both HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and SSD (Solid State Drive) types. HDD’s cost around $50-$150 each, and SSDs cost between $150 and $500. Although, usually the best performance and the least amount of loading times are achieved by combinations of both types.
Power Supply Prices
Power supplies act as the backbone of a gaming PC, providing all components enough energy to run at their maximum potential. When it comes to pricing, the more powerful the power supply, the more expensive it is.
The price range for power supplies are in between $50 and $150 each. It’s important to find the right balance between performance, price, and safety as high-end power supplies can also cause issues with certain components.
Know The Dependent Factor Prices
As mentioned earlier, all the main components (processor, graphics card, memory, storage, and power supply) of the gaming PC are dependent on each other. A powerful graphics card won’t be able to perform as well if it isn’t paired with a powerful processor. This is why it’s important to find the right balance between the components’ price and performance.
It’s also important to note that many gaming PCs are sold assembled in a system. These PCs cost anywhere between $500 and $1,500 depending on their performance. Even though these PCs come with a pre-made configuration, it’s possible to save money by assembling the gaming PC manually.
Other Factors To Consider
Before deciding on a price for your gaming PC, there are a few other factors to consider. First, what type of games do you intend to play and at what settings? Different factors such as resolution, textures, and frames per second are dictated by the hardware. The more powerful the hardware, the better the performance of the game.
Also, it’s important to consider what type of monitor you will be pairing with the gaming PC. Higher-resolution monitors require more powerful hardware to make the most of their features. Some monitors could cost up to $1,000 each, so keep this in mind before making a purchase.
Finally, think about other pieces of gaming hardware that you might want to invest in. External storage, gaming headphones, and even a gaming chair can all increase the cost of the gaming PC.
The Cost of Building
When it comes to the actual cost of building a gaming PC, the answer can vary greatly depending on the components you decide to use. For example, a high-end gaming PC with powerful components such as the Intel Core-i7 processor, an RTX 3080 graphics card, 16GB of DDR4 memory, an SSD drive and a 1000W power supply could cost up to $3,000.
However, it’s possible to build a powerful gaming PC at a much lower cost. A mid-range gaming PC with a Core-i5 processor, a GTX 1650 graphics card, 8GB of DDR4 memory, an SSD drive and a 650W power supply can be found for as low as $800.
It’s often better to put together the parts manually as opposed to buying a pre-made gaming PC as it allows you to find the best deals and tailor the gaming PC for your budget and performance requirements. It’s also a great way to learn about the different components and how they interact with each other.
