How Much Does it Cost to Build a Computer for Gaming?

The most expensive part of a gaming PC is the graphics card. You can spend about half of your budget on a mid-tier system and save the rest for a higher-end graphics card. The CPU, however, can add up to a large percentage of the total cost. Depending on what you plan to do with your computer, you can build a low-end gaming PC for less than $1,000, or a high-end gaming PC for over $2000.

While a high-end gaming rig will almost always be cheaper to build than to buy, it will cost more to create a high-end virtual reality (VR) system. For this type of experience, you’ll want to spend at least $2000. A good budget-friendly high-end gaming rig can cost anywhere from $200 to $850. To get the best value for your money, compare your projected cost to the price of a ready-made gaming PC.

If you’re considering buying a new PC to play virtual reality games, you may need a powerful machine. While a good/very-good tiered PC is suitable for casual gamers, a high-end gaming PC needs an NVIDIA Shield TV controller and NVIDIA VRWorks software. For more complex games and high-resolution display, you’ll need a high-end computer.