Last Updated January 17, 2023

Why Are Gaming PCs So Expensive?

One of the most expensive hobbies a person can take up is PC gaming. A good PC can perform better than the majority of new-generation consoles, but it will cost twice as much or more. So, why are gaming PCs so expensive, and more importantly, is it worth the price?

PC gaming costs are rising annually, and this trend is not just being driven by inflation.

Technology development as well as rising development costs all contribute to this. The market, or traditional supply and demand, will always be the main factor.

The demand for anything involving computer processing will always increase prices as new things like crypto mining constantly emerge.

This is one of the factors contributing to PC gaming’s high cost.

There are numerous other things that necessitate high-performance computer components, and gamers will regrettably continue to bear the brunt of these demands.

We’ve looked at a few of the factors that contribute to PC gaming’s high cost and potential future increase below.

Why Are Gaming PCs So Expensive?

PC gaming is expensive because you must constantly keep your PC and its components up to date in order to play the newest PC games. Modern microchip technologies are used in gaming PCs, so updating your computer is very expensive.

Here are a few reasons why gaming PCs are so expensive in particular.

Demand for GPUs (graphics cards)

The demand for GPUs and graphics cards has increased dramatically over the past few years, which has skyrocketed their costs. The primary driver of this demand growth has been cryptocurrency mining, but there has also been a rise in the number of people constructing new PCs.

You probably already know this, but your computer’s FPS while playing games is greatly influenced by the strength of your GPU (and the quality of graphics). Therefore, a costly GPU equates to a costly computer. New GPUs were never inexpensive, and they almost certainly never will be, even without the rise in demand.

CPU Prices

The other component of the PC power/price equation is the CPU. Depending on the games you play, you may be able to get by with a lesser-quality CPU. For instance, my computer had a weak CPU despite having a powerful graphics card. Except for Overwatch, which uses the CPU more than most games do, I was able to play every game without experiencing lag.

To avoid any bottlenecks in your build, you want your CPU to be on par with your graphics card. This implies that you need an expensive CPU if your graphics card is expensive. Fortunately, CPUs are generally more expensive than graphics cards, but they’re still not exactly inexpensive.

RAM requirements

In part because of the RAM and other hardware requirements, gaming PCs are so expensive. You probably want between 16 and 32 GB of RAM if you play extremely demanding games. This is not inexpensive, particularly if you want DDR4 (which you should).

The majority of people advise against combining different RAM brands and sizes, which raises the price. Therefore, if you have older RAM, you should usually choose two brand-new sticks rather than trying to add more to your current RAM. You will still feel the cost of RAM in your wallet even though it is not as expensive as a new GPU or CPU.

The Monitor(s)

You should buy a monitor if you’re a serious gamer or just want your games to look as stunning and clear as possible. Sure, monitors are less expensive than the TVs you use to play video games. You are getting a much smaller screen, but keep in mind that it is for a much more limited purpose.

It will cost more money to purchase a monitor with a very high refresh rate and a quick response time if you play competitive games and want every advantage you can get. Additionally, you might also want G-Sync, which can easily raise the cost of the monitor by a few hundred dollars.

In conclusion, even “cheap” monitors are quite expensive, but you should be prepared to spend a lot of money if you want a monitor that is great for gaming. If you want to know more check out our blog on Do gaming PCs use a lot of electricity.

Peripherals (Mouse, Keyboard, Mousepad, etc)

When it comes to PC gaming peripherals, monitors are not the only ones that are pricey. There are several reasons why gaming mice are so expensive. First of all, high-quality gaming mice are made with high-quality components, which increases their initial cost. On sites like Amazon, eBay, and others, you can find really cheap gaming mice, but they’ll feel incredibly plasticky and cheap.

Gaming mice are designed specifically for gaming and offer many features that other mice lack, in addition to a higher-quality build. Additionally, gaming mice typically feel better to use and move across your mouse pad more smoothly. Manufacturers have no incentive to reduce the quality of their mice because they are aware that people need them for gaming.

Similar to gaming mice, gaming keyboards from reputable brands are constructed with high-quality materials (for the most part), as their makers are aware that consumers will pay for them. But for most games, you can probably get by with a cheap keyboard rather than a mouse.

There are numerous other gaming-specific peripherals available in addition to the mouse and keyboard. As you purchase each of these items separately over time, the cost of your setup gradually rises.

The list of accessories includes headsets, mousepads, mics, glasses, and many more. While not all of them are required, the majority do improve your gaming experience in some way.

If you’re not careful, you might find yourself spending several hundred dollars just on peripherals.

Minimum Specifications

Gaming PCs are expensive because many new PC games demand high-end hardware just to run them. The cost skyrockets if you want to play these games in their highest settings. In addition to 16–32 GB of RAM, brand-new AAA games and even some indie games require fairly new GPUs and CPUs to function. These elements quickly add up together.

You can play some pretty good games on a cheap PC, but it will cost much more if you want to play games that are the same as those on consoles and have the same graphics.

The good news is that once you’ve spent all that money on it, your cutting-edge PC will outperform consoles. This price is definitely worthwhile for some people.

Technology Advancement

The cost of PC gaming hasn’t decreased over time because technology keeps getting better. Every year, new hardware is developed that is more powerful, smaller, or whatever else than the year before. This would be acceptable, and we could just ignore it, but games also advance as technology does.

Consequently, games get more and more difficult to run every year, especially in high settings.

Ultimately, the advancement of technology means that you cannot simply construct a PC for one year and use it for the rest of your life. If you want to keep playing brand-new games at their highest settings, you must regularly upgrade your computer.

Although technology doesn’t advance as quickly as it once did, you’ll still need to consider upgrades about every five to ten years, which will cost money each time.

Labor

If you’re looking to buy a pre-built PC and are wondering why they are so expensive, one of the main expenses is labor. Of course, parts are very expensive, but someone also needs to assemble the entire PC. When all is said and done, this task can be quite difficult.

They must choose the ideal components, assemble them all, and, most importantly, control all of the wires. I like to build my computers because of this. Not only can you choose the precise components you require, but you can also prevent any unauthorized labor expenses that are added to pre-builts.

Of course, I fully comprehend the desire to simply buy a computer and play it without having to worry about configuring it and hoping it works. If so, the additional labor expense might just be worthwhile for you. You can always install upgrades yourself a few years down the road.

Maintenance

One unforeseen expense that drives up the price of PC gaming, especially over time, is maintenance. There are numerous moving components in a computer that work together. Where there are numerous components, there are numerous issues. You must replace damaged parts inside of your computer, which can be moderate to significantly expensive.

Your wallet is in trouble if your GPU or CPU malfunctions. You’re lucky if only one fan malfunctions. The price to identify the issue is something that people rarely consider when discussing repair costs.

I’ve spent several hundred dollars replacing parts of my computer while attempting to diagnose the issue. Sometimes after replacing a part that you thought was the problem, you discover it was a completely different part. Even though this can be very frustrating, you usually end up with a PC that is only marginally improved. Check out our blog on how long gaming PCs last.

Chip Deficits

At the time this article was written, there was a significant global semiconductor (also known as “chip”) shortage. There have been chip shortages in the past, and there will likely be more. Manufacturers hit their bottleneck without chips.

They can make 99% of everything, but they lack the chips necessary to manufacture their products. This means that when a product is on the shelf, it is immediately bought because there isn’t enough supply to satisfy demand.

Unfortunately, because of these shortages, resellers and scalpers buy up all the GPUs and then resell them on eBay for twice as much. All of this adds up are expensive for gaming PCs, particularly if you’re unlucky enough to begin the pastime during one of these shortages.

LEDs and RGB

This is not a requirement, and it is not the reason why gaming PCs are always expensive. Take a closer look at the lighting of a pre-built PC, though, if you’re wondering why the price is so high. If it has numerous expensive LED fans and strips, the price will undoubtedly increase significantly.

Now, some people adore their RGB so much that they are willing to pay more for it. However, it is unquestionably unnecessary and exaggerates how difficult PC gaming is to access.

How Can I Get A Gaming PC Cheaper?

By using older or used components and reducing the cost of your CPU and motherboard, you can spend more money on your GPU and other components while still building a gaming computer. For gamers on a tight budget, refurbished computers and components are a great choice because they typically come with some form of buyer protection.

Almost all of the components in my computer are used parts. My PC was a $100 purchase from a friend because it was having problems. After that, I started replacing components to try and identify the problem.

The following few years would be spent either waiting for a friend to upgrade so I could buy their old parts or going on eBay to purchase used items. I paid much less than I should have for my beast of a PC now!

Your GPU and RAM will be your primary concerns if you intend to use your PC primarily for gaming. If your GPU is strong, you can get away with a pretty subpar CPU.

Though some games use the CPU much more than others, such as Overwatch. The main determining factors for which games you can play, however, will typically be your GPU and RAM. If you want to consider the prebuilt option, check out our blog on the best prebuilt gaming PC.

Does gaming PCs more expensive than gaming consoles?

Gaming on PCs is not more expensive than gaming on consoles, and for many people, it may even be less expensive. Putting together a quality PC can cost more than simply purchasing a console, but that PC will also last much longer than a console with upgradeability. PC gaming also provides free and inexpensive games.

You’ll get more value for your money if you spend the same amount of money on a PC as you would a brand-new console. This is not a hard and fast rule because it depends on the games you choose to play. But unlike consoles, PCs do not become outdated.

Games can be played on a new PC for a very long time. There are many indie games released every year with much lower spec requirements, even though they might not always be able to run brand-new AAA games at their highest settings.

A new generation console is much more expensive than upgrading your PC. After the initial cost of building your PC, things become significantly less expensive.

Another benefit of PC gaming for gamers on a tight budget is the abundance of free and inexpensive PC games available. If you want to play video games on the cheap, Humble Bundle, Steam Sales and key resellers are all excellent choices.

On a couple of my websites, you can always find older games that would typically cost $40 or more on a console or Steam for $1 to $10. League of Legends, Valorant, Apex Legends, Rocket League, Starcraft 2, and many other excellent free games are available. 

Is It Worth It To Buy Expensive Gaming PCs?

Expensive gaming PCs are definitely worth the money. It can play any new game that is released and will last for the next ten years. Purchasing expensive gaming PCs also means that fewer upgrades will be necessary over time, further lowering costs. If you want to know more check out our blog Are gaming PCs worth it?

It can be challenging to find the best laptop for you, but HP offers many options. The best HP gaming laptop includes the most cutting-edge gaming technology available as well as modest, entry-level budget models. Any potential buyer would be wise to include HP’s selection of reasonably priced, custom machines on their shortlist. especially in light of the regular discounts and sales offered by the HP store, which could save you hundreds of dollars.

The Pavilion, Victus, and Omen are the three product lines that makeup HP’s gaming lineup. For first-time buyers or casual gamers, the Pavilion lineup is a no-frills, cost-effective lineup of laptops. The Victus line of gaming laptops marks the point at which features like faster displays and more potent graphics start to cater to core gamers. The Omen family of laptops, in conclusion, offers the most potent hardware and high-quality components. Omen laptops are perfect for more serious and experienced gamers because they are focused on delivering top-tier performance.

We’ve compiled our shortlist of HP’s best products for you to check out, whether you’re looking to invest in a new setup or are curious to see what the brand is currently showcasing. Some of these contenders can even be found on our lists of the best gaming laptops and refurbished laptops on Amazon.

Which HP gaming laptop is the best? 

HP Omen, HP Victus, and HP Pavilion are the three HP gaming laptop options that qualify as “gaming laptops” and fall under one of these three product lines. The HP Omen gaming laptops are the most expensive in the HP lineup. They have the best build quality and frequently the most powerful hardware, and their prices range from lower-middle to high-end, though they fall short of some other brands’ standards. The HP Victus gaming laptops are a new line from HP that, while offering comparable gaming performance to the HP Omen, makes compromises in other areas to keep costs down. Finally, the HP Pavilion gaming laptop are true entry-level models with entry-level Nvidia 30-series GPUs and the like, but they typically have older-generation CPU and GPU hardware.

Before making any of these laptop purchases, we advise you to quickly read through our Things to consider when buying an HP gaming laptop section further down this page for more details.