In October 2026, a new gaming PC built from scratch costs about $1,200 at the bottom end, around $1,450 for solid 1440p, and $2,200 to $2,500 for a high-end machine, before a Windows license. That's several hundred dollars more than the same class of build cost a year ago, and nearly all of the increase is memory and storage. Below are the current part prices, four complete builds with their real totals, and the places where you can still claw money back.
Why building a PC costs more in 2026
The short version: AI data centres are buying up memory chips, and everyone else is paying for it. Tom's Hardware's RAM price tracker shows a 32GB DDR5-6000 kit at $447 in late October 2026; a year earlier, 32GB kits sold for $100 to $200 (Tom's Hardware). TrendForce reported that a typical DDR5 kit in Germany cost about 4.9 times its price of a year before (TrendForce, August 2026).
SSDs went the same way. One drive Tom's Hardware tracks went from $113 to $363.49, a 221% rise (Tom's Hardware, July 2026). Graphics cards followed: almost every current model now sells well above its launch price.
Analysts don't expect a quick fix. TrendForce forecasts contract prices still rising into the second half of 2027.
What each part costs now
Street prices first, because launch prices no longer describe what you pay.
Graphics card (the biggest single cost)
| GPU | Launch price | Lowest US price, Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Arc B570 | $219 | $289 |
| NVIDIA RTX 5050 | $249 | $409 |
| NVIDIA RTX 5060 | $299 | $449 |
| AMD RX 9060 XT 8GB | $299 | $459 |
| NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti 8GB | $379 | $491 |
| AMD RX 9060 XT 16GB | $349 | $519 |
| AMD RX 9070 GRE | $549 | $599 |
| AMD RX 9070 | $549 | $699 |
| NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | $429 | $765 |
| AMD RX 9070 XT | $599 | $829 |
| NVIDIA RTX 5070 | $549 | $869 |
| NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti | $749 | $1,229 |
| NVIDIA RTX 5080 | $999 | $1,899 |
Two things stand out. The markups are uneven: the RX 9070 GRE sells 9% over its launch price and the RX 9070 27%, while the RTX 5050 is 64% over and the RTX 5080 90%. And the 16GB RTX 5060 Ti now costs $274 more than the 8GB version, against a $50 gap at launch.
Processor
CPUs are the one part that hasn't jumped. From Tom's Hardware's CPU price index (2 October 2026): Ryzen 5 9600X $174, Core Ultra 5 245K $179, Ryzen 5 7600 $215, Core Ultra 7 265KF $378, Ryzen 7 7800X3D $389, Ryzen 7 9800X3D $444 (Tom's Hardware). AMD's newer Ryzen 7 9850X3D launched in January at $499.
Memory
16GB of DDR5-6000 is $279 and 32GB is $447 on the same tracker. For the first time in years, 16GB is a reasonable way to save on a budget build, and PC Gamer's current budget build does exactly that.
Storage
A 1TB NVMe SSD starts at $149 and a 2TB at $249, against lowest-ever prices of $35 and $75 (Tom's Hardware SSD tracker, 23 October 2026). If you're unsure how much space you need, see how much SSD storage a gaming PC needs.
Motherboard, power supply, case and cooler
These have stayed close to normal. Tom's Hardware's current builds use an Intel B860 board at $139, AMD B650 and B850 boards at $165 to $210, a 650 W power supply at $60, a 750 W Gold unit at $60 to $70, an 850 W Gold unit at $73, cases from $60 to $124 and coolers from $25 to $80. For a cooler that fits your CPU, our CPU cooler guide has the options.
Windows
Microsoft sells Windows 11 Home for $139 and Pro for $199.99 (Microsoft Store). None of the build totals below include it.
Four complete builds and what they really cost
Tom's Hardware keeps a set of current builds (updated 14 October 2026). Its headline totals leave out the RAM because the price is too volatile, so we added back the kit each build lists:
| Build | CPU | GPU | Without RAM | RAM listed | Real total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget, 1080p | Core Ultra 5 250K Plus | RX 7600 | $924 | 16GB, $258 | $1,182 |
| Mid-range, 1080p–1440p | Ryzen 7 7600X3D | RTX 5060 Ti 8GB | $1,252 | 16GB, $200 | $1,452 |
| Upper mid-range, 1440p | Ryzen 7 7800X3D | RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | $1,710 | 32GB, $479 | $2,189 |
| High-end, 1440p–4K | Ryzen 7 9800X3D | RX 9070 XT | $2,136 | 32GB, $369 | $2,505 |
PCWorld's February attempt at a "$1,000 gaming PC" makes the same point from the other side: a Ryzen 5 7600X, an RTX 5060, 32GB of DDR5 and a 1TB SSD came to $1,178.80 before tax and without Windows (PCWorld). The headline of that article told readers not to bother.
Where you can still save
- Take 16GB of RAM on a budget build. At $279 against $447, it's the largest saving available on any single part. You can add a second kit later if prices fall.
- Shop by markup, not by tier. In the table, the RX 9070 GRE (+9%), RX 9070 (+27%), RTX 5060 Ti 8GB (+30%) and Arc B570 (+32%) carry the smallest premiums. The RTX 5050 at $409 is poor value against an RX 9070 GRE at $599.
- Keep what still works. If you're upgrading, a decent case, power supply and SSD from your current PC can save roughly $270 to $450 against the prices above.
- Price a prebuilt. Tom's Hardware now says a prebuilt PC is often the cheaper route. Our prebuilt gaming PC guide is a starting point; compare its specs with the table above.
- Consider Linux. PCWorld's build suggests Bazzite, a free gaming-focused Linux, to skip the $139 Windows license. Check that your games and their anti-cheat run on it first.
- Don't pay launch-day markups on CPUs. Intel's Core Ultra 7 270K Plus sold below its list price in May, then in July Intel raised the Core Ultra 200S Plus prices by 30 to 50% (TrendForce). CPU prices move both ways, so watch one for a few weeks if you can.
Should you build now or wait?
If your current PC still runs what you play, waiting is reasonable: memory is the inflated part, and memory is what's forecast to stay expensive. If you need a PC now, build it with 16GB and one of the lower-markup cards, and plan to upgrade the memory later. It's the easiest part to add, and the one whose price is most inflated.
Before you buy anything, read our list of common PC building mistakes. A part bought twice costs more than any price spike.
How we priced this
Every price above comes from the sources linked beside it, checked on 25 October 2026. Prices are US dollars before tax. Street prices change weekly, so treat the totals as a snapshot and check the trackers before you order.