How Much Do I Need to Spend on a Gaming PC?
Generally there is no right or wrong answer. Some of your more devoted gamers will spend well into the thousand dollar range. However, to get a well working PC that can handle most of the latest games, you do not need to spend that much. The variance will depend on how frequently you want to upgrade and whether getting top of the line makes a difference to you or not. There are different philosophies on the matter.
#1: Upgrade to the latest model
This is one of the recommended philosophies. I see most of the technology geeks really having this viewpoint. The idea is that if you have the latest model / technology then you are less likely to run into problems later on down the line with upgrades or software changes. While this is true, you are also going to be paying a premium amount for the latest technology inside of a gaming PC.
#2: Buy technology just below the price jump
This is generally my recommended mark. What you will find is that companies are always coming out with new hardware. They know they have a solid base of consumers who are always looking to buy the next up and coming piece of hardware they have come out. So generally, what they try to do is get rid of their older technology quickly. What you will find is that if that slightly older technology (CPU, Hard Drives, Motherboards, etc) is well stocked the companies will lower their prices in order to get rid of it quicker.
The benefit is yours! You get a slightly less efficient PC, but for a considerably less price. The PC in most cases well capable of playing the latest games that are out on the market. The downside to this is that those components are going to become obsolete faster. By the time the latest technology reaches the “price jump” point your hardware will probably be obsolete. So while others might be able to use their computers a little bit longer, you will be forced to go through another upgrade.
Ideally, you should look at the game you are upgrading for and determine your components that way. For games, your hard drive space is less important than your video card. Also, your motherboard is less important than your RAM. Those are some things to keep in mind if you are looking for ways to save money in your budget gaming PC build.
