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What’s The Cost Of A Full Gamer Setup?

As technology advances and video games achieve new heights in visuals and features that challenge that power, it can be challenging to understand what equipment you need in a PC setup that can handle them without lagging or experiencing other detrimental effects. A cheap dedicated server hosting site can be one of the last options one may want or maybe the most important part.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gamer setup and kit yourself out with everything you need to play all your favorite games, then you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $3000, depending on the quality of the accessories and equipment you purchase. In case you get confused about which accessories to purchase, you can take the help of a pc builder.

A gamer setup isn’t usually cheap, but we’ll help you discover what you’ll need to get set up and what you can expect to pay for each accessory.

Table of Contents

What Is A Full Gamer Setup?

The perfect gamer setup might look a little different depending on your interests, but the following items are most commonly associated with a full gamer setup:

Computer
Desktop monitor
Keyboard
Mouse
Headphones
Microphone
A gamer chair

Of course, if you want to enhance your gaming experience, consider investing in some RGB lighting, external speakers for immersion, and a capture card to record or stream your games. Some gamers use an external hard drive with a monitor, while others rely on a laptop for on-the-go gaming. As you can imagine, the price of the ‘essential’ gamer setup varies greatly depending on how much you’re willing to spend on each item.

Now that we’ve established what’s included in the ideal gamer setup, here’s what you can expect to fork out based on your budget.

How Much Does a Gamer Setup Cost?

It costs upwards of $1000 to get a mid-end PC setup with accessories. Of course, this estimate is subject to change, mainly depending on the price of GPUs and CPUs, which tend to bump the price up significantly, especially during periods of high demand. If you want the latest and greatest performance, expect the GPU and CPU to eat up most of your budget.

The Computer

The first component you’ll need to play games is a computer capable of running them. The PC you invest in is entirely up to you, but it’s worth considering what type of games you like to play. If you enjoy low-intensity sandbox games like Minecraft or Stardew Valley, there’s no need to break the bank by buying a high-end gaming PC that you don’t need—unless you feel the need to run some crazy shaders.

On the other hand, if you want to enjoy some of the most realistic, immersive, and CPU-destroying games out there, like Far Cry 6 or Cyberpunk 2077, then you might consider investing in a computer with better specs that can maintain a consistent framerate so you can enjoy the beautiful 1444p or 4k experience from modern triple-A games.

You can either invest in a pre-built desktop, build one yourself, or purchase a gaming laptop. Pre-built desktops can be dicey since manufacturers often try to downgrade the hardware specs, much to the disappointment of buyers. You can find a pre-built computer from $500-$3000.

Gaming laptops, too, can be underwhelming, although some exceptional mid to high-end gaming laptops are well worth the price, especially if you like gaming on the go. They run anywhere from $1000-$3000.

Building your own PC will almost always be the most cost-effective option, but you need to know what you’re doing. Enlist the help of a computer-obsessed friend to find the parts and tailor your gaming experience within your budget ($500-$3000).

Desktop Monitor

A desktop monitor is an essential part of your gaming setup as it enhances the immersion, color, and refresh rate of your games. Again, the quality, size, and design of your desktop monitor are up to you, but you can expect to spend anywhere from $300-$800 on a decent monitor.

Keyboard

A keyboard is part of a gaming setup for obvious reasons. While you can certainly use any keyboard, higher-end keyboards tend to be more responsive to inputs and more comfortable to use. Anticipate spending $30-$200 depending on what keyboard you’re satisfied with.

Mouse

A gaming mouse is significantly more important if you enjoy FPS games or games that require a degree of precision. A high-end gaming mouse boasts more responsiveness in every metric; plus, those extra buttons certainly come in handy.

Depending on your budget, you can expect to drop $30-$300 on a gaming mouse—sometimes more if you want the best.

Headphones

Headphones contribute to the immersion of your gaming experience. They’re beneficial if you value sound-canceling technology while you play. Expect to spend anywhere from $30-$150 on a quality set of headphones.

Microphone

A microphone isn’t necessary for many games. Still, if you enjoy hanging out with friends on Discord or take your callouts very seriously in BR games, a quality mic is an essential part of your full gamer setup. You can bundle headphones and a microphone into a headset to save money or purchase a separate microphone for higher quality—$50-$200.

A Gamer Chair

Lastly, you’ll want somewhere comfortable to sit while you play video games, which is where a good chair comes in handy. There’s nothing particularly exceptional about gamer chairs compared to office chairs—at least not until you reach the high-end products—so invest in a chair that you find comfortable for both work and play. You can find a gamer chair for anything from $70-$500, even higher depending on your interests.

The Bottom Line

Regardless of how much you hope to save, you can expect to drop at least $500 on a full gamer setup. The average cost of a decent gamer setup is around $1500-$2000 all told.

Of course, if you want to customize your room with RGB lighting and enjoy the top-of-the-line gamer experience, you might be looking at a price anywhere from $5000-$25,000 to kit yourself out fully.

Don’t forget to be on the lookout for sales, deals, and bundles to help you save money for your setup. Consider waiting until the holidays; Cyber Monday, for example, is a great time to shop for everything you need in a brand-new gamer setup.