Building your gaming PC: a €2,700 splurge or real savings

Building your own gaming PC: between indulgence and common sense

Is building a gaming PC from parts worth it? The answer isn't a simple yes or no. It depends on whether you're after a €600 gaming machine or a €2,700 beast. The difference isn't the brand, it's where you put your money. Here's the map so you don't waste it.

The power supply: the component you shouldn't skimp on

The PSU is the most critical component. Your entire investment inside the case depends on it. Recommendations point to brands like Seasonic or BeQuiet, and to the Linus Tech Tips community's PSU tier list, which ranks power supplies by tiers (Tier A, Tier B...). A cheap PSU may fail to deliver proper power and, in the worst case, fry other components. The advice is unanimous: spend money on the PSU.

Liquid cooling vs air: the old reliability of the fan

The debate between liquid and air cooling is still open. Air advocates argue it's more reliable, comparatively quieter, and that you can hear the fan to know the system is running. Liquid cooling fans highlight its ability to handle high-end CPUs and its looks. But, as a veteran points out, after several years it can fail and damage the parts. That's why many recommend keeping it simple: a good Noctua or BeQuiet air cooler is enough for most people.

How much does it cost to build a high-end PC?

One user shares their €2,700 build: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, PowerColor RX 7900 XTX 24GB, ASRock X670E motherboard, Lian Li liquid cooling, DeepCool Platinum PSU, and 32GB of DDR5 RAM at 6000MHz. It's a machine for 4K gaming, built to last for years. Others, however, back the smart option: taking advantage of PCComponentes sales, which sometimes offer towers at up to 60% off, or simply buying second-hand parts on Wallapop: I've bought top-end laptops for under €200. The key is balancing indulgence with your wallet.

Second-hand: risk or opportunity?

Buying second-hand is a real way to save, but it takes patience and know-how. Defenders point out you can find nearly new parts with small, fixable issues, like a sticker rubbing against the fan or a power settings tweak. But there's also an emotional factor: unboxing a new PC is unboxing a new PC. The final irony comes from a veteran: When I was young I built my own PCs, pinching every last penny because I was broke. Now that I have money, I buy them prebuilt out of pure laziness.

In the end, the only safe investment is the one that makes you happy, even if it hurts your wallet. Or so say those justifying a €2,700 spend.