Gaming PC Build Calculator
Plan your gaming PC build with our budget allocation calculator. Enter your total budget and gaming needs to get optimal component recommendations, budget breakdowns, and expected performance estimates.
Competitive Gaming: GPU 40%, CPU 20%, RAM 8%, Motherboard 12%, Storage 6%, PSU 7%, Case 4%, Cooling 3%
Balanced Gaming: GPU 38%, CPU 20%, RAM 8%, Motherboard 12%, Storage 7%, PSU 7%, Case 5%, Cooling 3%
Premium Gaming: GPU 45%, CPU 18%, RAM 8%, Motherboard 10%, Storage 6%, PSU 7%, Case 4%, Cooling 2%
Streaming: GPU 35%, CPU 25%, RAM 10%, Motherboard 12%, Storage 6%, PSU 6%, Case 4%, Cooling 2%
Workstation: GPU 30%, CPU 25%, RAM 12%, Motherboard 13%, Storage 8%, PSU 6%, Case 4%, Cooling 2%
Budget Breakdown:
• GPU (38%): $570 → RTX 4070
• CPU (20%): $300 → i5-14600K
• RAM (8%): $120 → 32GB DDR5 5600MHz
• Motherboard (12%): $180 → Z790 ATX
• Storage (7%): $105 → 1TB NVMe SSD
• PSU (7%): $105 → 750W 80+ Gold
• Case (5%): $75 → Mid-Tower ATX
• Cooling (3%): $45 → Tower Air Cooler
Expected Performance:
• 1080p: 240+ FPS
• 1440p: 144-165 FPS
• 4K: 60-90 FPS
How much should I spend on each PC component?
For gaming PCs, allocate 35-45% to GPU (most important), 18-25% to CPU, 8-12% to RAM, 10-13% to motherboard, 6-8% to storage, 6-7% to PSU, 4-5% to case, and 2-3% to cooling. Competitive gamers prioritize GPU. Streamers need better CPUs. Adjust based on your specific needs.
What is the best budget for a gaming PC?
$800-1000 for 1080p gaming, $1200-1500 for solid 1440p performance, $1800-2500 for high-end 1440p/4K gaming, and $3000+ for premium 4K builds. The sweet spot is $1200-1500 which gets you RTX 4070/RX 7800 XT and i5/Ryzen 7, delivering excellent 1440p performance.
Should I spend more on CPU or GPU for gaming?
GPU matters more for gaming - it determines frame rates and graphics quality. Allocate 1.5-2× more budget to GPU than CPU. A $300 CPU with $600 GPU outperforms a $600 CPU with $300 GPU in games. Exception: if you stream, do video editing, or play CPU-heavy games (strategy, simulation), balance it more evenly.
How much RAM do I need for gaming in 2024?
16GB is minimum for gaming, 32GB is recommended for modern AAA games and multitasking. 64GB is overkill unless you do heavy content creation. Get DDR5 if on Intel 12th-gen+ or AMD Ryzen 7000+. DDR4 3200MHz is fine for budget builds. Faster RAM (6000MHz+) helps 1-5% in gaming.
🔗 Related Calculators
📐 Formula
Competitive Gaming: GPU 40%, CPU 20%, RAM 8%, Motherboard 12%, Storage 6%, PSU 7%, Case 4%, Cooling 3%
Balanced Gaming: GPU 38%, CPU 20%, RAM 8%, Motherboard 12%, Storage 7%, PSU 7%, Case 5%, Cooling 3%
Premium Gaming: GPU 45%, CPU 18%, RAM 8%, Motherboard 10%, Storage 6%, PSU 7%, Case 4%, Cooling 2%
Streaming: GPU 35%, CPU 25%, RAM 10%, Motherboard 12%, Storage 6%, PSU 6%, Case 4%, Cooling 2%
Workstation: GPU 30%, CPU 25%, RAM 12%, Motherboard 13%, Storage 8%, PSU 6%, Case 4%, Cooling 2%
📝 Example Calculation
Budget Breakdown:
• GPU (38%): $570 → RTX 4070
• CPU (20%): $300 → i5-14600K
• RAM (8%): $120 → 32GB DDR5 5600MHz
• Motherboard (12%): $180 → Z790 ATX
• Storage (7%): $105 → 1TB NVMe SSD
• PSU (7%): $105 → 750W 80+ Gold
• Case (5%): $75 → Mid-Tower ATX
• Cooling (3%): $45 → Tower Air Cooler
Expected Performance:
• 1080p: 240+ FPS
• 1440p: 144-165 FPS
• 4K: 60-90 FPS