How Much SHOULD You Spend on a Gaming PC? [$1500 vs $2000 vs $3000 Build Comparison]

When it comes to figuring out how much to spend on a gaming PC build, I often get questions about whether or not you can really tell the difference between a budget-oriented or high-end gaming PC. In this video I've built three systems to see if I can really tell the difference...
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⬇️ $1500 Gaming PC Build ⬇️
Amazon [PAID LINKS]
CPU: geni.us/LCGVYV
CPU Cooler: TBC
Motherboard: geni.us/LCGVYV
RAM: geni.us/bNKOOk
SSD: geni.us/bNKOOk
GPU: geni.us/sOCBR7
Case: geni.us/O91BmHA
PSU: geni.us/1eEkYSy
Newegg [PAID LINKS]
CPU: howl.me/cl1UfaZagE8
CPU Cooler: howl.me/cl1UgsO8rnz
Motherboard: howl.me/cl1Ug48L6iw
RAM: howl.me/cl1Uifb1sQv
SSD: howl.me/cl1Ui14z9WM
GPU: howl.me/cl1UjTdLuTc
Case: howl.me/cl1UknTKx2T
PSU: howl.me/cl1UkXYceVT
⬇️ $2000 Gaming PC Build ⬇️
Amazon (Global) [PAID LINKS]
CPU: geni.us/GkoT
CPU Cooler: geni.us/1zmXs
Motherboard: geni.us/FeDb
RAM: geni.us/8kBeg
SSD: geni.us/ZHfn
GPU: geni.us/6QLD
Case: geni.us/WIpP
PSU: geni.us/ZxXeBj
Newegg [PAID LINKS]
CPU: howl.me/cl1U63uoSjx
CPU Cooler: howl.me/cl1U7Etwg2I
Motherboard: howl.me/cl1U8jbrkIM
RAM: howl.me/cl1U9aVcNjo
SSD: howl.me/cl1U9KHTckZ
GPU: TBC
Case: howl.me/cl1VazpjUl1
PSU: howl.me/cl1Vbyo1fvf
⬇️ $3000 Gaming PC Build ⬇️
Amazon (Global) [PAID LINKS]
CPU: geni.us/wKsGBAb
CPU Cooler: geni.us/XBlmAf
Motherboard: geni.us/L578e
RAM: geni.us/sPpS
SSD: geni.us/nQJHH1
GPU: amzn.to/3Jhw9iI
Case: geni.us/A4gwlrA
PSU: geni.us/rkCpH
Newegg [PAID LINKS]
CPU: howl.me/cl1VyIC6PC3
CPU Cooler: howl.me/cl1VzutbxMb
Motherboard: howl.me/cl1VAGrg6q2
RAM: howl.me/cl1VBOyuO1Z
SSD: howl.me/cl1VCOrblRo
GPU: howl.me/cl1VDWb41RW
Case: howl.me/cl1VErARA0I
PSU: howl.me/cl1VEZd6baF
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00:00 Intro
00:39 Parts Lists for all 3 Builds
01:46 $1500 Build
02:10 $2000 Build
02:51 $3000 Build
03:42 System 1 - Horizon Forbidden West
04:41 System 1 - Counter Strike 2
05:23 System 2 - Horizon Forbidden West
06:40 System 2 - Counter Strike 2
07:29 System 3 - Horizon Forbidden West
08:21 System 3 - Counter Strike 2
09:58 The Reveal!
10:32 Cyberpunk Side-by-Side Test

[@CastleKnightAO]

It would be more interesting if you tried to guess without the fps counter and just the feel of the PCs because imo i don't think most ppl will play games while constantly looking at their FPS

[@hayleyrowan6670]

I was going to say the same thing

[@GeekaWhat]

Hope you guys enjoy this one? A lot of time went into building the three systems and the blind test, but I think it actually provided some really interesting results! 👀

[@daniil3815]

Now do blind testing where you can’t see fps counter.

[@abdalhayalbanna4247]

Thank you for your efforts, you're most appreciated. 😍 Could you do the same using AMD video cards 💙

[@daniil3815]

@@abdalhayalbanna4247 lol. What’s the point? Tbh even this video was pretty useless. Amd will be exactly the same. What’s definitely interesting is blind tests.

[@haukebahr5653]

Echoing what others said, this could have been really interesting but wasn’t. The test should have been blind, without fps counter visible. Only that would actually be indicative of “can you really tell a difference during regular gameplay with your eyes and input response time.”

[@AnirbanArgho]

What is the monitor you are using?

[@timberw1lly]

Honestly, I just built a new system around the 4070 Ti Super. I started with a 4080 Super and spec'd down. For the $400-500 I saved, I'm pretty happy, and this video reinforces it.

[@humzaaziz3443]

Love your content GeekaWhat. Question though, what was the challenge in guessing after testing the games on all three PCs? I mean that pretty much made the results crystal clear. The real challenge would have been if you correctly guessed immediately after testing one PC and that is what I went in expecting to be honest :D

[@br0ck47]

damn i guessed the same but the results shocked me too 4070ti super is definitely the winner here

[@raichu9489]

Love it was going to get the 4080 super but glad I saved the money and put it into other better components.

[@remingtonA123]

Shoulda ran all of these with the 7800x3D

[@_meme_hub_]

Can you please make a build in the h7 flow with the rgb ring Nzxt Fans

[@X3libi]

You should do the same idea but you cant see the framerate, purely off of what you experience.

[@techknow9237]

The Cyberpunk 2077 video at the end of the dual wide-screen monitor is the same video to show RT and been seen in other videos - you didn't test the game you just used video footage.

[@daleaksssgaming7150]

Loved the video easy Sub(: P.S. Frame counter was definitely cheat codes for that poor 4070 super 😂 But was crazy seeing the 4070TiS keeping up well with the 4080s so definitely no complaints about the FPS Counter(: Just bought a 4070TiSuper and it is easily the best GPU I’ve ever owned very fast very snappy and really cool to be able to play in 4k. It handles 1440p like a BOSS ESports like a Boss as well!

[@willy7968]

One thing I like about Nvidia GPU is the fact that u can buy at MSRP(if u are lucky) and sell it higher.

[@Tech-Neekz]

thats called scalping. we dont like that lol

[@vinhumm]

pls I want a high end 4090 gaming pc but I need I small case that is power and still classy what case would you recommend

[@MrAnimescrazy]

What is your budget? Do you still need help?

[@Playxm]

Can you pls build a full eBay gaming pc

[@MrAnimescrazy]

What is your budget? What do you mean by an eBay gaming pc?

[@techknow9237]

What was the point of a blind test when you can see all the FPS info onscreen.

[@RageInducedGamer]

System 1 you used DLAA, but the other two TAA.

[@tylercrandall55]

Ok ok ok, for 1500$ you can get ddr5 ram in there especially for that price. And for 2400-2500 you can. Go 4080 super and got 3k you can easily fit in a 4090 at MSRP

[@joetucker13jt]

The 1500 pc would be beyond perfect for an upgrade from my dying 1050ti😅

[@ShowMaker94]

A friend of mine build my first custom pc month ago. 5800x3d 7800 xt hellhound B550 F Asus Rog Strix 1 TB SSD Corsair AIO 2x120mm 2x16 gb corsair rgb ram ddr4 4 RGB Fans 1 back , 3 front. total i spend 1700£ on all parts. I start watching pc build videos couple days after that and i alrdy know how fcked i am ..

[@declankiernan1970]

I can make it simpler for everyone. AM5 7600 with 4070 Ti Super or 4080 Super... you dont need anything else.

[@Tech-Neekz]

shoulda done a full on blind test. fps is a dead giveaway. a BLIND test would of really shown if you could notice the difference in the actual gameplay and graphics between a $1500 TO $3000 system.

[@clw22580]

Of course you can if spent in right place but you won’t see ANY difference between the $300 aio and $300 cases you feature vs a $30-50 cooler and case

[@Vision.FN007]

Just saying for 1500 you can fit a 7900xtx and 2tb ssd

[@crazzy4194]

You can make a $2k pc with a 7800x3d and 4080 super in it

[@Tech-Neekz]

closer to $2,200. if you didnt fully cheap out on everything else.

[@forcezero2220]

Here we go lets sell some kidney

[@UltamateSacrifice]

bait video but sure, lets watch, for the algorithm!

[@GeekaWhat]

What was bait about it? I said I was going to build three systems… and I did?

[@Jason_Bover9000]

Im thinking upgrading my case from 4000d to something else

[@t5kcannon1]

Bought a Fractal Torrent RGB recently (the big case, not the compact) ; it is a really nice case. Quiet, excellent cooling and, in my view, looks great.

[@user-ug3mn8vn1r]

Try h6 flow

[@Jason_Bover9000]

@@t5kcannon1 i was thinking nv7 phanteks ok I will look into that thanks or nv5

[@hellspawnx3526]

Isn't 4000D a good case?

[@Jason_Bover9000]

@@hellspawnx3526 yes I need more room though had it for two years I have 7900xtx with a 7800x3d my first build on it was 12600k 3060ti I have 850 watts power supply right now I want a 1200w with atx3.0 pcie5.0 compatability and still use with my old gpu meaning future proof longer

[@RoaringBoat767]

Is there much difference between a $1000 and a $1200 pc build?

[@daniil3815]

200$ is the difference 😂. Seriously yes, you can get the next tier GPU for that difference.

[@RoaringBoat767]

@@daniil3815 ok

[@Tech-Neekz]

exactly, 200 will usually bump you up a tier on any graphics card you choose.

[@Pedro-iq1yr]

2000€ mid range???

[@terliccc]

love your videos but this budgets are way out of reality if you check online buildind pc websites most people are buying pc's around 1000$ pc's the most we see for gaming is 1500$ for gaming. those more expensive builds like 2000$ are more for cad workers, streamers and work load would like to see a more realistic video bur understand this is sponsored

[@NE-oj4be]

here before purging the bots

[@goldenghostgod5333]

Why are we paying 900 dollars for a 4070 when you can get a 7900 xtx. like it makes no sense to me. I spent 1700 dollars building my pc and it has a 7800x3d 7900 xtx. And 4080 super is not more powerful than the 7900 xtx lol.

[@may4916]

Idk about the 1500 dollars one for that much I can get a 7600 with 7900xt with 2 tbs of storage with no cost cut

[@Blackfire495]

At the $1500 mark, I probably would’ve gone AMD to get the most out of my money and take advantage of DDR5

[@Drillownica]

cs: GLOBAL OFFENSIVE 2?

[@Yzyu]

the 1500 dollar build is quite poor tbh i have one in my basket with a 7900 gre with a amd 7 7700x for the same price and i wouldn't say i cheaped out on any of the other components. it is a pure performance build tho.

[@Jason_Bover9000]

No amd gpu why

[@Femurus.]

i assume for guessing to be a bit harder, since he is using dlss which is called fsr on raedeon gpus

[@user-iq334]

Thanks for not putting the garbage 7600 and 7800X3d in any of these builds.

[@Eli-zb2yj]

$3000 pc is better

[@exot1c_dark066]

Noo really? i could’ve never guessed

[@kaznix5266]

Oh wow I realllyyyy thought it was the 1500 built

[@user-rv3fy3jz7k]

No fucking shit

[@ravijotsingh7831]

I beg you my brother don't say 1500-2000 is a budget system.