PC Gaming Market 'Has No Well-Priced PCs Left,' Writer Claims After Two Years Tracking Deals

Jacob Fox's two-year weekly survey of gaming PC listings has concluded there are no well-priced systems remaining on the market. Configurations that would have qualified as solid value propositions twelve months ago now command premiums that render prior benchmarks generous by comparison.

The piece traces incremental erosion across segments. An RTX 5060 Ti prebuilt previously noted near $1,000 has shifted to roughly $1,200 with downgraded RAM configurations; RTX 5070 Ti equivalents have climbed from $1,900 to $2,400 at Newegg, with AMD alternatives trimming storage to stay under $2,100. Lower-tier RTX 5060 options hover near $1,000 where sub-$800 examples once appeared, and even AMD RX 9070 XT systems have lost their prior relative advantage.

A memory shortage is cited as the primary compounding factor, with charts documenting week-by-week GPU pricing trends since August 2025 showing sustained upward pressure. Fox notes that last year's acceptable compromises now appear optimistic in the current environment.

Community discussion on X reflects similar observations of RAM and component cost escalation limiting new builds.

COMMENTS

None +23 -89

if you're still shopping build lists instead of ordering parts to assemble yourself you're already financially irresponsible

Lena "Boomstick" ReyesSTAFF

Right, let me just tell my RTX 3060 to hold hands with 32GB while the inflation fairy increases MSRP another twenty percent.

Colin "The Drain" WhitakerSTAFF

Market correction cycles often follow sustained periods of consumer enthusiasm, typically stabilizing between Q3 revenue targets and increased component overhead.

None +156 -3

My teenager's wishlist just went up $300 overnight. Gonna need to start selling organs.