Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Will AI increase the cost of this budget gaming PC in 2026? 🤔
The massive demand from new AI data centers is causing a global shortage, skyrocketing prices for DRAM (RAM) and SSD storage by diverting supply, shifting manufacturer focus to lucrative AI-specific memory (like HBM/RDIMM), and creating bottlenecks that squeeze consumer-grade products, with some analysts predicting high prices for years. And with the shortage of RAM, this is likely to impact GPU prices and graphics cards going into 2026.
With the price increases effecting crucial PC components such as DDR5 RAM, DDR4 RAM, NVMe SSD storage, even SATA SSD storage and the likely impact on graphic card prices. It is now becoming very difficult to build a reasonably priced gaming PC, and probably more so a budget gaming PC.
So in this video, I break down the real-world cost of building a budget gaming PC with an RTX 5060, using Black Friday prices at the end of December 2025. And I will revisit this gaming PC build in 2026 to see how much it will cost then.
I go through every single part, explain why I chose Intel over AMD for this build, and discuss why RAM, GPU, and SSD prices are rising—largely due to AI demand and supply pressure.
*I also talk about:*
Why “budget” gaming PCs are no longer cheap.
Whether Linux / SteamOS makes sense for Nvidia + Intel.
Why SSD Gen 4 matters for gaming load times.
The effect that AI data centres are having on consumer PC parts and building a gaming PC.
And why I’ll revisit this exact same PC in 2026 to compare prices again.
*💻 Main PC Build Highlights:*
GPU: RTX 5060 Windforce OC amzn.to/4pPYjot
CPU: Intel i3-14100F amzn.to/49hMdxE
Motherboard: GIGABYTE B760M D3HP amzn.to/44FafBc
RAM: Yongxinsheng 16GB DDR4 3200MHz CL16 amzn.to/49plrV4
Storage: 1TB WD SN850X with heatsink amzn.to/3YbsnPq
👍 If you found this helpful, hit Like
🔔 Subscribe for the 2026 price comparison follow-up
💬 Comment below: Is £650 still “budget” to you?
💬 Comment below: Do you agree with the components used in this build, or what would you have chosen for the same system cost?
*Video chapters:*
00:00 – Introduction & build goal
02:52 – Individual part prices
06:45 – Total build cost
07:28 – My thoughts moving into 2026
*Links to some of the stuff that I use on a daily basis and some other recommendations.*
*ACASIS Website*
If buying from the ACASIS website use my 15% discount promo code DAVID15
ACASIS website geni.us/ACASIS-51
TB501 Pro Thunderbolt 5 enclosure geni.us/ACASIS-57
Mac Mini M4 Workstation enclosure geni.us/ACASIS-58
TBU405Pro Thunderbolt 4 enclosure geni.us/ACASIS-53
TBU401 Thunderbolt 4 enclosure geni.us/ACASIS-54
All ACASIS SSD Enclosures geni.us/ACASIS-56
DS9007 21 Port 40Gbps Dock geni.us/ACASIS-59
DS-7A15 15 port USB-C dock geni.us/ACASIS-60
DS-0202 14 Port USB-C dock geni.us/ACASIS-61
All ACASIS Docks and Hubs geni.us/ACASIS-62
*ACASIS Amazon Store* geni.us/ACASIS-105
*Samsung 9100 Pro PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD*
8TB amzn.to/43WAEK4
4TB amzn.to/4lpGMke
2TB amzn.to/413Jjct
1TB amzn.to/3JcjW1Z
*WD_Black SN850X Gen 4 SSD on Amazon*
8TB amzn.to/478cVJn
4TB amzn.to/3U7TqsP
2TB amzn.to/3Hb32jC
1TB amzn.to/3He93Mp
Other Gen 4 NVMe SSDs geni.us/Gen4SSDs
*Apple Mac Computers on Amazon*
Apple Amazon Store geni.us/Apple_Amazon_Store
MacBook Pro M4 geni.us/OLuacfl
MacBook Air M4 geni.us/x5G9
Mac Mini M4 geni.us/yJW1
Mac Studio M4 geni.us/V2lDm
Mac Studio M3 geni.us/7zws
iMac M4 geni.us/1k4pwp
*My Amazon pages with videos and product links*
Amazon USA amazon.com/shop/davidharry
Amazon UK amazon.co.uk/shop/davidharry
Amazon USA: geni.us/Amazon-USA
Amazon UK: geni.us/Amazon-UK
Amazon Canada: geni.us/Amazon-Canada
Amazon Deutschland: geni.us/Amazon-Deutschland
Amazon France: geni.us/Amazon-France
Amazon España: geni.us/Amazon-Espana
Amazon Italia: geni.us/Amazon-Italia
*AMAZON ASSOCIATE DISCLOSURE & GLOBAL AMAZON LINKS*
I am an Amazon Associate. My direct Amazon product links and global Amazon website links are Amazon affiliate links. I earn money from qualifying purchases when you use my Amazon affiliate links. *Thank you for using my Amazon links 👍*
*OTHER EARNINGS AND COMMISSIONS*
I also earn money from other product links within my video description. *Thank you for using any of my product links 👍*
*You can also send me a coffee if you really liked the video and would like to support my channel directly 👍* paypal.me/DavidHarry
Contact for product reviews (I do not reply to emails from viewers): YouTube@DavidHarry.com
DavidHarry.com
I’m David Harry. Thank you very much for watching this video, take care and goodbye now.
Cheers,
Dave.
Will AI increase the cost of this budget gaming PC in 2026? 🤔
The massive demand from new AI data centers is causing a global shortage, skyrocketing prices for DRAM (RAM) and SSD storage by diverting supply, shifting manufacturer focus to lucrative AI-specific memory (like HBM/RDIMM), and creating bottlenecks that squeeze consumer-grade products, with some analysts predicting high prices for years. And with the shortage of RAM, this is likely to impact GPU prices and graphics cards going into 2026.
With the price increases effecting crucial PC components such as DDR5 RAM, DDR4 RAM, NVMe SSD storage, even SATA SSD storage and the likely impact on graphic card prices. It is now becoming very difficult to build a reasonably priced gaming PC, and probably more so a budget gaming PC.
So in this video, I break down the real-world cost of building a budget gaming PC with an RTX 5060, using Black Friday prices at the end of December 2025. And I will revisit this gaming PC build in 2026 to see how much it will cost then.
I go through every single part, explain why I chose Intel over AMD for this build, and discuss why RAM, GPU, and SSD prices are rising—largely due to AI demand and supply pressure.
*I also talk about:*
Why “budget” gaming PCs are no longer cheap.
Whether Linux / SteamOS makes sense for Nvidia + Intel.
Why SSD Gen 4 matters for gaming load times.
The effect that AI data centres are having on consumer PC parts and building a gaming PC.
And why I’ll revisit this exact same PC in 2026 to compare prices again.
*💻 Main PC Build Highlights:*
GPU: RTX 5060 Windforce OC amzn.to/4pPYjot
CPU: Intel i3-14100F amzn.to/49hMdxE
Motherboard: GIGABYTE B760M D3HP amzn.to/44FafBc
RAM: Yongxinsheng 16GB DDR4 3200MHz CL16 amzn.to/49plrV4
Storage: 1TB WD SN850X with heatsink amzn.to/3YbsnPq
👍 If you found this helpful, hit Like
🔔 Subscribe for the 2026 price comparison follow-up
💬 Comment below: Is £650 still “budget” to you?
💬 Comment below: Do you agree with the components used in this build, or what would you have chosen for the same system cost?
*Video chapters:*
00:00 – Introduction & build goal
02:52 – Individual part prices
06:45 – Total build cost
07:28 – My thoughts moving into 2026
*Links to some of the stuff that I use on a daily basis and some other recommendations.*
*ACASIS Website*
If buying from the ACASIS website use my 15% discount promo code DAVID15
ACASIS website geni.us/ACASIS-51
TB501 Pro Thunderbolt 5 enclosure geni.us/ACASIS-57
Mac Mini M4 Workstation enclosure geni.us/ACASIS-58
TBU405Pro Thunderbolt 4 enclosure geni.us/ACASIS-53
TBU401 Thunderbolt 4 enclosure geni.us/ACASIS-54
All ACASIS SSD Enclosures geni.us/ACASIS-56
DS9007 21 Port 40Gbps Dock geni.us/ACASIS-59
DS-7A15 15 port USB-C dock geni.us/ACASIS-60
DS-0202 14 Port USB-C dock geni.us/ACASIS-61
All ACASIS Docks and Hubs geni.us/ACASIS-62
*ACASIS Amazon Store* geni.us/ACASIS-105
*Samsung 9100 Pro PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD*
8TB amzn.to/43WAEK4
4TB amzn.to/4lpGMke
2TB amzn.to/413Jjct
1TB amzn.to/3JcjW1Z
*WD_Black SN850X Gen 4 SSD on Amazon*
8TB amzn.to/478cVJn
4TB amzn.to/3U7TqsP
2TB amzn.to/3Hb32jC
1TB amzn.to/3He93Mp
Other Gen 4 NVMe SSDs geni.us/Gen4SSDs
*Apple Mac Computers on Amazon*
Apple Amazon Store geni.us/Apple_Amazon_Store
MacBook Pro M4 geni.us/OLuacfl
MacBook Air M4 geni.us/x5G9
Mac Mini M4 geni.us/yJW1
Mac Studio M4 geni.us/V2lDm
Mac Studio M3 geni.us/7zws
iMac M4 geni.us/1k4pwp
*My Amazon pages with videos and product links*
Amazon USA amazon.com/shop/davidharry
Amazon UK amazon.co.uk/shop/davidharry
Amazon USA: geni.us/Amazon-USA
Amazon UK: geni.us/Amazon-UK
Amazon Canada: geni.us/Amazon-Canada
Amazon Deutschland: geni.us/Amazon-Deutschland
Amazon France: geni.us/Amazon-France
Amazon España: geni.us/Amazon-Espana
Amazon Italia: geni.us/Amazon-Italia
*AMAZON ASSOCIATE DISCLOSURE & GLOBAL AMAZON LINKS*
I am an Amazon Associate. My direct Amazon product links and global Amazon website links are Amazon affiliate links. I earn money from qualifying purchases when you use my Amazon affiliate links. *Thank you for using my Amazon links 👍*
*OTHER EARNINGS AND COMMISSIONS*
I also earn money from other product links within my video description. *Thank you for using any of my product links 👍*
*You can also send me a coffee if you really liked the video and would like to support my channel directly 👍* paypal.me/DavidHarry
Contact for product reviews (I do not reply to emails from viewers): YouTube@DavidHarry.com
DavidHarry.com
I’m David Harry. Thank you very much for watching this video, take care and goodbye now.
Cheers,
Dave.
