Why You Shouldn’t Build a Budget Gaming PC Under £750 Right Now

Building a budget gaming PC under £750 used to be the sweet spot for value-focused gamers. It balanced affordability with surprisingly strong performance, especially when component prices were stable. But as we head into 2026 and beyond, that balance has been shattered. Soaring RAM prices, driven by long-term shifts in the memory industry, have made it harder than ever to build a system in this price range without compromising longevity or gaming performance.

This updated guide looks at why the £750 target no longer makes sense, what’s changed in the hardware market, and what you should do instead if you’re trying to build a capable gaming PC without overspending.

---

Why You Should Hold Off on Building a Budget Gaming PC Under £750

If you’ve been planning to build a budget gaming PC under £750, you’ve probably noticed something unusual: no matter how you shuffle the parts list, something always feels off. Whether it’s downgrading the GPU, settling for an older platform, or compromising on RAM speeds, the balance that normally makes budget builds fun and achievable has been disrupted.

And the culprit is clearer than ever: RAM prices have not only spiked, but many analysts now believe they won’t come down for years.

Given this shift, the original advice still stands — but with even more weight behind it. Right now, it simply isn’t a good time to attempt a sub‑£750 PC build, and here’s why.

---

RAM prices aren’t just high — they may stay high until 2027 or beyond

When RAM prices first began rising, many assumed it was a temporary supply issue. But as more information has come out, a different picture has emerged:

• Major DRAM manufacturers are prioritising AI and data‑centre memory, where profit margins are significantly higher.
• Some companies, including Micron’s consumer brand Crucial, have begun winding down parts of their consumer RAM production to redirect capacity.
• Demand for high bandwidth memory (HBM) is exploding as companies build AI infrastructure.
• Analysts from Tom’s Hardware, PC Gamer, and independent researchers warn that the DRAM crisis could last through 2026–2028.
  

This isn’t a temporary spike — it’s a structural shift.

And it affects both DDR4 and DDR5, meaning even older budget platforms have lost their usual cost advantage.

---

A £750 build today forces painful compromises

The problem isn’t that you can’t build a gaming PC under £750. It’s that doing so right now means making the wrong compromises:

• Settling for a weaker GPU than the budget previously allowed.
• Getting locked into AM4 or older Intel platforms with limited upgrade paths.
• Choosing smaller SSDs, weaker PSUs, or cheap airflow cases just to cut costs.
• Using slow, low‑capacity RAM because current pricing punishes anything above the bare minimum.

Before the memory surge, you could squeeze a surprisingly strong gaming PC into this price bracket. Today, that build either:

1. Costs a lot more, or
2. Drops enough component quality that its lifespan is noticeably shorter.
   

Neither outcome is good for anyone trying to spend smart.

---

The biggest risk: building regret when the market shifts again

Even though RAM prices may not come down dramatically anytime soon, they will fluctuate. When they do, a compromised build created during a price spike will age quickly.

You might find yourself thinking:

• “I should’ve gone AM5.”
• “I wish I got a better GPU.”
• “Why didn’t I choose a stronger motherboard?”

Budget builds are only worthwhile when the price-to-performance ratio makes sense. Right now it just… doesn’t.

---

If RAM stays expensive, what should budget builders do?

Good question — and fortunately, you’re not stuck. Here are more realistic strategies.

1. Build slowly over time

Instead of forcing a £750 full build, consider buying parts as deals arise — especially components unaffected by RAM inflation:

• Cases
• PSUs
• NVMe SSDs
• Air coolers
• Monitors

This spreads out the cost and avoids rushed compromises.

---

2. Spend a little more upfront (£800–£900)

It’s not ideal, but if you can stretch the budget, the component quality jumps significantly. This price range finally allows for:

• Entry-level AM5 CPUs
• Better PCIe Gen 4 SSDs
• More future-proof motherboards
• A healthier portion of your budget for the GPU

Given how long RAM inflation may last, this is the new reality.

---

3. Buy minimal RAM now — upgrade later

If prices stay volatile, consider starting with a single 16GB DIMM, then adding another when prices dip.

You won’t get dual‑channel performance at first, but you avoid paying inflated prices for a full kit. Depending on market swings, upgrading later could save you a substantial amount compared with buying a full kit today.

---

4. Consider prebuilt systems (yes, really)

Because big OEMs purchase RAM in bulk at lower cost, some prebuilts now offer better value than DIY, particularly in budget tiers.

They’re not always the right choice, but in this climate, they’re worth comparing.

---

So… should you build a budget gaming PC under £750 right now?

Honestly? No.

Not unless you:

• Already have some parts
• Or can stretch the budget comfortably

For everyone else, now is a time for patience and smart, incremental upgrades rather than full builds. With RAM pricing unlikely to return to the far more reasonable levels we saw in early 2025, the best approach is to adapt your strategy rather than chase an outdated price target.

A budget build should feel exciting — not compromised from the start.

---

For more on what’s causing the pricing surge, see our in-depth analysis in the Why memory costs are rising so much article.