PC build cost and wattage summary
Plan a build on one page. Enter the price and power draw of each part you are considering, and see the total cost, the share spent on every part and the power supply size you need with headroom.
Planning a build on one page
Building a PC means balancing price against performance, and it is easy to lose track when parts come from different shops. This tool keeps everything in one place. Enter the price of each part and its power draw, and it adds them up, shows the share of the total spent on each part and suggests a power supply size with headroom. You can change a part and watch the total and the power figure respond immediately.
Nothing is looked up for you, which keeps the numbers honest. Type current prices from the shops you use and power figures from official specifications, and the summary reflects exactly your plan.
Typical power draw per part type
These are rough ranges for planning only. Use official figures for your exact parts.
| Part | Typical draw | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics card | 100 to 600 W | Largest single draw |
| Processor | 65 to 250 W | Higher when boosting |
| Motherboard | 30 to 60 W | Varies by features |
| Memory | 3 to 10 W per kit | Small |
| SSD | 2 to 8 W | Peaks under load |
| Fans and cooler | 5 to 30 W | Pumps and RGB add more |
Where a gaming budget usually goes
In a typical gaming build the graphics card takes the biggest share of the budget, followed by the processor, the motherboard and memory. The case, cooler and power supply together often make up a smaller slice but affect noise, temperatures and reliability. The share table shows how your plan compares. If the graphics card is a very small share, you may be limited by it. If it is a very large share, check that your processor and memory can keep it busy with the bottleneck checker.
It is worth leaving a little budget for a good power supply. It protects every other part, and a quality unit often lasts through several upgrades.
Choosing a power supply size
The tool adds your parts and applies your headroom, then rounds up to a common supply size. Headroom covers brief power spikes, component ageing and quieter fan behaviour, because supplies run cooler and more efficiently at moderate loads. A 30 percent margin is a sensible default for gaming builds, and a larger margin makes sense if you plan to upgrade the graphics card later.
For a more detailed estimate that includes drives, fans, lighting and overclocking, use the PSU wattage calculator, and check connectors with the PSU connector counter.
How to use the pC build cost and wattage summary
- Type the price of each part you plan to buy. Leave out parts you already own.
- Enter the peak power draw of the processor and graphics card from their specification pages.
- Add smaller figures for memory, storage and fans if you want a closer total.
- Choose the headroom you want above peak draw.
- Read the total cost, the share per part and the suggested supply size.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the power supply label as your power draw. Enter the parts instead.
- Forgetting the cooler, case fans and storage in the cost total.
- Choosing a supply that only just covers peak draw with no headroom.
Related tools and guides
Keep going with these: PSU wattage calculator, PSU connector counter, CPU and GPU bottleneck checker, RTX 50 GPU picker quiz, 1000W to 1300W PSU guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out the total wattage of a PC build?
Add the peak power of each part: the graphics card, processor, motherboard, memory, drives, fans and cooler. Then add headroom of around 30 percent for spikes and ageing. The tool does this for you and rounds the result to a common power supply size.
How much of my budget should go on the graphics card?
For a gaming PC, around 30 to 45 percent is common, but it depends on your goals. If you play at high resolutions, more of the budget goes on the graphics card. Make sure the processor and memory can still keep it busy.
Should I include old parts I already own?
Include them in the power total because they still draw power, but you can leave the price blank if you are not paying for them. This shows the true cost of an upgrade while keeping the power estimate accurate for the finished build.
Why add headroom to the power supply?
Graphics cards and processors can spike above their rated power for a moment, and supplies lose capacity as they age. Extra capacity keeps the supply in an efficient and quiet range and leaves room for upgrades. Thirty percent is a common margin.
Does the tool check that parts are compatible?
No. It adds up the numbers you enter and does not check sockets, sizes or connectors. Check compatibility on the manufacturer pages or a parts picker, and use the PSU connector counter to confirm your power supply has the plugs you need.
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