Man annoyed about Sony raising its PS5 prices decides to build his own budget PC to prove affordable gaming is still possible
Published on May 05, 2026 at 10:30 PM (UTC-4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on May 05, 2026 at 10:30 PM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Ben Thompson
After Sony raised its PS5 prices, a man decided it was up to him to build his very own budget PC to answer an important question: is affordable gaming still possible in 2026?
After hearing about the controversial price hike, the YouTuber, Linus Tech Tips, called it ‘yet another blow against affordable gaming’ and decided not to just sit back and accept it.
Instead, he set out to prove that with a bit of creativity, you could still get great performance without spending a fortune.
He decided to prove his point in the most creative way possible
Sony raising its PS5 prices lit a fire inside this YouTuber’s budget PC build
In this ambitious gaming computer build, rather than buying everything brand new, Linus embraced what he called a bit of ‘scrapyard spirit’ and went hunting through the secondhand market for various budget PC parts.
With millions of parts out there, he knew there were deals to be found.
Piece by piece, the homemade budget computer build came together with budget-friendly components, including a cheap processor and an affordable motherboard.
He even pointed out that older-gen parts are still more than capable, saying the performance ‘should more than even out the score’ compared to the console.
Of course, like all DIY projects, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
At one point, he ran into an issue with a used motherboard and joked, “Here’s a tech tip. Don’t do that.”
That’s because he’d discovered it had been damaged by a previous owner.
Still, that’s part of the risk when you’re chasing bargains.
So, is affordable gaming still a thing in 2026?
When everything was up and running, it was time to see how his frankencomputer fared against the PS5.
In tests in a gaming environment, the PC showed off better visuals in places thanks to features like DLSS, with one quote from him summed it all up perfectly: “Holy sniky… this is not close, brother.”
But it wasn’t a total win, as the PS5 still delivered smoother, more consistent performance without any tweaking needed, whereas the DIY PC needed a whole lot more tweaking.
That difference really highlighted the trade-off because, as he put it: “That’s PC gaming for you, you got to do a little bit of tweaking.”
But the payoff can be worth it; in the end, the verdict was clear-cut.
“We got equal or in some cases even more performance for less.”
He certainly seemed to believe that his budget PC made affordable gaming a very real possibility in 2026.
It’s a great reminder that even with rising costs, affordable gaming isn’t going anywhere as long as you’re willing to think outside the box.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
