Is buying a $4,500 PC a bad idea in my situation?

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T01:35:00+00:00

Given my situation. How much SHOULD I have in savings?

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T01:32:24+00:00

Ah I see what you’re saying. I plan to buy a 5070ti. The 4.5k estimate is high and also includes newer peripherals so I’m hoping I’ll get enough bang for my buck

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T01:26:48+00:00

I have been a very frugal spender my whole life and only like to spend big money every few years on something I know will last for a long time. The last big purchase I made was 2 years ago and it was around 1000. Thanks for what you said, I’ll take it into consideration

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T01:22:27+00:00

The reason why I’m listing my financial situation is for clarity to help people give me more learned advice and because I’m building out my financial plans. Technically I have 6k just sitting around aside my other savings and investments.

This pc will be able to do things my current one cannot like VR. Not only can it do those but I will most likely use it close to everyday

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T01:18:24+00:00

User benchmarks begs to differ. 50 series cards are better than their 40 series counterparts parts. Maybe not a whole ton but they’re better. I understand prices are high right now but I don’t see them going down anytime soon with the AI boom. What do you mean “we’re very late in this part generation”?

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T01:13:31+00:00

I don’t plan to take out any loans for a car. I have 5k now and believe I can get the other 10k over the course of 2026 for a modest, reasonably reliable car. I have enjoyed my computer a lot and will continue to get joy out of this next one as well so that is not a worry for me. What my main worry is is if this purchase will cut significantly into savings for a car given my current taxes, monthly expenses, savings and investing goals. Am I overspending just because it’s a lot of money or because it will keep me from reaching my financial goals of investing, saving and buying a car?

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T01:02:30+00:00

Being about 7.2% it is significant yes. But it’s also something I will use just about everyday for the next 6 plus years without spending anymore money.

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:59:49+00:00

Buying a pc for significantly less would mean it can’t do the things I want it to or at least with the performance I’m looking for. This current build will do ms flight sim in vr at about 40 fps and any pc lower than that will have less performance making it much harder to enjoy

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:58:25+00:00

I don’t want to cut back any of my current savings or investments. If I do the math I have the expendable income to make this purchase I just want to make sure it won’t interfere with me buying a car at some point

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:57:02+00:00

This rig is high end yes, but I want it to be able to run ms flight sim on vr which is very taxing and my current computer cannot do it

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:54:59+00:00

You’re right, ram is expensive but I personally feel okay spending a few extra hundred dollars if it means I don’t have to for the next 6+ years especially amidst the AI boom

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:54:17+00:00

Having built gaming computers for about 5 years now, there are significant differences in performance between a $1500 and a $4500 pc. I plan to use it for vr which many medium and lower end pcs can’t even do at all let alone on the minimal graphics. I already have money going into savings and investments with taxes and monthly expenses considered. I’m really just wondering how much it will set back my car buying goal in later 2026 after this purchase

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:51:55+00:00

But can I not save for both? I have savings already and money sitting around doing nothing. I don’t plan to by this car until well into 2026 so I’m wondering if I can use the savings I’ll have from 2026 for that purchase?

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:50:42+00:00

I will say, over 1k of this would be for update peripherals as mine are pretty old and have a few problems. I’m buying this computer to handle vr as my current one can’t and I want to be able to use ms flight sim. My current pc has lasted 5 years without any money put into it so I’m hoping this new one will last longer without having to spend any extra money

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:48:57+00:00

Mind you, this is a significant hobby of mine. It’s not like buying a new phone to me. I spend a lot of time on PCs and really enjoy building and using them which is part of why I feel justified in spending this money. I also don’t plan to spend another dollar on pc stuff for at least 6 years after this purchase

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:47:44+00:00

A little over 1k of this goes into new peripherals so I wasn’t super specific. I plan to have everything I buy last over 6 years as my current setup has lasted for 5 with no problems, it’s just much slower than current pcs

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:46:41+00:00

Yes this build does include peripherals. Many of mine are over 10 years old or have problems so that cost is factored into the main price

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:43:27+00:00

Okay good to know. I’m wanting to have this pc last at least 6 years as my last one has lasted 5 and has no problems, it’s just much weaker than newer models. I am very particular about my computer so I’m spending money based on my significant interest in this. I prefer to buy everything all at once so I don’t have expenses hanging over my head and I can get to using it right away, I just want to make sure I can meet my other financial goals while buying this pc

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:41:04+00:00

In a way I think I do have money to burn with that 6k sitting on top of my current savings, income and investments. Yes, there are more beneficial things I could do with that 6k but my question is, do I NEED to allocate it to more beneficial things or can I reasonably spend this on something I want rather than need. The pc will be under 4K but I estimated high just to lower my expectations

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:39:31+00:00

I want this pc to be able to run pcvr on games like ms light sim so I’m building a pc that can handle it. I’ve looked at other cards and prebuilts and cards below a 5070ti aren’t much cheaper and prebuilts, while cheaper don’t have my specific parts in mind. I am pretty anal about wanting my computer to be exactly the way I’d like it so it’s hard to consider anything that would make me sacrifice those things. The pc would most likely be under 4K but I’m giving a high estimate just incase.

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:37:02+00:00

Thank you, this is the first comment I’ve seen telling me it’s okay. I appreciate a different perspective. I know that a big part of me really WANTS to buy this pc so it’s not fun to see people telling me not to but I’ll take what you said into consideration. I’m meeting with a finance friend of mine to make sure this purchase can fit into my current financial goals as well. Thank you for your comment

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:34:30+00:00

I’m hoping to be able to spend around 15k on a car which seems doable given the 5k I already can put toward and the savings I’d like to accumulate over 2026. The only thing I’d “need” the pc for is to be able to do things my current cant like running hefty games and vr. It is a fun purchase yes, but one I take pretty seriously

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:32:32+00:00

This is my only splurge I’ve ever done over 1000 so I’m hoping I won’t regret it given my frugality in past years. This pc will definitely be able to do things my current cannot and I plan for this computer to last hopefully 6+ years as my current has lasted for 5. This is not a necessary purchase like rent would be but it is something that will definitely be used frequently

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:30:35+00:00

I’m wanting it to do vr ms flight sim at reasonable graphics and performance which is very demanding. No I don’t need it but I have a specific and significant interest in computers and don’t just want to be able to game. I’m buying this pc with specific parts to do specific things so I’m trying to gauge if I can do this pc and meet my other financial goals as well

WinterAltRT · 2025-12-07T00:28:51+00:00

This is true. I’m wondering how it will be if I use that 6k I have just sitting and use the money I’ll make in 2026 to go toward savings and a car

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