The well-known YouTuber Linus Tech Tips tested whether a high-end gaming PC is really better than an inexpensive standard model.
Do you really play better on a high-end system compared to standard equipment? The well-known YouTuber Linus Tech Tips wanted to find that out. He is one of the largest and most famous tech YouTubers with over 15 million subscribers.
Linus tests both a system for 10,000 euros and a build for 600 euros. On paper, there are significant differences, but how does it look in practice? Here, Linus quickly has to realize that skill is necessary to truly make progress.
The 10,000 euro PC consists of the currently best PC components
What hardware is installed in the “Pay-to-Win” PC? The system uses only high-end components. Among them are the Intel Core i9-13900F and the RTX 4090 OC from ASUS, which are currently the fastest components available for purchase.
Here are all components in detail:
- Intel Core i9-13900F (processor)
- RTX 4090 OC Edition (graphics card)
- Fractal Torrent (case)
- Corsair liquid cooling (CPU)
- Noctua fans (case fans)
- Thermal Grizzly Contact Frame (replacement for the standard CPU mount)
- Seasonic Prime PX-1300 (power supply)
- EVGA Z970 Dark Kingpin (motherboard)
- G-Skill Trident Z5 RGB 2×16 GB (RAM)
What peripherals are being used? The high-end system uses a 390 Hz monitor from ACER with full HD resolution, which according to Linus is the world’s first monitor with such a high refresh rate.
The mouse used is the Zaunkoenig MK2. The 300-euro mouse had caused a stir among gamers and even made it into “The Lion’s Den.”
As for the keyboard, the team chose the Wooting 60HE. This is a 60% keyboard with analog switches, which offer particularly short response times.
How much does the entire setup cost? According to the video, the entire system cost just over 13,000 Canadian dollars. This is almost equivalent to 10,000 euros.
The 10,000 dollars would be “better invested in coaching”
Is such an expensive upgrade worth it? For most gamers who do not play professionally, such a system is not worth it. Linus explains that the 10,000 dollars that the system costs more than the “normal” build would be “better invested in coaching”. Because skill cannot be bought, and it must be learned through practice. However, in some games the frame rate can even have a direct impact on gameplay.
On paper, the latency of the high-end system is significantly lower than that of the budget system; however, in the video, he explains that he hardly feels the latency difference in everyday life (13:43 min in the video).
Why is latency so important? Latency refers to how long it takes for you to see your action (mouse click or keypress) on your monitor. Various factors play a role here:
- It depends on your mouse and keyboard, how fast the response times are. Here, factors such as key types and especially the length of the activation path are important.
- Furthermore, your display plays a role. The higher the Hz number, the shorter the image build time.
- Additionally, it is important how long the signal takes from the PC to the server on the internet and back.
- Your hardware also contributes to latency. This includes the time the graphics card needs to render the images and the subsequent processing by your processor, including software.
The famous streamer shroud once tried with Linus how much of a difference a display makes in gaming. Here too, Linus had to realize that better hardware does not make him a better player:
Streamer shroud tests: Does a 144Hz monitor make you a better shooter player?
