Most PC repairs run $79 to $250. Unlike laptops or consoles, desktops are modular — the cost depends on which part failed, not the brand. A power supply swap is cheap; a motherboard replacement is expensive.
- Power supply replacement: $119–$179
- Storage / SSD repair: $99–$179
- Motherboard repair or replace: $149+
- GPU install / diagnosis: $59–$99 labor
- RAM replacement: $59–$89 labor
- Thermal / cooling service: $79–$129
- Software & BSOD diagnosis: $89–$129
The quick answer
If you're skimming for a ballpark, most desktop PC repairs at a professional shop in 2026 fall between $79 and $250. The cheapest common repair is a software fix at $79 to $89. The most expensive routine repair is a motherboard replacement at $200 to $350 depending on the board.
Desktop PCs are different from laptops or consoles because they're modular. When something fails, you don't replace the whole machine — you replace the failed component. That's great news for your wallet because individual components are cheap relative to a full PC. A $140 power supply replacement in a 5-year-old gaming PC is usually a much better use of money than buying a new $1,200 build.
This guide breaks pricing down by which component failed, which is how we actually approach every PC repair at the shop.
PC power supply (PSU) repair cost
A power supply failure is the most common reason a PC won't turn on. The symptoms are obvious: press the power button and nothing happens — no fans, no lights, no beeps. Sometimes you get a brief flicker and then nothing.
PSU replacement is one of the easier repairs and one of the most cost-effective. Here's what you'll pay:
| PSU Repair Type | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard 650W–750W PSU replacement | $119–$149 |
| Premium modular gaming PSU (850W+) | $179–$249 |
| Power cable / button diagnostic | $59–$89 |
| PSU testing only (no replacement) | Free with diagnostic |
The actual PSU hardware costs $80 to $250 depending on wattage and quality. Labor is $50 to $70 for the swap. We always recommend quality brands (Corsair, Seasonic, EVGA, be quiet!) because a cheap PSU can take out your motherboard, GPU, and storage when it eventually fails.
If your PC randomly shuts down under load (especially during gaming), the PSU is often the culprit even if it still powers on normally. A PSU that can't deliver full rated wattage causes crashes that look like GPU or driver issues. Diagnostic pinpoints the cause before you buy the wrong replacement part.
Storage & SSD repair cost
Storage issues come in two flavors: the drive has failed (hardware), or the drive is fine but the data on it is corrupted (software). Both are fixable, with different pricing.
| Storage Repair | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| SATA SSD replacement | $99–$149 |
| NVMe M.2 SSD replacement | $119–$179 |
| HDD to SSD upgrade | $149–$199 |
| Drive cloning (keep your setup) | $129+ |
| Data recovery from failed drive | $149+ |
If your drive is slowly dying (random freezes, corrupted files, boot failures), we can usually clone the working data to a new drive before the old one fully fails. That costs more upfront but preserves your installed programs, games, and files — no fresh Windows install required.
Motherboard repair cost
The motherboard is the most expensive routine PC repair because a board replacement typically requires reseating the CPU, RAM, storage, and all connections. If the board itself is dead, the hardware cost alone runs $150 to $350 depending on chipset.
| Motherboard Repair | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Board-level diagnosis | $99–$129 |
| Component-level repair (capacitors, etc.) | $149+ |
| Motherboard replacement (mid-range) | $249–$349 |
| Motherboard replacement (enthusiast) | $349–$499+ |
| BIOS flash or recovery | $79–$99 |
Before committing to a motherboard swap, we always verify the board is actually dead. Sometimes what looks like a motherboard failure is a PSU issue, failed RAM, or even a bent CPU pin. A proper diagnostic saves you from buying a new board you didn't need.
A $100 diagnostic that prevents a $400 unnecessary motherboard is the best value in PC repair.
GPU & graphics card repair
Graphics cards are among the more expensive components in a gaming PC, and they're one of the most common upgrade or failure categories. Repair pricing depends heavily on whether we're installing a new card, diagnosing an existing card, or dealing with a dead card.
| GPU Service | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| GPU installation (you supply card) | $59–$99 |
| GPU diagnostic & testing | $79 |
| GPU thermal service (repaste, repad) | $119–$149 |
| GPU fan replacement | $99–$129 + fan cost |
| Artifact / display diagnosis | $79–$129 |
A quick note on GPU thermal service: cards 3+ years old often have dried-out thermal pads and paste, causing high temps and fan noise. A proper thermal service brings temps down 10-15°C and extends the card's life significantly. Often a better use of money than an immediate upgrade for older mid-range cards.
RAM & memory repair
RAM failures are easy to diagnose (Windows memory test or MemTest86 catches them) and easy to fix. The modules are cheap and the installation takes minutes.
| RAM Service | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| RAM diagnostic (MemTest86) | Free with repair |
| RAM upgrade / installation (labor) | $59–$79 |
| DDR4 8GB stick | ~$25 |
| DDR4 16GB stick | ~$45 |
| DDR5 16GB stick | ~$65 |
| DDR5 32GB stick | ~$110 |
RAM is one of the cheapest and highest-impact upgrades for an older PC. Going from 8GB to 16GB on a 2020-era gaming PC often fixes the stuttering and slowdowns that feel like a bigger hardware problem.
Cooling & thermal repair
Thermal issues are the quietest PC problem — your computer works, just badly. High CPU/GPU temperatures cause thermal throttling (performance drops to protect the hardware), random restarts, and shortened component lifespan. A preventative thermal service every 2-3 years keeps a PC running at its intended performance.
| Thermal Service | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Full PC deep clean + repaste (CPU) | $79–$99 |
| CPU + GPU thermal service | $129–$149 |
| AIO liquid cooler replacement | $179+ parts |
| Air cooler upgrade install | $89 labor |
| Fan replacement (per fan) | $49+ labor |
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Software, BSOD & startup issues
Not every PC problem is hardware. Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), boot loops, driver conflicts, virus infections, and Windows corruption are software issues that often mimic hardware failures. Diagnosis determines which world you're in before you buy parts you didn't need.
| Software Repair | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Software / driver diagnosis | $89–$129 |
| BSOD root cause analysis | $99–$149 |
| Windows reinstall + setup | $129–$179 |
| Virus / malware removal | $99–$149 |
| Boot repair (won't start Windows) | $89–$129 |
| Slow PC tune-up | $89–$99 |
PC upgrade pricing
Upgrades aren't technically "repair" but they overlap — sometimes the right fix for a failing old component is an upgrade to a better new one. Labor rates for upgrades:
- GPU upgrade: $59–$99 labor (depends on case / PSU compatibility)
- CPU upgrade: $79–$129 labor (new cooler install, thermal service, BIOS flash)
- RAM upgrade: $59–$79 labor
- Storage upgrade (add SSD): $79–$99 labor
- HDD → SSD migration (clone OS): $149–$199
- Full platform upgrade (CPU + motherboard + RAM): $249+ labor
- PSU upgrade for new GPU: $89 labor on top of PSU cost
Hardware cost is separate from labor. We're happy to advise on compatibility before you buy, and sometimes you get better pricing through us because of dealer channels.
Prebuilt vs custom PC repair
The repair experience differs depending on whether you have a prebuilt PC (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Alienware, Origin, etc.) or a custom-built gaming PC.
Prebuilt PCs
Prebuilts use proprietary parts in some cases (especially Dell and HP — their power supplies and motherboards are often non-standard). That can limit repair options or require specific replacement parts. On the other hand, if the PC is still under warranty, the manufacturer may cover the repair — we'll tell you honestly if that's the better path.
Custom gaming PCs
Custom builds are generally easier and cheaper to repair because every part is standard. Any PSU fits, any GPU works, any motherboard can be swapped. If you built your PC yourself (or had it built), we can work on it efficiently and you have more upgrade flexibility.
If your prebuilt PC is still under manufacturer warranty and hasn't been modified, always try warranty support first. We can help you figure out if warranty is applicable and what the reasonable wait time is versus paying for repair now.
Is your PC worth repairing?
For desktops, the repair-vs-replace math is generally much more favorable than it is for laptops because you can replace individual parts without replacing the whole machine.
Usually worth repairing:
- Power supply, RAM, storage, or cooling failures on any PC under 8 years old
- GPU failures on a gaming PC where the CPU and motherboard are still capable
- Software/driver issues at any age
- Custom-built PCs at almost any age — you've invested in specific parts, preserve that investment
Usually not worth repairing:
- 10+ year old prebuilts with motherboard failure (too many components would need upgrading too)
- Cheap office PCs ($300 range) with multiple hardware issues
- PCs where repair cost exceeds 60% of a realistic replacement
How we actually diagnose a dead PC
PC diagnosis follows a repeatable sequence. Here's what actually happens when you drop off a PC that won't turn on:
The whole flow takes 1-3 hours of actual bench work and is free regardless of outcome. If the fix isn't worth it, you pay nothing and we'll tell you honestly.
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