PC upgrade cost in Australia: SSD, RAM, Graphics Card and Labour

Here’s a no‑nonsense, Brisbane‑ready price guide so you can plan with confidence. If you’re weighing up PC upgrade cost for SSD, RAM, or a new graphics card, this page lays it out: parts, labour, and timing. Built for home users, students, and small businesses across Brisbane.

Key takeaways

• Get real Australian prices for SSD, RAM, and graphics card upgrades plus labour. Clear ranges, fast turnaround, and on‑site help across Brisbane from trusted local technicians.
• Workshop labour often sits at $99–$129/hr; on‑site $129–$179/hr. Fixed‑price SSD/RAM jobs are common.
• SSD upgrades (1TB SATA/NVMe) generally land $160–$380 parts plus $149–$249 labour, depending on data size and cloning.
• RAM upgrades are usually the best bang‑for‑buck speed boost for under $200 parts on many PCs.
• Graphics cards may need a PSU upgrade. Allow 1–3 hours labour and budget for extra cables if your case is tight.

What it is and core concept

Definition

PC upgrade cost is the total price to improve your computer’s hardware. It includes parts (SSD, RAM, graphics card, PSU, cables) and technician labour (on‑site or workshop). In plain terms: the gear plus the time to install it, set it up, and test it so it runs right.

Why it matters

Brisbane users want speed without buying a new PC. An SSD makes Windows load fast. More RAM stops Chrome and apps from stalling. A new GPU lifts frame rates for gaming and creative work. Clear pricing helps you decide if an upgrade beats a replacement, especially when you need the machine for work or study.

How it works and step-by-step

Process

1) Quick chat about goals, budget, and your PC model.
2) Quote with parts and labour options (on‑site or workshop).
3) Data plan: clone drive or clean reinstall.
4) Install parts, update BIOS/drivers, cable tidy.
5) Test: temps, stability, boot times, games/benchmarks.
6) Handover and simple tips to keep it running smooth.

Featured answer

In Brisbane, expect workshop labour at $99–$129/hr and on‑site at $129–$179/hr. SSD upgrades usually total $300–$600, RAM $120–$400, and graphics card upgrades $600–$1,800+ depending on the card and PSU. Most jobs finish same day or within 1–3 business days when parts are stocked.

Typical Australian PC upgrade cost: parts and labour

• Labour (workshop): $99–$129 per hour. Often best for long data clones or big Windows reinstalls.
• Labour (on‑site): $129–$179 per hour. Handy across Brisbane suburbs when you need quick help at home or the office.
• Call‑out (inner Brisbane): often $0–$49; farther trips may add a small travel fee.
• SSD hardware: 500GB SATA $49–$79; 1TB SATA $79–$129; 1TB NVMe Gen3/4 $89–$179; 2TB NVMe $179–$279.
• RAM hardware: DDR4 16GB $60–$90; 32GB $120–$180. DDR5 16GB $80–$120; 32GB $150–$250.
• Graphics cards: entry $300–$500; mid‑range (e.g., RTX 4060 class) $450–$650; strong 1440p/creator cards $800–$1,300+. Prices move with stock and sales.
• PSU hardware (if needed): 550W Bronze $89–$129; 750W Gold $149–$229.
• Typical fixed labour: SSD clone+install $149–$249; RAM install+test $49–$99; GPU install+drivers $89–$149; PSU swap $79–$129.
• Turnaround: RAM/SSD often same day; large data clones or special‑order GPUs may take 1–3 business days.

SSD upgrade costs: SATA vs NVMe, cloning vs reinstall

SATA SSDs are the easiest swap in many desktops and older laptops. NVMe drives are faster but need an M.2 slot. Most new desktops and many laptops have it. If not, adaptors are possible in towers, not in thin laptops.

• 1TB SATA SSD: $79–$129 parts. Labour $149–$249 if cloning; $199–$349 if full reinstall and data transfer.
• 1TB NVMe Gen3/4: $89–$179 parts. Labour similar to SATA, but add BIOS updates if needed.
• Cloning time: 250GB lightly used can take 45–90 minutes; 1TB full can take 2–4 hours.
• Reinstall path: clean Windows, drivers, updates, apps, and data copy. Good if your old drive is failing or full of errors.
• Bonus checks: firmware updates, SMART health, and TRIM enabled for long drive life.

Tip: Free up space before cloning. Less data means faster jobs and lower labour time. Back up key files first—Dropbox, OneDrive, or an external drive works fine.

RAM upgrade costs and common capacities

RAM gives your PC more “room to breathe”. It helps Chrome tabs, Teams/Zoom, and creative apps stop stuttering. It also helps with light gaming and virtual machines.

• 16GB DDR4 kit: $60–$90; 32GB DDR4 kit: $120–$180.
• 16GB DDR5 kit: $80–$120; 32GB DDR5 kit: $150–$250.
• Labour: $49–$99 with quick memory testing (MemTest/Windows Memory Diagnostic).
• Time: 15–45 minutes on most towers; some laptops need longer due to buried slots.
• Best picks: 16GB for general use and students; 32GB for photo/video work, CAD, or heavy multitasking.

Note: Some tiny form factor PCs and many ultrabooks have soldered RAM. If it’s fixed, we’ll say straight up so you don’t waste money or time.

Graphics card upgrades: PSU needs, installation time and cost

For gaming, 3D, or AI tools, the GPU is king. But power and space matter. We check case length, PCIe power cables, and PSU quality before we fit the card.

• Entry gaming cards: $300–$500. Good for 1080p esports and older titles.
• Mid‑range (e.g., RTX 4060 class): $450–$650. Strong 1080p/1440p.
• High‑end 1440p/creator: $800–$1,300+. Check PSU and case airflow.
• PSU upgrade (if required): add $89–$229 parts and $79–$129 labour.
• Labour time: 45–90 minutes for GPU only; add 30–60 minutes if swapping PSU.
• Testing: drivers, game benchmarks, stress test, and temperature checks. We aim for quiet and stable.

If your case is a tight Dell/HP OEM tower, we may need low‑profile or shorter cards. We’ll confirm fitment before any purchase.

When upgrading is better than replacing the whole PC

Upgrade if your CPU and motherboard are still decent (e.g., 6th‑gen Intel or newer, Ryzen 2000 or newer), and you only lag on storage, RAM, or GPU. Replace if it’s very old (DDR3 era), can’t take NVMe, or the total upgrade bill is over 60–70% of a modern system.

A quick rule for Brisbane buyers: if an SSD and RAM lift you from “slow” to “snappy” for under $600, keep the PC. If you also need CPU, board, and GPU, a fresh build may be smarter and comes with full new warranties. We’ll outline both options in your quote.

How quotes work: on‑site vs workshop, warranties and parts sourcing

• On‑site jobs: best for quick RAM/SSD installs or small offices that can’t be without a PC. Pay per hour plus any call‑out.
• Workshop jobs: good for long clones, full reinstalls, or tricky cases. Often cheaper overall on labour time.
• Diagnostics: $49–$99, usually credited if you go ahead with the upgrade.
• Parts sourcing: we use local distributors for faster stock in Brisbane. We’ll present options (value, mid, premium).
• Warranty: parts 1–5 years depending on brand; labour warranty on workmanship is standard.
• Turnaround: same‑day slots for urgent cases when possible; standard is 1–3 business days.

You’ll get a clear written quote: parts model numbers, labour, and ETA. No surprises. If something changes (e.g., stock or compatibility), we’ll check with you before proceeding.

Ways to save without cutting corners

• Choose a SATA SSD for older systems; the speed jump is huge and cheaper than NVMe on some machines.
• Match RAM speed to your motherboard. Paying for ultra‑fast modules won’t help if the board can’t run them.
• Reuse a good PSU and case where safe. We’ll check age and quality first.
• Clean up files before cloning. Less data = less labour time.
• Bundle jobs in one visit (e.g., SSD + RAM) to save on call‑out.
• Ask about off‑peak bookings and any student or pensioner labour discounts.

Common problems in Brisbane

Weather and infrastructure

• Heat and humidity: summer temps and storm season can spike CPU/GPU temps. We check paste, fans, and dust when upgrading.
• Power blips: storms can cause surges. A quality surge board or UPS protects new parts and reduces data corruption during clones.
• Older Queenslanders vs apartments: airflow and dust differ. We pick parts and fan curves to suit your space.
• NBN quirks: HFC/FTTN dropouts can interrupt driver downloads. We preload drivers or use offline packs when needed.

Troubleshooting and quick checks

Short answer

If your PC is slow to boot or loads apps slowly, an SSD is the fix nine times out of ten. If it freezes with many tabs open, add RAM. If games stutter, a GPU or PSU upgrade helps. Back up first, then plan the upgrade that targets your bottleneck.

Quick checks

• Open Task Manager: if Disk 100%, you need an SSD. If Memory 90%+, add RAM.
• Check free space: aim for 20% free on the system drive.
• Note your motherboard model (System Information). That tells us RAM type and NVMe support.
• Measure GPU clearance and check PSU wattage before buying a big card.
• Back up key files to an external drive or cloud.

Safety notes and when to call a pro

Red flags

Call a tech if your old drive clicks, your PC smells hot, or there’s liquid damage. Don’t force power connectors or work while plugged in. If Windows won’t activate after a reinstall, or BIOS updates fail, stop and get help. It’s cheaper than fixing a board or corrupt data later.

Local insights and examples

Brisbane/SEQ examples

We see many Brisbane computer upgrades in areas like Chermside, Carindale, Indooroopilly, and Logan. A common pattern: swap a 1TB NVMe and add 16GB RAM to mid‑range towers for home offices. In newer apartments in Fortitude Valley, space limits push us to shorter GPUs and quiet PSUs.

For students in St Lucia and Kelvin Grove, a 1TB SATA SSD plus 16GB RAM often lands under $400 parts and lifts a slow laptop back to life. In tradie shops around Brendale and Capalaba, we focus on dust cleaning, solid PSUs, and quick SSD clones to keep work PCs running despite heat and sawdust.

FAQs

Q1: Do you offer student discounts on upgrades?

Ask when booking. Student labour discounts are often available on weekdays with a valid ID, and can shave a nice bit off SSD or RAM jobs. We’ll also suggest value parts that fit study needs, like a 1TB SSD and 16GB RAM for smooth assignments and Zoom.

Q2: Are there pensioner rates for Brisbane computer upgrades?

Yes, many jobs qualify for reduced labour rates for seniors. We’ll keep the plan simple, safe, and clear. RAM and SSD upgrades are popular because they give the biggest speed lift at a fair price, with easy day‑to‑day use and minimal change to how you work.

Q3: Can you do urgent same‑day upgrades?

Often, yes. If parts are in stock, we can book a same‑day on‑site visit or rapid workshop turn‑around. Urgent slots may have a surcharge, especially during storm season when demand spikes. Call early in the day for the best chance to secure a time.

Sources and further reading

We base ranges on current Australian retail pricing, typical distributor stock in Brisbane, and common labour patterns: on‑site hourly vs workshop fixed jobs. The upgrade playbook follows best practice: confirm compatibility, back up data, clone or clean install, update BIOS/drivers, stress test, then handover.

Wrap-up and next steps

Now you know the going rates for SSD, RAM, and graphics card upgrades in Brisbane, plus realistic labour and timing. Send your PC model and goals and we’ll quote parts, labour, and ETA in plain language. Service:
Computer Upgrades & Hardware Installation