Full Costco Gaming Setup Test: Is Costco Actually Worth It for a Gaming Desk?

When you think about gaming gear, Costco probably isn't the first place that comes to mind. But this video from Linus Media Group might change that. From motorized standing desks and ergonomic chairs to monitors, speakers, and noise-canceling headphones — you can actually put together a complete gaming setup at this membership warehouse store. Interestingly, none of the products are Costco's own brand. It functions more like a curated shelf: the brands are third-party, but Costco controls the pricing.

Costco Is Basically a Curated Product Shelf

The video host puts it bluntly: "Costco these days is just a store like any other place." Every item on the shelf comes from a third-party brand. Costco's core philosophy isn't about competing on specs — it's about "finding the model that's good enough for most people and then hammering the price down as low as possible."

The flip side of this model is extremely limited selection. A recurring line throughout the video is "this was the only one available at the time." Whether it's a monitor arm, speakers, or headphones, there's often just one option. The upside is that Costco does the filtering for you; the downside is that you have almost no room to choose.

Desk and Chair: Surprisingly Impressive for the Price

The first item is a Terrasanti Aurora 47-inch motorized standing desk with LED lighting. The host jokes that the legs look "a little sketchy," noting the 100-pound (~45 kg) weight capacity is quite low for a standing desk, and it "sounds a bit rough" when going up. But when the price is revealed at $299, his tone shifts immediately — "For what you're getting, the price really isn't bad."

The chair is a DPS gaming chair. The host initially isn't a fan: the padding is thick but doesn't sit well, the height adjustment takes forever, and the foam is cheap. But again, the $149 price tag turns things around. He specifically notes that at this price point, many chairs leave you "feeling like you're sitting on a wooden board after 20 minutes with your feet going numb," while this one at least provides enough cushioning to avoid that.

This becomes the central theme of the entire video: the product itself may not be exceptional, but the price is enough to change your perspective.

The standing desk's weight capacity is worth a closer look. A 100-pound (45 kg) rated load is on the lower end of the entry-level range for standing desks — professional gaming desks typically support between 150 and 300 pounds. Insufficient weight capacity not only limits the practicality of stacking multiple monitors and a PC tower on the desk, but also accelerates wear on the motor and frame structure, directly affecting the lifespan of the lift mechanism. For light users with just one monitor and minimal peripherals, it's acceptable. But if you're planning a multi-monitor workstation or heavy equipment setup, this spec deserves careful consideration.

Monitor and Arm: The Most Underrated Part of the Setup

The monitor section delivers the biggest surprise of the entire haul. Two 2560×1440 IPS panel monitors — 2024 models at 180Hz with 400 nits typical brightness. The host guesses $350 each, but the actual price is just $150 — "Dual monitor bundle for $300, that's a genuinely great deal."

The accompanying Platinum Series dual monitor arm (available only at Canadian Costco locations) costs $114. The installation process, however, is a disaster — both hosts fumble through it, complaining "someday someone will invent a monitor arm that doesn't drive you insane, but today is not that day," while forgetting to install washers, using the wrong hex key, and getting adhesive all over the desk. The VESA extension included with the MSI monitors is actually a clever design touch, solving the gap issue caused by the arm mounting directly into a recessed area on the back of the display.

Peripherals and Audio: Hits and Misses

The Logitech keyboard and mouse combo at $199 is called "another great deal," unexpectedly including a number of premium features like a click-to-switch free-spinning scroll wheel. The bundled MX Anywhere 2S mouse can track on glass and even gravel. The one hard flaw is size — even the host, who jokes that he has "child-sized hands," finds it too small, bringing in colleague Bjorn to confirm: "Yeah, it's a bit small." The video gives a clear-cut recommendation: don't buy gaming mice at Costco.

The KEF wireless bookshelf speakers come in at $399, supporting 200W output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay, and Chromecast. The host praises the sound quality and build, but complains about the lack of a subwoofer at this price point, and notes that placing them behind the monitors directly against the glass causes vibration issues.

Headphones and Accessories: The Bose Tax and Costco Logic

The Bose noise-canceling headphones are an SE (simplified edition) version of the QC line, priced at $329. The host is visibly disappointed: the carrying case is noticeably downgraded, and the headband foam is so cheap that "it would cost two cents more to use better material." But he also admits that cheap-feeling often means lightweight, and lightweight often means more comfortable — and the audio quality is genuinely "pretty solid." That, he says, is the cost of the "Bose tax."

Hexagonal LED light strips for garage use cost $109, pre-applied with 3M VHB adhesive ("it'll take the wall with it when you peel it off"), but they only offer warm and cool white — not RGB. The CyberPower UPS runs $209, and the host emphasizes that regardless of brand, a UPS is one of the best single upgrades you can make to a desktop setup — giving you time to save your work when the power goes out.

The core value of a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is that it provides battery backup in the instant that AC power cuts out, giving your computer time to finish saving and shut down normally rather than losing data or corrupting the file system from a sudden power loss. For a gaming setup, a UPS also filters out transient voltage spikes from the power grid, protecting monitors, PCs, and other equipment from surge damage. CyberPower is one of the mainstream consumer UPS brands in North America, alongside APC. The $209 price point typically corresponds to a 650VA–1000VA range, sufficient to keep a mid-range desktop system running for several minutes to wrap things up.

The Ending That Reveals the Real Experience

The most telling moment comes at the end: the KEF speakers simply refuse to connect properly. The source input cycles endlessly through modes, apparently requiring a login through the "KevConnect" app before the device can be used. The host gives up entirely and switches to the Bose headphones — "works immediately, no app, no fuss." This contrast vividly illustrates the frustratingly poor out-of-box experience common with smart audio devices.

The KEF speaker connection issues reflect a widespread problem in consumer smart audio: manufacturers integrate Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Chromecast, and other multi-protocol support into a single product, but the initial setup process often depends on a proprietary app — skip the app and the device is essentially unusable. This design offers rich connectivity options on paper while creating unnecessary friction in the unboxing experience. By contrast, Bluetooth and wired devices, with their simpler protocols and no account registration requirements, typically deliver true plug-and-play usability. For non-technical users, confirming whether a smart audio device requires mandatory app binding has become a non-negotiable part of the buying checklist.

Verdict: Is Building a Setup at Costco Worth It?

The overall assessment is quite positive. The host admits being slightly disappointed by the limited product selection, but is genuinely satisfied with the prices he got. The key differentiator is quality control: compared to Walmart or the Amazon third-party marketplace where "brands are all over the place with basically no quality control," Costco products may have a "mass market" feel, but at least the pricing is right — and backed by Costco's famously generous return policy: "Don't like it? Just return it."

For gamers looking to build a solid-value desktop setup in today's high-cost environment, Costco is a genuinely viable route — especially for big-ticket items like monitors and desk furniture. The one clear exception is peripherals: for gaming mice, look elsewhere.