Welcome to our regularly updated list of the best cheap gaming PCs perfect for casual gamers and new gamers alike based on consumer feedback, real world performance and expert reviews.
For both noobs and casuals alike, this list should shed some light on what to look out for when shopping for a budget gaming PC. We spend hours researching all the best cheap gaming desktops into this condensed list of our top recommendations currently on the market. After some thorough research we have found the minimum price for a cheap gaming PC to be around $600 with Gaming PCs under $800 offering better performance for newer games. For under $1000 we find more cheap gaming PCs that can offer playable framerates for newer games and some AAA titles.
Luckily for us, desktop PC’s have the advantage of upgradability. While this is not always possible, most of our selected PCs will allow you to upgrade the RAM (memory), graphics card, and in some cases where needed the power supply unit. These do-it-yourself upgrades should help you to attain significant performance increases for most cheap gaming PCs and will allow you to push your settings for a more enjoyable gaming experience. Buying a pre-made desktop vs a self-assembled desktop means you can skip the hassle of searching for individual parts and there are numerous options on the market from leading manufacturers.
Most budget desktops are capable of achieving playable frame rates for most modern video game titles, though be sure to follow the links for more detailed benchmarks for all available GPUs. If you are on the market for high-end desktop we recommend browsing our best VR-ready laptops guide for some more powerful gaming PC’s or, if you are looking for an all-purpose budget desktop, our best cheap desktops guide.
Top Picks >> Under $1000 >> Under $600 >> Under $500 >>
Best Cheap Gaming PCs – Top Picks
These top picks feature the latest graphics cards in their price range from leading manufacturers. If you need an all-round gaming PC without the hassle of building one yourself look no further. Naturally, many budget desktops cut corners when it comes to RAM. For best performance, most experts recommend a minimum of 16GB of RAM – if the desktop you are eyeing only has 8GB or 4GB, find some compatible RAM and order it with your desktop to maximize on your investment.
Best Cheap Gaming PC Under $1000 – Top Pick
SkyTech Archangel II
The SkyTech Archangel II is the newest version of the gamer’s choice PC we have come to love. It has received an updated chassis as well as a few hardware upgrades too. The move from DDR3 RAM to DDR4 is most welcome but this time there is 16GB as standard instead of the previous 8GB. The Ryzen 1400 CPU offers great gaming and productivity performance and now the CPU is hyperthreaded, offering 8 threads instead of the previous 4 of the Ryzen 1200, which won’t make much of a gaming difference yet will significantly reduce productivity times when rendering models or exporting video. The good things from the previous model are still present though, such as the Nvidia GTX 1060 3GB GPU that will provide a great gaming experience at 1080p, the high airflow chassis which keeps core system components cool and the best storage update the industry has seen since the introduction on SATA based SSD’s, an M.2 slot. Offering storage speeds 5 times that of a conventional SSD, M.2 drives will seriously boost the performance of any PC and improve loading times in games drastically. A copy of Windows 10 and a large 1TB mechanical hard drive compliment the system quite nicely alongside an 80 Plus Certified 500W PSU to reliably provide power both now and down the line should you want to upgrade. With 4 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0 and audio jacks, one wont be wanting for connectivity – they even throw in a USB Wi-Fi adapter with a keyboard and mouse too.
Pros
- Ryzen 1400 Quad core 8 threads
- Much better PSU
- Upgraded case, newer looks
- M.2 Upgradability
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
Cons
- No SSD
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
- 30 lbs
Summary
A great PC for gamers, the Archangel II is future proofed due to the mindful selection of internal components which are of higher quality than the previous model, with a great new aesthetic to boot. Buyers can buy with confidence knowing that the kinks have all been ironed out.
Best Cheap Gaming PC Under $800 – Top Pick
CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXIVR8020A4
Thanks to its newer hardware consisting of DDR4 RAM and a modern Ryzen CPU coupled with an AMD RX580, the CyberpowerPC Gamer Extreme has to be our top pick in the under $1000 category. Performance aside, the Gamer Extreme is also subjectively the best looking case of the lot. Virtual reality has quite a high hardware requirement and the Gamer Extreme is an entry level desktop to meet those requirements. Mass storage is handled by a 1TB HDD that should be plenty for a large Steam library as games are only getting bigger and bigger but we’d recommend adding an SSD for increased performance. The included keyboard and mouse, as well as the case are all red accented to match which really gives that ‘gamer’ feel. This desktop offers absolutely excellent airflow with 3 intake fans and one exhaust fan that together will ensure that your beefy quad core Intel i5-7400 CPU and 8GB AMD RX580 GPU are kept cool. Overheating components stop themselves from bursting into flames by running at lower clock speeds thus a hot CPU or GPU will not offer maximum performance if they are not cooled properly – something you needn’t worry about with the Gamer Extreme. A nice feature of this desktop is that it has 4 x DDR4 RAM slots, 2 of which are populated by 4GB sticks and 2 slots that are free meaning that adding more RAM in the future will not require a new motherboard or replacing RAM but merely adding more modules. The beautiful case has a windowed side panel and plenty of room for upgrades in the future, with a generous helping of front panel interface connectors consisting of two USB 3.0 ports, a headphone jack and an audio jack. While great for gaming and VR if you need to use your desktop for productivity in the form of video editing or rendering we recommend going for a PC with a quad core hyperthreaded CPU instead.
Pros
- Powerful value for money AMD GPU
- Tempered Glass side panel
- Higher boost clocks make it a marginally better gamer
- M.2 Upgradability
Cons
- No hyperthreading makes it a no-go for productivity
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
- 32 lbs
Summary
CyberPower has released the Gamer Xtreme with gamers in mind and it shows. With great upgradability and solid component choice, the Xtreme is able and willing to give gamers a great experience. Throw in an SSD and another 8GB stick of DDR4 RAM down the line and what you’re left with is a real beast
from Amazon.com
(as of 09-12-2023 07:01 UTC) Details
Best Cheap Gaming PC Under $600 – Top Pick
HP Envy 750-610
For our under $600 Top Pick, we have here the HP Envy 750-610. Although it is offered in many different specifications, the model in question today has a Ryzen 5 1400 CPU, an Nvidia GTX 1050 2GB GPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB mechanical HDD. For just a smidgen over $600, one sure gets a lot for the money. Continuing the trend of budget constraints as we go down the financial limit ladder, the cheaper GPU will still provide a good gaming experience, though at lower resolutions or lower in-game quality settings. The included PSU is only rated at 300W so a GPU upgrade will require a PSU upgrade too. The standard 1TB HDD is lovely but when one considers that Bluetooth,Wi-Fi, an SD card reader and 5.1 Surround Sound output are included, it’s easy to see how HP have added value – and it doesn’t stop there. How so you might ask? This budget PC gives gamers some quad core, hyperthreaded power with the Ryzen 5 1400 so although gaming performance takes a step down with the cheaper GPU, productivity performance takes a giant leap thanks to the CPU which will be the last component that will need upgrading. This model includes a DVD-RW drive if it’s imperative to have one, as other models in this buying guide have decided to label it redundant. Although this PC can game, it really does have an understated appearance which you may prefer over the red gamer style but it also comes with a copy of Windows 10 Home as well as a basic keyboard and mouse.
Pros
- Ryzen 5 1400 CPU is an astounding feature to be included at this price
- Has an Nvidia GTX 1050 2GB where competitors offer much lesser GPU’s
- Bluetooth included
- DVD-RW drive included
- USB Type-C!
Cons
- 300W PSU adequate for the current GPU but will need to be upgraded should a new GPU be in order
- No SSD
- The case doesn’t seem to have much gearing towards high airflow
- 21.6 lbs
Summary
Quad-core hyperthreaded CPU’s have hit the budget mainstream market and never has there been a better time to get on board. With slightly compromised upgrade options for GPU, the RAM and storage are very easily upgraded yet this is still not enough to take the Budget King title away from the Envy.
Best Cheap Gaming PCs Under $1000 – Runners Up
HP Pavilion 580-148
Before we get into this HP Pavilion Power (580-148), please note that there is another HP Pavilion Power (580-023w) in this review as an $800 Runner-Up. This may happen from time to time when a manufacturer uses a model to span many tastes and specifications, the Pavilion Power being such a case. In this specification, it boasts a Ryzen 5 1400 CPU that provides 4 cores and 4 threads alongside a truly amazing Nvidia GTX 1060 3GB GPU. Its rocking a 1TB HDD that is pretty basic and standard these days…unlike 128GB SSD’s which are out of reach for most, most other than the (580-148) because it has a 128GB SSD included! Its almost like there are no compromises with the Pavilion Power because it also has 16GB of DDR4 RAM. The 16GB RAM seems to be about right for this price but the inclusion of the SSD makes it stand out, truly. At $900 its also quite a bit cheaper than those in this guide that are closer to the $1000 mark. Mind you, if you had $1050 you could get the (580-068) which had an Intel i7 7700! The chassis is shared amongst the different specifications of the Pavilion Power so features such as a DVD-RW drive, front panel USB 2.0 and 3.0, SD card reader and USB Type-C and the usual video, audio and network interfaces are all still there but don’t forget, Bluetooth 4.2 is integrated too.
Pros
- SSD
- USB Type-C
- General I/O is
- Cheaper than others
Cons
- Doesn't look like a gaming PC as much as others
- Upgrading may affect warranty if not done through OEM
Specs
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
- 15 lbs
Summary
Quite possibly one of the greatest all-rounders in terms of both component choice and value to performance ratio, the HP Pavilion Power (580-148) offers a very compelling deal for the money as you could save $100 choosing the HP over others while still performing better
CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master GMA1388A
So for just over $1000, CyberPowerPC bring you the Gamer Master. Gamer Master hey? It’s going to have to fill the big boots that name suggests. And it does, very well but first a note on it’s specs: it comes with a bundled keyboard and mouse, Wi-Fi adapter and Windows 10 Home x64. It has a 1TB mechanical hard drive and has the usual bouquet of interface connectors on the front and back with two USB 3.0 ports on the top panel of the case for easy access. The GPU is an AMD RX 580 4GB card that really is a good performer, especially if gaming at 1080p as it will allow gamers to turn the settings up at this resolution. The GPU doesn’t quite stand out as an overachiever in this roundup but there are two other things that cause the Gamer Master to dip below the competition, namely the omission of an SSD and only 8GB of RAM. Considering that the SSD and RAM can be added in the future, CyberPowerPC made sure that one thing you will not need to upgrade is the CPU, an AMD Ryzen 7 1700X. Can you say 8 cores and 16 threads? That’s right, so if productivity is the intention, the Gamer Master is the solution. It has double the cores and double the threads of any other PC in this roundup, just to put that into perspective. The other great part about this PC is the case, it really is beautiful. It will stand out shoulders above the rest in the looks department as it has tinted tempered glass side panels and 4 red LED fans to illuminate the internals with a good build quality overall and a LOT of room inside for large water cooling radiators and more hard drives or SSD’s.
Pros
- Jaw dropping chassis with tempered glass side panels
- 16 threads make it an absolute beast!
Cons
- Only 8GB RAM
- No SSD
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
- 32 lbs
Summary
The Gamer Master is either a no brainer for productivity users thanks to the amazing CPU or for gamers who like the look of very pretty computers and value size for expansion over compactness.Multi-threaded applications of the 1700X will destroy anything else at this price and the compromise is no SSD and less RAM.
from Amazon.com
(as of 09-12-2023 02:36 UTC) Details
Best Cheap Gaming PCs Under $800 – Runners Up
HP Pavilion Power 580-023w
If you are looking for an understated and sleek looking cheap gaming desktop, the HP Pavilion Power should be on your list of desktops to look out for. It is an understated black colour with a brushed finish on the front panel that houses a green HP logo and power button, an elegantly slim DVD drive, a 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack and a traditional USB 3.0 port. HP was kind enough to include an SD card reader and because it was released in Q3 of 2017, it has a USB 3.0 Type-C connector too. Further adding to the modern features is the inclusion of a 3GB Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics card that will offer a great gaming experience that translates to high and ultra settings in modern titles at 1080p resolution or medium to high settings at 1440p resolution. If you are looking to game at 1440p we recommend going for a pc that has a GPU with at least 6GB VRAM or more, like the 6GB version of the GTX 1060. The Intel Core i5-7400 was a great choice by HP as it is a quad core CPU that offers great gaming performance and it is well matched to the rest of the system components. Speaking of which, the 1TB HDD and 8GB of RAM are both a standard affair yet are nothing to be scoffed at where the 300W Bronze PSU is adequate too. As connectivity is all the rage, Bluetooth and Dual Band Wi-Fifi come standard with the Power. What’s nice about this system is that you won’t need to open it or touch the internals for a long time because HP has built a great all rounder.
Pros
- Great overall design
- Included Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- 3GB Nvidia GTX 1060 is a huge bonus at this price point
- Included SD card reader
- You won’t need to upgrade anything for some time to come
- Users have stated that it is rather quiet PC
Cons
- Users have stated that it is rather quiet PC
- An SSD will go a long way to speed this system up even further but may prove expensive
CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8020A2
CyberpowerPC might not be as well-known as the mega brands ASUS, Alienware or Lenovo, however this LA based company builds and sells some great pre-built gaming rigs. Their Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8020A2 is an affordable gaming rig that will allow you to play your favorite games. The CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8020A2 features a Radeon RX 480 graphics card with 4GB of video memory, which should run the latest AAA gaming titles currently on the market. However, some of the more intensive games will push this card to the limit and don’t expect to play these games on maximum or ultra settings with super high frame rates. A small drawback for some users will be that the RX 480 only features DisplayPort and HDMI ports and this will mean purchasing an adapter or two if your monitor only supports DVI and VGA inputs. Luckily for us, gaming PCs can be upgraded and you will be able to upgrade the graphics card to a beefier version later on. Powering the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8020A2 is a seventh generation Intel Core i5-7400 processor and 8GB of DDR4 RAM. Both of these can be upgraded, however the processor is sufficient for current gaming titles. We also recommend upgrading the RAM to 16GB if you intend on running hardware intensive applications for school or work. While the 1TB 7200rpm storage drive offers ample storage space, it will not match the superior speeds that solid state drives offer while gaming. While SSDs are still more expensive, we do recommend looking at a 512GB SSD if you want to cut down those annoying loading times in game. While the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8020A2 ships with a keyboard and mouse, we recommend donating it to a gamer in need or storing it as they are both not great. Instead we recommend looking at the Razer DeathAdder Chroma gaming mouse and the Corsair Gaming K55 RGB keyboard which can both be had for less than $100.
Best Cheap Gaming PCs Under $600 – Runners Up
ABS M-Box
Taking the same inspiration from a gaming experience standpoint, the ABS Technologies M-Box has the best GPU in its class. A GTX 1050 will offer a great gaming experience and although the CPU isn’t of the highest order, the fact that it is relatively modern means that a drop in replacement will keep it current – having said that, the inclusion of DDR4 RAM makes this desktop the one with most current hardware. As you can tell, she isn’t a pretty beast but LED lights and fancy windows don’t add extra gaming performance anyway, a real good value. The M-Box is still definitely an entry level gaming desktop but it represents really good value for money, especially because it is relatively new to the market. That means this PC is full of current generation components such as an Intel Core i3-7100 7th Gen Kaby Lake processor, a 2GB EVGA Nvidia GTX 1050 GPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM and an 80 Plus Certified 400W PSU. Apart from the included keyboard and mouse that comes in the box, the case includes two fans, one at the front for intake and one at the rear for exhaust, ensuring that your components are adequately cooled out of the box. The M-Box includes a 1TB HDD for mass storage though I would recommend an SSD as your first upgrade as this will dramatically increase OS response times. With two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports on the front, alongside a headphone and microphone jack, removable storage and audio access is handily convenient.
Pros
- Best GPU in class
- Modern platform with DDR4 RAM, chipsets and CPU micro architecture
- Reasonably powerful power supply PSU
Cons
- Not exactly what you would call bling, not at all. None.
- Dual core CPU may be a future bottle neck
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
Summary
With the most modern hardware in a PC at this price, the M-Box serves up a platform that can easily be upgraded, albeit in the near future. Simply dropping in a quad core CPU and adding more RAM will mean that this pc will remain relevant, giving that GTX 1050 a considerable lifespan.
from NewEgg
(as of 13-04-2018 10:31 +00:00) Details
Best Cheap Gaming PCs Under $1000 – Honorable Mentions
SkyTech Oracle
The SkyTech Oracle is one of our $1000 Honorable Mentions because it is still a solid gaming PC for the money even though it has some drawbacks. The first drawback would be the dated chipset which is based on a larger nano architecture than currently available, touting the AMD AM3 and AM+ socket. A consequence to this is sticking to DDR3 RAM and PCI-e 2.0 instead of DDR4 and PCI-e 3.0 or 3.1 which won’t make a difference to GPU performance unless said GPU can exceed the slot’s bandwidth which thankfully would only be really noticeable in multi-GPU configurations and even then, the benefits are marginal.The problem with dated chipset is that CPU upgrade possibilities can become limited as time progresses but if that CPU is a 6-core AMD FX-6300 that boosts to 3.8Ghz, how much more do you really need? A GPU upgrade will provide better gaming performance than a couple 100Mhz. Having said that, 6 cores are better than 4 and 16GB of RAM is better than 8GB as is the case with some of the Oracle’s competition. Albeit DDR3 RAM, it runs faster and will allow users to multi task nicely. Windows 10 is the included operating system, mechanical storage is handled by a 1TB hard drive and solid state storage is provided by a 120GB solid state drive which is a huge plus. Thankfully, the gaming performance is handled by an Nvidia GTX 1060 3GB so gamers can be rest assured they will be playing games on medium to high, depending on the resolution.
Pros
- DDR3 RAM runs at 1866Mhz insteads of standard 1600Mhz speed
- SSD storage
- Well matched components for great all-round performance
- Great chassis for airflow
- A standout power supply at 600W!
Cons
- Dated chipset
- DDR3 RAM instead of DDR4
Specs
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
- 31.4 lbs
Summary
By no means a slouch, the Oracle from SkyTech will beat competitors that have a more modern chipset, at a cheaper price and the SSD only serves to boost the responsiveness of both the well matched CPU and GPU. Unless specific features of more modern chipsets are a dealbreaker, the Oracle is still a very strong one.
from Amazon.com
(as of 09-12-2023 08:47 UTC) Details
SkyTech Shadow ST-4300-8G1TB-GTX750TI
SkyTech may be a name some of us aren’t familiar with, but their Shadow ST-4300-8G1TB-GTX750TI is well worth considering when looking for a new, affordable gaming PC. From its matte black side panel housing a clear window to the dark tinted transparent front and top panels on the case, the Shadow looks every bit the part of a gaming PC. The case also offers enough space to expand your storage if you want to add more 3.5-inch hard drives or smaller and faster solid state drives. Powering the Shadow is an AMD FX-4300 Quad Core processor and 8GB of DDR3 gaming RAM, which will easily cope with day-to-day tasks. However the processor will struggle with intensive apps and you might want to double the RAM for those RAM hungry processes. Fortunately, the Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 motherboard that SkyTech has used supports a DRAM frequency of 1866MHz, a steup up from 1600Mhz DDR3 RAM. To ensure you enjoy your favorite games, SkyTech has fitted the Shadow with a Zotac GTX 750 Ti graphics card that has 2GB of dedicated GDDR5 video memory. While this might be an older graphics card, it will still be able to provide a gaming experience that would trade blows with an AMD RX 550. Another angle of analysis is the 113FPS in CS:GO of the GXT 750ti vs the 70FPS of a GTX 1030; shows that newer doesn’t mean better. However you will need to lower your settings for AAA titles such as Battlefield 1 when running at 1920 x 1080. The Shadow also features a Thermaltake 500-Watt power supply, meaning you can easily upgrade to a more powerful graphics card. The installed 1TB 7200rpm mechanical hard drive offers ample space for your games and multimedia needs, however you might want to look at a solid state drive to decrease the loading time of your favorite games and dramatically decrease the boot times of your computer, too.
Pros
- Quad Core processor
- Very nice looking case
- GPU performance is closer to a GTX 1050 than a GTX 1030
- Unlocked CPU multiplier
- Solid 500W PSU
- Windows 10 Pro
- Wi-Fi adapter included
Cons
- Older graphics card
- Limited RAM speed upgrade options
- No Bluetooth
- Users have stated under load it gets ‘loud’
- Display not included, pixels
- Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit
- 21 lbs
Summary
The SkyTech Shadow ST-4300-8G1TB-GTX750TI offers a stylish case and decent performance for its affordable price. However you might want to look at upgrading the graphics card at a later stage.
from Amazon.com
(as of 09-12-2023 07:41 UTC) Details
ASUS G11CD G11CD-US008T
Here we have an offering from Asus, the first in our roundup from them and from first glance, this desktop is very interesting indeed. From it’s grey and red silver color scheme to it’s PCB board like textured geometry, the Asus G11CD looks great and very gamer oriented. Asus has made a few very good decisions regarding hardware for this PC, ensuring that you will be gaming for the foreseeable future as well as having a solid system on which to build for future upgrades. Perhaps the most limiting factor would be the GPU, which is only an Nvidia GTX 960 but is heaps ahead of something like an Nvidia GT 740 so you will not need an upgrade as quickly. The included Wi-Fi, keyboard and mouse are all welcomed added extras which definitely sweeten the deal on top of what is a solid system. What does solid mean? It means an Intel i7-6700 quad core hyperthreaded CPU which will keep you gaming through many GPU upgrades. 8GB of DDR4 RAM is included which, with another 8GB stick, can be upgraded to a total of 16GB should that tickle your fancy. Usually we recommend that gamers install an SSD soon after buying their PC as the responsiveness is simply amazing but we can’t make that recommendation (yet) for the Asus G11CD because it includes a 1TB SSHD which is a nice boost in storage performance over a standard HDD. The chassis included provides plenty ports at the front for SD cards and USB devices too, with 2 locations for aftermarket fans to be installed to enhance cooling. Another nice feature of this offering is that it is available in a plethora of hardware configurations so if you have a larger budget and like the case, you can still go high end, up to a GTX 980.
Pros
- Skylake processor
- Solid State Hybrid Drive
- USB 3.1 ports
- Fast AC WiFi
- i7 CPU will not need upgrading for the longest time
Cons
- Warranty sealed
- Only one PCIe x16 slot
- Only 8GB of RAM
- GTX 960 will do the basics but nowhere nearly as well at a GTX 1050.
Specs
- Display not included, pixels
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
- 19.6 lbs
Summary
The ASUS G11CD-US009T offers decent hardware for power users and will offer a good gaming experience. But the case has been warranty sealed and upgrading it will void your warranty.
CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Ultra GUA4500A
Presenting the Gamer Ultra from CyberPowerPC, a gaming desktop packing some serious performance at a great price. Unlike most other PC’s in our roundup that come with only 8GB of DDR4 RAM, this desktop comes fully loaded with 16GB of DDR3 RAM which is more than enough for gaming but also adequate for productivity workflows, especially photo editing. The included 120GB SSD will ensure snappy performance and boot times while the large 1TB HDD handles the rest of your media needs CyberPowerPC has included a 6GB Nvidia GTX 1060 which will easily handle modern games on medium settings at 1440p thanks to the large 6GB frame buffer , a must for higher resolutions while offering higher frame rates with high in game settings if gaming at 1080p. This GPU will play most E-sports titles at over 60 FPS so if you are a fan of CS:GO, Dota2 or Rocket League and want a smooth gaming experience, it’s a great choice for you. The chassis the Gamer Ultra comes in is a refreshing green colour with internal green lighting to boot. A nice touch is the front panel which is not only able to be opened and closed to hide your 5.25” bays, but also has a nice helping of connectivity in the form of a standard headphone and microphone jack, a USB 2.0 and a USB 3.0 port and easy to reach power and reset buttons. Combine all of the above with an AMD FX-6300 6 core CPU and this deal is looking mighty sweet.
Pros
- 6 Core CPU
- SSD speeds!
- A lot of RAM
- Proper mid tier current hardware GPU
- VR ready
Cons
- Dated architecture
- Limited front panel USB count
from Amazon.com
(as of 09-12-2023 08:16 UTC) Details
Best Cheap Gaming PCs Under $800 – Honorable Mentions
Lenovo X315 90B00002US
The Lenovo Erazer X315 is a modestly priced gaming PC with the hardware to match the power of more expensive gaming desktops like the mid-range Alienware X51. It is a mid-tower desktop, meaning it is much larger than console-sized systems like the Alienware Alpha. On a positive note, the extra space gives you ample room for upgrades and the chassis isn’t so large that it can’t easily sit under your desk. The front panel of the X315 is attractively shaped for a futuristic look with large pentagon shaped vents on the left and right panel. The angled plastic doors on the top of the front panel houses a DVD drive, two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card reader and couple of audio ports. The rear panel holds four more USB ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, a DVI port and a DisplayPort, 7.1 channel sound audio outputs and a Wi-Fi antenna. The power button has a blue LED backlight, adding extra flare to the X315’s modern design. Inside the chassis, you will find the latest middle of the pack AMD hardware including an AMD FX 770K 3.5 GHz Processor and a dedicated ATI Radeon R9 360 with 2GB of Video Memory. Complemented by 8GB of DDR3 RAM, this system has enough horsepower for running not only productivity and multimedia tasks but also graphics intensive applications and games. On top of the 1TB 7200 rpm Hard Drive, a 128 GB SSD is included to enable fast boot up and decrease application loading times. In conclusion, the Erazer X315 is a highly expandable system serving as an adequately powerful desktop for newbie gamers and enthusiasts looking for a capable gaming rig for under $700.
Pros
- SSD and HDD storage
- Great performance
- Stylish gaming Chassis
- Silent operation
Cons
- Plasticky front panel
- Cheap bundled keyboard and mouse
Specs
- Windows 8
- 16.5 lbs
Summary
An attractive gamer style desktop with good gaming performance at a decent price.
Best Cheap Gaming PCs Under $600 – Honorable Mentions
iBuypower AM8210A
iBuyPower got many things right withsure does many things right when they make gaming desktop market offers such as the AM8210A, which definitely ticks many boxes on the gaming front. A bundled-with peripheral set (without headphones) is an highly appreciated inclusion but it’s what’s inside the PC that counts most – insides that can be seen easily through the full windowed side panel of its ATX case that, also includes 3 fans. As this case is larger than an mATX case, many users will opt to have it on the floor under their desk which iBuyPower thoughtfully took into consideration when placing the single USB 3.0, the dual USB 2.0, microphone and headphone ports on the top of the chassis together, of course with the power and reset buttons too. This PC comes with many internal iterations, providing something to suite everyone. This example includes an AMD Ryzen 1200 CPU and a 2GB AMD RX 550 GPU. This CPU is a true quad core that is unlocked for overclocking, a feature usually reserved only for the highest of high end desktops which means more performance can be extracted from it in the future, with proper cooling of course. To put the GPU into context, a 3GB Nvidia GTX 1050ti provides up to double the performance of the RX 550 so don’t expect the world from it, though – it out performs an Nvidia GT 1030 and there are many GPU options available with this model . Another note in the RX550’s favour is the fact that it consumes a third less power than the 1050ti if for whatever reason power savings are important (mining?). Having said that though, the rest of the system, what with its 8GB RAM and nice CPU, won’t be held back should you upgrade to a better GPU down the line. A 1TB HDD and a copy Windows 10 Home are included which all add up to give a gaming experience in CS:GO of 60fps on low settings but very low FPS in titles such as The Witcher 3 and Rust.
Pros
- A really good looking case as well as an included keyboard and mouse
- DDR4 RAM
- Many choices of hardware
- Interesting windowed and hexagonally structured top panel of the tower
Cons
- A GTX 1050ti would beat the RX550 outright
- No SSD or SSHD
from Amazon.com
(as of 09-12-2023 08:21 UTC) Details
CyberpowerPC Gamer Ultra GUA880
CyberpowerPC is an American computer manufacturer that offers amazing customer support and lifetime tech support on their products. The CyberpowerPC Gamer Ultra GUA880 is another great offering for the gamer on a budget. The GUA880 comes with a Cooler Master Elite case that will allow you to easily upgrade your hardware. The case also allows for larger motherboards and more fans to be installed, including tall air and water CPU coolers. The Quad Core AMD FX-4300 processor and 8GB of RAM will easily run everyday tasks and will allow for lag free gaming on low-medium settings, depending on the game. To ensure that you have plenty of space to install your favorite games, CyberpowerPC has installed a 1TB 7200rpm mechanical hard drive. The tool-less design allows you to easily install extra hard drives, increasing your storage space. The installed NVIDIA GeForce GT 720 graphics card is an entry level card and really just does the basics. This simply means that down the line you could improve your gaming experience and peace of mind by upgrading your GPU to an EVGA GeForce GTX 950, your PSU to an EVGA 600 BRONZE 600W, your CPU to an AMD FX-6300, your RAM to 16GB as well as introducing an SSD to your storage setup – time to take advantage of the modular design desktop PC’s are so well known for. Overall the CyberpowerPC Gamer Ultra GUA880 will offer a good low-end gaming experience for its budget friendly price.
Pros
- Cooler Master Case
- Quad Core processor
- Toolless case design
- 1TB 7200rpm drive
- Lifetime Tech Support
Cons
- No WiFi
- Power supply issues
- Entry level graphics card
- No USB 3.0
Specs
- Display not included, pixels
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
- 32 lbs
Summary
The CyberpowerPC Gamer Ultra GUA880 offers good hardware, an attractive price and a great gaming case. But the power supply has been known to fail and the GeForce GT720 will struggle with higher settings.
from Amazon.com
(as of 31-10-2018 03:16 UTC) Details
Desktops by nature have a large array of interchangeable components meaning that there is literally something for everyone in terms of appearance and size but we here make it clear that performance is a non-negotiable. Being a part of the PC master race, albeit a meme thing, is only achievable by owning one’s own said gaming desktop thus, we aim to explore a gamer’s options based on consumer feedback, real world performance and expert reviews. Hardware choice and component matching are also taken into bottom-line consideration.
