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You may have a lot of fun with some of the Best Cheap gaming PCs. Even if you don’t have a lot of money, you can still play even the most difficult games even if you don’t have the most recent tools or the most powerful components. However, this indicates that you should adjust your expectations accordingly. Do not have the expectation that you will be able to play PC games at the highest possible resolution and refresh rate. This is especially true for the most demanding AAA games and smaller games that have the potential to strain a machine. You should also make use of components that are less expensive.
However, not every gamer requires the most powerful gaming computer, which includes an RTX 3090 Ti or 3080; hence, there is no point in going into debt to purchase one. For instance, the best desktop computer with a graphics card that supports 1080p or 1440p resolution will cost you less money while still providing you with crisp images and fluid gameplay. People who are particularly strapped for cash, particularly during the academic year of 2023, will find that this gaming PC is an excellent investment. The majority of pre-builts are simple to upgrade, which allows you to make improvements to your system over time as the environment improves.
What is Cheap Gaming PC?
The term “cheap gaming PC” refers to a personal computer that is built with gaming in mind yet is sold at a price that is not prohibitive to the average consumer. These computers typically feature less powerful CPUs and graphics processing units (GPUs), less random access memory (RAM), and maybe less storage capacity compared to more expensive gaming PCs. Additionally, these machines typically have a less amount of storage space.
Even though low-cost gaming personal computers are able to run a number of today’s most popular games, it’s probable that they won’t be able to do so with the highest possible graphics settings or frame rates. This is because of the limitations of the hardware. They are a great option for gamers who are on a tight budget or who do not want the most cutting-edge gear that is currently on the market.
Top Benefits of Owning a Cheap Gaming PC
Having a low-cost gaming personal computer (PC) can provide you with a number of advantages that can improve your overall gaming experience without breaking your budget. The following is a list of the primary advantages of owning an affordable gaming computer:
The most clear benefit is that a budget gaming PC is cheaper than a high-end gaming rig right off the bat. This makes it available to more users, even those with less money to spend.
- Performance: A low-cost gaming PC might not be as fast as a top-of-the-line machine, but it can still be very good for gaming. You can play a wide range of games with good settings and frame rates that don’t hurt the quality of the game.
- Customizability: Putting together a cheap game PC often means picking out each part separately. This lets you put more money into parts that are more important to you, like a powerful graphics card or a fast solid-state drive (SSD), and spend less on parts that aren’t as important.
- Upgrade Potential: Most budget game PCs are made so that they can be upgraded in the future. As new parts come out, you can gradually upgrade parts of your system to keep up with the latest game trends without having to replace the whole PC.
- Learning Experience: Building or customizing a cheap game PC can be a great way to learn new things. It helps you learn how a computer works and gives you a sense of satisfaction when you put together a system that works.
- Versatility: Gaming is the main purpose of a budget gaming PC, but it can also be used for everyday chores like surfing the web, watching videos, and doing office work. It can be used for both fun and work because it can do so many things.
Best Cheap Gaming PC Comparison Table
The best budget gaming PC can help you play popular games without breaking the bank. Due to their price and pre-installed Windows, these cheap PCs require no technical expertise. However, finding an inexpensive gaming PC that runs newer games well is difficult. That’s why we graded inexpensive PCs on components, performance, and value.
| Model | Processor | Graphics Card | RAM | Storage | Latest Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Predator Orion 3000 | Intel Core i7 or i9 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series | Up to 64GB | Up to 2TB SSD | Check Price |
| HP Victus 15L | Intel Core i5 or i7 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series | Up to 32GB | Up to 2TB SSD | Check Price |
| Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit | Intel Core i9 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 Series | Up to 64GB | Up to 2TB SSD | Check Price |
| Dell XPS 8960 | Intel Core i5, i7, or i9 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX/RTX | Up to 64GB | Up to 2TB SSD | Check Price |
| ASUS ROG Strix GL10 | Intel Core i5 or i7 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX/RTX | Up to 32GB | Up to 1TB SSD | Check Price |
Best Cheap Gaming PC
Cheap gaming PCs are a great choice for gamers who don’t want to spend a lot of money but still want to play their favorite games. There are a lot of great choices, and the prices start at around $500. Most of these PCs have processors and graphics cards in the middle of the range. This means that most current games can be played at 1080p resolution and medium to high settings. They might not be able to play the latest AAA games at the highest settings, but they will still be a lot of fun to play.
Acer Predator Orion 3000
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | 4.9 GHz core_i7 |
| Graphics Card | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Hard Disk | 1 TB SSD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
| Video Outputs | HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA (Specific ports may vary) |
| Audio | Integrated audio with ports for headphones and microphone |
| Operating System | Windows 10 / Windows 11 (Specific OS version may vary) |
| Check Price |
The Acer Predator Orion 3000 is available in a broad variety of different configurations, the most powerful of which will be priced out of reach for the majority of gamers on a budget. However, if you want something more basic, you can get it for less than $1,000 and get a GTX 1660 graphics card, an Intel Core i5 processor, and 16GB of RAM. The standard configuration comes with all of these components.
This model is no longer available directly from Acer but can still be purchased via retailers. It should offer more than enough graphics oomph for gaming at 1080p, even in a world where RTX 3000 has been released, without the need to compromise too much in the graphical options menu. Acer has discontinued this model.
The Good
- Powerful gaming performance
- Good cooling system
- Attractive design
- Customizable RGB lighting
The Bad
- Relatively larger size
- Limited upgrade potential
HP Victus 15L
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G |
| Graphics Card | AMD Radeon RX 6400 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB DDR4-3200 |
| Storage | 256 GB PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Wireless Type | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Check Price |
The cheapest version of the Victus by HP 15L has a starting price that is somewhere in the neighborhood of $699.99. This configuration is available in two colors: silver and white. You will receive an 8-core AMD Ryzen 5 5600G processor, an AMD RX 6400 graphics card, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, and 256 GB of SSD storage with this setup.
This is sufficient to allow popular esports games such as Warzone and Rocket League to be played at playable frame rates. There are additional options available to boost the specifications even further, such as an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER and 16GB RAM at a price of approximately $909.99. Additionally, there is sufficient space within the case to allow for future upgrades.
The Good
- Good gaming performance
- Refreshing design
- High-refresh-rate display options
- Decent port selection
The Bad
- Plastic build quality
- Limited battery life
Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | 9th-generation Intel Core i5 – i9 |
| Graphics Card | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8GB – 64B DDR4 |
| Storage | 128GB SSD – 2TB + 2TB |
| Special Feature | Microphone |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Check Price |
A mobile processor is utilized within the Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit (Ghost Canyon). A Intel Core i9-9980HK “Coffee Lake” processor was pre-installed in our Compute Element when we purchased it. Our test equipment came equipped with 1 terabyte (TB) of Kingston KC2000 PCIe NVME SSD, 380 gigabytes (GB) of Intel Optane PCIe NVMe SSD, and 16 gigabytes (GB) of HyperX Impact RAM. Due to the fact that this is a barebones kit, the performance will differ depending on the parts that are utilized.
But the thing we’re comparing it to is a desktop computer, so keep that in mind. Other kinds of mini-computers make advantage of desktop central processing units, such as the Zotac Mek Mini with its Intel Core i7-9700. A desktop i9 from one of our favorite prebuilts, the HP Omen Obelisk (Intel Core i9-9900K), serves as a point of comparison for us as well.
The Good
- Compact and portable
- Customizable components
- Good performance for its size
- Quiet operation
The Bad
- High cost for its size
- Limited internal storage
Dell XPS 8960
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i9 / AMD Ryzen 9 |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory (RAM) | 32 GB DDR5 RAM |
| Storage | 2 TB SSD x2 |
| Item Weight | 19 pounds |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Check Price |
The Dell XPS 8960 demonstrates that a gaming personal computer does not need to have an opulent style in order to be worthwhile to purchase. This desktop, like its two models that came before it, the Dell XPS 8950 and the Dell XPS 8940, appears to be better suited to an office environment than a person’s own gaming room. However, in spite of its dull appearance, the XPS 8960 has more than enough power to run even the most demanding PC games, provided that the appropriate components are purchased.
As is their custom, Dell provides a plethora of configuration options for this desktop computer. These options let you to equip it with the most cutting-edge and advanced personal computer components available, such as the most recent Intel Raptor Lake 13th Gen CPUs and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 series GPUs. Although the price of the 8960 was significantly higher when it first went on sale compared to that of its predecessors, this was likely because Dell offered the higher-end configurations first.
The Good
- Sleek and premium design
- High-quality construction
- Ample performance for most tasks
The Bad
- Limited gaming capabilities
- Higher price for the performance
ASUS ROG Strix GL10
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti |
| Memory (RAM) | 32 GB DDR4 RAM |
| Storage | 1TB SSD + 2TB HDD |
| Item Weight | 29.00 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Check Price |
Simple personal computers ROG Strix GL10 is an option worth considering for gamers that require a large increase in storage space for games or the creation of content. The performance parameters are broken up between an aged 6-core AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, 32 GB of DDR4 RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, all of which should give respectable performance at 1080p resolution. The inclusion of a 1 terabyte solid-state drive in addition to a 2 terabyte hard disk drive makes the additional cost of $999 absolutely justified.
The Good
- Solid gaming performance
- Unique design with RGB lighting
- Ample connectivity options
- Pre-installed software for optimization
The Bad
- Plastic build
- Limited upgrade options
How to Choose a Best Cheap Gaming PC?
To get the most for your money, you need to think carefully about how to choose the best cheap game PC. Here’s a step-by-step plan to help you make an informed choice:
- Set a budget. Figure out how much you can spend on a game PC. Having a clear limit for your budget will help you narrow down your choices and keep you from spending too much.
- Find Out What You Need to Play Games: Think about the games you want to play and what system needs they have. For smooth gaming, look for PCs with parts that meet or slightly exceed these needs.
- Check the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): The GPU is a key part of how well a game runs. Do some research and choose a PC with a dedicated game GPU from a well-known company like NVIDIA or AMD. For good speed, you should get at least a mid-range GPU.
Questions and Answers
On average, you can expect to pay roughly in the vicinity of $800 to $1,000 for a very good gaming personal computer that is capable of displaying 1080p or 1440p resolution.
No, your low-end gaming computer that cost you only $500 is not suitable for 4K gaming, nor is it capable of driving a 144Hz 1440P panel. But if we’re being completely honest, gaming at 1080p is still going to more than please the vast majority of players. In addition, a pricey setup of $500 is more than adequate of playing games at a resolution of 1080p.