Best Gaming PCs Under $500

Before reviewing each chosen model, we will show you a few key points for your consideration. These are the things you need to keep in mind before even considering a cheap gaming PC, unless you want to waste your money on a bad-quality one. Check out the list of the best gaming PCs under $500 below.

• Best Prebuilt PC for Gaming Under $500: The HP Desktop. View Amazon

• The next best cost-saving gaming PC : iBUYPOWER Starter PC Computer Desktop SlateMR 240i . Check Amazon

• A valuable pre-build under $500: AVGPC Q-Box Gaming Computer PC. Check Amazon

• Best cheap prebuilt gaming PC under $500: Alarco Gaming PC (Intel i5). View Amazon

• Best Mini Desktop Gaming Computer: CUK AsRock DeskMini . View Amazon

It is highly critical to check the specifications in the beginning before purchasing a budget PC. While setting a price is a great way to start, the PC still needs to fulfill its most basic requirement: that is to work well with your selected games. No matter how much the PC costs (thousands of dollars or just a few hundred), wasting your money on a machine that does not serve your primary purpose is the last thing on your mind. 

Another thing to consider is that building your own PC is actually more recommended than buying a prebuilt one due to one simple reason: value. The markup on prebuilt computers is usually just about the same amount of cash you can spend on an entire hardware component (from $100 to $300). 

1. The HP Desktop - Best Prebuilt PC for Gaming Under $500

Ranked at the top of the list is The HP Desktop as the best gaming PC under $500. Starting a gaming hobby can’t be easy without the help of the HP Desktop, an entry-level gaming PC for beginners. The highlight of this build isn’t a dedicated GPU, since it’s based on the integrated graphics from the 3200G, a reliable chip. 

The power source of the computer stems from AMD’s Ryzen 3 3200G, an inexpensive APU yet makes decent performance for the price. The processor’s base clock speed is 3.6GHz but can be extended to a speed of 4GHz at max. Although you won’t get any multithreading performance with 4 cores and 4 threads, it beats Intel’s integrated graphics by a mile. By using Vega 8 graphics, the 3200G processor allows you to play a variety of games at entry-level performance. 

Another feature of the HP Desktop is an 8GB DDR4 RAM and a 1TB HDD. While not being a typically fast storage solution, it provides you with plenty of space for your OS and favorite games. 

With great gaming characteristics, this PC deserves to be an outstanding choice for beginners. Apart from the components, you can get a compact system with a free mouse and keyboard for immediate gameplay.

Our conclusion:

Pros:

• Compact form factor
• Performance matches value

Cons:

• Beginner-level graphics
• No SSD

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2. iBUYPOWER Starter PC Computer Desktop SlateMR 240i - The next best cost-saving gaming PC 

The next best cheap gaming PC under $500 is the iBUYPOWER starter desktop. It is fully packed with all the things you need to jump-start your gaming career at the entry level. This prebuilt characterizes a smoothly run PC case, an Intel core i3 CPU, 480GB speedy storage, and Wi-Fi. 

Looking inside, there is Intel’s i3-10105F, a quad-core processor that has a clock speed of 3.7GHz and a GeForce GT 1030 to serve games at lower levels. The CPU is supported by an 8GB RAM, Wi-Fi, and an M.2 SSD storage device of 480 GB, which is going to be sufficient for the computer’s operating system and some of your beloved games. 

If you are a beginning gamer, this is a brilliant gaming PC for the price and value it offers. 

Our conclusion: 

Pros

• Wi-Fi
• Super low budget

Cons

• Needs upgrades

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Check out some gaming motherboards below:

• Best DDR5 Motherboard

• Best AM4 Motherboard

3. AVGPC Q-Box Gaming Computer PC - A valuable prebuilt under $500

Despite being relatively more pricey than the other budget picks, the AVGPC has key features that compensate for the increased cost. Whether it is rigorous esports or just a mediocre level, this build can satisfy all with its outstanding gaming services. Additionally, not only is it designed beautifully but it also produces satisfactory performance with a brilliant cooling system thanks to the case. 

Ryzen 5 3600 - AMD’s economical gaming processor, is another highlight of the PC. With a base clock speed of 3.6GHz which can be boosted up to 4.2GHz, the CPU’s capability is more than sufficient to deal with lower-ranking games. The processor comes in pair with an 8GB DDR4 3000Mhz RAM, a fast SSD storage of 500GB and a 500W PSU, which can keep everything running smoothly. All these attributes make the AVGPC an excellent base PC for players who aim at low-key games and still have the chance to upgrade if they ever want it. 

Although this is not a superb PC in terms of exceptional performance, it is still a reasonable option for first-timers looking to get into gaming. 

Our conclusion: 

Pros

• effective hybrid storage solution

• powerful CPU

Cons

• doesn't include peripherals

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4. Alarco Gaming PC (Intel i5) - Best cheap prebuilt gaming PC under $500

Would you like the Intel series? If the answer is yes, then we highly recommend this prebuilt, one of the best for the price below $500. Whilst this might not be as rapid as Intel’s Core i5-8400, the Intel i4-2400 is still a decent processor.

The GTX 650 graphics allow it to get playable FPS counts in the majority of games at 1080p resolution. The rig is indeed worth the investment. The 8GB RAM helps enhance the already high processing speeds, which means graphics and video editing can work perfectly with this setup. The spotlight of this build is probably the GPU, which performs well in a variety of gaming titles. It also permits some light rendering as well. 

Overall, for only less than $500, this PC offers more value that it is worth. It is both a beauty on the outside and delivers great performance for the price.  

Our conclusion:

Pros

• 1 TB hard drive

Cons

• can’t cope with high-intensive games

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5. CUK AsRock DeskMini - Best Mini Desktop Gaming Computer

As the name suggests, the CUK AsRock DeskMini is exactly what it says: a mini desktop gaming computer. But don’t let its small size mislead you because this rig offers more than what it looks.

It features the popular Ryzen 3 2200G chips which rank top 3 in the $500 prebuilt PC list. This is simply the strongest, most efficient APU for this price range that can deal with lower-end games beautifully. Since this rig doesn’t come with a single GPU, it has to utilize AMD’s VEGA 8 graphics, which is honestly an excellent graphics alternative. If you adjust the settings well, it can manage Fornite, CS:GO, and LOL fabulously. Its 8GB 2,666Mhz RAM comes in perfect pair with the 2200G and functions well while still staying within the budget range. 

In addition to this, the Deskmini goes with a SSD of up to 256GB, the biggest size for an SSD solution out of all the PCs on this list. That means users can store plenty of games with super speedy boot and load times, which is a huge advantage. Regardless, due to its small size, an external HDD is going to be needed. 

In general, if you prefer a mini size desktop PC then the CUK AsRock is totally for you. It does have pros and cons, though, just like any other regular PCs. But as far as mini form builds are concerned for this price range, this is an excellent option. 

Our conclusion: 

Pros

• Has an SSD
• Decent APU oriented towards gaming
• Negligible footprint

Cons

• Expansion is hard due to lack of space

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Check out other gaming PCs below:

• Best Gaming PCs in 2022

• Best Gaming PCs under $800

• Best Gaming PCs under $1000

It is fairly daunting to find the best gaming PCs under $500 but the options that we have presented all have great values. But to have better gaming experience, we recommend you extend your price range a little further to around $800. These can provide fantastic graphics and performance in 1080p, enabling you to play games in higher resolution with solid FPS results. 

However, a $500 PC can easily help you play your favorite esports but you may have to adjust your settings to receive desirable frame rates. These beginner-level rigs are a great way to kick-start your gaming hobby on a budget.