Struggling with finding a cheap gaming pc under $500 is more like fighting the last person in PUBG to have a chicken dinner.
That’s all because you’re after the winning gaming pc under $500 which can fulfill your better graphics experience on high settings.
Now the 1080P resolutions experience is not only for the best gaming PC out there on the market. But the market is also in favor of gaming enthusiasts having a low budget in their pocket.
Today is the day you’re going to find the $500 gaming PC of your dreams that has everything that you require for a better gaming experience.
I am talking about better hardware like graphics cards, processors, memory, storage, motherboard, power supply, and all other internal components that enhance performance in the best way possible.
The good news is that, yes many of these cheap gaming rigs have them inside although, there are very few gaming pc under 500 dollars left out there.
Now the real query that might have in your mind now is “How to find the best-prebuilt gaming PC under 500?” and that is what I have solved for you in my Buyer’s Guide.
But before that, just to give you an idea that what actually I have in store for you, the best $500 gaming PCs are listed below.
Our top $500 gaming PC picks
Now the real query that might have in your mind is “How to find the best-prebuilt gaming PC under $500?” and that is what I have solved for you in my Buyer’s Guide.
But before that, just to give you an idea that what actually I have in store for you, here is a little sneak peek of the best gaming PC under the $500 menu we have!
Best Gaming PC Under $500
1. HP M01-f0033W Ryzen 3 – Best $500 Gaming PC With Vega 8 Graphics
2. iBUYPOWER Starter PC – Our Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $500
3. AVGPC Q-Box Series Gaming PC – Best Gaming PC With AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB
4. CUK Continuum Micro Gaming PC Ryzen 5 – Best Rig With AMD Radeon RX Vega 8
5. Alarco Gaming PC (Intel i5) – Best Gaming PC Under 500 With Nvidia GTX 650 1GB
6. Acer Aspire TC-895-UA92 – Core i5-10400 6-Core Cheap Gaming PC Under $500
7. SkyTech Blaze 3.0 Gaming Computer PC Desktop – Best With GeForce GTX 1650
8. CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC – Best With Hybrid Storage
Now there are two main questions that almost every gaming enthusiast would ask.
Is A Prebuilt Gaming PC Better Than Building A Gaming PC?
If we Talk about the prebuild gaming PC, you don’t have to bother much about assembling anything and you get a gaming PC that is good by every means. Basically, you’re just saving the time that you were supposed to consume on building a gaming PC.
However, afterward, you might not be fine with what your newly purchased prebuilt desktop offers. But that’s fine because you can replace everything as we’re not dealing with the best gaming laptop here which is hard to upgrade.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who is more into stuff like graphics cards, processors, etc, you are basically the master of building a gaming PC at home. No doubt, it’ll consume much of your time but assembling a PC on your is never going to be a regret in any way possible.
Recommendation: Build a PC if you know the stuff, otherwise, buying a cheap prebuilt gaming PC under $500 isn’t a bad idea.
Is Building a Gaming PC Going To Cost More?
The Prices of the hardware components vary with time. This definitely means that building a gaming pc might not cost that much today as it’ll cost a few months after. But my job is to let you know the cost estimate for the high-level, medium-level, and basic-level gaming PC build.
You need to understand that building a basic-level PC costs around $500 – $700 these days as the prices for PC cases, graphics cards, processors, storage components, motherboards, etc are higher than usual.
However, the budget that I mentioned can help you build a gaming PC that is able to run many graphics complex games in low settings. You can extend the settings to a medium level but you might experience lag sometimes. You can also check out the 700-dollar gaming pc list that is already built for you.
On the other hand, the medium-level gaming PC can cost you almost $800 – $2000 and this PC can run games in medium and high settings depending on how much you spend on the hardware.
Whereas, a high-level flagship PC has no comparison. Of course, it can cost you $2000 – $4000 but nothing can stand in its way and it crushes almost anything you throw at it.
Relevant Read: Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $1000
Best Gaming PC Under $500
1. HP M01-f0033W Gaming Desktop Computer
| Processor: | Ryzen 3 3200G 3.6GHz |
| Graphics card: | Radeon Vega 8 |
| Storage: | 1TB HDD |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Operating system: | 64-bit Windows 10 Home |
Hopping over to the first cheap gaming PC has much more to offer for gaming enthusiasts at the medium level. The HP M01-f0033W has a decent outer case with an HP log on the front. Whereas, apart from the beautiful front panel design, there are 5 USB ports, a port for the audio jack, and a memory card slot engraved.
As a result, these ports are easily accessible for connecting any device to your gaming PC. As for the inside, the HP M01-f0033W Gaming Desktop is more like a Bugatti engine having the Radeon Vega 8 graphics having a dedicated memory of 4GB.
On top of that, it packs in the latest 1TB HDD which is great storage space indeed the SSD could play an important role in enhancing the speed of this budget prebuilt gaming pc here, but the HDD is a bit downside on this pc.
The memory is just the way you would like to have it in a prebuild gaming pc under $500 like this and it’s the 8GB RAM.
Apart from that, the HP M01-f0033W is standing at the AMD Ryzen 3 CPU and you all know that it can process data at 3.6GHz speed.
Overall, the HP M01-f0033W Gaming Desktop is a good fit for your gaming setup if you’re after building one on a low budget.
2. iBUYPOWER Starter PC Computer Desktop SlateMR
| Processor: | Intel i3-10105F 3.7GHz |
| Graphics card: | NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 2GB |
| Storage: | 480GB SSD |
| RAM: | 8GB DDR4 |
| Operating system: | Windows 11 Home |
iBuypower Starter PC is the first and finest cheap gaming PC that isn’t only fancy from the outside with all these RGB lights but also gives you the number of awesome hardware components that only a few gaming PCs offers. Let’s find out why this cheap gaming PC came out to be smooth in performance.
The favorite part of each gaming enthusiast is the graphics card and luckily, the iBuypower Starter gaming PC offers an NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 with 2GB memory which is purely dedicated to the graphics complex stuff.
Above that, you got the 8GB RAM and that is what I like the most about the gaming PCs like iBuypower pro as such memory makes them crush the multitasking like a pro.
On the other hand, to enhance the performance further, there’s an addition of a 480GB SSD which gives a boost to the data transfer rate in the best way possible in order to keep things smooth while you play your favorite game or perform any task.
As for the CPU, the iBuypower Starter gaming PC got the Intel i3 processor which results in giving you a processing power of 3.7GHz. Without any doubt, the mixture of these components created a gaming beast like iBuypower pro for a better and smooth gaming experience.
Overall, the iBuypower starter is one hell of a budget prebuilds gaming pc that can run any graphics complex game on medium settings smoothly enough to kill your gaming cravings.
3. AVGPC Q-Box Series Gaming PC
| Processor: | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 3.9 GHz |
| Graphics card: | AMD Radeon Graphics |
| Storage: | 500GB SSD |
| RAM: | 8GB DDR4 |
| Operating system: | Windows 10 |
The AVGPC Q-Box is the third gaming PC in our list of best gaming desktops under $500. Powered by a 3.9GHz AMD Ryzen 5 5600 processor and 8GB DDR4 RAM, this PC is capable of delivering stunning visuals for your favorite games.
On the other hand, the AVGPC Q-Box offers great performance, thanks to its fast memory and storage component. With this gaming desktop, you can play the latest titles on a Full HD monitor.
Moreover, it’s also equipped with an AMD Radeon graphics card, which is supported by 4GB memory. With this configuration, you can play games on a Full HD monitor.
On top of that, the AVGPC Q-Box also has a built-in 500GB SSD which is faster than the HDD but sadly, you need to install an extra storage component on this budget gaming PC in order to save more of your favorite games if you require.
This PC is pre-installed with Windows 10 and this operating system is capable of offering a stable performance for both work and play.
With its fast processor and 8GB memory, it can run most apps and programs smoothly. The performance is also enhanced by the presence of its 500GB SSD.
Overall, the AVGPC Q-Box is a great deal and you can trust this beast without a second. Whereas, there are no regrets once you get your hands on it.
4. CUK Continuum Micro Gaming PC
| Processor: | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO |
| Graphics card: | AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 |
| Storage: | 512GB NVMe SSD |
| RAM: | 16GB DDR4 |
| Operating system: | Windows 10 |
The next best cheap gaming PC under $500 that I have for you is a combination of both awesome and flawless. That’s what I call it, you can call it the CUK Continuum Micro Gaming PC.
Equipped with the Quad-Core AMD Ryzen Pro processor, the CUK Continuum PC is a cruel master $500 PC for any heavy program.
Whereas, it’s backed up by 16GB DDR4 RAM that will never give up on multi-tasking no matter how much load you put on this gaming beast.
On the other, the 512GB NVMe SSD not only stores all of your gaming data but also give a hand to the processor and RAM in order to help you have a smooth gaming experience on any entry-level title.
Now comes your favorite part of the CUK Continuum Micro gaming pc and that is the AMD Radeon graphics card which provides enough frames per second for your HD monitor it never abandons the graphics complex games.
During all these years, the Continuum Micro Gaming PC had and also has a better impression on gaming enthusiasts and it’s also recommended for you if you’re on the budget of $500.
5. Alarco Gaming PC Desktop Computer
| Processor: | Intel i5 3.10GHz |
| Graphics card: | Nvidia GTX 650 1GB |
| Storage: | 1TB HDD |
| RAM: | 16 GB |
| Operating system: | Windows 10 pro |
Another decent cheap gaming pc under $500 is the Alarco gaming Desktop PC that I have in store for you and this is one of the powerful desktop units that is luckily available for you.
With the Intel Core i5 processor that ultimately gives you the 3.1GHz speed, the Alarco beats up many prebuild gaming pc under 500 without showing any mercy.
In addition to the performance, it equips 16GB of RAM for multitasking and better gaming performance. Whereas, the graphics operate on GTX 650 GPU which is a great fit for entry-level gamers.
For storage, you have the 1TB inside the entry-level PC; Although it’s slower than the SSD one advantage that you have is more storage space for your games.
Basically, the Alarco gaming PC can run almost any latest title, whether it’s GTA V, Red Dead Redemption, or Assassin’s creed Valhalla.
However, all you need to do is to keep the settings low as you might get lag when the settings are high. Other than that, this gaming PC under 500 can run any game butter smooth.
6. Acer Aspire TC-895-UA92
| Processor: | 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10400 6-Core |
| Graphics card: | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Storage: | 1TB HDD |
| RAM: | 12GB DDR4 |
| Operating system: | 64-bit Windows 10 Home |
Ever seen a gaming PC under $500 having the 10th Gen processor? Hands down because the Acer Aspire TC-895-UA92 is the one having the latest hardware components. With the 6-core 0th Gen Intel Core i5-10400 processor, this best $500 desktop is offering a 4.3GHz processing speed.
Whereas, it comes along with the 12GB DDR4 RAM that turns the Acer Aspire TC-895-UA92 into the boss of multitasking and a beast of gaming.
In addition to both of these components, you got the 512GB SSD installed on this budget gaming PC under 500 and that is the reason why the Acer Aspire TC-895-UA92 crushes the tasks like butter.
Sadly enough, the graphics card that most of you are expecting here isn’t installed actually installed here actually. Instead, a dedicated Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU is powered inside the Aspire TC-895-UA92 gaming PC and that is not something impressive here.
As for the design, you’re not getting anything fancy on the Acer Aspire TC-895-UA92. All you’re going to have is a gaming PC under 500 with a simple exterior.
However, keeping all the good features in mind that this gaming desktop has for you makes it completely worth having if you’re on a low budget and trying to hit your gaming career.
7. SkyTech Blaze 3.0 Gaming Computer PC Desktop
| Processor: | Intel i3-10100F |
| Graphics card: | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 165 |
| Storage: | 500GB SSD |
| RAM: | 8GB DDR4 |
| Operating system: | 64-bit Windows 10 Home |
Most of you know about the SkyTech Blaze 3.0 and it’s really a powerful budget gaming PC for the ones in need let me explain why you should have this beast.
The SkyTech Blaze II can render any computer game or program smoothly as it comes with a Ryzen 5 2600 processor, which has a 3.4Ghz 6-core CPU that gives you remarkable performance on the gaming end.
Moreover, it comes with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, which renders games with crystal clear details and outstanding color contrast. In addition to that, you’re getting the dedicated memory of 6GB on the graphics card that brings your computer gaming into reality
On the other hand, this best gaming PC under 500 has 8GB DDR4 RAM, which is the best for processing and rendering programs and games.
Whereas, the gaming performance is further boosted with the 500GB SSD which also makes it easy to store your gaming data without complaining about running out of storage space
Overall, the SkyTech Blaze 3.0 is one hell of a beast that is built to the highest standard of computer hardware engineering and it can kill your gaming craving better than any other gaming PC under $500 out there on market.
8. CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC
| Processor: | AMD Ryzen 3 3100 3.6GHz |
| Graphics card: | GeForce GT 1030 2GB |
| Storage: | 240GB SSD + 2TB HDD |
| RAM: | 8GB DDR4 |
| Operating system: | 64-bit Windows 10 Home |
The last best gaming pc under 500 that I have for you is the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme which is not only powerful but also attractive from the outside with the elegant RGB lighting on the transparent case.
Speaking of the hardware, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1030 completely crushes the latest titles without hesitating in delivering your desired frames per second.
On the other hand, the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme is dealing with the 8GB which is capable of rendering any task without a second thought.
Whereas for storage, there are two components which include the 240GB SSD alongside a 2TB HDD. this means that you have a win-win situation here, good performance plus more storage.
As for the processing power, the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme is supported by the Intel Core i5-9400F which ultimately gives the higher processing speed.
Overall, this is one of the best-prebuilt gaming PCs under $500 with the lightning-fast hardware components for the latest graphics complex games released this year.
Why I Wrote the Best Gaming PC Under $500 For You
It’s not a secret that gaming has become a very popular hobby these days. Lots of people are spending countless hours on different games available on the market. The most popular ones are MOBA, first-person shooter, and fighting games like DOTA, Call of Duty, UFC, etc. all having their own massive fan following around the world.
I live with my parents at present so I don’t have too much money to build my own gaming PC. My family doesn’t really care about my hobbies so whenever I want something related to computer components for gaming or building a desktop PC for under 500 dollars, I often save money from my allowance and additional pocket money that I get. Most of today’s gamers are in search of the best gaming PC under 500 dollars and that’s why I decided to make this post about finding a good model.
The following advice, which I will give in our guide on how to choose a gaming computer is based on my own research and personal experience. It might be relevant to you as well but do remember that everybody’s needs are different so your requirements may vary from those described here. In time, you can always upgrade your system by adding an additional graphics card or a more powerful CPU but for now, let’s see what kind of computer suits you the most.
Facts About The Best Gaming PC Under $500 And Some Basic Tips
Before we proceed with the actual buying process, let me first tell you about some basic features that the Best $500 Gaming PC and high-end Gaming PC have inside.
Processor (CPU)
This is the heart of a computer. It processes all data within the system and does all mathematical operations needed by different application programs like gaming, office applications, etc. The main difference between high-end computers from $500 gaming PCs lies in their CPU.
Memory/RAM
Another important factor for your gaming PC Under 500 is RAM memory. Every modern device needs memory to operate but for gaming PCs, it has a very special meaning as you need tons of it if you want to enjoy an exceptional gaming experience. For example, playing DOTA 2 on low settings will require at least 4GB of RAM while if you want to go crazy with the graphics settings, it’s recommended that you have not less than 8 GB. Most of the $500 gaming PCs have 8GB RAM inside.
The video card (GPU)
This is the component responsible for producing all 3D images in the game. A lower GPU should be coupled with a strong CPU or you’ll get low frames per second (FPS). I can’t stress enough how important it is to have at least 1GB of VRAM memory but if you can afford more then definitely go for 2 GB+ versions. Luckily, almost all of the prebuilt gaming PCs under 500 have at least 1GB of graphics memory.
Storage
This term refers to the hard disk space available on your computer. Every game exceeds 10 GB so make sure you buy a gaming PC under $500 with a decent-sized HDD (around 1TB) so that you don’t run out of disk space while installing new games or frequently using apps and programs. Another idea is that once you get your hands on the best gaming PC under 500, make sure you also install an SSD inside as it will also help with the performance. So hybrid storage would be much better.
Monitor(optional)
This is an optional component if you want to play different kinds of video games. It’s not really needed if you are building your gaming PC under 500 with a TV set since most of them come with built-in monitors. On the other hand, if you want to play games on a big screen then it’s better to buy one.
Keyboard and mouse(optional)
These must be wireless because they will save space on your desk. Also, always go for products from well-known brands as they offer much more reliability and durability than cheaper ones.
Audio(optional)
This is another option that I leave entirely up to you. Not many gamers place special emphasis on sound quality when choosing components for their desktop PCs under 500 dollars so don’t think about it before getting started. For now just remember that without sound, a computer can’t even be called a gaming PC.
How To Choose The Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $500
Okay, now that you know the basics, let’s proceed to actually choose the best gaming PC under 500. I have tried my best to list all options I had in mind while making this guide about picking the right prebuilt gaming pc under $500 but if you find something missing then feel free to comment below and we’ll add it as soon as possible. Also, make sure that your computer meets these requirements because without them performance will suffer greatly.
At least 1TB HDD
Even though most games nowadays don’t take much space still some of them exceed 30 GB on the hard disk so make sure you buy a big one (1TB should be more than enough). However, as I mentioned earlier, make the storage hybrid so that you can have better performance and also more storage at the same time.
Wireless internet connection
No wired ethernet port allowed! This is very important since with time you’ll probably spend most of your gaming hours online and with your $500 gaming PC. Also, this is not a very expensive component so it’s better to spend a few bucks and get the whole device wireless.
Windows OS
Most games require Microsoft windows in order to run properly so you can’t escape from buying a copy. But luckily most of these best-prebuilt gaming PCs under 500 dollars have the pre-installed copy of a Windows 10 Home. So you don’t have to do anything on this end if you’re getting such a computer.
RAM
Memory can affect your gaming experience and there’s no doubt about that. I would recommend buying a gaming PC under 500 that comes with 8GB RAM because 4GB RAM is useless for running the latest graphics complex games. To know more about this, please go through why RAM is important for gaming.
Graphics Card
As usual, just make sure that your system has at least 1GB of memory on the GPU so that it doesn’t lag while playing games. Usually, 2GB is sufficient for even the most demanding games but if by any chance you find a good gaming PC under $500 with a graphics card having more VRAM then don’t hesitate to buy it.
Processor
AMD and Intel are popular days in manufacturing the best processor for computers these days. However, you need to identify which processor is the best for your gaming PC. My recommendation would be to get a budget gaming PC under 500 that is none below the 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10400 6-Core and AMD Ryzen 5-1400 processor. This way you’ll experience the butter smooth performance on any graphics complex game out there on the market.
Other Best Of Price Gaming PC Guides
Best Budget Gaming PC
Best Gaming PC Under 800
Read ‘Accessories’ Guides By Techprogeeks
Conclusion
This was all about the best gaming PC under 500 dollars from my side and I did my best to offer you your desired fit on this low budget. In the beginning portion, you have an idea of going with the better choice. Whether it’s a prebuilt gaming PC or building a gaming PC.
In the end, you can find out exactly what you should do when choosing the best gaming PC under 500. These were the efforts that I put into helping you in picking the right $500 gaming PC fit for you. Now, it’s your turn to tell us in the comment box which gaming PC under $500 is your favorite, or if you have any suggestions, you can contact us directly on our contact form. Of course, we’ll always be happy to answer your all queries.
