PCs have always been the best for gaming. However, most gaming PCs cost well over $1,000.
There are definitely several that you can buy for cheap around $500. If you are a moderate gamer, you can benefit from cheap gaming PC like CybertronPC Borg-Q.
Here is a list of best budget gaming PCs you can consider:
5 Best Cheap Gaming PCs – 2023
Acer Aspire Desktop, 7th Gen Intel Core i5-7400, 8GB DDR4, 2TB HDD, Windows 10 Home, TC-780-AMZKi5
This is a rather generic looking desktop from a reliable brand that cash-strapped gamers can invest in without worries. This desktop comes with a quad-core 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7400 processor, 8GB DDR4 2400MHz memory, Intel HD Graphics 630 card, and an impressive 2TB SATA3 HDD. It came with Genuine Windows 10 Home software, and zero bloatware. Surely, the video card is nothing to write home about. So I highly recommend upgrading it. But the other specs are solid enough for moderate gaming needs, as well as work needs when needed. When you have money, you can upgrade the chipset too, as memory and HDD can definitely handle a higher performing processor and a graphics card.
Acer Aspire TC-885-UA91 Desktop, 9th Gen Intel Core i3-9100, 8GB DDR4, 512GB SSD, 8X DVD, 802.11AC Wifi, USB 3.1 Type C, Windows 10 Home,Black
This one is a great value with a 9th Generation Intel Core i3 9100 Processor (up to 4.2 GHz). Other specs include 8GB DDR4 memory and a 512 GB Flash Memory Solid State hard drive. It has Intel UHD Graphics 630. It has plenty of ports (1 USB 3. 1 Type C Gen 2 port (up to 10 Gaps), 1 USB 3. 1 Gen 2 port, 1 USB 3. 1 Gen 1 port, 4 USB 2. 0 Ports & 2 HDMI ports & 1 VGA Port), it looks sleek, doesn't take up too much space. As a gaming machine, it can handle the simple stuff at 60 FPS on medium to high quality with ease, however, more demanding games such as Overwatch is where you will encounter some issues. Upgrading the graphics card would be a solution if you would like to do more advanced gaming.
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![DELL Optiplex 7010 Small Form Factor Desktop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i7-3770 Up to 3.9GHz, 16GB RAM, 2TB 7200 RPM HDD, DVD, USB 3.0, WIFI, Windows 10 Pro (Renewed)']](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41oQgZ9YWWL.jpg)
DELL Optiplex 7010 Small Form Factor Desktop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i7-3770 Up to 3.9GHz, 16GB RAM, 2TB 7200 RPM HDD, DVD, USB 3.0, WIFI, Windows 10 Pro (Renewed)']
This Dell packs some impressive specs—an Intel Core i7 processor, 2TB HDD, 16GB DDR3 RAM, and Windows 10 Pro preinstalled. The PC is encased in a slim and lean tower case built to save space on desks. It comes with a SuperMulti DVD drive, integrated audio, and a total of 10 USB ports. This PC only has Intel HD graphics but the GPU can be manually upgraded. Another downside is lack of in-built Bluetooth. However, this desktop is available certified refurbished, so that means you can buy the PC just like new for a fraction of the original price.
CybertronPC Electrum QS-A6 Gaming Desktop - AMD A6-7400K 3.50GHz Dual-Core Processor, 16GB DDR3 Memory, AMD Radeon R5 Graphics, 1TB Hard Drive, Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64-Bit
This is a solid desktop for mild to moderate gamers. The system has a dual-core AMD A4-6300 3.70GHz processor, 8GB DDR3 memory, 1TB HDD and an AMD Radeon HD 8370D graphics card. Overall, it’s great for playing games like Battlefield and WoW. It’s upgradable, in case you are hoping to buy a better graphics card later.
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HP 8300 Elite Small Form Factor Desktop Computer, Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core, 8GB RAM, 500GB SATA, Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit, USB 3.0, Display Port (Renewed)
If you have only mild to moderate gaming needs, this super budget-friendly desktop PC would be a great buy. It has a combination of strong and weak specs. The best specs are the 8GB of RAM, The 500GB SATA storage, and the pre-installed 64-bit Windows 10 Pro operating system. As for the weak points, this PC doesn’t have a graphics card, only an integrated HD graphics system. The processor is a quad-core Core i5. It can definitely handle games like Minecraft and most older titles. However, you won’t be able to play any new gaming titles on this PC. If you just prefer to play online games and get your everyday work done, then this PC is well-worth the money.
Tips for Buying a Budget Gaming PC
This is what you should know when buying a gaming PC for under $500:
Adjust your expectations. Cheap gaming PCs may not be suitable to play hardcore games on highest settings. Budget gaming PCs are best suited for mild to moderate gamers who want a better gaming experience than what the standard computer offers.
Invest in the processor. Even the best graphics card will be useless of the processor is bad. Get a dual or quad core processor for the best performance. The more cores the processor has, the faster it will be.
You don’t need to spend too much money on RAM memory. About 8GB of RAM is enough. But 16GB is recommended.
Make sure the PC has a good CPU. AMD Polaris or Nvidia Pascal are currently the best GPUs. You can future-proof your system by getting a gaming PC that’s VR ready.
Buy a PC that is upgrade friendly. You may need to upgrade parts in the future to stay on top of changing quality trends. You should expect to replace the GPU or the SSD in the future.
Buy a larger system because they are easy to upgrade. Small systems are not so easy. Check the ports. Your PC should have USB Type-C and Thunderbolt ports. You can connect up to two 4K monitors with these.