If you are looking to save money on your next gaming PC, there has never been a better time in recent years than now. The best budget gaming PCs are no longer low-spec affairs that struggle to run triple-A titles; it’s now possible to get a robust machine delivering gorgeous visuals, high performance, and a seamless gaming experience at the same time without a hefty price tag.
In case your old unit is due for an upgrade, but you do not want to pay a nosebleed cost for a new gaming PC, there are more options than ever before for a powerful build within your budget.
Every year it gets harder to buy a new gaming PC. With major manufacturers like Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, and others all jockeying for their share of the booming high-end component market, there is a severe lack of quality options on the lower side of the price bracket.
Some processors and graphics cards are more expensive than they have ever been, and it’s hard to find an affordable rig that can play the latest games at maximum quality. Therefore, the performance of a budget gaming PC may not match today’s best and newest machines.
However, it will still play all games comfortably, and you can also upgrade or tweak your computer to keep up with new games in the years to come. Although one may have to settle for slightly lower settings than a monster build boasting top-shelf specs is capable of offering, the machines we listed here are loaded with excellent value-for-money components that will allow you to experience an ultra-smooth and immersive gameplay without breaking a sweat.
The kind of hardcore experience that previously could only come from the premium gaming PCs is now available with these budget builds, giving you an almost similar thrill, thanks to their incredible graphics fidelity, higher frame rates, and responsive controls. What’s more, they are all from reputable mainstream brands, so you can expect the same high-quality manufacturing and durable chassis as their upmarket counterparts.
In a hurry? Here are our top 3 picks for the best budget gaming PCs in 2023!
What’s Considered as a Gaming PC?
It goes without saying that gaming PCs are a pretty significant investment, so it’s important to take your search for the perfect gaming rig seriously. While there is a lot to consider between your graphics card and processor to the memory and storage, there are some broad standards that make it easy to quickly and easily compare all the individual components available.
Depending on your budget, experience, and resources, this may not be exactly like the ideal gaming machine you have in mind. However, as long as you know what to look for, you can put together a competent build that will fit your needs.
When you hear the word “Gaming PC,” what comes to mind? For many people, it’s a system sporting a powerful graphics card, which is capable of delivering great visuals in today’s games. But aside from the graphics card alone, there are many other essential components and features such as Processor, RAM, storage capacity, and more that make up a Gaming PC together and play crucial roles in determining its overall performance.
Keep in mind that a robust gaming rig often means less airflow, leading to noise and temperature issues. Therefore, a gaming PC should also have an efficient (and quiet) cooling system that will allow good airflow to remove the generated heat from the machine.
For gamers, RAM is is another crucial part when it comes to speed and performance. While motherboard and processor matter, the brand of RAM module, its clock speed, whether it’s a dual-channel or not, etc., can make a difference in the gaming experience.
Not all RAM is created equal, so for those looking for improved frame rates and faster response time, opt for modules with enhanced capacity, higher frequency and bandwidth, and broader motherboard support up to the latest releases.
A gaming PC should also offer a superior audio experience. Positional audio is a sound engineering term to describe sound cues that allow the listener to understand how far away or how near a particular sound source is. It’s especially useful in video games as it helps provide appropriate spatial awareness allowing gamers on surround sound systems and headphones to gain an advantage over their opponents.
With a positional audio engine and a great-sounding pair of speakers, you can take your gaming experience to the next level. You need to make sure that the machine doesn’t just have incredible power for PC gaming; it has an amazing soundscape to match on top of everything.
So at the end of the day, a gaming PC is all about finding that balance. The prices of the components may seem high at first. But in the long run, you will find that they are worth it.
Prebuilt Gaming PC vs. Custom Gaming PC – What’s Better?
While most people nowadays choose to build their own custom-made gaming PC, it’s crucial to understand if it is the right option for you.
Unfortunately, many don’t know what they are doing and end up spending twice as much as they would on a prebuilt gaming machine. Before you decide that you are going to build your own, there are a few factors you have to consider, including your needs, budget, and how much time and effort you want to spend.
However, while a prebuilt gaming PC can last you a while if you choose one with the latest hardware and software installed, the parts are not easily upgradeable in the future. If your budget allows for it, going with a custom option offers more flexibility and upgradeability.
So, what are the pros and cons of both systems? We examine this topic in more detail below.
Flexibility
When deciding between a prebuilt or a custom-built gaming PC, remember that you will lose some flexibility when going with the prebuilt route.
Although prebuilt PCs can be convenient, compatible, is more readily available, and can be immediately used out of the box, they are always going to be a compromise in hardware when compared to custom-built PCs. Future adjustments with the prebuilt ones are mostly limited to upgrades like increasing or decreasing the amount of RAM and storage.
On the other hand, when building a custom gaming PC, you have complete control over what hardware parts to put in it. For example, you can get an i7 processor and 32 GB of RAM, coupled with a rather humble graphics card like the GTX 1060 packed in a prebuilt gaming rig.
However, with mainly gaming in your mind, you can easily save some money by going with an i5 CPU with 16 GB of RAM, but install a latest and more powerful GPU such as the RTX 2060 for a more captivating gaming experience.
In addition, prebuilt gaming PCs may not be a very good option if you are looking to build a future-proof system. You need to spend substantially more to make sure your prebuilt machine uses a recent CPU and a motherboard to accommodate upgrades in the future.
Cost
When it comes to PC gaming, many believe that they are better off putting together a machine from scratch. Not only does this give them more control over the performance, but it also lets them save money on components they actually don’t really need. Now, buying prebuilt can have its benefits too.
It’s easy to think that a custom gaming computer will meet all your needs. However, with so many factors to take into account and so many parts to choose from, you can end up overspending on the wrong stuff, which can wind up being useless for your needs.
On the contrary, prebuilt PCs come with a significant price advantage over custom builds. They are cheaper in most cases due to the price advantage of OEM components procured in bulk by the manufacturer, allowing you to allocate more resources towards a more powerful GPU or a bigger PSU.
They also typically don’t require much maintenance or configuration, making them affordable to use in the long run. A fully featured $700 prebuilt will generally perform like a more expensive $1000 custom-built gaming PC, and you can always upgrade individual components with a little bit of elbow grease, resulting in an overall better value for money purchase.
Which One Should You Buy?
So, if you like having the freedom to customize your order and don’t trust someone else’s build, then a custom PC is for you. It’s definitely not for everyone, though – it’s more expensive and time-consuming than getting a prebuilt PC. In fact, the time needed to put it together could cost the equivalent of one month’s worth of game subscriptions!
For most gamers out there, it’s just not worth the time or effort to build their own gaming PC, and prebuilt desktops can be a good middle ground. However, as a PC gamer, whether you should buy a machine prebuilt by a company or one that you build yourself is all about personal preference.
If you value convenience, cost, and time efficiency more and don’t want to deal with having to install everything yourself, then buying a prebuilt gaming pc would be a sensible decision, especially when you can’t afford to stretch your budget beyond a certain extent.
1. SkyTechBlaze 3.0 Gaming PC with Core i5 10400 2.9 GHz, RTX 3060 Ti – Best Overall
SkyTech is a bit of a lesser-known name in the prebuilt gaming desktop space compared to brands like CyberPowerPC and iBUYPOWER, but they have made a name for themselves by providing high-end desktops that can compete with other specialty computer manufacturers.
And now, with a host of new options in the lineup and at competitive price points, the company is becoming a solid option for buyers who are looking for budget-friendly gaming machines that strike a balance between performance, raw power, and price.
The SkyTechBlaze 3.0 is a mid-range gaming PC specially built for AAA gaming titles that comes with an i5 10400 2.9 GHz processor and a dedicated RTX 3060 Ti graphics card for impressive gaming and content creation experience. Its fast 3200 MHz 16GB RAM and 500 GB SSD make it useful for gaming, editing images and rendering high-resolution videos, watching movies, and performing other moderate to heavy tasks.
The chassis, meanwhile, has a full-tower gaming case with tempered and transparent glass side panel featuring an array of LED lights illuminating its interior. The mid-tower case has a bold and aggressive design sporting a vented faceplate that is built to last.
Additionally, this baby further gets three RGB fans for breathing life into the system during intense gameplay. Given the price point, it’s overall the best gaming desktop build from SkyTech.
For under $1500, you will barely find another prebuilt system that can match the SkyTech Blaze 3.0 gaming desktop.
Why is SkyTechBlaze 3.0 The Best Gaming PC For Beginners in 2023?
When you are looking for a reasonably priced gaming PC capable of handling your favorite games in 1080p, the SkyTech Blaze 3.0 is a stylish gaming PC that delivers great performance while keeping the cost to a minimum. Featuring a powerful combination of high-performing CPU and graphics card, this PC is sure to offer a premium gaming experience in all titles with smooth frame rates and high FPS counts.
The SkyTech Blaze 3.0 features Intel’s 10th generation i5 10400 2.9 GHz CPU and Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti graphics card accompanied by a 16 GB DDR4 3200 memory module, which will give you impressive gaming performance on a wide range of games. The CPU might not have the highest base clock speed, but it has a decent turbo boost speed of 4.3 GHz which should keep your gaming sessions relatively smooth.
The RTX graphics card offers high-end specs like 4864 CUDA Cores, a base core speed of 1410 MHz, and a boost speed of 1670 MHz, making it an excellent choice for beginner gamers who want to enjoy their favorite competitive games in high settings or achieve higher FPS counts.
This compact PC is built with a small footprint but with enough room for powerful components that can cater to beginner and experienced PC gamers alike by running most modern games on mid-to-high graphical settings with ease. For someone who is on a small budget, the SkyTech Blaze 3.0 gaming desktop is probably the best choice.
2. CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC – Runner Up
The CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8060A10 is a highly capable gaming PC designed to bring the maximum gaming experience out of a tight budget. The performance beast comes in a drool-worthy case and is proved easily upgradable.
It is easy to see why this gaming PC is our editor’s choice for the runner-up position on our list. Its performance is what a high-end PC gamer expects, with the right amount of ports, expandability, and ample storage space that lets you install your favorite games on your PC. It has plenty of reasons to be considered a powerhouse neatly packed within a beautiful case, but let us get more into depth to find out its real worth.
The setup is powered by an Intel Core i5-10400F processor, which features six cores and 12 threads clocked at 2.9 GHz with turbo capacity up to 4.3 GHz. This is paired with 8 GB of DDR4 memory and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super (6 GB VRAM) graphics card.
Although this desktop PC is built for gaming, its powerful Intel processor can outperform similar models from other brands by running multiple applications at once, making it a reliable partner for everyday tasks, too.
Moving on, when you are on the verge of gaming nirvana and want a great budget gaming PC to take you there, look no further than the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme boasting a brilliant Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super GPU. While the card is not as powerful as a GTX 1660 Ti with more CUDA cores, it performs 50% faster with 6 GB GDDR6 memory compared to the previous generation GTX 1060 card, allowing you to have enough muscle power to play games at medium and high settings comfortably.
3. HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop – Budget Pick
This HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop is fit to defend your digital turf with a 10th Generation Intel Core i3 processor coupled with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER graphics card so you can experience smooth and outstanding 4k visuals as you play games or stream video.
This super-cheap desktop has a lot of processing power for the price, and it really surprised us in our testing, offering solid performance for everyday use and impressive efficiency from a compact tower that fits easily in small spaces. It features a 10th Generation Intel Core i3-10100 processor capable of running at 3.6 GHz with a maximum boost speed of 4.30 GHz, perfect for seamless and smooth gameplay – plus easy streaming and multitasking.
Let’s not its humble pricing fool you; now you enjoy faster boot up, load times, and app response times with an 8 GB DD4 memory like a more upmarket gaming rig and 256 GB ultra-fast PCIe NVMe SSD for storing your favorite music, movies, and files.
The prebuilt gaming PC got an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER graphics card onboard, which we rate as well equipped to handle most of your favorite games at a reasonable frame rate.
Keeping the requirements of modern gamers in mind, this desktop includes several smart features such as Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi 5 for a seamless wireless user experience, while the USB wired keyboard and mouse combo add to the convenience.
4. Skytech Legacy Mini Gaming PC Desktop
SkyTech is a company dedicated to producing high-quality gaming products that are designed to deliver the ultimate technical performance at an affordable price. They have specialized in developing highly efficient prebuilt PCs that are built with cutting-edge technology and boast a stylish design that will add to the aesthetic value of any home or office.
This SkyTech Legacy Mini Gaming PC Desktop is a high-performance gaming and multimedia computer that packs in powerful AMD Ryzen 7 2700 CPU with 16 MB L3 cache memory, advanced Nvidia GTX 1660 Super video card with 6 GB GDDR6 graphics memory, 16 GB DDR4 memory, 500 GB Solid State Drive, ARGB front display, and a multitude of other features to ensure top performance.
The prebuilt budget gaming desktop features a new all-aluminum body, sleek and stylish design, and a smart system powered by high-end gaming-oriented specs inside the case. It comes with three display ports v1.4, one HDMI port, 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, and 4 x USB 3.1 Gen1 ports, with M2 SSD support which lets users get an enhanced performance when transferring files.
Available for less than $1200, Skytech’s Legacy Mini Gaming PC delivers an immersive experience right out of the box for the price range. Backed by AMD’s new Ryzen 7 2700 processor and GTX 1660 Super GPU, this compact desktop is ready to game and transform your digital life with its collection of cutting-edge technologies. With its killer specs and striking design, this versatile machine is the perfect choice for any gaming enthusiast.
5. CUK Stratos Micro Gaming Desktop PC
The CUK Stratos Micro Gaming Desktop PC powers all your essential gaming tasks with no hassle and comes at a price point that can’t be beaten. Powered by an Intel Core i5 CPU, the PC is tactfully designed to keep your system effortlessly running as if it was not even on while rummaging through every type of game you would ever need to play. Its 16 GB DDR4 RAM ensures that all applications and components run at optimal performance.
At the heart of any gaming PC is a powerful processor, and we think this is one of the best gaming rigs within its price bracket, sporting a robust Intel 10th generation Core i5-10400F CPU for everything from competitive gaming to multimedia consumption. This midrange processor is very responsive and offers a base clock speed of 2.9 GHz, which can be increased to 4.3 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology.
The system comes packing NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, delivering spectacular performance in both gaming as well as multitasking. With high-speed and low-latency connectivity, this machine provides nothing but what you expect from a premium gaming build, including a wide range of USB ports, 512 GB NVME SSD drive, an attractive set of backlit gaming keyboard and mouse, RGB lighting, and many others.
It comes with a top choice cooling system that combines six high-airflow RGB fans to keep the PC quiet and efficient while running demanding games and applications. The 3 x metal fin front panel construction ensures excellent airflow and, together with CUK’s proprietary silent operation technology, your system will remain thoroughly protected from dust buildup as you work or game.
6. SkyTech Blaze 3.0 Gaming Computer PC Desktop with Core i3-10100F, GTX 1650
The SkyTech Blaze 3.0 Budget Gaming Desktop PC is definitely a viable option for gamers looking to get their fix of intense gaming but are maxed out on their budgets. As a PC for under $1000, this comes with a solid Intel Core i3-10100F processor, an NVIDIA GTX 1650 graphics card, 8GB of memory, a 500 GB NVMe SSD for storage.
And the best part? To maximize its performance potential and keep things quiet inside, the system is constructed using premium-grade materials in the chassis. It comes with premium Phanteks Metallic Gear Neo Air, a mid-size case to pack in a ton of cooling features out of the box, including top mounting grills, front and side panel vents, three adjustable RGB fans at the front of the case (and two more at the rear) that can be controlled using the included software and lighting control buttons, offering a non-intrusive single action touch switch to manage them.
With USB 3.2, 3.0, and 2.0 ports, and DisplayPort and HDMI support for full HD video output, you can connect this gaming PC to any monitor or TV nearby for easy viewing. LEDs embedded within the chassis add to the already beautiful design details – from front panel LEDs to RGB fans that match any color you want.
If you are in the market for an affordable gaming desktop that won’t break the bank while still giving you plenty of adrenalin rush, this budget PC will surely not disappoint you.
7. ROG Strix GL10DH Gaming Desktop PC
The Asus ROG Gaming line has always empowered gamers to build their dream desktop, and the Strix GL10DH takes things one step further with its compact size and gaming-focused features. Measuring just 428 mm tall and 180 mm wide, it is among the smallest systems in our budget gaming PC lineup.
It’s compact enough to fit in a dorm room or a bedroom while offering plenty of power to glide through any serious gaming session. In addition to the basic ROG essentials, including the Aura Sync lighting, this machine also offers a number of gaming-only features to help ensure maximum performance.
With GTX 1650 graphics and a smooth 144 Hz refresh rate, this ROG GL10DH desktop gaming PC is ready for every AAA title available. It has both HDMI and DisplayPort support to deliver crisp visuals, while the 4 GB of GDDR5 graphics memory pumps out smooth gameplay at medium to high settings.
Asus’s latest gaming desktop is equipped with a robust four-core AMD Ryzen 5 3400G CPU that has a 3.7 GHz base clock speed and up to 4.2 GHz max turbo frequency, backed by 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB of NVME SSD for fast boot-up times, storing games, videos, and other data.
ROG Strix GL10DH is a sleek and compact desktop gaming PC that provides a pure gaming experience. It packs a hell of a punch, all while being on the more affordable end of the scale.
How to Choose the Best Budget Gaming PC – Buying Guide
For those on a budget or who simply prefer the flexibility of selecting your own components, our list of best budget gaming PCs makes exploring the range hassle-free.
However, making the right decision can feel like an impossible task. It’s even harder if you are not sure what you are looking for or how to choose the best systems for your needs. In this guide, we will break down some of the factors that might influence your decision and present a suggested route towards choosing a budget gaming PC.
Whether you are looking for an affordable Windows 10 PC, a powerful AMD or Nvidia graphics card setup, an HD monitor for competitive gaming, or a dependable SSD for storing your vast library of games and media files, we have got everything you need to enjoy the world of PC gaming.
Pricing
People often ask about the minimum amount of money they should spend on a gaming PC. “How much should I spend?” is a question that troubles many people who are considering buying a prebuilt budget game rig for themselves.
We believe, however, that in order to get the most out of your new computer, you don’t need to pay big dollars on a prebuilt gaming PC, especially if you are a first-time gamer or on a tight budget. Here in this article, we have listed a range of systems starting from well below a thousand dollars, and they are perfect for anyone looking to play the latest games on moderate settings and get an optimized experience throughout the system.
But as always, do your research first. Browse through online forums and review sites to get a feel for the best products in that price range, and ask friends and family for their opinions as well. After you have narrowed things down, you can make an educated decision about which parts to go with or move up to a higher-end system with more features or upgraded components.
Without thorough research, chances are you will end up with a system that is either overpriced for what it’s offering or does not meet your requirements. You can also use benchmarking tools and databases to determine if these builds are capable of running the games with your desired settings. Note that there are versions of some systems with very different specifications than what is shown on online marketplaces.
Performance
When looking for a budget gaming PC, make sure the build fits your specific performance needs. Take into account the lowest settings you would be fine with as a baseline gaming experience and how things will change as you upgrade components. Decide what components and features are most important to you, and prioritize them over others.
How much performance do you really need? Do you want to run all of your games at 1920×1080? Or do you need to push your CPU and GPU to their limits for the best possible frame rate?
If the higher FPS is more important to you than faster system boot time, then go with a more powerful graphics card option, even if the system offers an HDD instead of a solid-state drive. You want to make sure your PC has the power to handle whatever you are planning on using it for.
If you want to get the most bang for your buck, then weigh what you want and need to spend and make a list of essential components, taking performance into consideration. Finally, when you find the best match for your price range, do not hesitate to jump into the buy button.
Additional Peripherals
Your bare minimum gaming PC will still get the job done, but you might want to consider dropping a few dollars on extra features and peripherals.
For example, a new monitor is an excellent way to start enjoying your new gaming PC, but rather than falling in love with every shiny new model that rolls off the assembly line; it’s a good idea to consider features like resolutions and refresh rates before picking one out.
If you are going to be gaming at 1080p resolution with a 60 Hz refresh rate, you would be better served by a suitable monitor than a display with a higher refresh rate like 144 Hz. A monitor that supports 1440p resolution will deliver noticeably crisper visuals compared to its less powerful counterpart, but only if you are willing to drop more dollars for the extra pixels.
Also, choose from a wide selection at varying price points to find affordable headphones or loudspeakers that deliver impressive sound quality with features like wireless connectivity and better audio processing.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best machine to suit your budget gaming needs is important because the biggest mistake you can make is buying the wrong one that can make all other tasks a real challenge.
We know the pressure you are under to get your hands on a fast, powerful gaming PC for a great price. That’s why we have curated this list of top 7 budget gaming PC recommendations to help you sift through all the options and get the best deals around.
