Best cheap prebuilt gaming PC under $500 in June 2022
Gaming desktops can cost a lot of money but did you know you can get an entry-level experience with one of the best cheap prebuilt gaming PCs under $500? That’s right, gaming isn’t just reserved for those with bags of cash but you should certainly reign in your expectations, a cheap gaming PC under $500 will struggle with high resolutions or maxed out graphics settings.
In any case, today, we are going to be finding you the best prebuilt gaming PC under $500, while also talking through a few key areas for your consideration, before finally reviewing each selected model. You can also check out our budget gaming PC page for prebuilt gaming PCs of various budgets.
Best cheap gaming PC:
Our Top Picks
The 5 Best Cheap Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $500 in 2021
In-depth Review
HP M01-f0033W Ryzen
HP M01-f0033W Ryzen
The HP Desktop is an entry-level gaming PC that is a reasonable place to start your new PC career. This build doesn’t feature a dedicated GPU, as it relies on the integrated graphics from the 3200G, a reliable chip.
Powering the build is AMD’s Ryzen 3 3200G, a budget APU that packs a decent punch for the price. The processor runs at a base clock speed of 3.6GHz and can be boosted to a maximum speed of 4GHz. With 4 cores and 4 threads, you aren’t getting any multithreading performance but this beats Intel’s integrated graphics by a mile. The 3200G makes use of Vega 8 graphics, giving you some entry-level performance across a multitude of games.
The HP Desktop features 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB HDD. While this storage solution isn’t particularly fast, it is enough to get you playing out of the box, with plenty of room for your OS and favorite games.
This would make an excellent PC for beginners, with strong gaming features at the heart of this build. Aside from the components, you get a compact system with a free keyboard and mouse for out-of-the-box gameplay.
iBUYPOWER Starter PC Computer Desktop SlateMR 240i
iBUYPOWER Starter PC Computer Desktop SlateMR 240i
The iBUYPOWER starter desktop comes with everything you are going to need to start your entry-level gaming career off with a bang. This budget prebuilt for under 0 features a sleek PC case, an Intel core i3 CPU, 480GB of fast storage, and Wi-Fi.
Inside we see Intel’s i3-10105F processor. This quad-core processor features a 3.7GHz clock speed and has a GeForce GT 1030 to push some lower-level titles. . Backing up the CPU we see 8GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, and a 480GB M.2 SSD storage device, which is going to be enough for your operating system and a few of your favorite games.
This is an excellent entry-level PC for the price and is perfect for anyone looking to break into PC gaming.
AVGPC Q-Box Gaming Computer PC
AVGPC Q-Box Gaming Computer PC
The AVGPC might be slightly more expensive than our budget pick, but key specifications do make up for the additional cost. This build offers excellent gaming performance for those looking to start a career in competitive esports (or any low-intensive gaming format). It not only comes with great aesthetics and decent performance but excellent cooling thanks for the case in question.
At the heart of this build lies the ever-popular Ryzen 5 3600 – AMD’s low-end gaming processor. The CPU brings a 3.6Ghz base clock/ 4.2Ghz boost clock speed which is more than enough to run lower-end games. Paired alongside this very capable process sits 8GB of DDR4 3000Mhz RAM, 500GB of rapid SSD storage, and a 500W PSU to keep everything ticking over. Furthermore, users are treated to a very effective standalone GPU in the GT 710. This makes the AVGPC an excellent base PC for anyone that wants to play low-intensive games and still have the option to upgrade in the future.
Overall, whilst this PC won’t be winning any prizes for outstanding performance, it’s still a fine choice for first-time gamers looking to get into PC gaming.
Alarco Gaming PC (Intel i5)
Alarco Gaming PC (Intel i5)
If you want to experience the Intel series, this prebuilt gaming PC is one of the best for the price. This may not be as fast as Intel’s Core i5-8400 but the Intel i5-2400 still delivers some serious processing speeds.
The GTX 650 graphics make it possible to get playable FPS counts in most games you could find today at 1080p resolution. Gaming with this rig is an investment-worthy of the price. It has 8GB RAM that boosts the already fast processing speeds meaning video and graphics editing software can also be run beautifully with this setup. The GPU is probably the standout feature of this build, offering good performance in a number of different gaming titles. It’ll also allow you to do some light rendering as well.
Overall, for the price, this thing offers good aesthetics and should output a decent level of performance for the price.
CUK AsRock DeskMini
CUK AsRock DeskMini
We come to something a little different, literally. The CUK AsRock Deskmini is pretty much what it says on the tin, a mini desktop gaming rig. Don’t be fooled however with its small form factor, this thing packs a serious punch.
It comes to the table with the classic Ryzen 3 2200G chips, which is currently in 3 of our best of $500 pre-build list. You really can’t go wrong with the 2200G when you’re working with a budget, its simply the most powerful, efficient APU in its price range. It will handle AAA game titles wonderfully, granted at lower settings. This machine doesn’t come with a standalone GPU so it has to make use of AMD’s VEGA 8 graphics which, in all honesty, is a very good graphics substitute. It handles Fornite, CS:GO, and LOL very well if you tweak the settings just right. The 8GB of 2,666Mhz RAM is a perfect pairing for the 2200G and provides a healthy performance boost whilst still remaining within budget.
Further to this, the Deskmini comes with 256GB of SSD making it the largest SSD solution out of all the builds on this list. We all know the benefits of SSD, Superfast boot, and load times, so being able to put as many games on here as possible is hugely advantageous to the consumer. However, with the Mini’s small form factor, you’re probably going to have to use an external HDD when it inevitably comes to it.
Overall, the CUK AsRock Deskmini is an acquired taste and you really need to be in the market solely for mini form factor if you go for this one. It does have it’s pro’s but it certainly has it’s cons as well. As far as mini form builds go though, this is a fantastic option.
Final Word
Finding the best prebuilt gaming PC under $500 is quite challenging but every option we have included offers great value. If you can afford more, then we would recommend you go for an $800 prebuilt gaming PC, with these offering excellent graphics and performance in 1080p, allowing you to play games in high detail with decent FPS results.
Regardless, you are getting a gaming PC here that will be able to play your favorite esports titles with ease. You may have to tweak settings to get your desired frame rate but these entry-level machines are a great place to start when getting into PC gaming on the cheap!