Although the initial investment in a high-end gaming PC may seem too large, budget gaming PCs actually provide a surprising low-cost entry point into the hobby. If you want to play the best PC games, you don’t have to spend a month’s (or more) worth of salary on a gaming PC. A powerful computer with a brand-new central processing unit (CPU) and graphics card can be had for a thousand dollars or less.
To enter the world of PC gaming and play AAA and indie titles, all you need is a reasonably priced rig. Even if your new computer comes with a slow solid-state drive (SSD) or only a single memory module (RAM module), these parts are easily replaceable and upgradable.
It’s the same with gaming; if you want a 4K display, you can always get a more powerful graphics processing unit (GPU). So, if you want to get into PC gaming but don’t want to break the bank, these are the best budget options.
TL;DR – These are the Best Budget Gaming PCs
Lenovo Legion 5i Tower Gen 7
Best Budget Gaming PC
- CPU: Intel Core i5-12400
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060
- RAM: 16GB DDR5 4,800MHz
- Storage: 256GB PCIe 4.0 SSD, 1TB HDD (7,200RPM)
- Weight: 35.27 pounds
- Size: 16.54″ x 8.07″ x 15.57″ (W x D x H)
The Lenovo Legion 5i Tower Gen 7 may cost a tad more than $1,000, but the upgrade to Intel’s latest 12th Generation processor is well worth the cost. The new central processing unit (CPU) really boosts the processing power of this gaming PC, and it also improves the PC’s efficiency when you’re not playing games. Even though the PCIe 4.0 SSD’s meagre 256GB of storage space may be disappointing, you do get fast DDR5 memory as well.
The Lenovo Legion 5i Tower Gen 7 is great because it is a well-made gaming computer in general. The front is mesh, exposing two intake fans, and the back is where the exhaust fan is located. A standard micro ATX motherboard and a sizable heatsink are included on the inside to keep your CPU from overheating. The Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card ensures that you can play many games at 1080p at a high frame rate.
HP Omen 25L Gaming Desktop
Best Gaming PC Under $1000
- CPU: Intel Core i5-12400
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 3050
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 3,200MHz
- Storage: 256GB PCIe 3.0 SSD
- Weight: 30.45 pounds
- Size: 6.50” x 15.59” x 17.64” (W x D x H)
If you have a strict budget of $1,000, the HP Omen 25L Gaming Desktop is a fantastic gaming PC. The processor is an Intel Core i5-12400 from the 12th generation, which is a great all-around option for gaming thanks to its six P-cores and twelve threads and its ability to be overclocked to ridiculous levels.
It’s a gaming workhorse and will make short work of your regular chores. Inevitably, the combination of that CPU and Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics makes this machine a 1080p gaming champion, though playing at higher resolutions will reduce the frame rate.
With 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage space, you have everything you need to get started playing PC games, even if this gaming PC isn’t quite full-featured. If that isn’t enough for you, the HP Omen 25L has a tonne of customizable upgrades you can add on at the time of purchase, and it also has a large PC case for future upgrades.
HP Victus 15L
Cheapest Gaming PC
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5500 (4GB GDDR5)
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 3,200MHz
- Storage: 256GB PCIe 3.0 SSD
- Weight: 13.91 pounds
- Size: 6.1” x 11.71” x 13.27” (W x D x H)
The HP Victus 15L, at $549, is the least expensive but still functional PC we could find. Both the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, and the GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 5500, are incredibly potent and powerful. Playing AAA games at 1080p resolution with high visual quality settings is simple and will yield 60 frames per second.
As a compact machine, the HP Victus 15L is ideal if you don’t have much room for a desktop computer. The only real drawback is that it only has 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage out of the box, but that’s more than enough to get started with gaming.
Corsair Vengeance a7200
Best Budget PC for 1440p Gaming
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 3,200MHz
- Storage: 1TB PCIe 3.0 SSD, 1TB HDD (7,200RPM)
- Weight: 13.96 pounds
- Size: 17.8″ x 7.99″ x 18.35″ (W x D x H)
Though 1440p gaming on a budget may seem impossible, the Corsair Vengeance a7200 is excellent, if limited, deal we could find for $1,649. The Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X in this gaming PC will make your 4K gaming dreams a reality. It has both a 1TB solid-state drive (SSD) and a 1TB hard drive, along with 16GB of memory.
The best part is that it is housed in Corsair’s beautiful 4000D case, which features not one but three intake fans and an all-in-one liquid CPU cooler with the heat being expelled from the top of the system. Prebuilt PCs from Corsair are solidly constructed and employ only standard PC parts, making future upgrades and replacements a breeze.
NZXT Streaming PC
Best Budget PC for 1080p Gaming
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060
- RAM: 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 3,200MHz
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Weight: 14.55 pounds
- Size: 16.65″ x 8.27″ x 18.11″ (W x D x H)
The NZXT Streaming PC provides excellent performance at 1080p for a reasonable price, making it a great choice for those who want to game on a budget without sacrificing frame rates. You can play games in silky 1080p with the highest settings thanks to your powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card. In fact, it can play some 1440p games, albeit not as well as the Corsair Vengeance a7200.
That graphics processing unit (GPU) works wonderfully with the mid-range AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor, making quick work of most games. If you’re just getting started with PC gaming or are just a casual gamer, the NZXT Streaming PC’s 16GB of memory and 1TB of speedy SSD storage will be more than enough.
The name implies a high-quality Twitch broadcast while you play, and it also has plenty of inputs and outputs to accommodate your various accessories. In addition to the ample space for component swapping afforded by the roomy case, a powerful liquid cooler with some RGB lighting is included to ensure that all the computer’s components maintain peak performance.
Details to Consider When Buying an Affordable Gaming Computer
While the best gaming PCs will always be on the pricier side, especially if you intend to play graphically intensive games on high or ultra settings, it is possible to find a decent and affordable gaming rig.
Taking the examples we’ve given above as an example, it’s not hard to find desktops that will get you started with PC gaming without breaking the bank. The most critical step is to locate systems with processors and graphics cards powerful enough to meet your requirements. What to look for will be broken down component by component.
Dedicated Graphics Processing Unit
Graphics cards have never been more effective or reasonably priced because of the revitalized competition between AMD and Nvidia (and soon Intel). The problem is that there are so many choices that it can be difficult to narrow down your options if you aren’t already well-versed in them.
When it comes to affordable graphics cards, the Nvidia RTX 3060 is now the standard. The Nvidia RTX 3050 is a good GPU for competitive games like CS: GO and League of Legends, but it is a bit pricey.
When it comes to AMD, you can usually find the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT in budget systems, or their slightly revised successors. The AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT is an excellent value for the money.
Processor
The computer’s processor is the second component to think about when building a gaming rig. Computer processors aren’t responsible for the visual quality of your games, but they do affect how smoothly they run.
While updated graphics cards are more important, the significant improvements in performance seen in the latest generations of processors from Intel and AMD are worth noting. For this reason, if you have the means, you should seek out the most recent chips available.
As such, look for a gaming computer that runs on at least an Intel Core i5-12400 or an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor. Finding a PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G or Ryzen 7 5700G in it is possible if you are on a tight budget. There’s no reason to rule out options with these CPUs, as they are essentially AMD’s APUs and provide excellent performance, outstanding integrated graphics, and often additional savings.
RAM
The third most crucial factor is the gaming PC’s processing speed and amount of RAM. You should have at least 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, though modern gaming PCs typically ship with 16 GB or more of RAM. It may be more cost-effective to choose a configuration with less memory and buy a separate kit to install than to upgrade the RAM at checkout, so keep that in mind.