Cheap Prebuilt Gaming PC
So, you want to buy the best cheap prebuilt gaming PC? If you can’t set aside more than $ 800, you are in the right place. With a simple insight into the offer and prices on the market, you can see that quite a varied offer, but which is the right choice for you?
Do you want the best-prebuilt budget gaming PC, or do you want to make new ones from components of your choice? An essential item of any gaming PC is undoubtedly a discrete graphics card. However, they are still expensive to consider in some budget gaming configurations (other than buying a used PC).
I have compiled a list of the top five budget prebuilt gaming PC systems that may interest you because they provide solid performance for your money. Also, remember that these PC systems usually come with a keyboard and mouse but without a monitor.
Among other things, the cheap prebuilt gaming PC must meet the following criteria:
- must have a GPU capable of decent gaming in 1080p
- the case must have good thermal characteristics and enough space to upgrade the better discrete graphics card
- PSU must have enough power reserve to support a newer discrete graphics card and CPU
- M.2 PCI NVMe SSD is preferred over classic SSD
Recommendation for the best cheap prebuilt gaming PC
Picture | Name | Details | Price |
Acer Nitro 50 | CPU: Intel Core-i5 11400FGPU: GTX 1650 4GB DDR5SSD: 512GB M.2 NVMe RAM: 1x8GB DDR4PSU: 500W | Check Price | |
SkyTech Blaze II | CPU:AMD Ryzen 5 3600GPU: GTX 1650 4GB DDR5SSD: 500GB SATA 3RAM: 1x8GB DDR4PSU: 600W | Check Price | |
HP Pavilion Gaming | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600GGPU: AMD RX 5500 XT 4GBSSD: 256GB M.2 NVMeRAM: 1x8GB DDR4PSU: 400W | Check Price | |
AVGPC Q-Box | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600GGPU: Radeon RX Vega 7SSD: 500GB SATA 3RAM: 1x8GB DDR4PSU: 650W | Check Price | |
MSI PRO DP20Z | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600GGPU: Radeon RX Vega 7SSD: 256GB M.2 NVMeRAM: 1x8GB DDR4PSU: 120W | Check Price |
1. Acer Nitro 50
Acer Nitro 50 Gaming Desktop | |
Motherboard (MB) | Acer Intel B560 |
Processor (CPU) | Intel Core i5-11400F |
Graphics Card (GPU) | NVIDIA GTX 1650 4GB DDR5 |
Solid State Drive (SSD) | Kingston 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe |
Memory (RAM) | Kingston 8GB DDR4 3200Mhz |
Power Supply Unit (PSU) | FSP 500W 80+ Gold |
Operating System (OS) | Windows 10 Home 64-bit |
Extras | Keyboard and Mouse |
Check Price |
Pros
- Great gamer design
- Solid 1080p and eSports performance
- 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe
- Plenty of ports including USB Type-C
Cons
- 8GB RAM
- Hot under higher load
- Limited upgradability
Essential features
The Acer has packed its gaming configuration into a lovely gaming case whose interior rests on the Predator Orion 3000 model. The Acer case is exceptionally high quality and very solid. Smaller dimensions are suitable because they easily fit into more cramped spaces. On the front, the Nitro 50 has one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, one USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port, and two audio jacks (for headphones and microphone).
The right side isn’t transparent but is stylized with honeycomb-shaped openings for better air circulation. There’s only one red LED fan inside the case for blowing hot air. The basis of the Nitro 50 gaming computer is Acer’s motherboard with an Intel B560 chipset.
The Core i5-11400F processor is an excellent six-core processor with a base clock from 2.6 GHz to 4.4 GHz (with boost). Intel processor and Nvidia GTX 1650 4GB graphics card are best for 1080p gaming with high detail in newer games. The power supply is FSP 500W 80+ Gold, enough for this configuration and possibly expanding the system.
Acer Nitro 50 supports Wireless Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with dual-band, running at 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Bluetooth 5.2 support is also available.
If you opt for this affordable prebuilt PC, I advise you to insert another 8GB DDR4 RAM module and invest in purchasing one internal hard drive of at least 4TB to store your data. If you don’t want to install an internal drive, a good solution is to purchase an external USB 3.0 drive of at least 2TB.
2. SkyTech Blaze II
MSI PRO DP20Z | |
Motherboard (MB) | ASRock B450M |
Processor (CPU) | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
Graphics Card (GPU) | Gigabyte GTX 1650 4GB DDR5 |
Solid State Drive (SSD) | PNY 500 GB SATA |
Memory (RAM) | Samsung 1x8GB DDR4 3200MHz |
Power Supply Unit (PSU) | Gamdias 600W 80+ Gold |
Operating System (OS) | Windows 10 Home 64-bit |
Extras | Keyboard and Mouse |
Check Price |
Pros
- Attractive case with ARGB fans
- Solid 1080p and eSports performance
- Good cooling
- Suitable for upgrades
Cons
- 8GB RAM
- SATA SSD
- Not the latest Ryzen 5
Essential features
SkyTech packed its configuration into an elegant case with a transparent tempered glass side. The motherboard occupies the central part of the case with the AMD B450 chipset and Ryzen 5 3600 CPU. Although this is a great processor, I would still like to see the Ryzen 5 5xxx (Zen 3) in this price range.
A solid choice is a discrete graphics card, NVIDIA GTX 1650, with 4GB DDR5. In terms of performance, they are more or less the same as other PCs with the GTX 1650 GPU. So, all your favorite games like Call of Duty Warzone, Fortnite, League of Legends, Apex Legends, Roblox, Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Minecraft will run just fine in high settings in 720p and 1080p.
A 500GB SSD is also built-in, but it isn’t an M.2 NVMe. Shielded RAM comes in 1x8GB 3200Mhz format, single dual-channel. The power supply is 600W 80+ Gold, enough for this configuration, upgrading, and possibly expanding the system.
SkyTech’s prebuilt gaming PC isn’t cheap. It’s packed in a pretty attractive case with a strong enough configuration to cope with everything you serve it in 720p and 1080p. I especially liked the motherboard, which has room to expand. I hope you get this one in your configuration.
The disadvantages include the installation of an older generation Ryzen processor and lacking a faster M.2 NVMe SSD. Given these shortcomings, I expected a slightly lower price, but on the other hand, you have an excellent basis for future upgrades.
3. HP Pavilion Gaming
HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop Computer | |
Motherboard (MB) | HP |
Processor (CPU) | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G |
Graphics Card (GPU) | AMD RX 5500 XT 4GB DDR5 |
Solid State Drive (SSD) | 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 |
Memory (RAM) | 8GB DDR4 3000Mhz |
Power Supply Unit (PSU) | HP 400W 80+ |
Operating System (OS) | Windows 10 Home 64-bit |
Extras | Keyboard and Mouse |
Check Price |
Pros
- Compact design, looks good
- Good 1080p and eSports performance
- Lots of ports and connectivity
- Good value for money
Cons
- 8GB RAM
- PSU is weak for stronger graphics cards
- 256GB SSD
- Hot and loud under greater load
Essential features
HP has a great prebuilt gaming PC to deliver maximum performance in 1080p. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G processor comes with an AMD RX 5500 graphics card, 8GB DDR4, and 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD packaged in a beautifully designed microATX case.
The case looks lovely and, very importantly, doesn’t take up much space on the table. Everything works well-tuned and weighted, so you have nothing to do with the case or cooling.
The HP brand has long been synonymous with the quality and support of its products. They give each computer personal touch through design or some new engineering solutions. You always pay a little more for the famous brand and the quality you get. In this case, I can safely recommend HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop with the remark to make a slight upgrade when buying or possibly later if your wallet is now thin.
4. AVGPC Q-Box
AVGPC Q-Box_4 Gaming PC | |
Motherboard (MB) | Biostar B450 |
Processor (CPU) | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G |
Graphics Card (GPU) | Integrated Radeon Vega |
Solid State Drive (SSD) | 500GB SATA |
Memory (RAM) | 8GB DDR4 3200Mhz |
Power Supply Unit (PSU) | Coller Master MasterWatt 650W 80+ |
Operating System (OS) | Windows 10 Home 64-bit |
Extras | Keyboard and Mouse |
Please note that brands listed in the specification will vary depending on the stock vary. | |
Check Price |
Pros
- Cooler Master Q300L case
- Cooler Master AIO CPU cooling
- Quiet operation and good cooling
- Suitable for upgrades
Cons
- 8GB RAM
- SATA SSD
- Not for demanding games in 1080p
Essential features
The AVGPC Q-BOX is a decent configuration packed in a Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L ATX case. Let me note that MasterBox Q300L is on my list of the best small ATX cases. AMD CPU is the latest Ryzen 5600G (Zen 3 microarchitecture) with excellent Radeon RX Vega 7 integrated graphics.
If we look at raw GPU performance, the Radeon RX Vega 7 is the closest to the NVIDIA GT 1030. So, this configuration doesn’t have a discrete graphics card, but you get the best-integrated graphics card right now. Still, you can always install a discrete graphics card thanks to the excellent Cooler Master 650 W PSU.
Interestingly, AVGPC Q-BOX comes with AIO (Cooler Master MasterLiquid 120mm), so everything is pretty quiet, and the processor won’t even sweat in heavy tasks. If you are an undemanding gamer, who doesn’t suffer from having everything set to maximum details in games (720p, 1080p, with low details), this prebuilt PC is for you.
Thanks to the excellent cooling, there will be no problems in operation. Suppose you decide to install a stronger discrete graphics card. In that case, there will be no problems again due to the sufficiently strong PSU.
I advise you (as with all prebuilt gaming computers on this list) to insert another 8GB DDR4 RAM.
5. MSI PRO DP20Z
MSI PRO DP20Z | |
Motherboard (MB) | MSI MS-BOA21 |
Processor (CPU) | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G |
Graphics Card (GPU) | AMD Radeon Vega 7 |
Solid State Drive (SSD) | M.2 NVMe WD SN530 256GB |
Memory (RAM) | Samsung 1x8GB DDR4 3200MHz |
Power Supply Unit (PSU) | 19.5V/6.15A, 120W |
Operating System (OS) | Windows 11 Home 64-bit |
Extras | Keyboard and Mouse |
Check Price |
Pros
- Compact case
- Good all-arround PC
- Strong Ryzen APU
- Easy portability
Cons
- 8GB RAM
- 250GB NVMe SSD
- Limited upgradability
Essential features
MSI Pro isn’t a classic gaming PC, but it will be more than enough for casual gaming and everyday tasks. You will be pleasantly surprised by the power this tiny PC has. The MSI PRO DP20Z comes equipped with a Ryzen 5 5600G processor, which is currently the APU with the best integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics card.
The working memory is 1x8GB, and the storage space is 250G M.2 NVMe SSD. Speedy and versatile all-around PC. The downside is that you can’t install a discrete graphics card due to the size and concept of this computer. I advise you to install 2×8 GB RAM and increase the capacity of the SSD storage space to 1TB.
Buy the MSI Pro DP20Z if you want the most compact dimensions of a home PC and you are not a demanding gamer. A solid number of ports, a fast wireless network, and a powerful AMD processor will not disappoint you. The only problem may occur if you want a more powerful graphics card, but this mini PC concept isn’t for you in that scenario.
Conclusion
So, getting an excellent cheap prebuilt gaming PC is possible if you don’t have a big appetite for high resolutions and details in games. Look at these prebuilt computers as a good foundation that you can upgrade in the future with a more potent processor or a powerful discrete graphics card. This upgrade will extend your computer’s life, becoming a serious gaming machine.
The Acer Nitro 50 and SkyTech Blaze II have the same discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. Blaze II has a slight advantage due to better cooling and upgrade options. For fans of the AMD configuration, the HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop is also a good choice for gaming in 1080p.
If you aren’t a demanding gamer, you can also look at AVGPC Q-Box or MSI Pro DP20Z. These are PCs with the strongest integrated graphics cards, fast enough for demanding everyday tasks and casual gaming up to 1080p.
In any case, don’t forget that these prebuilt gaming PC configurations come without a monitor. If you’re not in the mood for a more significant investment, you can find a great monitor for under $ 200.