When it comes to gaming, budget PCs haven’t continually been shoo-ins. The greater effective the aspects are, after all, the greater expensive they tend to be. Or at least, they used to be. With AMD altering the GPU and CPU scenes thanks to its successful but affordable offerings like the bargain AMD Radeon RX 5700 and value-oriented Ryzen 3rd Generation CPUs, graphics cards and processors are extra less costly than ever. This has allowed the best budget PC to hit the gaming area with some relatively surprising contributions of their own.
These days, you don’t have to spoil the bank to really immerse yourself in the largest AAA titles or the most popular indie games. Albeit with a couple of compromises right here and there – you would possibly have to play at decrease settings or you may not have some kickass RGB lighting, the best budget gaming PCs will do the job simply fine. If you are searching in the US,
1. Omen 25L
For AMD fans
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3500, 7 3700X or 9 3900Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5500 – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SuperRAM: 16GB – 32B DDR4Storage: 256GB SSD – 1TB + 2TB + 2TBTODAY’S BEST DEALS
REASONS TO BUY
+Pretty cheap
+Toolless access
+Great cooling
REASONS TO AVOID
-Unimaginative design
The Omen 25L’s rectangular black metal design isn’t going to turn heads anytime soon. That’s at least offset by its glass panel, but only barely. However, if you’re not too concerned about looks, this is among the best budget gaming PCs to hit the shelves in 2021 that won’t make a sizable dent in your bank account. With AMD configurations on hand, it’s perfect for AMD-leaning gamers. But, those that are loyal to Nvidia’s RTX line can partake as well, as you can configure it to have up to an RTX 2070 Super GPU. Still, it’s the price we can’t get over here – kitted out, the Omen 25L costs as much as many of the premium gaming PCs in their mid-range configuration. Only, this one’s got more memory and a lot more storage capacity.
2. MSI Trident 3 9th
A great performer
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: up to 9th-generation Intel Core i7Graphics: up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 SuperRAM: up to 16GBStorage: up to 1TB
REASONS TO BUY
+Lots of power
+Compact
REASONS TO AVOID
-Come with bloated software
If looking good matters to you as much as power, then you might love the MSI Trident 3 9th, especially if you’re partial to a gaming-leaning aesthetic. It’s not all looks either. This small gaming PC touts plenty of power under the hood for less than its rivals, with 9th-generation Intel Core processors and the best Nvidia RTX and GTX graphics. It’s even cheaper than many of the gaming PCs on this list, with its Intel Core i7 + RTX 2060 Super +16GB RAM configuration setting you back much less than a HP Omen 25L with equivalent specs. If you’re trying to maximize your limited space and budget, this is the best budget gaming PC for you.
3. Dell G5
Budget PC gaming at its best
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: 9th Gen Intel Core i3-9100 – i9 9900KGraphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 – RTX 2070RAM: 8GB – 64GBStorage: 1TBSSD – 1TB SSD + 2TB HDD
REASONS TO BUY
+Very affordable
+VR-ready configurations
REASONS TO AVOID
-Base models won’t get you through the most demanding games
A unique chassis coupled with a price to beat, Dell’s latest in its G series gaming PCs is a solid contender as among the best budget gaming PCs out there. The Dell G5 boasts 9th-generation Intel chips as well as Nvidia’s most powerful gaming GTX and RTX graphics cards, starting with an i3 processor and the GTX 1650 to handle many powerful games without burning a hole in your pocket. Of course, if you’ve got more cash to spare, its VR-ready configurations are also on hand, though even those are absolutely affordable.
4. HP Omen Obelisk
Tricked out stunner for the hardcore gamer
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 – i9-9900Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti – RTX 2080RAM: Up to 32GBStorage: 1TB HDD – 1TB SSD
REASONS TO BUY
+Lots of power
+Appealing, tool-less design
+Highly upgradable
REASONS TO AVOID
-Software offer minimal personalization
The HP Omen line’s more affordable PC, the HP Omen Obelisk, is definitely well-deserving of the best budget gaming PC title, thanks to its low price of admission well under $1,000 and its decent specs at that configuration. And, if you customize before you buy, upgrading the base specs for more power, won’t set you back a whole lot either. The best part? If you’re not into that over-the-top gaming aesthetic, this one has a classier-looking chassis so you can haul it to your office desk, and no one will be the wiser.
5. Intel Ghost Canyon NUC
Small, but dangerous
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i5 – i9Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630RAM: 8GB – 64B DDR4Storage: 128GB SSD – 2TB + 2TB
REASONS TO BUY
+Affordable at its low configurations
+Highly upgradeable
+Great performance
REASONS TO AVOID
-Can get pretty pricey at the highest configurations
Intel’s NUC has come a long way from its humble beginnings. For example, while the previous Hades Canyon didn’t come with RAM or storage, the newer Ghost Canyon has both. In fact, not only does it have more offerings now in terms of specs, but it’s also highly configurable so you can personalize it to your liking before hitting that buy button. With 9th-generation Intel Core chips, up to 64GB of memory, and up to 4TB dual storage, we’re all for it. The only catch is that it’s pricier now as well. The lower configurations are still quite affordable, however, and among the best budget gaming PCs for the budget-conscious.
6. Skytech Archangel
Best Cheap budget gaming PC
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 ● GPU: Nvidia GTX 1660 Super ● RAM: 16GB DDR4 (3,000MHz) ● Storage: 500GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD ● Weight: 39.2 pounds ● Size: 8.8″ x 17″ x 18.9″ (W x D x H)
When you’re buying a pre-built gaming PC, it’s a big win when you can get something for a reasonable price after considering all of the hardware that’s going into it. Skytech may not be the first brand you think of when you think of pre-builts, but it gets this value point right with a lot of its rigs, and that’s true of the Skytech Archangel. This gaming PC offers a stylish build with a ThermalTake case and RGB-lit Riing fans, all of which help showcase the capable internals.
Though the price can fluctuate a bit, we’ve seen this PC going for under $1,000, which makes it an excellent value. You’ll be getting a pairing of an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super graphics card. This is a potent blend, with enough horsepower to spit out high frame rates in competitive esports titles and AAA games alike. It may struggle with 4K gaming, but 1440p is doable and 1080p will be a breeze. You’ll also get 16GB of RAM, which is plenty for most gaming. And, Skytech even includes an 80 Plus-certified power supply, which may not be high-end but certainly is a safer proposition than a PSU with no efficiency certification.
7. HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop
Best Ultra Cheap Gaming PC
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600G ● GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super ● RAM: 8GB DDR4 (3,200MHz) ● Storage: 512GB SSD ● Weight: 13.14 pounds ● Size: 6.10” x 11.42” x 13.27″ (W x D x H)
These days, HP is better known for its value PCs that offer decent power at affordable prices. So, when it comes to budget PC gaming, it’s hardly a surprise that HP has something that’s much cheaper than its rivals. For $740 (or $640 with a current deal), you can get a Pavilion gaming desktop with a six-core AMD Ryzen 5 4600G processor under the hood. Meanwhile the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super is a solid 1080p performer for competitive online games – like Apex Legends and Valorant – and AAA experiences.
The downside to paying that low price? You’re getting a boxy desktop PC with an unimaginative design and hardly any RGB lighting. The 512GB SSD also won’t hold a ton of games, but you should have no trouble adding in a cheap hard drive after the face. If that’s not a deal-breaker for you, then you’ve got a winner here.
8. Asus PN50
Best Budget Mini Gaming PC
CPU: Ryzen 7 4700U ● GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics ● RAM: n/a ● Storage: n/a ● Weight: 1.5 pounds ● Size: 1.93″ x 4.50″ x 4.50″ (W x D x H)
If you want an affordable, compact PC, Asus delivers. The Asus PN50 is a discreet little barebones PC you can easily tuck away just about anywhere. The model we’ve picked out includes an AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor with integrated Radeon graphics, giving you some decent performance in a low-power design. The Ryzen 7 4700U can muster playable frame rates in some older games and esports titles even at 1080p, but don’t plan on cruising your way through the latest AAA games on integrated graphics – check out the other, full-fat desktops with dedicated graphics cards for that.
It’s important to note that the Asus PN50 comes as a barebones PC. You’ll have to supply your own SO-DIMM memory modules (the kind that goes in laptops, not desktops), storage (there’s room for a 2.5-inch SATA drive and an M.2 2280 PCIe SSD), as well as an operating system. But, Asus has you covered with gigabit networking and Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 connectivity. There’s also a decent array of high-speed USB-A and USB-C ports as well as HDMI and DisplayPort. The Asus PN50 may be small, but it’ll pack a punch.
9. Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gaming
Best budget PC for 1080p gaming
CPU: Intel Core i5-10400 ● GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super ● RAM: 8GB DDR4 ● Storage: 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD (7,200RPM) ● Weight: 27.6 pounds ● Size: 7.3″ x 18″ x 18″ (W x D x H)
If you need a PC with some oomph on a budget, Lenovo is often a good way to go. The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gaming is just such a gaming PC built with all the parts you need to get up and running at 1080p. The Intel Core i5-10400 inside may be fairly modest, but it has enough muscle for most of the games you’re going to want to run at 1080p.
The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i pairs the processors with a plenty capable Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super, which will be no slouch when it comes to gaming. In fact, if you’re still gaming on a 1080p/60Hz monitor, it might be time to look into an upgrade to a 144Hz monitor if you pick this PC up. The 1TB hard drive is perhaps the weakest link in this system, but it makes for a nice complement to the 256GB SSD that will keep the system running fast and offer room for a favorite game or two.
10. NZXT BLD Starter Plus
Best Budget Gaming PC for Esports
CPU: Intel Core i5-9400F ● GPU: Nvidia GTX 1660 Super ● RAM: 16GB DDR4 (2,666MHz) ● Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD ● Size: 7.91″ x 16.85″ x 18.11″ (W x D x H)
If you want plenty of computers for a good price, NZXT knows just how to set it up for you. The NZXT BLD Starter Plus is part of NZXT’s affordable yet stylish BLD series, and it has all you need to get going high framerates at 1080p or even 1440p in sports titles. The whole package comes wrapped up in a stylish NZXT H510 case – the little brother to one of our favorite mid-tower PC cases.
The NZXT BLD Starter Plus features a modest but capable Intel Core i5-9400F. It’s enough muscle for gaming and should have the wiggle room to tack on some streaming in the background thanks to its six-core design. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super is an esports heavyweight. It may not have the fancy RT or Tensor cores found in RTX cards, but it can put down some serious framerates when you keep the resolution low and tweak your in-game graphics settings.
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