Start Gaming Right: Expert Picks for the Best Affordable Gaming PCs for Beginners

Gaming desktops are better than laptops for Windows games in any graphics setting, but they are not the cheapest computers. Prices can even get out of control when you attempt to build a gaming desktop yourself. 

But as it turns out, there are low-cost prebuilt gaming PCs that won’t force you to forego performance. This article will cover these options and show you how to pick a good, cheap gaming PC within your budget.

Snapshot of the Best Affordable Gaming PCs You Can Buy

HP Victus 15L (TG02-2065t): Overall Best Cheap Gaming PC

Image credit: HP

Specifications:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-14400F.
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060.
• RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200 MT/s (2 x 8GB).
• Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe.
• PSU: 500W 80 PLUS Bronze certified.
• Price: $800.

Reasons to buy:

• You’re on a budget.
• You’re comfortable with 1080p gaming.
• You want a build from a reputable manufacturer. 

Reasons to avoid:

• You need a bigger form factor.
• You want to game at 4K.
• You need DDR5 memory speeds.

The HP Victus 15L has many generations, but the RTX 4060-equipped build is a great budget option for gamers. You can get excellent 1080p performance on most intensive games and decent 1440p on certain less demanding titles. The Core i5-14400F and RTX 4060 are not the best products from their manufacturers, but that’s to be expected at this price point. 

Performance tests from streamers like ShadowSeven using similar Core i5-14400F + RTX 4060 configurations show the computer holds its own in high and ultra 1080p settings, even in the most demanding PC games like Red Dead Redemption 2.

Image credit: ShadowSeven; Red Dead Redemption 2

However, the small form factor means you cannot push it hard for too long without experiencing overheating. You may have to look elsewhere (and increase your budget) for better 1440p performance, optimal heat management, and a sleeker design.

Community sentiments

Reviews from HP’s site are generally positive for the specific product, with a 4.6 overall rating from 24 reviews at the time of writing. For the 4060, NVIDIA angered experts like Linus Tech Tips by releasing an “upgrade” that lags behind older cards like the 3060 Ti in many games. However, NVIDIA’s DLSS 3 feature helps the GPU perform much better in supported games.

Benchmark credit: Linus Tech Tips

Skytech Archangel 4: Best Aesthetics

Image credit: Skytech

Specifications:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F.
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060.
• RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHZ. 
• Storage: 1TB SSD.
• PSU: 600W.
• Price: $900.

Reasons to buy:

• You want great 1080p performance at a relatively low price. 
• You are big on aesthetics.

Reasons to avoid:

• You need better 1440p performance or want to play at 4k.
• Your budget is below $900.

The Skytech Archangel 4 is the ideal pre-built product for anyone who wants to mix the RTX 4060 with a decent budget processor. The 12400F may be three generations earlier than Intel’s latest budget processor, but it is not that far behind in performance. It carries 1080p graphics settings like paper and can do well in mid-level 1440p settings.

PC Centric’s build with the same 12400f-4060 configuration ran certain games like Starfield at 1440P with an impressive 75 to 90 FPS with DLSS turned on.

Image credit: PC Centric (YouTube); Starfield at 1440p

You can also purchase the Nebula version with the Core i5-13400F and the same graphics card from Amazon at $850.

User and expert sentiments

Purchasers from Amazon overwhelmingly left positive reviews of the product, with few criticisms regarding delivery. There were also cautionary tales about buying from third-party sellers not shipping through Amazon.

Amazon review

As mentioned, the expert consensus is that the 4060 lags behind the 3060 Ti but still produces excellent performance with DLSS turned on. It still posts better power consumption numbers against some competition.

Benchmark credit: PCMag

Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro: Best Cheap Gaming PC for 1440p

Image credit: Cooler Master

• CPU: Intel Core i7-12700F.
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti.
• RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz.
• Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD.
• PSU: 650W.
• Price: $1,200.

Reasons to buy:

• You want to play games at high 1440p graphics settings.
• Your budget cannot accommodate a better configuration.
• You need quiet, efficient cooling.

Reasons to avoid:

• You want to game at 4K.
• Your use case requires higher VRAM specifications.

The Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro offers you great choices and financial deals. You can find different configurations at cheap prices. The 4060 Ti version is an affordable gaming PC at $1,200 when you consider its specifications. If you can spare more cash, the more powerful RTX 4070 with the same CPU is available for $1,400 on Amazon. The flexibility doesn’t end there, as Cooler Master also offers lower configurations at cheaper prices.

The RTX 4070 configuration is one of the best values for people looking to play at 1440p without any hassle and even take a stab at 4K. However, the RTX 4060 Ti also handles 1440p quite well, especially with DLSS 3. 

Sure, the 4060 Ti performs better than the regular 4060, but the price difference may be a hard pill to swallow for that jump. Still, it’s one of the best values if you’re not looking to play at 4K ultra settings.

Benchmarks from GamesRadar show the 4060 Ti posting great performance numbers with hard-hitting games at 1440p.

Benchmark credit: GamesRadar

Community sentiments

The product’s Amazon page received great reviews at the time of writing, with customers praising its performance, aesthetics, and build quality.

Amazon review

Like the 4060, reviewers don’t like the 4060 Ti because of its poor performance upgrade over previous generations. Gamers Nexus calls it “one of the worst GPU launches from NVIDIA” they’ve ever covered. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get anything done with the card. It’s more capable than the 3060 Ti, albeit marginally.

Benchmark credit: Gamers Nexus

CyberPowerPC Gamer Master: Cheapest PC for 4K Gaming

Image credit: CyberPowerPC

Specifications:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8700F.
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super.
• RAM: 32GB (16GBx2) DDR5-6000MHz.
• Storage: 2TB PCIe NVMe GEN4 M.2 SSD.
• PSU: 1,000W.
• Price: $1,300.

Reasons to buy:

• You want to game at 4K.
• You need DDR5-level performance.

Reasons to avoid:

• You want a less power-hungry computer.
• You’re working with a tight budget.

CyberPowerPC offers cheap PCs for gaming at various performance levels, but the GML 99632 feels like a giveaway. Even purchasing and building the parts yourself won’t get you this kind of bargain. 

The 4070 Super may not be the best at 4K performance, but it still impresses, especially with DLSS 3. You’ll also get the added advantage of DDR5 memory, a 2TB SSD, and the impressive Ryzen 7 8700F.

According to benchmarks from Gamers Nexus, the 4070 Super recorded 107 average FPS at 4K high settings when playing Tomb Raider, 15% better than the regular 4070.

Benchmark credit: Gamers Nexus

The main issue for critics is the 4070’s 12 GB VRAM, which may be a problem in the future, as it could be insufficient for newer gaming titles. If you want the peace of mind that comes with 16GB, you can buy the GML 99631 instead, which has the 16GB version of the RTX 4060 Ti. However, you’ll have slightly less performance than the 4070 Super, which has more CUDA cores.

Community sentiments

General user sentiment towards CyberPowerPC as a brand is favorable per Trustpilot reviews.

Trustpilot review

The tech community also agrees the 4070 Super is an excellent addition to the 40 series lineup. 

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gen 8: Best Hardware

Image credit: Lenovo

Specifications: 

• CPU: Intel Core i5-14400F.
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB.
• RAM: 16GB (2 x 8) DDR5-4400MHz.
• Storage: 1TB SSD NVMe M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4.
• PSU: 500W.
• Price: $850.

Reasons to buy:

• You need a sub-$1000 gaming PC.
• You need adequate cooling.
• You want a fancy exterior. 

Reasons to avoid:

• You want to game at 4K or ultra-high settings.
• You want ray tracing.

The Legion Tower 5i is similar to the HP Victus 15L. However, its better-looking chassis, customizable RGB lighting, tempered glass case, and well-ventilated exterior more than make up for the $50 price difference. 

Like the 15L, it can handle any modern title and 1080p gameplay at the highest graphics settings. It can also produce impressive 1440p performance with better cooling and consistency. That said, running games, especially demanding titles, at 4K may not produce the best results.

Benchmarks by Tom’s Hardware revealed that the Legion Tower 5i with this configuration produced about 70 to 113 FPS at high 1080p settings. For 4K, the computer could manage about 30 FPS at high settings in some games.

Benchmark credit: Tom’s Hardware

Community sentiments

I could hardly find any negative reviews on Lenovo’s site, as people generally seemed pleased with the computer’s quality and performance, which should be expected. The only gripe anyone appears to have about the PC is the negligible upgrade of the 4060 over the previous generation, as I’ve explained earlier.

Lenovo review

Skytech Blaze 4 Mini: Best Value

Image credit: Skytech

Specifications:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700.
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti 8GB.
• RAM: 32GB DDR4 3200MHZ.
• Storage: 1TB NVME SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4.
• PSU: 650W.
• Price: $1,050.

• Your budget cannot accommodate a better GPU.
• You are fine with 1440p performance.
• You want an appealing computer.

Reasons to avoid:

• You want a long-term gaming PC.
• You are open to upgrading to a 4K-level GPU in the future.

The Skytech Blaze 4 Mini (ST-BLAZE4MINI-1198-B-SK) is a bargain worth its salt. It’s one of the most affordable 4060 Ti configurations you can buy, which means you’ll get a taste of impressive 1440p performance.

However, the PC’s strongest suit lies in 1080p gaming. Even at ultra settings, you should have no problems hitting above 100 FPS in modern games. You also don’t have to worry about cooling unless you want to push the system beyond its limits.

I’ve shown how benchmarks demonstrated the 4060 Ti’s performance at 1080p and 1440p. Further tests from Techspot revealed the same results but showed the card struggling with memory-dependent games like Hogwarts Legacy at 1440p.

Benchmark credit: Techspot

Community sentiments

Amazon reviews are generally great for the Skytech Blaze 4 Mini, and customers like the system integrator’s products.

Amazon review

NSX Gaming PC Eagle: Best Affordable Gaming PC for 1080p Gaming

Image credit: NSX Gamers

Specifications:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600.
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060.
• RAM: 16GB RAM RGB DDR4 3600.
• Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD.
• PSU: 650W.
• Price: $719.

Reasons to buy:

• You need a cheap PC.
• You plan to upgrade in the future.
• You’re comfortable with 1080p gaming. 

Reasons to avoid:

• You need consistent performance at 1440p.
• You need a good-looking PC.
• You can stretch your budget to accommodate an RTX 4060 build.

The RTX 3060 is still a capable GPU, even in 2024. While the 4060 is 20% to 40% better on paper, the performance gain is negligible to the naked eye in 1080p gameplay.

Tom’s Hardware’s benchmark face-off between both GPUs highlights the 4060’s superiority but still showcases the 3060’s capability. It shows both GPUs tied at 1080p medium settings in some games like Diablo IV, while higher graphics settings revealed major differences.

Benchmark credit: Tom’s Hardware

So, if you have a small budget and intend to upgrade in the future, the NSX Gaming PC Eagle is a great choice. While its exterior is not as flush as other options on this list, it is not something you can gawk at. The computer sports a pleasing RGB with a tempered glass case.

At the same time, you’ll be better off with a more powerful GPU if you want to take advantage of a 1440p, high-refresh-rate monitor.

Community sentiment

There are not many user or customer reviews about this particular PC build. However, Amazon reviews of other products by the same company are generally positive. NSX also offers a 1-year warranty on the parts. Do your due diligence and speak to NSX’s customer care to receive assurances before purchasing the computer.

What to Look For in a Gaming PC

The following factors will help you determine whether a cheap gaming computer fits your budget and delivers the level of performance you seek:

Price

Defining your budget limits is the first thing to do when purchasing an affordable gaming PC. This way, you can quickly identify the type of computer to buy and what gaming resolution you can play at. Unfortunately, the lower the budget, the lower your gaming resolution.

However, knowing all your options means you can squeeze out the best deal your pocket can handle. The following table will show you the different tiers of gaming PCs, their price brackets, and the type of package (CPU and GPU) to expect for each tier.

OEM stands for original equipment manufacturers. These are companies that manufacture many parts of their systems. They include HP, Lenovo, ASUS, and Acer. On the other hand, system integrators are third-party entities that assemble and sell custom builds. Examples are NXS, Cooler Master, Skytech, and CyberPowerPC.

When choosing between an OEM and a system integrator, the main considerations are price, customer support, and upgradability.

CPU

The CPU is at the top of the list of critical system components. It is responsible for general-purpose computing tasks, executing instructions from software applications, handling calculations, and coordinating the activities of other hardware components like the GPU, network card, and sound card.

You’ll have to favor powerful gaming processors if your games rely more on complex calculations than graphics rendering. Such games include Microsoft Flight Simulator, Kerbal Space Program 2, and Cities: Skylines.

GPU

The GPU is also called the video card and is short for graphics processing unit. It is responsible for rendering your game’s fancy graphics using parallel processing. That means it handles thousands of graphics-related processes simultaneously. The kind of GPU you use determines the type of games you play and at what graphics settings

Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake, Forespoken, and Red Dead Redemption 2 rely on graphics processing to render images. When choosing your GPU, it’s important to decide your preferred resolution, as your video card determines whether you can play at 1080p or 4K.

System memory (RAM)

Your RAM is the third most important component to consider. It is responsible for holding and feeding data to the CPU. How much data your RAM can hold at a time determines your computer’s responsiveness during gaming.

This guide will help you make the right decision: How Much RAM Do I Need? Here’s How to Choose the Right Amount

While size matters for gameplay, the type of RAM you choose can also impact your frame rates. DDR5 RAM offers higher speeds than its DDR4 counterpart, but the former is more expensive. You also have to consider the type of board to use, as you can swap out one for the other.

Storage

Games also have storage requirements, with some reaching up to 175GB. Granted, the least hard drive you’ll get is 512GB. Still, you have to determine how many games you want in your system at any given time. I recommend adding extra storage if you go for a 512GB configuration.

Heat management

Cooling is another aspect of computing that you must pay attention to because it determines if you’ll experience overheating problems. Most prebuilt PCs have standard coolers that can dissipate heat well enough. However, you still have to determine whether the system’s cooling apparatus can withstand your gaming workloads.

It is generally better to go for a PC whose cases have adequate ventilation that supports airflow. That means favoring bigger cases if you intend to run heavy games for long hours.

Power supply

Every desktop has a PSU (power supply unit) that collects alternating high-voltage current from your power outlet and converts it to the direct current required by your internal components. PSUs also regulate how much power each component receives and determine whether your CPU and GPU will run at maximum speeds.

An ideal PSU should be able to feed all your components, especially when running at full power. Your prebuilt PC will have the suitable wattage capacity to handle all its internal devices. However, you have to double-check that it has enough headroom to supply future upgrades.
Device manufacturers publish each device’s power demands on their websites. That way, you can confirm that your PSU can pump out the required power. For example, you can go through NVIDIA’s website to check the wattage requirements of its high-end GPUs if you intend to upgrade in the future.

NVIDIA

You also have to account for PSU modularity, power rating, and size in most cases. A modular PSU allows you to detach cables you don’t need from the unit, whereas a non-modular one has all its cables permanently attached. 

Power ratings are issued by independent organizations like 80 PLUS by precious stones, like Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Titanium, where Gold is a better power rating than Silver, and so on.

System requirements

Checking the system requirements of the games you’ll play is a great way to start your hunt for the most affordable PC for your budget. That way, you can determine the components to prioritize. Some games are CPU-focused, while others place more emphasis on GPUs.

Pre-built models like Acer Nitro 50 with Intel Core i5 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 offer solid specs for cheap gaming PCs.

Is It Better to Buy or Build a Cheap PC for Gaming?

Building a custom PC and buying a prebuilt desktop computer are great ways to own a gaming PC. I don’t believe one is objectively cheaper than the other unless you’re buying second-hand parts.

Prebuilt computers save you the hassle of searching the Internet for ideal parts, checking compatibility issues, and worrying about the risks of building a PC. However, building your computer offers more flexibility. You get to choose your own parts, bring down costs where you can (buy cheap second-hand parts), and create ample room for future upgrades.

Conclusion

Sure, many other nerdy details are involved in gaming desktops, such as CPU cache and SSD life cycles. However, we’ve covered everything you need to buy a cheap gaming PC. The prebuilt products on this list are the best affordable configurations, at least at 1080p and 1440p resolutions.

Head to the comments section to let us know which affordable gaming PC fits your budget and preferences!

FAQ