When players think about gaming on a budget, PC is not the first platform that comes to mind. PC gaming does have a reputation for being a costly endeavor, but that’s not always the case. Given the rapid advancements in computer parts over the past few years, frommore powerful GPUstomore effective coolers, players can find a good quality budget gaming PC for far less than they might expect. We’ve sorted through the best cheap gaming PC options available to you right now and put them in this guide to help you get to gaming as quickly as possible without worrying about cost.
Curious about the cost of building your own gaming PC? If you are, check out our guides for the best gaming PCs you may build forunder $3,000,under $2,000,under $1,000, and evenunder $500.
Game Rant’s Top Budget Gaming PCs for 2024
Skytech Shadow 4 Gaming PC
The SkyTech Shadow 4 gaming desktop computer is the latest in affordable offerings for gamers. Built with the Intel Core i5-13400F processor, 16GB fast 3200MHz memory, 1TD NVMe storage, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, players can enjoy lightning-fast load times, high-quality visuals, and an overall immersive, seamless gaming experience. Four cooling fans keep the system from overheating, while six USB ports offer plenty of ways to add or charge accessories.
Although $1000 may be a bigger price tag than some budget gamers want to spend on their PC, those who want to be able to play the latest games will find it tough to beat Skytech’s Shadow 4 gaming PC. Packed with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU and the Intel 13th Generation Core i5, this PC can handle recent titles such asCyberpunk 2077andHogwarts Legacy. Plus, with 1TB of built-in storage, players can really jump right into their favorite titles with ease.
The Skytech Shadow 4 is the best budget gaming PC because it’s perfect for players who want to save a little money without sacrificing much. Sure, the PC doesn’t have the most cutting-edge tech inside, but it doesn’t need it. The RTX 4060 is powerful enough for most gamers and is expected to continue to be a viable option for the foreseeable future. Gamers who want to be able to quickly get to playing and don’t want to have to worry about upgrading anytime soon will find few faults with this budget PC. Along with excellent performance specs, this PC also includes four cooling fans that run incredibly quietly and six USB ports for connecting to any accessory a player might need. Plus, the whole case looks great with its mesh front and colorful RGB lighting.
IPASON Gaming PC 2024
The Ipason Gaming Desktop has been updated for 2024, this time boasting an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G as well as 16 GB DDR4 RAM, and a 1 TB SSD housed in a mini case with RGB fans. Often still available for less than $500, the Ipason Gaming PC 2024 version is one of the best investments a gamer can make.
This sleek-looking gaming PC is one the best entry-level budget gaming PC if you’re looking to spend $500 or less. Frequently on sale, this affordable PC is perfect for new gamers or players who have a specific favorite game they love to return to over and over again. That’s largely because of the integrated GPU, which won’t be able to handle recent AAA games very well but can easily tackle titles such asMinecraft,Fortnite, and evenValorant.
The AMD Radeon Vega Graphics is tied to the Ryzen 5 5600G 3.9GHz, 6-Core, 12-Thread CPU in a winning combination that maximizes the PC’s ability to play both cozy indie games and sprawling RPGs. Players looking to catch up on titles likeRed Dead Redemption 2orElden Ringwill be completely satisfied by this gaming PC, though most veteran gamers will probably have a handful of complaints.
However, for just $500, it’s easy enough to justify getting into PC gaming as a newcomer using this Ipason model, as opposed to simply choosing one of themuch more affordable consolesto play on. Plus, for those who find that they really love PC gaming, there are a few open spaces ready to accept some upgrades down the road. It also doesn’t hurt that the PC has a pretty stylish design, complete with some bright RGB-lit cooling fans.
Skytech Archangel Gaming PC Desktop
This powerful gaming PC is capable of running fan-favorite games such as Call of Duty: Warzone, Fornite, and Escape from Tarkov, thanks to its combination of a Core i5 12400F CPU and RTX 4060 Ti GPU. With four RGB fans and a mesh-plate front, the PC stays cool even during intense gaming sessions. Ample room provided within, players can easily upgrade this gaming PC through the easy-open, tempered glass side.
It’s not uncommon for gaming PCs to come with price tags over $4,000, especially once top-of-the-line hardware is included, but for budget shoppers, even $1200 is a big ask. However, Skytech once again serves up a budget-friendly option without sacrificing much on the spec side of things, giving us our best premium, but on a budget, gaming PC.
Using Intel’s i5 12400F CPU and NVIDIA’s RTX 4060 Ti GPU, this gaming PC can handle most new games without any issues. These impressive specs aren’t just ideal for gamers either. Creators who use Unity, Adobe, and Blender will find that this PC runs everything they need with extreme speed and seamless rendering.
The high-quality case features a mesh front cover and four RGB fans to facilitate excellent cooling. The tempered glass side can be easily removed, allowing players to access the wide open spaces waiting for upgrades down the line. Despite all the internals and the spacious case, the PC actually runs fairly quietly, even when working hard at temperature control.
As expected from a premium gaming PC, the Skytech Archangel has a clean-white shell, accentuated by RGB lighting along the base and integrated with the fans. Those on a budget who want a gaming PC that will work with almost any title their friends might be enjoying should pick up the high-end Archangel gaming desktop.
MXZ Gaming Desktop Computer
The MXZ Gaming Desktop Computer is a beautifully crafted budget gaming build that offers several pre-installed RGB fans for ample cooling and a spacious mid-tower for easy upgrades. Powered by the Ryzen 5 5500 and GTX 1660 Super GPU, it provides a sweet spot gaming experience without breaking the bank.
Having a great lighting setup for a gaming space can have an impact on the gaming experience as a whole. For some gamers, when it comes to RGB lighting on their PC, it’s a must-have feature that MXZ’s gaming PC knocks out of the park. The front of the PC holds three brilliant RGB-lit fans, while three others glow withinthe spacious PC case.
The MXZ gaming desktop can handle most current game titles right now with its combination of a GTX1660 SUPER GPU and a Ryzen 5 5500 3.6GHz, 6-Core, 12-thread CPU. However, the onboard storage is only 500 GB, meaning that most gamers will want tograb an alternative SSDor plan on cloud gaming most of the time. Along with that caveat, players who are willing to wait a little while longer before getting a new PC can spend around $100 more and getan updated version of the same PC, this time with 1 TB of storage and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 GPU, making this option less viable in the long-run.
MINISFORUM Mini PC Neptune HX99G
MINISFORUM Mini PC Neptune HX99G boasts a beautifully designed chassis that is compact and rests on a sturdy stand. The system brings ports right in the front panel for easy connectivity and has a Wi-Fi 6 adapter for wireless internet. The system is powered by a high-end mobile chip, Ryzen 9 6900HX, and Radeon RX 6650M GPU for exceptional gaming performance on a budget.
Gamers with limited spaceto play have at least one advantage over other players: they can capitalize on more affordable, compact PCs. One of the best small gaming PCs is the Neptune HX99G Mini PC. This computer relies on AMD’s Ryzen 9 6900HX processor, featuring eight cores, 16 threads, and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M GPU. With 8 GB of fast GDDR6 and 1 TB of storage, this mini gaming PC is quite the workhorse.
While it may struggle to play the newest games available, competitive favorites and older titles, likeGrand Theft Auto VandDOTA 2, are a cinch to play. The PC is also protected from heat damage through a sophisticated heat dissipation design that uses copper cooling along with strategically placed fans.
This gaming PC is also great for tackling creative work, such as video editing. Despite its small size, the PC can actually hook up to four monitors simultaneously, making editing work a breeze. As far as accessories go, with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in, it’s easy enough to connect to wireless accessories. Meanwhile, four USB 4.0, one USB-C, and two 3.5mm ports offer wired connectivity. Perfect for players in small rooms or who frequently need to move their PC setup, this surprisingly powerful mini computer is just as capable as most other gaming PCs at this price point.
Skytech Gaming Nebula Gaming PC
Skytech Gaming Nebula is powered by one of the latest Raptor Lake CPUs that features 10 cores and 16 threads to stay ahead in gaming and productivity. Using the latest and one of the best budget GPUs, i.e., the RTX 4060, this is a perfect choice for anyone who wants to have satisfactory gaming and productivity potential.
Even the most capable PC users often don’t have time to builda high-performance, budget gaming rig, but that doesn’t mean they have the funds to buy a pre-built PC ready to tackle anything and everything either. For those gamers on a budget, buying a highly upgradeable PC is the way to go, and the best option in 2024 is Skytech’s Nebula gaming PC.
Packed with the NVIDIA Geforce RTX 4060 and Intel Core i5 13400F, this budget gaming PC can tackle most current game titles without breaking a sweat. The four RGB-lit fans look fantastic but are also very effective at keeping the case cool through hours of gaming. Plus, the PC comes with a 1 TB NVME SSD for incredibly fast load times across a multitude of games.
Despite these impressive specs, as is Skytech’s style, this PC has tons of open space ready for new parts to be installed. This model is even more spacious than other Skytech PCs, as the Nebula fits all of its parts within a mid-size ATX, much bigger than what the PC actually needs. Tech-savvy players will get a lot of bang for their buck with this PC, considering that it’s able to handle top-rated games out of the box yet offers lots of room for growth in the future. The only real downside to this PC is the lack of ports, although it does include a standard, yet simple, array of ports along the top.
How to Choose a Great Gaming Computer on a Budget
As with any budget-minded product, some sacrifices will have to be made in order to beat current average prices. The features that are compromised will depend on the type of gamer. Here are some important things to keep in mind while browsing budget gaming PCs:
FAQ
Q: What’s a good budget for a gaming PC?
Budget PCs should cost somewhere between $700 and $1400, depending on how up-to-date a player wants the specs to be.
Q: How long do gaming PCs last?
Most gaming PCs last around 5 years. It’s not uncommon for cheaper PCs to only last 2 years, while higher end PCs can work for around 7 years.
Q: How much does the average gaming PC cost?
The average price of a gaming PC is about $2,000. Most gaming PCs are priced between $1,000 and $4,000.
