The 10 Most Affordable Gaming Pc, Tested And Researched

Piers Anthony By, Piers Anthony
Updated
iBUYPOWER Gaming PC Computer Desktop Trace 4 9310
Image credit: Amazon.com

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: iBUYPOWER Gaming PC Computer Desktop Trace 4 9310

The iBUYPOWER Gaming PC 9310 is the ideal computer for gaming, and multimedia purposes. The system features high-quality audio, with a 7.1 channel surround sound speaker system, an 802.11ac Wi-Fi connection, and 16 color RGB lighting case for those who want to build their own personalized look. Read Review

2. Runner Up: CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC

The CYBERPOWERPC is specially designed for competitive players. It's built with the power to deliver superior gaming performance and comes ready to take on the most demanding game titles. The Intel Core i5-11400F 2.6GHz 6-Core processor offers a powerful, reliable and energy efficient computing experience with the ability to handle more tasks simultaneously without sacrificing performance. Read Review

3. Best Capacity: NZXT H210i - CA-H210i-BR - Mini-ITX PC Gaming Case

Perfect for your ultra-thin gaming PC build. The H210i offers a sleek, compact design with room for up to an ATX motherboard and graphics card. When you need a powerful, high-performance PC case that is capable of fitting inside smaller cases, look no further than the H210i. Read Review

4. Best Performance: HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER

The HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop is a sleek, space-saving tower that allows you to expand and upgrade with customizable LED lights and system optimization in the OMEN Command Center. Designed for gamers who want to game at 4K 60Hz with an incredible performance boost of up to 43%* over previous generations, this PC is ready for the newest generation of games. Read Review

In the world of gaming, you will come across a wide variety of genres and titles that are available. As such, it is important to invest in a gaming PC that has the capacity to run various types of games at high framerates without breaking the bank. Depending on your budget and needs, there are several affordable gaming PCs that you can choose from.

These PCs have become more affordable as manufacturers have gotten better at creating systems with less expensive parts. In this article, we will explore some of the best affordable gaming PCs so that you can get one without breaking your budget or sacrificing performance. We’ll also discuss some affordable alternatives to more expensive gaming PC components if you want something evener.

Before making our recommendations, our specialists spend substantial time researching and analyzing your requirements. Then we found the iBUYPOWER Gaming PC Computer Desktop Trace 4 9310 is the greatest choice for its high-quality performance. If you're looking for another one, consider CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 iBUYPOWER Gaming PC Computer Desktop Trace 4 9310
Our Score:
9.7
IBUYPOWER
  • Connectivity: 4 x USB 3.0; 2 x USB 2.0; 1x RJ-45 Network Ethernet 10/100/1000; Audio: 7.1 Channel
  • Special Add-Ons: Tempered Glass RGB Gaming Case; 802.11AC Wi-Fi Included; 16 Color RGB lighting case; generic keyboard & mouse no bloatware
  • Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB dedicated graphics card; VR ready; Display connectors: HDMI, DisplayPort
  • Warranty: 1 year parts & labor + free lifetime US tech support; Assembled in the U.S.A NOTE: Customers who run into issues with their systems are recommended to contact our Tech/Customer Support phone lines
  • System: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6GHz (4.2GHz Max Turbo); 8GB DDR4 RAM; 240GB SSD; Genuine Windows 10 Home 64-bit
TOP Choice #2 CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC
Our Score:
9.6
CyberpowerPC
  • 1 year parts & labor | Free lifetime tech support
  • Connectivity: 6 x USB 3.1 | 2 x USB 2.0 | 1x RJ-45 Network Ethernet 10/100/1000 | 802.11AC Wi-Fi | Audio: 7.1 Channel | Keyboard and mouse
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB Video Card | 1x HDMI | 1x DisplayPort
  • Special feature: Tempered Glass Side Case Panel | Custom RGB Case Lighting | 7 Colors RGB Gaming Mouse
  • System: Intel Core i5-11400F 2.6GHz 6-Core | Intel B560 Chipset | 8GB DDR4 | 500GB PCI-E NVMe SSD | Genuine Windows 11 Home 64-bit
  • POWERED BY NZXT CAM: Use the intuitive NZXT CAM application to monitor and control your build, choosing from presets or custom controls for your RGB lighting and fans to create your dream PC
  • MORE MODERN: USB 3.1 Gen 2-compatible USB-C connector on the front panel, it’s easier than ever to connect the newest smartphones, high-speed external storage, or the latest peripherals to your PC
  • SPECS: Max GPU Clearance: 265-325mm, Radiaor Support - Front: 240mm or Rear: 120mm
  • SMART DEVICE V2: Includes a faster microprocessor for NZXT CAM-powered control of two RGB lighting channels and three fan channels that support either voltage regulated or PWM fans.
  • NEW FEATURES: Front I/O USB Type-C Port, Tempered glass side panel with single screw installation, and upgraded Smart Device V2
  • PC GAMING CONNECTIVITY – Enjoy rock-solid connections with the latest Wi-Fi 5 (1x1) WLAN adapter and Bluetooth 4.2 as well as reliable external ports in the Headphone/Microphone combo, 5.1 surround sound, and SuperSpeed USB Type-A and Type-C ports; this pc is perfect for dual display support
  • 4K READY – Outstanding performance and immersive multimedia entertainment with 4K visuals courtesy of the 10th Generation IntelⓇ Core i3-10100 processor
  • FREE UPGRADE TO WINDOWS 11 (1) (when available, see below)
  • PLENTY OF STORAGE – Get up to 10x faster performance than a traditional hard drive with 256 GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive storage
  • MOUSE AND KEYBOARD – Complete your setup with a USB black wired keyboard and mouse combo
  • WINDOWS 10 AND WARRANTY – Confidently work and play on a desktop equipped with Windows 10, tested over 230 individual times, and backed by a 1-year limited hardware warranty
  • DDR4 MEMORY – With 8 GB of RAM, everything from browsing multiple web pages to playing games gets a performance boost
  • STUNNING GRAPHICS – With the all-new NVIDIA Turing architecture and 4 GB GDDR6 dedicated memory, you’ll boost your creative and gaming experience with real-time ray tracing and fast performance from the NVIDIAⓇ GeForceⓇ GTX 1650 SUPER graphics card
  • MU-MIMO SUPPORTED – Pair with a MU-MIMO router for a smoother online experience in multi-device homes
  • CUSTOMIZABLE AND COMPACT – This sleek, space-saving tower allows you to expand and upgrade with customizable LED lights and system optimization in the OMEN Command Center
  • 1 year parts & labor | Free lifetime tech support
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB Video Card | 1x HDMI | 1x DisplayPort
  • Connectivity technology: Wi-Fi Built In
  • Connectivity: 6x USB 3.1 | 2x USB 2.0 | 1x RJ-45 Network Ethernet 10/100/1000 | 802.11AC Wi-Fi | Audio: 7.1 Channel | Keyboard and Mouse
  • System: Intel Core i5-10400F 2.9GHz 6-Core | Intel B460 Chipset | 8GB DDR4 | 500GB PCI-E NVMe SSD | Genuine Windows 10 Home 64-bit
  • Special feature: Window Side Case Panel | RGB Case Lighting | RGB 7 Colors Gaming Mouse
  • Special Add-Ons: 802.11AC Wi-Fi Included | Free iBuyPower Gaming Keyboard & RGB Gaming Mouse | No Bloatware | Warranty: 1 Year Parts & Labor + Free Lifetime US Tech Support | Assembled in the U.S.A
  • Connectivity: 4 x USB 3.0 | 2 x USB 2.0 | 1x RJ-45 Network Ethernet 10/100/1000 | HD Audio Jacks: Line in / Front Speaker / Microphone
  • Graphics: Radeon RX 6600XT 8 GB Dedicated Gaming Video Card | VR Ready | 1x HDMI | 3x Display Port
  • System: iBUYPOWER SlateMR 215A AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 3.9GHz (4.4 GHz Max Turbo) | 16GB DDR4 RAM | 480 GB SSD | OEM Fan Cooling | Genuine Windows 11 Home 64-bit
  • PREMIUM SUPPORT: We've made it easy to move all the good stuff over to your new PC, with 6 months of Dell Migrate
  • THE LATEST TECH: PCI-Express 4.0 provides graphics, storage drives and networking adapters greater bandwidth so that every component in this gaming desktop performs at their highest level
  • NO WORLD IS TOO BIG: Power through your favorite games or edit your favorite maps seamlessly with 32GB 3466Mhz XMP overclockable DDR4 memory
  • UPGRADED CHASSIS: A new chassis based on the Legend Industrial Design allows for liquid cooling and efficient airflow to reduce CPU temperatures with whisper-quiet operation
  • POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: The Alienware Aurora R14 Ryzen Edition Gaming Desktop PC was designed to empower gamers seeking computer and graphics horsepower with 12-core AMD Ryzen processors
  • 📀 OPERATING SYSTEM: With Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit Operating System software installed, this desktop computer load programs, and makes a perfect home or office computer. Optional software such as Anti-Virus and Office 365 can also be easily downloaded through the Microsoft Windows App Store.
  • 🎮 GRAPHICS DETAILS: This HP Desktop PC does not come with a Dedicated Graphics Card. However, you can add a low-profile graphics card to make this a gaming PC console and can play beginner level games at decent frame rate! Out of the box, this computer is perfect for remote learning, and everyday personal or professional multitasking.
  • 🗄 PROCESSOR and STORAGE: Configured with Intel Core i5-4570 Quad Core Processor 3.20 GHz, so you can expect reliable and consistent performance to ensure an exceptional PC experience. 8 GB DDR3 RAM memory to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once. Upgraded with HAJAAN 256 GB SSD storage space to store apps, photos, music, and movies.
  • 🌈 RGB LIGHTS PANEL: The HP Desktop Computer PC comes with RGB LED Light on front Panel. Lighting can be changed with a remote controller and quickly adjust the lighting speed, and the mode with several color changing patterns.
  • ⌨+🖱 HAJAAN RGB GAMING KEYBOARD MOUSE: The Gaming Keyboard has 9 different modes which can be changed with FN Key and Numeric Letters. The Gaming Mouse has 4 colors Backlight Lights which look amazing. The keyboard and mouse are responsive, reliable, and probably plastered in RGB lights.
  • This Product is professionally inspected and tested to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box.
  • NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 2GB, Operating System: Windows 10 Professional(64-Bit)
  • This Product is professionally inspected and tested to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box
  • Intel Core i3-10100F Processor 3.6GHz | 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM | 512GB Solid State Drive
  • ARGB Fans and ARGB CPU Cooler with Multiple ARGB Modes
  • 1-year warranty | 90-days Replacement warranty | 30-days Money back guarantee
  • GeForce GT 1030 2GB | HDMI, DVI | Windows 11 Pro with enhanced security features
  • Aesthetically impressive designed Case with Glass front panel
Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to Look For in a most affordable gaming pc?

Until now, numerous customers trust the information and advice we offer them, which means our offers to you are accurate and up to date all the time. This objective is being pursued with tremendous zeal and attention. 

It's necessary to keep in mind the following points for selecting most affordable gaming pc:

Case And Accessories

A gaming PC needs extra accessories, like a glass wall and built-in RGB lighting. In combination with the thought looks, this makes sure that a real gaming PC is more than just a case with components. You can also give the inside of the case something extra, like water cooling. This way, your processor always stays at the right temperature, even if you ask a lot of your CPU.

Ports Matter

For a great gaming experience, you’ll want a PC with plenty of USB ports. The front-facing ports are especially handy for flash drives, card readers, and other frequently used devices. For added future-proofing, look for a system with USB 3.1 Gen 2 and USB-C ports.

GPU

For many gamers, graphics cards and their attendant GPUs have become the be-all and end-all of components inside a gaming PC. There’s good reason for that: Assuming your CPU is sufficiently powerful, a graphics card is the component that has the greatest effect on how your games look. Resolution, frame-rates, colors, and the number of polygons are all handled by the GPU. However, there’s no need to spring for a top-of-the-line graphics card to enjoy amazing looking games.

Hard Drive

No one hates loading times, especially gamers. With an SSD, that's a thing of the past. An SSD halves your startup and loading time, so you can get ready for the next level quickly. If you want to take your gaming PC to the next level, you can choose multiple SSDs in a Raid 0 setup. In a Raid 0 setup, each SSD does half of the work. The speed doubles, just like it would if you were to start writing with two hands.

Processor

As the video card becomes more important in gaming, the processor (CPU) controls the game world. Think of your computer-controlled opponents and where bullets go. The CPU calculates that you're shooting where the video card shows an explosion. Although the processor is important, the graphics card remains the part that most influences your favorite games. The lower limit when it comes to gaming is with an Intel Core i5 processor.

RAM

For a gaming computer, 8GB of RAM is sufficient. The RAM is like a notepad for your processor to quickly see important information. If you want to stream games, 16 or 32GB of RAM is required. If you want to prepare for the future, you should have 16GB of RAM or more.

Size

This will make your computer far more faster than loading off of a traditional HDD, and it doesn't have any moving parts. Look for a 256GB SSD boot drive, ideally paired with a larger secondary SSD or hard drive for storage.

FAQs

Is It Difficult To Build A Gaming Computer?

It is not hard to build a gaming PC. It requires some patience, but you can easily get it done with a few hours of work, even if it’s your first time. It’s best to do it all in one session if possible so you can stay focused and learn from it.

Do I Need To Build My Own Computer?

If you're uncomfortable building your own PC, you can buy a pre-built PC build or hire someone nearby to do it for you. However, it's very fun and rewarding to build your own PC, as you'll learn a lot about the process and are likely to build other ones later.

What Tools Are Needed To Build A Gaming PC?

You will need just 2 tools to build your gaming PC- a Phillips screwdriver and an anti-static wristband. The screwdriver helps you build the PC, while the anti-static wristband helps with safety against static build-up. Not wearing a wristband can damage your PC while you are building it.

Do I Need To Buy A Disc Drive?

You don't need to buy a disc drive any longer. Almost all games are available for digital download now, so the only time you might need a disc drive is during your OS installation. However, you can opt for a USB installation instead of a disc.

Do I Really Need A Cooler For My CPU?

Unless you're buying an unlocked Skylake or Kaby Lake processor (like an i5 6600K or i5 7600K), you don't need to buy an aftermarket CPU cooler. Yes, an aftermarket cooler will extend the life of your PC, but you definitely don't *need* to buy one.

What Do I Need To Buy Windows For My Gaming Computers?

You do not need to buy a Windows operating system, but it is the best one for gaming. Almost all games made are compatible with Windows – the same is not true for MacOS or Linux. A vast majority of gamers use Windows, and you’ll get the most support if you go with Windows. I personally use Windows for all my PC gaming activities.

Is PC Gaming More Expensive Than Console Gaming?

PC gaming typically costs more than console gaming, but it doesn't have to. It really depends on the PC you build. A gaming PC will give you the best experience, whether you're playing on a console or on your own computer.

Do I Need To Buy More Case Fans?

You don't always need to buy extra case fans. Some cases come with more fans than others, but we always recommend having AT LEAST two - an exhaust and intake fan. Getting more depends on the fans you currently have, the cooler you have, the size of your case, and the CPU which all contribute to building the case temperature.

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About Piers Anthony

Piers Anthony

Piers Anthony is a freelance writer and computer expert who enjoys helping others get the most out of their technology. He has written extensively about laptops, soundbars, and other computer-related topics, and he currently serves as the editor of The Audio Insights website. When he's not writing or tinkering with his gadgets, Piers can be found spending time with his wife and family.