These sub-$800 gaming desktops are solid for 1080P gaming.
Striking the balance between having a capable gaming PC and not spending a fortune can be a tricky endeavor. If you’re looking to play old school retro games, then a basic PC with a budget graphics card can work.
But when you want to play modern, competitive titles, you want something with a little more “oomph” to it, both to get nice visuals and great frame rates.
With an $800 budget, you can get a pretty capable gaming machine.
But if you’d rather buy a prebuilt gaming rig, you can still find solid options. In this guide, we’ll take a look at a handful of the best prebuilt gaming PCs under $800.
ZOTAC MEK Gaming PC
The best prebuilt gaming PC under $800 right now.
PC Specs
- CPU: Ryzen 5 5500
- COOL: Air cooling
- GPU: RTX 3050 6GB
- RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200
- SSD: 500GB NVMe
Pros & Cons
- Strongest graphics card on this list
- Solid performance at 1080P resolution
- Supports NVIDIA DLSS
- Includes a 650W 80 PLUS Gold PSU
- Only includes 500GB of storage
ZOTAC MEK Gaming PC Overview
Of the four desktops featured here, this configuration of ZOTAC’s MEK gaming PC offers the best overall hardware for gaming.
It combines an AMD Ryzen 5 5500 processor with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 6GB graphics card, 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory, and a 500GB NVMe solid-state drive. It also includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a 650-watt 80 PLUS Gold power supply.
The RTX 3050 is the main reason this system earns our top recommendation. It is the fastest graphics card among the options in this guide, and its support for NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling technology can help improve performance in demanding games.
This desktop should handle games such as Fortnite, Valorant, Rocket League, Minecraft, Apex Legends, and Counter-Strike 2 well at 1080P. More demanding games will require reduced graphics settings and, when available, the use of DLSS.
The 500GB SSD is smaller than we’d prefer, especially with modern games regularly requiring over 100GB of storage. Fortunately, storage is one of the easiest components to upgrade later.
Ultimately, if your priority is getting the most gaming performance possible from one of these four desktops, the ZOTAC MEK is the option we’d choose.
iBUYPOWER Element SE
A solid alternative from an established prebuilt brand.
PC Specs
- CPU: Ryzen 5 5500
- COOL: Tower air cooler
- GPU: RX 6500 XT 4GB
- RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200
- SSD: 512GB NVMe
Pros & Cons
- Includes 16GB of DDR4 memory
- Suitable for entry-level 1080P gaming
- Comes with a keyboard and mouse
- Built by an established prebuilt manufacturer
- RX 6500 XT only has 4GB of VRAM
iBUYPOWER Element SE Overview
The iBUYPOWER Element SE is another entry-level gaming desktop worth considering, especially if you would rather buy from a more established system builder.
Its hardware includes an AMD Ryzen 5 5500 processor, an AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT 4GB graphics card, 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory, and a 512GB NVMe SSD. The system also includes Wi-Fi, Windows 11 Home, a tower-style CPU air cooler, and an iBUYPOWER gaming keyboard and mouse.
The combination of the Ryzen 5 5500 and RX 6500 XT is best suited to 1080P gaming. It should have no trouble running less-demanding competitive games, but newer AAA titles will require reduced graphics settings.
The biggest limitation is the RX 6500 XT’s 4GB of video memory. That is enough for esports games and older titles, but it can become a bottleneck in newer games that use higher-resolution textures.
It is also worth noting that the system uses one 16GB memory module rather than a dual-channel kit. Adding a matching second module later could improve memory bandwidth and give the system 32GB of total RAM.
The ZOTAC desktop above offers better gaming performance, but the Element SE is a reasonable alternative when it is available below $800.
MLOONG Gaming PC
The best white gaming PC on this list.
PC Specs
- CPU: Ryzen 5 5500
- COOL: Air cooling
- GPU: RX 6500 XT 4GB
- RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200
- SSD: 512GB NVMe
Pros & Cons
- Attractive white case and components
- Includes 16GB of DDR4 memory
- Comes with a 650W power supply
- Suitable for entry-level 1080P gaming
- Comes from a lesser-known PC builder
MLOONG Gaming PC Overview
If you’re looking for an affordable white gaming desktop, this MLOONG system is the most visually distinctive option in this guide.
It comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 5500 processor, an AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT 4GB graphics card, 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory, a 512GB NVMe SSD, and a 650-watt power supply. The components are installed in a white panoramic-style case with multiple RGB fans.
Its gaming performance should be similar to the iBUYPOWER Element SE, as both systems use the same processor and graphics card. The RX 6500 XT is capable of running esports titles and less-demanding games well at 1080P, but its limited 4GB of VRAM means you will need to lower texture quality and other graphics settings in newer AAA games.
The main reason to choose this desktop over the iBUYPOWER is its appearance. White gaming PCs are less common at this price, and the MLOONG’s case offers a more customized look than most entry-level prebuilts.
The downside is that MLOONG is not as well established as ZOTAC, iBUYPOWER, or CyberPowerPC. That does not necessarily mean the system will have problems, but long-term support and quality control are more difficult to judge.
If you like the white design and it is priced competitively, though, this is a reasonable entry-level 1080P option.
CyberPowerPC Gamer Master
A recognizable brand, but it needs a memory upgrade.
PC Specs
- CPU: Ryzen 5 5500
- COOL: Air cooling
- GPU: RX 6500 XT 4GB
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- SSD: 500GB NVMe
Pros & Cons
- Built by an established gaming PC brand
- Includes a B550 motherboard
- Comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Includes a keyboard and mouse
- Only comes with 8GB of memory
CyberPowerPC Gamer Master Overview
This configuration of CyberPowerPC’s Gamer Master lineup offers another path to an affordable entry-level gaming desktop.
It features an AMD Ryzen 5 5500 processor, an AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT 4GB graphics card, 8GB of DDR4 memory, and a 500GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. Other features include a B550 chipset motherboard, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, RGB lighting, and an included keyboard and mouse.
Its processor and graphics card are nearly identical to the hardware in the iBUYPOWER and MLOONG systems. As a result, you can expect similar performance in games once the systems have comparable memory configurations.
However, this CyberPowerPC only comes with 8GB of RAM. While that is technically enough to run Windows and lighter games, 16GB is a much more practical minimum for a modern gaming computer. Running a game alongside Discord, a browser, and other background applications could quickly use the available memory.
We would strongly recommend adding another 8GB memory module if you choose this desktop. That upgrade would give you 16GB of total memory and could also improve performance if it enables dual-channel operation.
CyberPowerPC is a recognizable prebuilt brand, but unless this system is significantly cheaper than the other desktops, its limited memory makes it the weakest value of the four.
Finding The Sweet Spot Between Price and Performance
While we recommend building your own PC in this price range—you’ll generally get more performance for your money—there are still some acceptable prebuilt gaming desktops available for under $800.
Of the four options listed above, the ZOTAC MEK is the clear winner for gaming. Its RTX 3050 6GB graphics card is more capable than the RX 6500 XT found in the other three systems, and it also gives you access to NVIDIA’s DLSS technology.
The iBUYPOWER Element SE is our preferred alternative when it is discounted below $800. The MLOONG is worth considering if you specifically want a white gaming PC, while the CyberPowerPC makes the most sense if its price leaves enough room in your budget for an immediate memory upgrade.
