Are you looking for an inexpensive gaming computer that can easily handle your favorite games? Below, you’ll find six different budget gaming PCs that will serve you well into 2023 (and beyond).
In this day and age of incredible graphics and extremely demanding video games, you, as a PC gamer, must have a capable system if you want to play your favorite games in the way they were designed to be played.
And, although some console gamers might tell you that PC gaming is too expensive to get into, the reality is that even if you are working with a tight budget, you can build (or buy) a cheap gaming PC that can deliver excellent performance at 1080P resolution in most games.
And, if you’re willing to spend between $700-$800 you can even get a VR-ready gaming PC that is capable of utilizing an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive headset. In this guide, I’ve given you six different cheap PC builds that you can use as is, or that you can use as a base to put together your own part list.
These aren’t the best gaming PCs you can build, but for the price their performance is incredible and for the most part, the majority of them will offer a better PC gaming experience than consoles will.
In the end, you’ll have a plan of action, as well as a number of different components to choose between, and you’ll be well on your way to building the best gaming PC for your budget. For each option, you’ll also find a link to a comparable prebuilt gaming PC. So, if you don’t want to build your own system, you can check out a prebuilt gaming PC for a similar price.
Table of Contents
I. FAQ: Should You Build A PC?
II. Quick-Look: Best Budget Gaming PCs
4. Console-Killing $500 Gaming PC
FAQ: Questions to Ask Before You Build Your Budget PC
If you’re on the fence of whether or not you should build your own cheap gaming PC, or you have questions, we’ve provided a list of frequently asked questions below to help you find the answers you’re looking for.
1. Is building a gaming PC hard?
However, there are moments that can arise during the building process that can be frustrating. The good news, though, is that there are plenty of guides out there that can help walk you through the building process to minimize the chances of you running into these kinds of problems.
Most builders won’t face too many issues during their first build and even the most tech-challenged individuals could probably get through their own PC build if they are patient enough.
I’ve also put together a step-by-step guide to help first-time builders through the building process. You can access it here.
2. How much should a budget gaming PC Cost?
Traditionally, you could spend $500 on a cheap gaming PC and have a system that would be able to max out most games on a 1080P display. As of right now, though, the 1080P-killing graphics cards that used to cost ~$150-$200 now cost a bit more.
While prices are dropping, a prebuilt gaming PC can be a solid alternative. The companies that provide prebuilt systems are able to purchase their components at much more reasonable prices by buying them in bulk. You can check out our recommendations for the best budget prebuilt gaming PC at each price range in the sections below.
For more information on the cost of building a PC, check out our guide How Much Does it Cost to Build A PC Right Now?
3. Is building your own PC cheaper in 2023?
4. How do I build a gaming PC for the first time?
Also read: How Long Does it Take to Build A PC?
5. Should you build a cheap gaming PC or get a console?
Or, if you wanted to play a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 at launch, you would have needed a console to play it. If you’re a baseball fan and you want to play MLB The Show, your only option is to get a PlayStation, and Xbox, or a Switch.
So, before you go out and build a new budget gaming computer, you need to make sure that you understand that certain games aren’t available on PC. But, at the same time, what you lose on a console, you gain on a PC. There are also plenty of games that are exclusive to PC, like, for instance, League of Legends (also one of my favorite games.)
And, overall, the in-game experience on a PC is better than it is on a console. That’s simply because on the PC you can play with better visuals, more detailed graphics, and smoother gameplay. And, of course, on average, PC games tend to be cheaper and there are also a lot more of them. (Although, with the launch of the PS5, the gap between platforms is closing. Check out our guide PC vs PS5: Which is Better for Gaming? to learn more.)
So, while a console will cost you less upfront (unless you go with a really inexpensive PC), if you buy a lot of games, in the long run, a PC will win out. Ultimately, though, if you’re like me, you just get both and enjoy the best of both worlds.
Quick-Look: Our Top Picks for the Best Cheap Gaming PCs
In this section, I’ve taken six different price points ($300, $400, $500, $600, $700, & $800) and I’ve put together budget-friendly gaming PC builds for each budget. These builds can either be used as is, or they can serve as a base that you can customize to your liking. I’ve also linked to a comparable prebuilt gaming PC for each price range.
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| BALANCED |  |
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| 1080P |  |
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| ENTRY |  |
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| BAREBONES |  |
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*I update these builds about once per week and if the total price is over the price range I have set ($30 threshold) then it’s likely that one (or more) of the components included in the build saw a price increase since I had last updated the build.
1. Powerful $800 Gaming PC (VR-READY)
What if I told you that for ~$800 you could build a computer that could serve as a solid 1080P or 1440P PC gaming machine? Or, that could support the Oculus Rift?
That’s what this $800 gaming PC brings to the table. Thanks to an Intel Core i5-12400F CPU, a Radeon RX 6700 XT video card, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, this budget PC build is capable of playing most games on a 1440P 60Hz monitor at medium-to-higher settings with acceptable frame rates. And, if you want to jump into the world of Virtual-Reality gaming, this build meets the requirements to run an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive as well.
Also Read: How Much is A VR Headset?
And, of course, if you just want to play on a 1080P monitor, this budget system will easily be able to handle that as benchmarks for the RX 6700 XT show that it can handle 1080P gaming incredibly well. In fact, pairing this build with a cheap 144Hz gaming monitor would make for a great gaming PC for Fortnite, GTA, Apex Legends, or any other highly-competitive game.
The build also includes a 500GB SSD and a 650W power supply that will handle any upgrades or additions you might want to make in the future. And, while you can choose any case that suits your personal preferences, we’ve included a decent mid tower case.
Ultimately, this is one of the best budget gaming PCs available. It can easily handle 1080P gaming, it will serve well for 1440P gaming, and it can even run games on a 4K monitor on mediumish settings.
Part List for $800 PC Build
 |  |  |  |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-12400F | |
| MOBO | MSI H610M | |
| GPU | PowerColor RX 6700 XT | |
| RAM | TEAMGROUP 16GB | |
| SSD | Kingston A400 480GB | |
| CASE | Zalman T7 | |
| PSU | Thermaltake 650W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
Grand Total: $770-$830
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here to check current pricing.
**You’ll need an operating system. Windows costs ~$100. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your desktop asking you to activate it.
12400F + RX 6700 XT Benchmark
2. Best Cheap Gaming PC for $700
With an Intel Core i5-12400F CPU and an NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super GPU, this is one of the best budget gaming PC builds for ~$700. It is even capable of functioning as an entry-level 4K gaming system (it can run non-demanding games on a 4K monitor).
The processor/graphics card combination will even meet the required specifications for running the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive—so virtual reality is also doable with this setup.
This $700 gaming PC also comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a nice-looking mid tower case with three pre-installed fans. This isn’t the greatest case in the world, but for right at $50, you get a nice case with decent airflow, plenty of room, and nice aesthetics, too. For storage, you also get a 500GB solid state drive. And, for the power supply, the 650W 80 PLUS Gold unit will give you plenty of power to make upgrades or additions in the future.
Overall, this budget build will offer ideal performance in 1080p gaming, or on a 1080P 144Hz, monitor, and decent performance in 1440P gaming, and it is one of the best options for $700 in 2023.
Also Read: 1080P vs 1440P vs 4K for Gaming?
Part List for $700 PC Build
 |  |  |  |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-12400F | |
| MOBO | MSI H610M | |
| GPU | MSI GTX 1660 Super | |
| RAM | TEAMGROUP 16GB | |
| SSD | Kingston A400 480GB | |
| CASE | Zalman T7 | |
| PSU | Thermaltake 650W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
Grand Total: $670-$730
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here to check current pricing.
**You’ll need an operating system. Windows costs ~$100. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your desktop asking you to activate it.
12400F + GTX 1660 Super Benchmark
3. A Solid $600 Gaming PC Build
For right around $600, you can throw together a solid gaming desktop that will max out any game on the market on a 1080p monitor as well as a system that will even be able to handle most games on a 1440p 60Hz monitor (although, you wouldn’t be able to play more demanding games on some of the best 1440P 144Hz monitors with this setup) as well.
And, for popular games like Elden Ring, Minecraft, Fortnite, or Call of Duty, this computer will be able to handle them with ease.
Also, with an Intel Core i3-12100F CPU, an NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super graphics card, and 16GB of memory, this $600 gaming computer build is actually capable of running an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive!
The bottom line, though, is that this system is a really good budget gaming PC for the money and it will easily last you through 2023 and beyond.
Part List for $600 PC Build
 |  |  |  |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-12100F | |
| MOBO | MSI H610M | |
| GPU | ZOTAC GTX 1660 | |
| RAM | TEAMGROUP 16GB | |
| SSD | Kingston A400 480GB | |
| CASE | Thermaltake Versa H17 | |
| PSU | EVGA 550W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
Grand Total: $570-$630
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here to check current pricing.
**You’ll need an operating system. Windows costs ~$100. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your desktop asking you to activate it.
12100F + GTX 1660 Super Benchmark
4. Best Cheap Gaming PC for $500
If you’re looking to get the best budget gaming PC for $500 this next build will present you with solid performance.
These parts are capable of producing an experience on par with a big custom PC builder’s $1,000+ prebuilt gaming PC.
Thanks to an Intel Core i3-10100F processor, an RX 6500 XT graphics card, and 8GB of DDR4 RAM, the cheap $500 gaming PC build listed below can max out pretty much any game on a budget 1080p monitor, as well as play non-demanding games at 1440p on medium-to-high settings.
And, while 8GB of RAM may not be ideal for gaming in 2023, we did include a single 8GB stick of RAM so that you can quickly and easily add a second 8GB stick of RAM in the near future.
This system also comes with a 500GB SSD and a 550W power supply—which should allow you to upgrade to a better video card with no problems.
Overall, this system is a good starter build for anyone looking to get into PC gaming or anyone who is looking for the best cheap gaming PC for $500.
Part List for $500 PC Build
 |  |  |  |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-10100F | |
| MOBO | ASRock H510M | |
| GPU | MSI RX 6500 XT | |
| RAM | Patriot Viper 8GB | |
| SSD | Kingston A400 480GB | |
| CASE | Thermaltake Versa H17 | |
| PSU | EVGA 550W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
Grand Total: $470-$530
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here to check current pricing.
**You’ll need an operating system. Windows costs ~$100. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your desktop asking you to activate it.
10100F + RX 6500 XT Benchmark
5. $400 Ultra Budget Gaming PC
At that price point, you can build a budget gaming PC that will allow you to play games like Rocket League, League of Legends, and Dota 2 on higher settings.
And, by building it yourself, you can avoid having to deal with the low-quality power supplies and motherboards that the big computer companies like to throw in their builds, or getting stuck with a cheap gaming laptop.
This $400 gaming PC build comes with an Intel Core i3-10100F processor, 8GB of DDR4 memory, a GT 1030 graphics card, a 550W power supply, and a nice micro-ATX case. The power supply and the roomier case size will make upgrading this budget gaming PC a lot easier in the future.
Ultimately, the desktop PC build listed below is based on my research on the best brand new parts available for a cheap gaming PC. However, it should be noted that if you want to maximize the performance you can get out of a $400 budget, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to search the used market for a better graphics card.
Part List for $400 PC Build
 |  |  |  |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-10100F | |
| MOBO | ASRock H510M | |
| GPU | Gigabyte GT 1030 | |
| RAM | Patriot Viper 8GB | |
| SSD | PNY 240GB | |
| CASE | Thermaltake Versa H17 | |
| PSU | EVGA 550W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
Grand Total: $370-$430
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here to check current pricing.
**Price includes the parts that make up the tower only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it with no problems—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your desktop asking you to activate it.
10100F + GT 1030 Benchmark
6. Best Cheap Gaming PC for $300
For gamers or students who are headed back to school who are working with an extremely tight budget, it is possible to throw together a gaming PC for under $300. The downside of putting together such a system is that you’ll be stuck with integrated graphics.
However, the upside of this build is that with just an upgrade to the CPU and video card you will have a very powerful cheap gaming PC.
But, even as is, with the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G and its integrated Vega graphics, and 8GB of DDR4 RAM, this PC build is capable of handling most games at 1080P resolution on lower-to-medium settings.
So, if you are severely strapped for cash now, but you want something that will let you play your favorite games on lower-to-medium settings and will also let you upgrade to a high-end system later on down the road, then this is probably one of the best budget gaming PCs you can build for the price.
Part List for $300 PC Build
 |  |  |  |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 3 3200G | |
| MOBO | MSI A320M | |
| RAM | Patriot Viper 8GB | |
| SSD | PNY 240GB | |
| CASE | Thermaltake Versa H17 | |
| PSU | EVGA 550W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
Grand Total: $270-$330
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here to check current pricing.
**You’ll need an operating system. Windows costs ~$100. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your desktop asking you to activate it.
Well, the price increases have definitely caused me to rethink PC gaming. If you go cheap as in cheap at today’s prices you really don’t get much in terms of graphics performance. You will regret it a year or so from now when games demand even more performance. I play at 1080p on a laptop with minimal GPU Nvidia 3050. It’s fine for older games but even so I doubt a year from now I will feel the same. Gaming in general whether on consoles or on PC has dramatically increased in costs. Especially if you want to play at decent settings and higher resolutions.
If I were making the 300 dollar build, what about the fans? Aren’t fans needed for a PC build (sorry if this is a dumb question, I am new to PC building)?
The fans usually come with the cpu and case
The cpu has the cooler and the case should have 1 or 2 fans preinstalled on it
Hello! I am a Mom of two amazing boys, and I am trying to price out a gaming computer for them. I would like to build it for them as it’s a lot easier on the wallet. I see that every priced out build is missing something on Amazon. Do you happen to have recommendations that include in stock parts? I know it’s near impossible to keep up with all the sales, and part availability. I sure appreciate any more help you can provide.
Thank you!
Just an FYI the 750w power supply option in Amazon is on sale and less than the 650w one on the builds right now.
hello
In the Powerful $800 Gaming PC (VR-READY) section in the table, you said Intel Core i5-10400f, and in the content, you said Thanks to an Intel Core i5-11400 CPU
Which one do you mean?