Are you looking to get into PC gaming, but don‘t want to spend too much? The good news is there are more great budget pre-built desktop options than ever before.
In this guide, we will recommend 5 excellent, affordable pre-built gaming PCs perfect for playing popular competitive titles or visually-impressive single player experiences. We‘ll summarize the key specs, real-world gaming performance and upgradability of each pick.
We‘ll also provide tips to help choose the right budget gaming PC build for your needs and insight into what kind of gaming experience you can expect. Let‘s dive in!
Top Budget Desktop Recommendations
We picked our top recommendations by analyzing hundreds of budget pre-built system configurations and reviews to find options that provide the best blend of gaming power and future upgradability.
Here are 5 exceptional choices to consider across various budgets and use cases:
Best Overall: Alienware Aurora R10
Price: $1,391
Specs:
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
- Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 1TB M.2 SSD
With an 8-core Ryzen CPU and powerful RTX 3060 Ti graphics, the Alienware Aurora R10 delivers excellent 1080p and smooth 1440p gaming framed rates while keeping cost in check. The tool-less chassis and 850W PSU also make future upgrades a breeze.
According to Tom‘s Hardware testing, expect 100+ fps in esports titles and 60-80 fps in demanding AAA games with maxed settings at 1440p. Meanwhile, Gamers Nexus testing showed the R10 hitting 143 fps in Fortnite at Epic settings and 87 fps in Red Dead Redemption 2 at optimized settings.
The R10 isn‘t the most affordable system, but it does come packed with premium features like advanced Alienware-branded liquid cooling and legendary build quality. If you want something reliable that can evolve along with your needs, the Aurora R10 is a fantastic choice.
Pros
- Great all-around gaming performance
- Premium build quality and cooling
- Easy tool-less upgrades
Cons
- Higher starting price point
- Limited RGB lighting customization
Best Value: HP Pavilion
Price: $899
Specs:
- Intel Core i5-12400F
- Nvidia RTX 3060
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 512GB M.2 SSD
The HP Pavilion gaming desktop punches far above its weight with an exceptional blend of gaming prowess and affordability. For just $899, you get a fast 6-core 12th Gen Intel CPU, capable RTX 3060 graphics and a smartly designed compact case.
Benchmarks from websites like CPU Monkey show this PC cleanly hitting 100+ fps in Valorant at max settings and over 60 fps in demanding titles like Control or Shadow of the Tomb Raider at high preset. While you won‘t be able to max all settings in every modern AAA game, performance is smooth enough for very enjoyable gaming. The Pavilion leaves you plenty of room for future upgrades too.
With its understated aesthetics and excellent price to performance ratio, the HP Pavilion is the ultimate value pick for 1080p gaming.
Pros
- Great 1080p gaming performance
- Tons of configuration flexibility
- Very affordable pricing
Cons
- Fans can get loud at high load
- Motherboard limits CPU upgrade ceiling
Best Budget Pick: CLX SET
Price: $799
Specs:
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Nvidia GTX 1650
- 8GB DDR4 RAM
- 240GB SSD + 1TB HDD
If you want a basic but solid low-cost gaming PC, the CLX SET is a wonderful choice requiring minimal investment up front. For just $799, you receive a respectable quad-core Ryzen processor with Radeon integrated graphics alongside an entry-level discrete GTX 1650 graphics card.
The GPU and 8GB of RAM limit gaming performance to smooth 720p or medium 1080p in most modern titles. However, according to Techspot testing, there‘s still enough power for 60+ fps in popular titles like Rocket League or Valorant at 1080p medium.
While not mind blowing, performance is certainly sufficient for enjoyable casual gaming. And the SET leaves you ready for drop-in upgrades like a faster GPU or more RAM whenever you‘re ready to step things up. If you want a starter budget PC to get into PC gaming now with room to grow later, put the CLX SET on your short list.
Pros
- Extremely affordable price
- Great starting point for future upgrades
- Quality construction and customer support
Cons
- Entry-level CPU and GPU
- Mediocre integrated audio
Best Looking: Skytech Chronos
Price: $1,099
Specs:
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 1TB NVMe SSD
If you want a gaming PC that looks as good as it runs, the visually striking Chronos from Skytech Gaming fits the bill wonderfully. The clean white compact case houses a slick tempered glass side panel, vivid RGB lighting strips and an attractive ventilation pattern across the front panel.
Of course, with a Ryzen 5 processor and RTX 3060 Ti graphics, this PC isn‘t just a pretty face. It provides awesome 1080p and 1440p gaming frame rates in the latest visually demanding games.
Hardware Unboxed testing shows 120+ fps gaming in titles like Call of Duty Warzone with maxed competitive settings. Meanwhile, the Skytech Chronos still pushes over 60 fps in strenuous games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Assassin’s Creed Valhalla at very high presets based on testing data from PCGuide and TechRadar.
For those wanting a gaming PC that looks fantastic and offers speedy 1440p gameplay, the Chronos checks all the boxes at a mid-range price point.
Pros
- Visually striking aesthetics
- Great parts balance and performance
- Quality 500W Gold PSU
Cons
- Limited future expandability
- Runs warmer than some competitors
Honorable Mention: ABS Master
Price: $949
Specs:
- Intel Core i5-11400F
- Nvidia RTX 3050
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 512GB M.2 SSD
The ABS Master keeps costs down by utilizing a last-gen Intel processor and entry-level RTX 3050 graphics card. But there are no compromises made when it comes to memory or storage – you get a very capable 16GB of RAM and a fast 512GB M.2 solid state drive.
Gaming performance tops out at 60-70 fps in the most demanding modern titles like God of War according to GameGPU benchmarks. However, Hardware Unboxed testing shows this PC still pushing up to 130 fps in titles like Rainbow Six Siege with competitive settings. If you stick to 1080p gaming, the Master performs admirably.
We also like the cooling-focused case design including a mesh front panel and multiple pre-installed fans to keep temps reasonable. For just under $1,000, the well-rounded ABS Master is a great entry point into PC gaming.
Pros
- Tons of RAM and fast SSD storage
- Well equipped for 1080p gaming
- Great thermals and airflow
Cons
- CPU will limit maximum gaming frame rates
- No secondary storage drive
How To Choose the Right Budget Gaming PC
Buying or building an affordable yet high performing gaming PC in 2023 is very doable thanks to intense competition that continues driving prices down. However, picking compatible components on a budget can still be challenging.
Follow this advice when choosing parts or a pre-built desktop aimed primarily at gaming use:
Prioritize the GPU
The graphics card plays the biggest role when it comes to impacting gaming visuals and frame rates. When building or buying a gaming PC, allocate as much budget as possible towards the fastest GPU that fits your budget.
For 1080p gaming at high frame rates, a good mainstream GPU like the RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT is recommended. Esports gamers can get by with even more budget cards like the GTX 1660 Super or RX 6500 XT.
Avoid equipping a fast high-end processor or excessive RAM without balancing these with an equally capable GPU – otherwise performance will be hampered by the graphics bottleneck.
Choose a Solid CPU
While the GPU does more graphical heavy lifting, the processor impacts overall system responsiveness and plays a role in maintaining high gaming frame rates.
For gaming focused builds, a mid-range chip like the Intel Core i5-12400F or Ryzen 5 5600 is usually the sweet spot. More expensive high core count CPUs like the i7-12700K or Ryzen 9 5900X are overkill for primarily gaming.
Make sure to match your CPU and GPU appropriately too. Pairing something like an RTX 3080 Ti with a low budget quad core processor will lead to lackluster gaming performance.
Don‘t Skimp On RAM
While 8GB of RAM is enough for regular gaming, don‘t be afraid to step up to 16GB configurations when possible. The extra memory headroom allows smoothly running games while having other apps and browser tabs open.
If going with an AMD Ryzen based build, try to get faster RAM kits in the DDR4-3600 range to maximize processor performance. But don’t sacrifice capacity for the sake of speed when on a tight budget.
Pick Quality Supporting Parts
When equipping supporting components like motherboard, storage drives and the PSU, don’t obsess over getting the cheapest options even for budget gaming builds.
Instead, choose reputable models from trusted brands. For example, pick named power supplies from companies like Corsair and EVGA over generic units. And make sure your motherboard has heatsinks to enable stable performance.
Paying a bit more for quality foundation components reduces headaches down the road and also provides a safer overclocking experience for extra gaming performance.
What Gaming Experience To Expect
Game performance always depends greatly on your PC hardware. But as a general guideline, here are the visual quality levels and frame rates possible in popular titles across budget system tiers:
Entry-Level 1080p Gaming
Hardware: Core i3 CPU + GTX 1650/RX 6400
- Esports (120+ fps) @ Competitive Settings
- AAA Titles (30 – 60 fps) @ Medium Preset
Mainstream 1080p Gaming
Hardware: Core i5 CPU + RTX 3060/RX 6600
- Esports (200+ fps) @ Max Settings
- AAA Titles (60 – 100 fps) @ High Settings
Premium 1080p/Entry 1440p Gaming
Hardware: Core i7 CPU + RTX 3070/RX 6800
- Esports (300+ fps) @ Max Settings
- AAA Titles (100+ fps) @ Max Settings + RTX/FSR
- Less Demanding Games (60+ fps) @ 1440p High
Note that actual gaming benchmarks depend greatly on factors like game optimization and specific components in your build. But these examples demonstrate realistic FPS targets to help set expectations before buying or building your budget gaming PC.
Pre-Built vs Custom PC: How Should You Get Started?
For newcomers getting started with PC gaming, choosing between a pre-built desktop or custom building your own rig leads to plenty of questions around budget, effort and tech skills required.
Pre-built gaming PCs from brands like CLX, Skytech and ABS take all assembly work and hassles out of the equation. Just take the system out of the box, plug in and start downloading Steam games! Seasoned integrators like iBUYPOWER or CyberPowerPC can also assist with repairs and upgrades over time.
The tradeoff is usually paying a slightly higher premium over building yourself, and less control over choosing every individual component in your system. But the convenience factor of pre-built systems can‘t be understated for many gamers.
Custom building your own DIY gaming PC lets experienced system builders hand pick every single part to perfectly meet gaming performance requirements and aesthetic tastes. Going the DIY route also avoids paying retail margins so that more budget goes directly towards components.
However, the building process requires studying compatibility carefully, physically assembling components (including fiddly tasks like cable management) and having backup plans if any parts are dead on arrival or conflict with each other. Custom building is extremely rewarding but also carries more effort and risk.
For gamers that prioritize convenience and just want to start playing ASAP, opting for an affordable pre-built like the HP Pavilion removes all headaches. Meanwhile, tech enthusiasts might get more enjoyment fine tuning a custom micro-ATX budget build using pcpartpicker completed with their own two hands.
Optimizing Performance: 6 Key Gaming PC Tips
To maximize frame rates and enjoyment with your new budget gaming build, keep these pivotal performance optimizations in mind:
1. Enable XMP/DOCP In BIOS
Don‘t leave RAM running at default JEDEC speeds – enable XMP or DOCP to hit the full rated memory speeds that Ryzen and Intel processors thrive on.
2. Keep GPU Drivers And Windows Updated
Outdated drivers lead to suboptimal performance and game issues. Use GeForce Experience and Windows Update to stay current.
3. Overclock Your GPU Out the Box
Utilities like MSI Afterburner let you safely overlock graphics cards for free extra gaming performance with just a few clicks.
4. Tweak In-Game Video Settings For Best Experience
Don‘t just max all graphics settings blindly. Watch optimization guides on YouTube to balance visuals and FPS for your favorite titles.
5. Add More Chassis Fans To Improve Cooling
More fans equals lower gaming temperatures which prevents thermal throttling during marathon sessions.
6. Clean Out Dust Every 6 Months
Dusted PC internals lead to reduced cooling and excessive component temperatures over time.
Following these best practice tips will guarantee you extract every last drop of frame rate possible from your awesome new budget gaming PC!
Bottom Line
Gone are the days when enjoying smooth gaming at high settings required breaking the bank on expensive hardware. The current market is flush with extremely capable pre-built desktops featuring powerful modern components at very reasonable prices in the $800 to $1,200 range.
Focus on systems with the best combination of processor, graphics card, memory size and storage to fit your specific needs and budget. Keep realistic expectations around visual quality and frame rate targets based on your PC hardware tier. And favor upgrading components over time rather than overspending drastically upfront.
While pre-built desktops provide exceptional convenience for many, tech enthusiasts might prefer custom building their dream budget gaming rig from the ground up. This path rewards those willing to study compatibility obsessively and get their hands dirty assembling components.
Either route you choose, today‘s budget gaming PCs empower incredibly immersive experiences in virtual worlds while keeping real world costs down. We hope you found this guide useful – let us know if you have any other questions choosing or setting up your new gaming computer!
