First and foremost, what kind of games do you want to play? Different games require different hardware to run. If you’re into fast-paced shooters or racing games, you’ll need a PC that can handle high frame rates and intensive graphics.
Your budget is also going to be a huge deciding factor when it comes to picking out your PC. Fortunately, there are a lot of great gaming laptops and desktops available for all budgets these days. You don’t have to break the bank to get a machine that can handle most games.
Pre-built gaming PCs are an ideal option for those who want the advantages of a gaming PC but don’t want to build one. These machines come in a broad range of hardware configurations designed to support all levels of performance.
If you’re gearing up to buy a gaming pcs under 500, the following information is designed to help you make an informed decision. If you’re still on the fence between buying or building a PC, check out our guide on pre-built vs custom PCs.
First, let’s take a look at the different types of gaming PC hardware.
1. GPUs
The graphics processing unit (GPU) is responsible for rendering images and is a key component in any gaming PC. There are two main GPU manufacturers: Nvidia and AMD.
AMD GPUs are generally considered better for budget-friendly builds, while Nvidia GPUs are the go-to option for high-end pre-built systems.
Newer high-end games need a GPU with multiple cores to deliver optimal performance. Most pre-built gaming PCs include GTX 10XX series or AMD RX 4XX series GPUs that meet this minimum requirement.
2. CPUs
When building a gaming PC, the central processing unit (CPU) is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. The CPU handles all the calculations and tasks that allow your system to run smoothly.
Intel CPUs are generally considered to be better for gaming than AMD CPUs. However, AMD Ryzen CPUs offer good value for money and can provide a decent gaming experience.
When choosing a CPU, you’ll also need to consider the motherboard. The motherboard is the central component of the PC and determines which CPUs are compatible.
3. RAM
Random-access memory (RAM) is another important factor to consider when building a gaming PC. The more RAM your system has, the more tasks it can handle at once.
Most pre-built gaming PCs come with 8GB to 16GB of RAM, which is more than enough for most games. If you plan on running multiple applications or games at the same time, however, you may want to consider upgrading to 32GB or more.
4. Storage
One of the most important features of any gaming PC is storage. If you have enough storage, you can keep the games and other data that your system needs.
There are two main types of storage: HDD and SSD. Generally, an SSD is preferable because it offers a significant speed advantage over a hard drive, which limits how quickly a CPU processes information.
There are two main types of HDD: mechanical and hybrid. A hybrid drive offers the speed of an SSD with the storage capacity of a hard drive at a lower price point. They’re not as fast as pure SSDs, but they’re suitable for most budgets.
Buying pre-built gaming PCs
often comes with a trade-off: you get a good machine but at the expense of storage capacity. If you need a lot of storage, it may be better to build your own gaming PC.
Now that you know about the different types of hardware, let’s take a look at some popular system configurations.
Mid-range / high-end pre-built gaming PCs
Mid-range pre-built gaming PCs are at the sweet spot between budget and top of the line. They typically include a GTX 1050 GPU or better, an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, 8GB to 16GB of RAM, and 1TB or more of storage capacity.
High-end pre-built gaming PCs are designed for those who want the best performance possible. They include a GTX 1070 or 1080 GPU, an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, 16GB to 32GB of RAM, and a hybrid drive or SSD.
Extreme pre-built gaming PCs
Extreme pre-built gaming PCs are top of the line. They include a GTX 1080 Ti or 2080 GPU, an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, 16GB to 32GB of RAM, and hybrid drive or SSD storage.
Now that you know what types of hardware are most suitable for your needs, the next step is to find a pre-built gaming PC that meets your budget.
When looking for a pre-built gaming PC, it’s important to keep in mind that you often get what you pay for. A cheap system is likely to have low-quality components that can lead to poor performance and compatibility issues.
That said, there are some good deals to be found if you know where to look. We’ve rounded up three of the best pre-built gaming PCs on the market that are sure to meet your needs.
Best value: CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR
The CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR is a great option for those on a tight budget. It includes a GTX 1060 3GB GPU, an AMD Ryzen 3 1200 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB HDD.
Best performance: Origin Millennium
The Origin Millennium is a mid-range system with powerful components. It includes an RTX 2080 8GB GPU, an Intel Core i7 7820X CPU, 32GB of RAM, dual 1TB SSDs, and more.
Best extreme: Digital Storm Eclipse
The Digital Storm Eclipse is the most powerful pre-built gaming PC on the market. It includes an RTX 2080 Ti 11GB GPU, an Intel Core i9 9900K CPU, 32GB of RAM, dual 1TB SSDs, and more.
As you can see there are many factors to consider when building a PC that will ensure not only that it is good but great. While some of the parts are subjective other things like choosing your motherboard or CPU must be given much more thought.
The best advice that I could give you is to first figure out what budget you have for building your system, then choose a quality site to look at what other people are saying about their systems build it, and hopefully, it will do the job.
Conclusion
Building your own gaming PC can be a daunting task, but it’s worth it for the satisfaction of knowing you made it yourself. If you’re not sure where to start, or if you just don’t have the time, there are plenty of pre-built gaming PCs on the market that will fit your needs.
Keep in mind that you often get what you pay for, so it’s important to do your research before buying. The best way to find the right PC for you is to figure out what type of hardware you need and then match it up with a system that meets your budget.
We’ve rounded up three of the prebuilt gaming pc under 500 on the market, so be sure to check them out. Thanks for reading!
