Want an affordable gaming PC that can run all the latest games without breaking the bank? Then this article contains just the thing you are looking for.
Finding a gaming PC can get very overwhelming if you’re new to PC gaming because a lot of different factors need to the weighed in before you make the final decision.
But you don’t have to endure that daunting experience because, in this article, I am going to provide information on the best and cheap gaming PCs under $500 that can be bought right off the shelf.
This article is going to cover the following:
- 5 Best prebuilt gaming PCs you can buy for under $500
- The buying guide on how to pick the best gaming PC under $500 for your need
- Games that you can expect to play on a $500 gaming PC
In my time reviewing gaming PCs, I have witnessed the transition of the prebuilt gaming PCs industry from the phase where prebuilt PCs were once viewed as being a waste of money to now this genre of PC is the one many gamers are buying into.
This post will not only bring you the gaming PCs that are the best offerings in the market but will also embody the essence of variety. Therefore the five prebuilt gaming PCs that are brought to you in this article are diverse and offer something unique in their own right.
You will have the choice of all sorts of gaming PCs, such as PCs with a lot of RGB lighting, white gaming PCs, compact PCs, minimalist PCs, you name it. There is something for everyone. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s begin with the article right away.
In a Hurry? These are the Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $500
The following is a quick glance at the gaming PCs that are a part of this article and are going to be reviewed later on. Following strict criteria, only the best prebuilt gaming PCs under $500 available in the market are selected for the article.
*For more info on the gaming PCs below, click the “Jump to review” button to go to our review of that PC.
Best Overall
Best Aesthetics
In-Depth Review
Coming up next are the reviews of our selected PCs for this roundup.
Every PC selected in this roundup has to undergo an extensive testing process in which our experts analyze all the different aspects of the PC.
Then it is assigned a ranking, and only the top-ranked PCs are included in the roundups. If you want to check the factors on which we access PCs, you can check this article’s buyer’s guide section.
Best Overall
1. STGAubron ABR0122
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Pros
Cons
Bottom Line:
In sub $500 gaming PCs, you have to resort to comprises in one way or another. Some PCs provide good performance but lack the looks, while others provide looks but lack performance. However, the STGAubron ABR0122 is an exception. This gaming PC delivers on all fronts, which makes it a clear winner in the $500 price bracket.
Gaming Experience
The gaming experience with the STGAubron is quite sublime. This PC does all that you need it to do and plays any game you want. While other PCs cannot handle CPU-intensive games at 1080p resolution, this gaming PC does that with ease.
I thoroughly enjoyed gaming with this PC. Therefore, this PC stayed on my desk even after the benchmarks were finished. Speaking about benchmarks, I got 32 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, 38 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2, 43 FPS in Elden Ring, and 54 FPS in GTA V.
All these games were played at high graphic settings at 1080p resolution, which makes the FPS result thoroughly impressive.
All of the remaining games were tested at ultra graphic settings. This PC gave 56 FPS in CoD: Warzone, 70 FPS in Fortnite, 81 FPS in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and 80 FPS in Apex Legends.
Competitive games provided a much better framerate when tested on this gaming PC. Rainbow Six Siege gave 132 FPS, Overwatch 2 gave 146 FPS, CSGO gave 208 FPS, and Valorant gave 240 FPS.
Specifications
The STGAubron is by far the most well-equipped PC I have come across in the sub $500 price range. Sure, it doesn’t come with the latest generation hardware. However, its older generation components are still very good to this day.
At the core of the PC is an Intel Core i7-4770 4th generation processor. This processor comes with 4 cores and 8 threads. A 4-core processor is fine for most games; however, it is not much future-proof. The graphics card used in this PC is the Radeon RX 580, which comes with 8GB VRAM.
Despite being a couple of generations old now, the Radeon RX 580 is the fastest graphics card in this roundup which can also be seen from the gaming benchmark of this PC.
As for the other specs, this gaming PC comes with 16GB RAM, which is ample for gaming and multitasking. This PC has a 512GB SSD for storage, which provides decent storage space. However, later down the line, you might need to upgrade to a 1TB storage drive as the games in your PC pile up.
Case Design and Connectivity
The STGAubron ABR0122 has a proper gaming PC case. At this price range, many gaming PCs come with a run-of-the-mill generic case that you will find in typical workstation PCs, making the STGAubron ABR0122 stand out.
The thing about the case that stands out the most is the front mesh grill. This grill not only adds texture to the finish of the case but also allows for airflow. I also like the way the corners of the case wrap inwards. It enhances case design and also minimizes sharpness.
At the left side of the case is a glass window allowing gamers to see their PC’s inside. This case has multiple ventilation holes, making it great for airflow. As a result, looks are not the only thing this case has going for it.
In terms of connectivity, this case comes with a 2x USB-A, 3.5mm audio and microphone jack, a reset button, and a power button on the front.
For the rest of the ports, you will need to turn your attention to the back of the PC. The ports at the back of the PC include 6x USB-A, Ethernet, DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, and 3x audio ports.
Aesthetics and Salient Features
The STGAubron ABR0122 looks quite spectacular, especially in dim lighting, because this PC is encapsulated by RGB all around. Seven RGB fans come to life as you power on the PC and light up every inch of the case.
If you thought the RGB lighting inside the case was enough, this PC also comes with an RGB Bluetooth speaker, which is perhaps its most prominent salient feature as well.
Along with the speaker, gamers also get a keyboard, mouse, and mousepad combo. The quality of these peripherals is not on par with the Bluetooth speaker. However, they do work fine for the most part.
You will be pleased to find out that this gaming PC comes with Wi-Fi support out of the box using an adapter. Despite the Wi-Fi adapter not having the greatest range is very convenient for connecting to the Internet.
If you are worried about all the different parts in this PC failing, don’t stress because the STGAubron ABR0122 comes with a 1-year warranty.
Overall, the STGAubron ABR0122 has cemented its spot as the best prebuilt gaming PC under $500 because it does an excellent job in all aspects. Hence, it is hard to beat at this price point.
2. ViprTech Pro
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Pros
Cons
Bottom Line:
The ViprTech Pro comes at a close second in this roundup. The difference between this gaming PC and the top offering is not far apart. The ViprTech Pro had a great showing in every aspect. This gaming PC has decent performance, looks great, and has sufficient connectivity. That being said, there are a couple of minor downsides holding the PC back.
Gaming Experience
The ViprTech Pro delivered a gaming experience along the lines of my expectation. The gaming experience wasn’t anything spectacular, but I can’t fault it much for a $500 gaming PC.
I was impressed with how smoothly this PC ran light to moderately demanding games. For the more difficult-to-run games, I did need to lower the graphic settings to achieve a consistent framerate.
The benchmarking framerate tells a similar story. I got 35 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2, 41 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, 53 FPS in Elden Ring, and 68 FPS in GTA V. For these games, I had to drop the resolution to 720p to get a good gaming experience.
Luckily, 1080p resolution was very much approachable with the battle royale games. This PC gave 45 FPS in CoD: Warzone, 65 FPS in Fortnite, 56 FPS in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and 73 FPS in Apex Legends.
The best frame rate was observed with competitive Esports games. This PC gave 97 FPS in Overwatch 2, 110 FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, 140 FPS in Valorant, and 176 FPS in CS: GO. Every game was played at 1080p resolution and low graphic preset to maximize framerate.
Specification
This PC comes with decent specs that get the job done. At the heart of this gaming PC is the Intel Core i5-4570 4th generation processor, which has 4 cores and 8 threads. This processor is quite old and is the main hardware component holding the PC back.
Paired with the Core i5-4570 processor is the Nvidia GTX 1050 2 GB graphics card, which despite being old, performs quite well, as seen from the gaming benchmarks.
This gaming PC also comes with 8GB RAM, which is not enough. Modern games require at least 12GB RAM for 1080p resolution. I also don’t like the fact that this gaming PC comes with an HDD and not an SSD. The 1TB storage capacity, however, is quite good, and you will be able to store a lot of games on it.
Case Design and Connectivity
In terms of case design, the ViprTech Pro comes with a modern PC case. The black case has a sleek, minimalist design that looks great on any desk.
The case features a glass sandwich design that gives you a glimpse inside the PC. However, the drawback is that the airflow of this case is not adequate, so the PC tends to overheat.
Luckily this PC has you covered with the connectivity. It boasts a range of ports on the front and back. The front ports are 3x USB-A, a 3.5mm audio and mic jack, a dedicated button to change the color of RGB lighting, a reset button, and a power button.
The rest of the ports are found on the back of the PC, including 3x DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-D, VGA, 6x USB-A ports, Ethernet LAN, and additional 3.5mm audio ports.
Aesthetics and Salient Features
Besides having strong performance, the ViprTech Pro also maintains strong aesthetics. The main dominating aspect of the looks is the RGB lighting which can be customized in any color you want.
Having an all-glass case helps bring out the RGB lighting to the fullest and is the main reason why ViprTech opted for a glass sandwiched case.
Moving onto the salient features, this PC comes with quite a few. This PC allows gamers to go online with an included Wi-Fi adapter. Gamers are also getting a keyboard and mouse bundle with this gaming PC, so there is no need to spend extra money.
This gaming PC also comes with a 1-year warranty. Above all, ViprTech is a small business located in the United States, so when you buy this gaming PC, you support a small business grow.
Overall, the ViprTech Pro is a great option for gamers looking to add a well-performing and great-looking gaming PC to their arsenal.
3. Shinobee Gaming PC
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Pros
Cons
Bottom Line:
The Shinobee gaming PC is simple and pure in its intent – it has the gaming PC DNA through and through. The company has spent money on all the main factors that matter for gaming. As a result, at the $500 price point, the Shinobee gaming PC is among the better options you have in the market.
Gaming Experience
The gaming experience of the Shinobee is quite alright, but nothing spectacular. This gaming PC can play most games you throw at it on 1080p resolution. However, for some games, you might need to drop the resolution to 720p.
The cut down in resolution is apparent when playing demanding single-player games. This PC gave 28 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, 30 FPS in Elden Ring, 31 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2, and 47 FPS in GTA V.
Out of the four, only GTA V played at 1080p resolution. The rest of the games – Elden, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2 did not run smoothly at 1080p resolution, so they had to be played at 720p resolution.
I was quite happy with the battle royale games benchmarks because I saw some very decent framerate figures. I got 40 FPS in CoD: Warzone, 58 FPS in Apex Legends, 53 FPS in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and 63 FPS in Fortnite.
This PC delivered the best framerate when it came to Esports games. I was able to get 78 FPS in Overwatch 2, 90 FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, 135 FPS in Valorant, and 156 FPS in CS: GO.
All the games mentioned above were played at 1080p resolution. The single-player story games and battle royales were run using ultra-graphic settings. In contrast, the Esports games utilized the low graphic preset for maximum framerate.
Specifications
The company has put most of the manufacturing budget into giving this PC great specs for $500, and this decision has paid off wonders.
This PC is powered by a Ryzen 7 4700G APU. Along with having 8 cores and 16 threads, the processor has additional 8 cores dedicated to the GPU.
This all-in-one CPU + GPU delivers great performance. As you have seen above from the benchmarks, it can run games at 1080p resolution.
This PC has an impressive 16GB DDR4 RAM for smooth multitasking and gaming. The storage drive of the PC is also decent, but I wish it came with more capacity. This PC comes with a 512 GB SSD which is fast and works great. However, the 512GB storage space will get filled up pretty quickly if you like installing a lot of games on your PC.
Case Design and Connectivity
The case design is perhaps one of the weak points of this gaming PC. The Shinobee gaming PC has a generic case that you will find on workstation PCs in schools or offices. As a result, it does not contain the thrill of using a gaming PC.
As far as the rest of the design is concerned, there isn’t much to discuss. However, I would say that including a glass window on the left panel is a nice touch.
The perk of having a generic case design is that you get awesome connectivity from this gaming PC. It has all of the ports you want at accessible places.
The front ports of the case are located within arm’s reach, including 2x USB-A, a 3.5mm audio and mic port, a power button, and a reset button.
The rest of the ports are located on the backside, including HDMI, VGA, DVI-D, Ethernet LAN, 6x USB-A ports, PS/2 ports, and 3x additional 3.5mm audio ports.
Aesthetics and Salient Features
As you have guessed already, the Shinobee gaming PC is not the one you buy to impress your friends. This PC has bland aesthetics because it looks like every other PC on the market.
The only thing keeping the PC from going completely dull is the red LED fan on the front of the case. It adds a little bit of bling to the overall boring gaming PC.
In terms of the salient features, the Shinobee gaming PC comes with all that you want and none that you may not need. For starters, you get a Wi-Fi dongle with this PC, allowing gamers to connect to the internet without a cable.
A Wi-Fi dongle is not the ideal solution. A built-in Wi-Fi card is much better because it provides better stability. However, Shinobee even providing gamers with a Wi-Fi dongle is a nice gesture.
This gaming PC also comes with Windows 11 pre-installed from the get-go, so you will not need to waste time downloading annoying Windows updates.
The cherry on top is the 2-year warranty Shinobee provides to the users so they can game without worrying about anything.
Overall, if you want all-around gaming that can fulfill your needs without much sacrifice, consider the Shinobee Gaming PC.
4. Skytech Mini X1
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Pros
Cons
Bottom Line:
Want a small gaming PC that packs a punch? Skytech Mini X1 it is. Unlike other small and compact gaming in the $500 price range, the Skytech Mini X1 offers very few compromises. It is a game-ready machine with good specs and decent performance to boot.
Gaming Experience
The gaming experience of the Skytech Mini X1 is quite great, and it essentially boils down to the capability of this gaming PC. The SkyTech Mini X1 can play most games at 1080p resolution, though you will need to drop down the settings a notch for the latest games.
Despite that, there is not much of a loss in graphic quality, and the games look fine for the most part. I tested this gaming PC with a mix of single-player and multiplayer games. For its size, the Skytech Mini X1 delivered some respective framerate.
In the demanding games, this PC gave 23 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, 27 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2, 31 FPS in Elden Ring, and 58 FPS in GTA V. All the demanding games were played at 900p resolution to achieve these frame rate figures.
Surprisingly battle royale games shared a similar pattern as the above-mentioned games and were too played at 900p resolution. This PC gave 38 FPS in CoD: Warzone, 58 FPS in PlayerUnknown’s Battleground, 63 FPS in Apex Legends, and 66 FPS in Fortnite.
The gaming experience was quite pleasant when playing competitive Esports games. This PC gave 68 FPS in Overwatch 2, 80 FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, 140 FPS in Valorant, and 156 FPS in CS: GO at 1080p resolution on low graphic settings.
Specification
Perhaps one of the reasons I like this PC so much is because, given the mini size of this gaming PC, you are getting a whole lot of specs here.
At the heart of the PC is a Ryzen 5 5600G APU, which basically means that this version of the Ryzen 5600G comes with a dedicated built-in graphics card called the Vega 7.
The performance of the Ryzen 5 5600G APU is quite good in games, as you can see from the above benchmarks, and since it has 6 cores and 12 threads, running heavy workloads is also not an issue.
The Skytech Mini X1 also comes with 16GB RAM. I am glad it does because 16GB is more than enough for all your needs. Skytech has put the user experience at the front and provided a 500GB NVMe SSD with this gaming PC.
The NVMe SSD is blazing fast than the traditional HDD, so the PC gets much better load times and an overall snappier interface, which you will experience immediately. That being said, the 500GB storage capacity is something I am not too confident about in the long run because it will get filled pretty quickly.
The only drawback of having all these specs in a small package is that the Skytech Mini X1 can get quite loud and the small storage capacity too, if you consider that a con. Since the PC is small, cooling becomes an issue. Therefore, the fan needs to spin at a higher RPM leading to loud fan noise.
Case Design and Connectivity
The case of the Skytech Mini X1 is simple, clean, and minimal, which it should be for a mini gaming PC. The case’s side panels are finished with a smooth texture, while the front panel gets a brushed textured finish to differentiate it from the rest.
Despite being small in size, the fit and finish of the PC is quite good. All the panels are well put together with no panel gaps.
For a small gaming PC, I also find the connectivity of the Skytech Mini X1 to be exceptional. This PC comes with a USB-C, USB-A, and a 3.5mm audio and mic jack on the front.
The remaining connectivity ports are found on the back of the PC, including HDMI, Ethernet LAN, Display Port, VGA, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0.
Aesthetics and Salient Features
The aesthetic of this gaming PC is dominated by its small design. The moment you first see this gaming PC, you will be enamored by its tiny size.
To put it into context, the length of this gaming PC from its base to the highest point is less than a keyboard.
After you get over how small this PC is, you start to appreciate the small aesthetic details present on this gaming PC. Rest assured, this small gaming PC can occupy a small corner of your desk without being too intrusive.
As for the features, this gaming PC comes with many handy features. For starters, users get access to built-in Wi-Fi right off the bat, allowing them to go online without any worry.
All in all, the Skytech Mini X1 exceeded expectations. It is the best mini gaming PC I have tested in the $500 gaming PC. So, if you are in the market for a compact and portable gaming PC, look no further than the Skytech Mini X1.
Best Aesthetics
5. ViprTech Prime
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Pros
Cons
Bottom Line:
My main pet peeve with sub $500 gaming PCs is that they don’t look all that interesting, but the ViprTech Prime is an exception. This gaming PC comes in a beautiful case that looks premium and gives the overall aesthetics of the PC a great boost. The fantastic aesthetics, however, come at the cost of performance.
Gaming Experience
The ViprTech Prime is not the PC you buy to get the maximum framerate from your games. Suffice it to say; this gaming PC ends up at the bottom of the pack when it comes to the gaming experience. This PC can only manage competitive Esports games smoothly, as demonstrated by the benchmarks.
I tried everything I could to get the more demanding games to run smoothly. Still, even after lowering the resolution and graphics, I got the following FPS – 27 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2, 30 FPS in CyberPunk 2077, 35 FPS in Elden Ring, and 48 FPS in GTA V.
Of all four games, only GTA V ran smoothly at 720p resolution The remaining three games, despite running at 720p resolution, were not playable at high graphic settings, so you might need to lower the graphics even further.
Even though this gaming PC fared much better in battle royale games but the framerate result were mediocre at best. This PC gave 36 FPS in CoD: Warzone, 45 FPS in PlayerUnkown’s Battleground, 52 FPS in Fortnite, and 60 FPS in Apex Legends at 720p resolution. Yet another time, one game, i.e., CoD: Warzone, unplayable
I only enjoyed playing competitive Esports games on this gaming PC because I was comfortably sitting above 60 FPS in these games. I got 65 FPS in Overwatch 2, 70 FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, 96 FPS in Valorant, and 130 FPS in CS: GO.
All the above games were played at the lowest graphic setting on 1080p resolution. Needless to say, I am not too impressed with the overall results.
Specifications
ViprTech had to make compromises somewhere to keep the cost of the PC down and give gamers the striking aesthetics they crave. Unfortunately, they chose to skimp on the specs, and as a result, this PC comes with dated hardware.
The PC is powered by an Intel Core i5-3570 3rd generation processor. This processor comes with 4 cores and 4 threads. Although the core count is low compared to the latest i5 or a Ryzen 5, this processor still has some life left in it. It puts out adequate performance for playing games at low settings.
The graphics card is also an older generation Nvidia GTX 750 Ti, which comes with 2GB VRAM. The Nvidia GTX 750 Ti is not the best performing. As a result, it can only play less intensive games that too at lower graphic settings.
Case Design and Connectivity
The case design of the ViprTech is the main highlight of this gaming PC. At the front of the case is the ViprTech logo, which, if I am being honest, is one of the better logos in the PC industry.
At the front panel’s left and right edge, you will find cutouts for LED lights giving the case a modern and sophisticated twist. On the left side, this PC also comes with a glass window which you can use to peep inside the PC.
I must also commend ViprTech on the fantastic cable management job they have done with this gaming PC. The cable is neatly organized and hidden from plain sight.
The connectivity is another area where this PC thoroughly impressed me. At the front of this PC, you will find 3x USB-A ports, a 3.5mm audio and mic jack, a power button, and a dedicated button for changing the color of the RGB.
The remaining connectivity ports are found on the back of the PC, and they include HDMI, VGA, DVI-D, Ethernet LAN, PS/2 ports, USB-A ports, and additional 3.5mm audio ports.
Aesthetics and Salient Features
The main selling point of the ViprTech Prime is its aesthetics, and I kid you not when I say that this gaming PC is perhaps the best-looking gaming PC you can get in the $500 price range.
The way RGB lighting is integrated into the case of this gaming PC makes it look high-end and premium. The white color of the case is also a nice departure from the back color cases that have become all too common in the PC gaming scene.
While the aesthetics of this gaming PC may be great, I am not too keen on the features that ViprTech provides with this gaming PC. This PC contains the usual features like Wi-Fi through an adapter and a 1-year warranty, unlike its competitors, which offer more in the price range.
Overall, the ViprTech Prime looks unlike anything on the market. The sleek case design and the beautiful RGB lighting look stunning. However, that is all there is to it – this gaming PC doesn’t perform quite well.
$500 Gaming PC Buying Guide: Things You Need to Know
Me providing you with just the reviews on some prebuilt PCs that I deem to be the best is not enough because it doesn’t help you as a consumer determine what you want.
No, I am talking about which PC is better because, obviously, the PCs that are a part of this article are great but different.
They offer something unique and distinct to their consumers, and given that we have our own preferences and tastes to satisfy, the “get the best PC” approach doesn’t always work.
Therefore, this buyer’s guide section is there to enlighten you on how you can get the best prebuilt gaming PC that caters to your needs and demands.
What Games Can I Expect to Play on a $500 Gaming PC?
Before I dig any deeper into the buyer’s guide, there is a very pressing matter that needs to be addressed because many gamers fall victim to that pretense.
Many gamers carry the false presumption that gaming PCs under $500 cannot play demanding games, let alone the latest ones.
This cannot be further from the actual reality, and hence it is time I clear that misconception for our readers.
The gaming PC industry has come a long way, and with the passage of time, the performance capability of the PC has become immensely better.
This can be seen from the fact that a mid-range latest generation graphics card from Nvidia, like the RTX 4070, is better than the top-of-the-line graphics card that the company had on offer 2-3 years back.
This isn’t the case with only the graphics card, but other PC hardware has also followed suit. This increase in performance capability has a trickle-down effect where low-end PC hardware is getting better day by day to the point where even $500 prebuilt gaming PCs provide decent gaming performance.
Long story short, a $500 gaming PC can absolutely run most games that you throw at it, and that includes the latest AAA games as well as other graphic-heavy titles.
Therefore, if someone now again says to you that a $500 gaming PC cannot game properly, then I hope you have understood that they don’t know what they are talking about or are not as caught up with the current PC gaming scene.
First Thing to Consider
Before you go add any prebuilt PC to your shopping cart, I want you to consider this aspect first, and it should be a part of your thought processes before making any purchase.
- Determine what you want from your gaming Pc and the way you are going to use it. This evaluation takes into account the games that you are going to play or the applications or software programs that you are going to use on your PC. Once you do this, you will better know which PC to get that can fulfill the needs that you have evaluated based on your use case.
Why The Best Is Not Always the Right Choice
It would have been so easy for me to simply recommend you the top PC on this list. After all, it is the benchmark for prebuilt gaming PCs under $500 and also the most powerful one of the lot.
But that is not how it works. I have already explained to you how we all differ in our needs and wants therefore maybe the best product on offer is something that is not suited for us.
There can be countless reasons as to why that is the case. Maybe your use revolves around light games, and you don’t necessarily need to spend your whole budget of $500 on a PC, or simply the look of that PC doesn’t suit the theme of your setup.
I may be over-generalizing a bit, but you get the gist of it, don’t you? Therefore, I would advise you to also look at other PCs that are on the list and not only on the first or the second offering because they all offer something different that may click for your use case.
Now that is said and done, let’s look at some of the important characteristics of a gaming PC that dictates its effectiveness.
Graphics Card
The graphics card is the most crucial component of a gaming PC responsible for gaming because the gaming performance of a PC is directly influenced by the graphics card.
If your PC has a strong graphics card, then games will run smoothly and with a better FPS likewise, if the graphics card of a PC is not adequate enough, then you will face choppy frame rate and stutter.
Hence based on the graphics card installed in your PC, you get to have great sway over your overall gaming experience as well.
Therefore, you should never compromise on the graphics card and always aim for the PC that has the best graphics card, that in our case is the STGAubron ABR0122 and the RX 580 it features.
The STGAubron ABR0122 is a bit of an exception, generally speaking, in the $500 budget, you will have gaming PCs with either old graphic cards or APU chips that have built-in graphics. More on APU in the next segment.
Processor
The processor is the core heart of the PC and is therefore responsible for any little action that occurs on a PC. Ideally, it is believed that your processor should be powerful enough that it can deal with all the tasks of your PC without getting overwhelming.
A safe bet is to stick with at least a 4-core processor in the $500 price range. As for the manufacturer, AMD processors have the edge over Intel in today’s market.
The Ryzen 7 4700G present in the Shinobee Gaming PC is especially a great processor that also acts as an APU.
To put it simply, an APU is a processor that also functions as a graphics card for the PC. It has an embedded chip for graphics that it utilizes to handle the graphics section as well. A double-edged sword, if you will.
Most APUs are not as graphically powerful as dedicated graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD. Hence an APU should be your last resort, and if you do want a PC that has an APU, then stick to the Ryzen 7 4700G or Ryzen 5 5600G.
RAM and Storage
The RAM and Storage are the key aspects that you should consider before buying your gaming PC. Roughly these terms equate to the temporary and permanent storage capacity of the PC, respectively.
Ideally, for a prebuilt gaming PC, you are looking at 16GB RAM. But unfortunately, due to our $500 budget limitations, most prebuilt PCs will only offer 8GB RAM.
8GB RAM, for now, is fine for gaming, but it will require an upgrade soon rather than later when more complex games start coming out. As for the storage, get yourself at least 1TB. If you are a gamer, chances are, you will be installing a lot of games and other relevant applications.
The thing is, even a single game today can take 100GB or more storage space. Therefore, it is recommended that you go with at least 1TB of storage so that you are not limiting yourself in terms of what you are installing.
Also, SSD storage should be your main priority. Hard disks are too slow and should be avoided. If an option exists, opt for a low-capacity SSD storage drive than a high-capacity hard drive. Trust me, the increase in speed is worth the tradeoff in storage space.
If you are looking for the fastest SSD storage you can get on a PC, then the Skytech Mini X1 should do the trick for you.
Connectivity
Offering proper connectivity channels is a very aspect of games. Gamers tend to connect a lot of peripherals to their PC, and therefore the need for connectivity is more in a gaming PC than a normal one.
If a gamer is unable to connect his gadget due to lacking connectivity, then he won’t be able to enjoy his gaming PC to the fullest.
For connectivity, your best bet is the Skytech Mini X1 because that gaming PC covers all the ports that you will ever need from your gaming PC.
Aesthetics
The aesthetic appeal and drive are very important when choosing a gaming PC. These days a Gaming PC is all about customization and presentation.
Gamers go to great lengths to ensure that their gaming PC looks unique and more aesthetically pleasing than other gaming PCs.
I know gamers have divided opinions on going full overboard with fancy lighting and whatnot, but we all can agree that a well-put-together design can most definitely increase the appeal of that given PC.
If it is your first time buying a prebuilt gaming PC, look around, explore all your options, and see what the design and customization are all about. When you have seen enough, form an opinion on which Aesthetic approach you prefer and just go with it.
These were some of the characteristics that I wanted to evaluate.
Related PC Guides
Check out our price-focused prebuilt PC guides below.
- Best $800 Prebuilt Gaming PC
- Best $1000 Prebuilt Gaming PC
- Best $1500 Prebuilt Gaming PC
- Best $2000 Prebuilt Gaming PC
Check out our GPU-focused prebuilt PC guides below.
Check out our aesthetics-focused gaming PC guides below.
Check out some of the other related guides.
Conclusion
With everything said and done, it is time to wrap up the article. Before I do that, however, let’s quickly summarize the article’s contents.
Through this article, I wanted to clear the misunderstanding that gaming PCs under $500 are not good enough for gaming. For that purpose, this article stated not only corrected the misinformation that was lying around regarding $500 prebuilt PCs, but I also reviewed five prebuilt PCs in this article that can comfortably play modern games without any hitch.
I reckon it is now clear that budget gaming PCs also have some pedigree, granted you find the right machine in your budget. The gaming PCs mentioned in this article are quite varied in what they offer to consumers hence you have to pick and choose according to your needs.
For reference, if you just want the best-performing PC, then the STGAubron ABR0122 is the one you need to consider, but that doesn’t mean it is ideal in every situation.
All I am trying you say is don’t fall in the “best” rat race and pick the PC that suits your needs and preferences. For this purpose, there was a detailed buyer’s guide in the article stating how you can get the ideal PC for your needs, which I hope you have found helpful.
Before signing off, I would love to hear your pet peeve regarding gaming PCs in the comment section down below because I know some things can be really annoying at the beginning of your PC journey. Also, while you are there, let me know which PC you ended up going with and the first game you are going to experience on your shiny new PC.
