While high-end gaming desktops typically soak up all of the attention, a solid budget gaming PC can still provide silky smooth frame rates without emptying your wallet.
Among the best budget gaming PC options, the HP Victus 15L stands out for those seeking excellent 1080p performance without overspending. Although its compact form factor may not fit the best graphics cards like the RTX 5090, it still provides enough space for component upgrades down the line if you decide to enhance its capabilities.
With nearly two decades of combined experience reviewing the best budget gaming PCs, gaming hardware, and PC components, we know what to look for to help you get the most bang for your buck.
Our expertise ensures we can guide you toward the latest budget gaming PC models that maximize performance per dollar—so you can enjoy your favorite games without breaking the bank.
The quick list
Best for most people
This small gaming PC so compact that could slot into a TV stand offers plenty of power under the hood for less than the price of its bigger rivals.
Best compact on a budget
With configurations available at cheaper prices, this thoughtfully-designed Acer gaming PC delivers enough graphical oomph for gaming.
Solid-performing minimalist
Despite its glass panel, this gaming PC offers current-gen gaming performance in a minimalist package, giving you the best of both worlds.
The best budget gaming PC in 2025
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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best budget gaming PC options on our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best budget gaming PC overall
✅ You don’t have much space: The compact, simple chassis of the Victus 15L make it ideal for desktop setups with limited real estate.
✅ You need those accessible ports: A wide selection of ports on the front face (rather than the top or rear) is a great inclusion that comes in surprisingly useful.
❌ You can afford something more robust: The chassis of the HP Victus 15L is where its cost-cutting is most noticeable, with some rather budget construction materials.
❌ You want to game at 4K: Even the higher-end configuration of the Victus 15L aren't really powerhouse gaming PCs.
If looking good matters to you as much as power, then you might love the MSI Trident 3 10th, especially if you’re partial to a gaming-leaning aesthetic. The angular tower is roughly the same size as a home console, meaning that it won't take up too much room on your desk and could even slot into a TV stand if you'd prefer to use a controller for some couch gaming instead. It comes with an included removable base if you'd rather mount it upright, too.
It’s not all looks either. This small gaming PC touts plenty of power under the hood for less than its rivals, with 10th-generation Intel Core processors and the best Nvidia RTX and GTX graphics. It’s even cheaper than many of the gaming PCs on this list, with its Intel Core i7 + RTX 2060 Super +16GB RAM configuration setting you back much less than an HP Omen 25L with equivalent specs. If you’re trying to maximize your limited space and budget, this is the best budget gaming PC for you.
Read our full HP Victus 15L review
The best budget compact gaming PC
✅ You want the best value for money: Both sensibly priced and easy to upgrade, the Predator Orion 3000 is a good choice of future-proof budget gaming PC.
✅ You’re just getting into PC gaming: At this price level and offering decent gaming performance, this is the perfect entry-level gaming desktop.
❌ You want cutting-edge hardware: While you should be able to play most games just fine on this PC, it's hardly the highest-end desktop available.
❌ You want a full-size gaming PC: The compact design will be appealing for many, but for those who prefer a beefy full-tower PC, you'll want look elsewhere.
The Acer Predator Orion 3000 comes in a wide range of configurations, the most powerful of which will be out of most budget gamers' price range. However, the base configuration is much more accessible at below $1,000, coming with a GTX 1660 graphics card and Intel Core i5 processor, backed up by 16GB of RAM. This model is no longer available directly from Acer, but can still be picked up from retailers and should provide more than enough graphical oomph for gaming at 1080p, even in a post-RTX 3000 world, without needing to compromise too much in the graphical settings menu.
Despite being a powerful gaming PC with good potential for piecemeal upgrades further down the line, the Predator Orion 3000's chassis isn't oversized like some gaming rigs; it's been thoughtfully designed to fit beside a monitor or beneath a desk, and the vented front and side panels mean that thermal performance is excellent. It's got that much-desired 'gamer aesthetic' too, thanks to RGB lighting and a big, triangular power button that is very satisfying to press.
Read our full Acer Predator Orion 3000 review
The best minimalist budget gaming PC
✅ You want solid 1080p gaming: Even at the highest graphical settings, the Omen 25L can run most games at 1080p with a smooth framerate.
✅ You want an attractive PC: The white colorway and minimalist design make this a particularly good-looking monolith of a gaming PC.
❌ You want something cheap: While the pricing is still pretty fair, this isn't the most super-budget gaming PC out there.
❌ You won't be able to return it: There have been reports of Omen 25L PCs experiencing debilitating crash issues, so don't buy one of these without a warranty.
Though the HP Victus 15L is a much cheaper and much more compact option, it also features older-generation specs than the HP Omen 25L. The latter also comes with more RGB lighting and a glass panel, which makes it more appealing to those concerned about aesthetics.
Of course, the HP Omen 25L is a bit more capable as well, again due to its newer-gen specs. We found in our review that it delivers the kind of rock-solid performance that will satisfy just about anyone’s 1080p gaming needs. In fact, it maintained an average of 86fps when we played Cyberpunk 2077 on Ultra, and an equally impressive 89fps in Total War: Warhammer III, also with Ultra settings on.
We also appreciate its easy tool-less access, and while the port selection on it is just ok, you have enough to connect all your peripherals. Just keep in mind that we're only recommending the base configuration here. Anything above that, and you're already walking into the mid-range category. If you have a bit more flexible budget, then by all means, look into a higher configuration. But if you want this gaming PC at a budget price, you're gonna have to stick with its entry-level model.
Read our full HP Omen 25L review
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Frequently asked questions on budget gaming PCs
What’s the best gaming PC on a low budget?
Finding a quality gaming PC on a budget can be a daunting prospect at first, and balancing your needs with the price can be tricky. You’ll need to consider what you want to play, what type of display you’re using, and whether the hardware you’re looking at can keep up.
Our top pick for the best budget gaming PC is the HP Victus 15L, which offers unbeatable value for money, coupled with a powerful processor and graphics up to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super. It’s not suitable for gaming in 4K, but more than competent for smooth gaming at 1440p.
Is $500 enough for a gaming PC?
With a budget of just $500, just about your only chance of landing a high-end gaming PC is finding one second-hand. If you're buying or building from scratch, you can forget about gaming in 4K. However, by managing your expectations, and carefully choosing your components, you can still achieve a very decent rig that delivers a smooth gaming experience.
For $500, you can put together a rig that can comfortably handle gaming at 1080p, which still gives you a huge library of gaming fun to enjoy.
How to choose the best budget gaming PC for you
Finding the best budget gaming PC for you can be a difficult prospect, as there's a huge range of manufacturers with an even huger range of configurations available. We look at all different kinds and compare them to other PCs in their class, considering everything from price to performance to build quality.
Be sure to consider what you personally need when it comes to gaming on a PC. If you're planning on mostly playing 2D indie games or esports games (such as League of Legends and Valorant), you likely won't need a super-powerful machine since these titles are usually well-optimized to run on lower-end hardware. On the other hand, if you want to play graphically-demanding triple-A games, you're going to need to spend a bit more to get the best performance.
Resolution is an important factor here too; is the screen you'll be using a 1080p full HD monitor, or a 4K 120Hz display? If you're gaming at a higher resolution, you'll need a more powerful GPU in order to keep your framerates looking steady without compromising significantly in the graphical settings.
How we tested these budget gaming PCs
Here at TechRadar, we believe in rigorously testing every piece of hardware that passes through our hands. If it fails to impress during testing, we'll always let you know; we won't recommend you buy any product that falls short of the performance median for its price range.
Our testing process varies from product to product, but we're always sure to run the most appropriate tests considering the target purpose of whatever we're reviewing. This means we're always sure to run plenty of gaming tests on a gaming laptop, or editing benchmarks for a desktop workstation PC. We also always examine the build quality of a product to see whether it aligns with the attached price tag.
If you want to know more about how we test and rate the computers in this guide, check out our explainer on how we test laptops and desktops to learn more.
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