Why Choosing the Best Cheap Gaming PC in 2025 Makes Sense

Gaming in 2025 is no longer prohibitively expensive. Thanks to today’s technology, budget-friendly gaming desktops and affordable prebuilt gaming PCs can now run popular game titles at 1080p without lag.

If your budget is tight but your love for gaming is strong, a best-value gaming computer under $500 can still let you enjoy Fortnite, Minecraft, GTA V, and even some light AAA games.

7 Best Cheap Gaming PCs Under $500 in 2025

1. Acer Aspire TC Gaming Edition

• Intel i5 12th Gen + GTX 1650
  
• Smooth 1080p gaming for Fortnite & Valorant
  Price: $480
  

2. HP Pavilion Gaming PC (Refurbished)

• Ryzen 5 3600 + RX 570
  
• 16GB RAM, best for streaming
  Price: $450
  

3. Lenovo IdeaCentre 5 Gaming

• Ryzen 5 5600G with Vega graphics
  
• Great for students & casual gaming
  Price: $420
  

4. SkyTech Mini Prebuilt PC

• Compact and stylish design
  
• GTX 1050 Ti handles esports titles
  Price: $499
  

5. Dell OptiPlex Custom Upgrade

• i5 10th Gen + GTX 1650 Super
  
• Best Value Gaming Computer under $500
  Price: $470
  

6. ASUS ROG Strix Budget Edition (Used Market)

• Ryzen 7 + GTX 1660
  
• Powerful specs at low cost
  Price: $500
  

7. CyberPowerPC Gamer Ultra

• FX-6300 + RX 560
  
• Classic design, affordable
  Price: $430

Quick Comparison Table – Best Cheap Gaming PCs Under $500

Rank	Gaming PC Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Storage	Price (2025)	Best For
1	Acer Aspire TC Gaming Edition	Intel i5 12th Gen	GTX 1650	8GB	512GB SSD	~$480	Beginners & casual gaming
2	HP Pavilion Gaming PC (Refurbished)	AMD Ryzen 5 3600	RX 570	16GB	1TB HDD	~$450	Streaming on budget
3	Lenovo IdeaCentre 5 Gaming	Ryzen 5 5600G	Vega Graphics	8GB	512GB SSD	~$420	Students & entry-level
4	SkyTech Mini Prebuilt PC	Intel i3 12th Gen	GTX 1050 Ti	8GB	256GB SSD	~$499	Compact setups
5	Dell OptiPlex Custom Upgrade	Intel i5 10th Gen	GTX 1650 Super	8GB	1TB HDD	~$470	Best value gaming
6	ASUS ROG Strix Budget Edition (Used)	Ryzen 7 2700X	GTX 1660	16GB	512GB SSD	~$500	Hardcore gamers
7	CyberPowerPC Gamer Ultra	AMD FX-6300	RX 560	8GB	1TB HDD	~$430	Classic games

Feature Breakdown – What Matters Most

Feature	Minimum Requirement	Recommended for 2025
CPU	Intel i3 10th Gen / Ryzen 3	Intel i5 12th Gen / Ryzen 5
GPU	GTX 1050 Ti / RX 560	GTX 1650 / RX 570
RAM	8GB	16GB
Storage	256GB SSD	512GB SSD
Budget	$400–$500	$450–$500

Best Picks by Use Case

Use Case	Best Cheap Gaming PC	Why It’s the Best
Beginners	Lenovo IdeaCentre 5	Simple & reliable
Streamers	HP Pavilion Gaming	Extra RAM for multitasking
Compact Gaming	SkyTech Mini	Small yet powerful
Hardcore Gamers	Dell OptiPlex Custom	Best value gaming PC
Students	Acer Aspire TC	Affordable + upgrade options

Pro Tips to Save Money

• Buy during holiday deals (Black Friday, Cyber Monday).
  
• Don’t ignore refurbished PCs — they often come with warranties.
  
• Upgrade RAM or GPU later for the future.
  

FAQs: Best Cheap Gaming PC Under $500 in 2025

1. What are the best cheap gaming PCs under $500 in 2025?

Acer Aspire TC Gaming Edition is the best overall choice.

2. Can I run Fortnite on a $500 PC?

Yes, you can play Fortnite at 60+ FPS in this range

3. Is refurbished safe?

Yes, especially with a warranty.

4. Build or buy prebuilt?

Prebuilt saves time, build gives better value.

5. How much RAM is enough?

8GB minimum, 16GB ideal.

6. Can it run GTA V?

Yes, smooth at medium-high settings.

7. What’s the first upgrade?

RAM or GPU.

8. Any RTX under $500?

Rare, but refurbished RTX 3050 exists.

9. Do cheap gaming PCs include a monitor?

Mostly no, bundles cost $600+.

10. How long will it last?

3–4 years with upgrades.

Conclusion

If you’re hunting for the best cheap gaming PC under $500 in 2025, you don’t have to compromise on fun. From the budget-friendly Lenovo IdeaCentre 5 to the best value gaming computer, Dell OptiPlex, there’s something here for every gamer.

Gaming shouldn’t be difficult— it should feel like freedom. With these PC,s you can feel gaming without worrying about high costs.