Best Cheap Gaming PCs 2021
9 min read
Table of Contents
These days finding a good pre-built gaming PC under $1,500 in stock is difficult, but a hell of a lot easier than finding the newest graphics cards or gaming consoles. In this price range, you’re looking at computers capable of running modern AAA games at a 1080p (full HD) resolution on medium to high settings at an average rate of 60 frames per second. Although the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are able to play AAA titles with ray tracing at a 4K resolution up to 60 fps for under $500, to say they’re in high demand would be an understatement. This demand is especially problematic during a global chip shortage that has constrained supply.
Unlike the new gaming systems, cheap gaming PCs are both readily available and serve as powerful workhorses beyond gaming. They offer deeper levels of graphics tuning, a wider range of games at better prices, and extensive content creation capabilities, whether you’re running demanding live-streaming software or editing photos and videos. After all, there’s a reason PC Master Race snobs exist.
Gaming PC Specs and Why They Matter
Before you purchase a gaming computer, it helps to understand the components that make up a PC. These specs dictate what level of performance you can expect, be it the quality of game settings or the expected refresh rates. If you want to play modern esports titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in 1440p resolution at a higher frame rates you’ll need more powerful components. If you want a simple machine to play older or less demanding games like Skyrim or Minecraft you can scrape by with the parts in our Best Value and Work and Play picks. The three main components of a gaming PC are:
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Front and center of any gaming PC build is the graphics processor unit, or GPU. This component is one of the biggest in your PC’s case and handles graphic rendering. The more power behind your GPU, the smoother and better looking your games are thanks to detail-rich resolutions for improved textures and faster frame rates. The visual data that the GPU handles also impacts tasks like video editing, gaming, and machine learning. Budget-friendly PCs meet recommended specs for 1080p gaming on most games, but if you want ray tracing for lifelike in-game lighting and 4K gaming, you won’t find it in this price range. The GTX 1660 and AMD RX 5600 graphics cards lead the lower mid-tier options, offering performances that keep up with more expensive rivals.
Computer Processing Unit (CPU)
Just as important as your GPU is your central processing unit, or CPU. Made up of millions of tiny transistors, the CPU handles all processing functions and tells each component what to do. The processor frequency is measured in gigahertz and is the number of how many calculations a CPU is capable of per second. Although you might think a faster GHz speed equates to a faster machine, you must factor in the CPU’s generation and number of cores. A majority of gaming PCs run on Intel Core technology (currently in its 11th generation), but AMD’s Ryzen processors are incredibly efficient and are growing in popularity. The generation scheming for Ryzen CPUs is a bit confusing, so to break down each model, the Ryzen 3 is created for home computers running light tasks, the Ryzen 5 is good for gaming, and the Ryzen 7 is for excessively powerful workstations or hardcore gaming computers.
Memory (RAM & Storage)
Lastly, a computer’s memory is broken down into two sections: random-access memory (RAM) and storage. RAM acts as the short-term memory, handling the active tasks your computer runs and controlling how many programs or games can be stored temporarily. More RAM allows your computer to run more efficiently by giving programs a little more breathing room in the system memory. Storage drives are hard drives or solid state drives that act as long-term memory for holding game and media files. Although you can always add an external hard drive or solid state drive, changing out RAM or an internal storage drive requires light tinkering under the hood. Because memory is where most manufacturers skimp out, you should get familiar with seating RAM and slotting memory drives, which isn’t too difficult once you pop your case open. Often, cheap gaming PCs include just 8 gigabytes of RAM, but we recommend 16 GB so you can comfortably run a browser and game simultaneously without eating up too much bandwidth.
Building vs. Buying a Gaming PC
At the moment, the prices of computer components are at all-time highs due to high demand and a chip shortage. The best way to get a deal is buying a pre-built PC. Although building your own PC using sites like PC Part Picker can help you save and putting together your rig is part of the pride, manufacturers often get components at cost, which helps keep pre-built PCs more affordable. If you want to save money, we recommend pre-built models below.
How We Evaluated
Before I became Popular Mechanics’s resident test editor of consumer tech, I spent two years writing about laptops for Laptop Magazine. I’ve been a gaming nerd my whole life, and in the past, I have owned a collection of desktops from Alienware, CyberPower PC, and HP, upgrading GPUs, adding storage drives, and seating RAM over time. At the moment, I have condensed my setup to a MSI GF65 gaming laptop with a 1660Ti GPU and i7-10750H CPU, alongside a PS5 for 4K 60-fps gaming. The cheap gaming PCs below are the models I recommend to family and friends as the holiday season approaches. With gaming rigs in my DNA, I picked pre-built PCs under $1,500 that offer high-performance components, easy-to-upgrade layouts, and cases that won’t take up all of the space above or below your desk.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
