Best $500 Gaming PC: Prebuilt & Custom Built (Updated 2025)

• Best Gaming PC under 500
• $500 Gaming PC Build
• 500 Dollar Prebuilt PC
• Other Budgets
• Conclusion

First off, let’s address the elephant in the room: finding a gaming PC under $500 can feel like trying to hunt down a unicorn in a sea of donkeys.

But it’s still possible to get a decent one that doesn’t make you want to throw your monitor out the window.

And today, I’m going to help you with exactly that. I’ve 1 custom DIY option and 2 pre-built options all in your budget!

Drumroll, please?!

Here are my recs for the best 500-dollar gaming PC:

1. Best Custom Build PC: EasyPC DIY Rig
2. Best Intel Desktop: STGAubron Gaming Desktop PC
3. Best AMD Pre-Built: Skytech Gaming Mini PC X1

Best Gaming PC under 500

Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast looking for a hands-on project or someone who prefers the convenience of a pre-built solution, there’s something for everyone in this budget-friendly lineup:

Now gird your loins, folks. It’s about to get wild!

$500 Gaming PC Build

With a budget of 500 dollars, you have enough flexibility to handpick each component, ensuring that your custom PC is tailored to your specific gaming needs.

From the processor to the graphics card, every part is chosen with care to deliver optimal performance without breaking the bank.

Here’s what I’ve got for you:

08/08/2025 08:04 am GMT

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Now, let’s dive deep into each component. (Then, we’ll get into the pre-built options as well)

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600

A mid-range processor that’s ideal for gaming, multitasking, and content creation.

Leading this custom built setup is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, powered by six cores and 12 threads.

From gaming to multitasking and content creation, nothing eludes this mid-range processor.

What works is the base clock speed of 3.6GHz followed by the boosted capability of up to 4.2GHz. The CPU comes integrated with the wraith stealth cooler to make things easier for gamers.

And guess what? Despite the boosted clock support, it manages to stay power-efficient sans a TDP level of 65W.

Even though it lacks an integrated GPU and therefore doesn’t exude standalone gaming specs, even with a basic Radeon GPU, it can push through games like Civilization VI and Fortnite with relative ease — 40+ FPS to be exact.

At this price, what more can you even ask for, we can’t stress how amazing of a CPU this thing is.

In case you are still looking for a cheaper substitute, the AMD Ryzen 3 3300X makes sense. And if you are more aligned towards the blue team or Intel processors, a more budget-friendly option could be the Intel Core i3-10100.

It’s great at multitasking, and could even hold its own in more intensive applications like hosting a Rust server, for example

Motherboard: ASRock A520M-HDV

Want plenty of connection options to the table? Get this one.

Confused about the chipset or motherboard to pair with your AMD processor? Well, you can opt for the ASRock A520M-HDV Micro ATX variant, boasting the much-needed AM4 chipset.

You can even consider it a future-proof chipset as it is compatible with the 4000 G-series and even 5000 series AMD GPUs.

There is no dearth of connectivity traits as the motherboard makes way for DisplayPort, D-Sub, and HDMI connectivity.

You can even pair SATA and M.2 storage solutions, per your liking.

Even though the motherboard doesn’t explicitly take part in gaming, it ensures stable CPU performances and allows you to pair up to 64GB RAM for seamless multitasking and gameplay.

And, with its MicroATX form factor, you could even save some cost with a lower-end MicroATX case instead of our ATX Mid Tower pick.

Memory: Silicon Power Turbine 16GB

This one’s a solid choice for gamers and multitaskers.

Your best 500-dollar gaming PC is incomplete without the right memory slab. Considering the pricing and the processing setup, I decided to go for a budget dual-channel 16GB module in Silicon Power Turbine.

The dual-channel DDR4 kit can attain max speeds of 3200MHz and exhibits minimum CL16 latency.

The Turbine module even packs heat spreads for improved cooling.

With RAM-intensive gaming titles like Battlefield V, 16GB of memory and low latency can be handy.

Storage: Patriot P300 512GB SSD

This SSD is a blend of speed, capacity, and compact design.

Without the right storage module, your games and OS won’t load properly. I like the Patriot P300 512GB M.2-2280 module.

But there are other reasons to pick this one besides the NVMe support and excellent responsiveness.

Feature-wise, the M.2-2280 form factor stands out, all while being compatible with the motherboard.

Then comes the PCIe 3.0 x 4 interface, followed by ultra-fast boot speeds. Open-world games like GTA V take time to load, but this SSD unit from Patriot changes that.

Video Card: Radeon RX 6600

This card is cut out for the demanding visuals of games like Overwatch and Fortnite.

The video card is arguably the most important component of a gaming PC. This is exactly why I decided to go with a moderately powerful one in PowerColor Fighter Radeon RX 6600, with 8GB of VRAM.

This GPU is best suited for texture-rich titles like Overwatch and Fortnite that require enhanced rendering. In my tests, I could easily achieve 60+ FPS for the mentioned games at 1080p. For eSports titles, including Valorant, the PC could easily hit 140+ FPS.

What stands out is the RDNA 2 architecture, which, despite not being NVIDIA, offers FidelityFX and Ray tracing support for better image quality.  Its core clock speeds are decent, and can always be overclocked.

You can even consider the RX 5500 as part of your build if there are budget concerns.

Case: Cooler Master Q300L

A microATX mini tower that’s compact, cool, and clear.

The Cooler Master Q300L is my mini tower case of choice. Confused as to why I decided to go with this?

Well, the Q300L strikes the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality.

The case supports mini-ITX and micro-ATX motherboards.

Plus, you get access to magnetic dust filters and a transparent side panel.

Aesthetics handled!

Gamers can make better use of the massive fan space, with support for six units. Plus, the cable management setup is ergonomic, ensuring unobstructed airflow.

Power Supply: Apevia ATX-GX650W

Say goodbye to messy cables and hello to stable, reliable power

Your PC requires a power supply, aka a lifeline. This is exactly why the Apevia Galaxy 650W is a good fit.

This semi-modular PSU is 80+ Gold certified, which stands for energy efficiency.

There are hardly any cable management concerns, and the power remains stable, even under heavy load.

From demanding AAA titles to the basic indie games, the PSU can handle everything you throw at it.

For more info on PSU ratings, check out our full guide by clicking that link.

500 Dollar Prebuilt PC

I won’t lie.

Finding decent desktop PCs under $500 was hard. Really hard.

It took all the patience in me to research and test dozens of them, only to facepalm as I waited for the game to finally load on most of them!

But I finally found 2 good contenders (one Intel and another AMD) after what felt like an eternity! Here they are:

Let’s check what both of them have in stores for you:

1. STGAubron Gaming Desktop PC: Best Graphics Card

This is a beast in budget.

500 dollars might not look like much! But wait, if you are hard done by the budget and still looking for a gaming desktop, the STGAubron Gaming Desktop PC might just fit the bill.

I tested this RTX 20-series PC for a whole month and would choose the same over any celebrated 800-dollar gaming laptop any day.

Powering the STGAubron PC is the Intel Quad-Core i5-4590 processor, best known for its excellent base clock speed of 3.3GHz.

Here is a secret, though — the CPU can also reach boosted frequencies of 3.7GHz, but you might end up sticking to the base powers for standard gaming.

The 16GB RAM support ensures seamless multitasking, whereas the 512GB SSD loads games, apps, and the entire OS in a heartbeat.

Let me address the elephant in the room — gaming.

Specs-wise, the STGAubron gaming PC can easily handle most titles like Apex Legends, Overwatch, The Division 2, and more thanks to the RTX 2060 graphics card.

The 6GB VRAM can seamlessly render complex gaming textures.

However, I was most happy playing esports titles like Dota 2, CS: GO, and more, consistently achieving 100+ FPS at 1080p.

For The Witcher 3 and other demanding AAA titles, I would recommend moderate settings to achieve anything between 60 and 100 FPS.

The gaming PC from STGAubron is built with aesthetics and functionality in mind. The three integrated RGB fans, take care of the cooling and ensure the much-needed gaming oomph.

The case feels strong, led by metallic accents and a sleek premise.

Besides taking care of intense gaming needs, this desktop PC packs wireless and Bluetooth support followed by all the necessary connectivity tools like DisplayPort, HDMI, and more.

Plus, if you are already interested in making a purchase, save some space for the bundled soundbar, mouse, and keyboard.

Overall, the STGAubron gaming PC is easily the best $500 gaming PC build, courtesy of an extensive array of specs and lifetime tech support.

But then, if you have already lent out $100 to a friend and are still planning to put together a gaming PC, there is another STGAubron variant to consider.

Even though this gaming PC persists with 512GB SSD support, it brings a slightly better i7 PC.

Graphics-led corners are cut instead of the RTX card; you get the Radeon RX 580 GPU with 8GB VRAM. And yes, this cheap gaming PC even hosts two USB 3.0 ports for added functionality.

2. Skytech Gaming Mini PC X1: Best AMD Desktop

Value form, function, and affordability? Get this one.

Still searching for the best gaming PC deals under $500? Well, if you are looking for a basic-to-intermediate-level gaming PC that takes up the least space, consider the Skytech Gaming Mini PC X1. This AMD-powered device comes with top-of-the-line cooling tech.

The red team appears at SkyTech’s core, all thanks to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G processor. The 3.9GHz clock speed is worth the positive glare, even at base speeds.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg: the desktop even packs 16GB of DDR4 RAM and an ultra-fast 500GB SSD with NVMe support.

You need to read this if the lack of a dedicated GPU breaks your heart.

The Radeon Graphics, which comes integrated with the Ryzen 5 CPU, can still handle popular MOBA games like League of Legends, hitting 100FPS with ease at high settings.

I tested out Dota 2 and CS: GO and was able to hit 60FPS consistently on medium to high 1080p settings.

Design-wise, the Skytech X1 is easily the most aesthetic prebuilt gaming PC you will encounter.

Despite being an affordable gaming PC, it is sleek, packs customizable RGB lighting, and is ably cooled by the integrated Wraith-branded Stealth CPU cooler.

This gaming PC from SkyTech has a lot more to offer, including bundled peripherals in mouse and keyboard and a host of connectivity traits, including USB 2.0, 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort, and more.

Therefore, if you are interested in playing less demanding games but are more inclined towards a powerful processor and aesthetics, the X1 from SkyTech is the one to purchase as the right budget AMD gaming PC.

Other Budgets

$500 is a good baseline for an entry-level gaming PC, but we’ve got build guides for a bunch of other budgets as well.

• $400 gaming PC build guide
• $600 gaming PC build guide
• $700 gaming PC build guide
• $800 gaming PC build guide
• $900 gaming PC build guide
• $1000 gaming PC build guide

Conclusion

You can choose to follow the budget gaming PC configuration that I have suggested or opt for the more budget variants to get one that fits your price tag and requirements.

But let me remind you one thing.

Getting a powerful Intel PC instead of AMD for under $500 might not be possible. In that case, you might have to look for a $ 700 gaming PC instead of 500 dollars.