If you're thinking about getting into the wonderful world of PC gaming but aren't quite sure where to start, you're in the right place.
I've chosen each of these entry-level rigs based on the checkboxes I keep in mind when searching for a PC: budget (of course), performance, design, and upgradeability.
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Many of the desktops on this list can be configured according to your budget. Have a think about what kind of games you like to play. Do you like competing with others and developing skills in an esports title? Perhaps you prefer relaxing with a cozy indie game.
The kind of games you like to play (and the other hobbies you may have, like video editing for example) combined with your overall budget will ultimately determine the specs you should opt for.
At TechRadar, our Computing team goes hands-on with every product we recommend. We've reviewed over 130 gaming desktops and hundreds more gaming laptops, spending at least a week testing each computer. Our results and opinions are our own, and I've added a link to every review so you can trust that our buying advice comes with testing from real experts.
These are my picks for the best budget gaming PCs in 2025.
I'm Marcus Mears III, a lifelong PC gamer and TechRadar's Computing Reviews and Buying Guides Editor. I've played on everything from integrated graphics to an RTX 5090, and I carefully chose the PCs on this list based on criteria including price, configurability, overall performance, and design.
The quick list
Best budget Alienware gaming PC
A gorgeous compact PC with an entry-level tier that makes a lot of sense for those just getting into the hobby.
Best budget Dell gaming PC
Don't let the unassuming look fool you, this budget gaming PC is an undercover powerhouse.
Best budget HP gaming PC
Slim form factor with plenty of power under the hood for less than the price of its bigger rivals.
Solid-performing minimalist
There are plenty of entry-level models here for different budgets - all with the same expert NZXT assembly.
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 my list. Our expert Computing team went hands-on with every recommendation here.
The best budget Alienware gaming PC
The Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop is easily on the best PC designs I've ever seen. It's incredibly sleek and compact with some tasteful RGB trim and a side panel that adds to the aesthetics rather than acting as a tacky afterthought.
Looks are great and all, but as I'm sure you've heard before, it's what's inside that counts. For the starting price of $1,499.99, you're getting an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD.
No, those specs aren't ground breaking. But they do add up to a solid entry-level machine that'll reliably give you over 60FPS in most modern titles at 1080p.
Plus, Alienware runs sales all the time. At the time of writing this update, several models are marked down from their original price, including the $2,049.99 (down to $1649.99) option which doubles the RAM of the most affordable version and comes with an RTX 5070 instead of the 5060 (a performance boost that I would consider worth the extra $200 while on sale).
Read our full Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop (ACT1250) review
The best budget Dell gaming PC
The Dell Tower Plus is an interesting machine in that it can really be anything you want it to. There are configurations ranging from Intel integrated graphics to an RTX 5070 with price tags to match.
So, for our budget gaming interests, we're looking at the entry-level $1449.99 version. It comes with the same specs as the Alienware Aurora, including an Intel Core Ultra 7 265, Nvidia RTX 5060, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD.
Because Dell owns Alienware, you can expect many of the same enticing sales - at the time of updating this guide, the $1,449.99 model is down to just $1,149.99. That's a fantastic price for the hardware on offer, especially when you consider you're getting Dell's quality and assembly.
If you're looking for something fun and flashy, this isn't it. But if you're going for that understated look while still having the power to play your favorite games, the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is a unique opportunity.
Read our full Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) review
The best budget HP gaming PC
The HP Victus 15L is a great option for those just getting into PC gaming. It shares a lot of the same winning characteristics as the other picks on this list - it has a price tag that won't make you clutch your pearls, a clean, compact design that fits in just about every setup, and respectable performance for the asking price.
At its most affordable, the Victus 15L is just $799.99 and offers an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, AMD Radeon RX 6400 graphics, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB SSD. If it doesn't sound very impressive, that's because it isn't - but it is under $1,000 with the option to upgrade specs piecemeal down the line.
If you can swing it, I'd go for the $1,029.99 model, which gives you superior specs in every way over the $799.99 version, including better graphics, double the RAM, and double the storage.
Read our full HP Victus 15L review
The best NZXT gaming PC
The NZXT Player PC line is both the most customizable and affordable on this list, offering just under 20 different configurations to match your needs and budget. The Player One and One Prime models are what we're looking at for this guide (Player Two and Three models start at high-end prices).
Our review unit was the Player One PC (5070 Intel edition) and offered a great blend of the four main gaming PC checkboxes: performance, budget, upgradeability, and design.
Not only is the mid-tower ATX case nice and airy for efficient cooling, but it also features solid cable management options, a sleek design, and plenty of ports for your gaming keyboard, mouse, headphones, and any other accessories that help you play at your best.
Our contributor James Holland was able to hit a consistent 70 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 (at 1080p Ultra settings) and 182 FPS in Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p), meaning there's some fantastic performance on offer here.
The Player One PC starts at just $829 (on sale for $749 at the time of writing), though I'd recommend going at least one tier up to the $999 version ($874 at the time of writing) because it gets you an RTX 5060 instead of the older 3050 found in the most affordable spec.
Read our full NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) review
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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