If you love playing video games, you might be tempted to use a cheap computer that can barely handle your favorite game when it’s running at minimum settings. If you’re looking to upgrade from that computer or are thinking about building your own PC, check out this list of the 5 best gaming computers under $500 on the market today!
1) Intel Pentium G4560
In the world of budget gaming computers, there are few CPUs as capable as the Intel Pentium G4560. The CPU features a 2-core/4-thread design and 3 MB of L3 cache. It operates at 3.5 GHz with a TDP of 54W, which is fairly high considering that it’s on the low-end of consumer processors. While this might not be an ideal CPU for power users or gamers with deep pockets, it does provide excellent value for those looking to build their own budget PC. The G4560 is compatible with both Intel and AMD motherboards, making it an excellent choice no matter your preference when it comes to platform. It also boasts built-in support for technologies like Turbo Boost, HyperThreading, Virtualization and AES New Instructions. If you’re looking for great value without breaking the bank, the G4560 is one of the best options available.
2) MSI B250M Bazooka V2 Motherboard
This MSI Bazooka V2 motherboard is perfect for gamers on a budget. It features an Intel B250 chipset and comes with DDR4 RAM slots, which will allow you to add more RAM in the future as your needs grow. Plus, it has four SATA 3 ports that support HDDs or SSDs of up to 6TB each. And lastly, it has two PCI-Express slots (one of which is x4) that are perfect for adding a graphics card to your system. It’s also equipped with six USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports, so connecting your devices won’t be a problem either! The only real downside to this board is its lack of Bluetooth connectivity, but for someone who primarily uses their computer for gaming purposes, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. So if you’re looking for a good entry level gaming PC, then this one is worth considering.
3) GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card
Video cards are responsible for the graphics on your computer, and they’re also one of the most expensive components to purchase. The GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card is one of the best deals on a video card because it provides high quality graphics while still being affordable.
This model offers enough power to run games at high settings with a smooth frame rate. It’s also Nvidia’s latest release, so it has all the newest features and technology. With 4 GB of RAM, this card will have more than enough space for any game you throw at it as well as any other applications you’re running.
This is an excellent video card that won’t break the bank but still gets the job done. GIGABYTE Radeon RX 560 2GB Graphics Card: If you’re looking for a video card that performs better in AAA titles, then the GIGABYTE Radeon RX 560 2GB Graphics Card is what you need.
This card does not offer quite as many features or come with 4 GB of memory like our previous entry, but its performance makes up for it. Many gamers prefer AMD graphics cards over Nvidia cards because AMD offers higher-end performance without charging top dollar like their competitor does.
There are some downsides to this option though, such as having less memory available and less driver updates compared to newer models. All in all though, if you want something powerful without paying too much then this could be what you’re looking for.
4) Samsung 850 EVO 500GB Solid State Drive
Most pre-built gaming computers come with an SSD, but this one is more affordable and has more storage capacity. It also has a higher write speed than many of the alternatives. The 840 EVO comes in three sizes: 120 GB ($120), 250 GB ($170), and 500 GB ($250). While the 120 GB version might be enough for most people, the larger versions are definitely worth it if you have a lot of games. Plus, since they’re solid state drives, they load up your games lightning fast!
Asus ROG Strix GL502VS-DS71 15.6 Full HD (1920 x 1080) display: If you’re looking for a computer that can play any game on ultra settings without breaking a sweat (or worse!), then this is the computer for you! With all its power, it’s still lightweight at just under six pounds and super thin to boot.
16GB DDR4 2400 MHz RAM – 32GB max supported: While 8GB may seem like enough RAM to run any game on the market right now, there’s always going to be another game coming out next year or even next month that will require 16GB or more to run smoothly.
5) Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4 2400MHz Memory Kit
Corsair’s Vengeance DDR4 modules are designed to be compatible with Intel’s latest generation of processors and motherboards. They’re built with a low profile form factor, along with an aluminum heat spreader that helps keep your system cool. Corsair offers a lifetime limited warranty on these modules and they come in multiple colors to fit your system’s color scheme.
This 8GB kit has two 4GB sticks that run at 2400MHz, which is the maximum speed for this memory module. This is a great option for gamers who want to load up on as much RAM as possible without breaking the bank or running into compatibility issues down the road when new games come out.
