What's the cheapest gaming desktop?

PianoMike · Sep 8, 2013

Hi, I wanted to know what the cheapest gaming desktop is. I'm looking to buy one but I am trying to stay in the $500 range. Anyone know of any good gaming desktops within that price range? Thanks!

tiny voices · Sep 8, 2013

If you want a prebuilt, then no, you will not be playing games for $500.

You can build yourself a very solid medium settings rig for $500.

FastGunna · Sep 8, 2013

The one you build yourself. Or are you only looking for premade?

PianoMike · Sep 8, 2013

tiny voices :

Okay, in that case, can you suggest me a build that I could put together for $500? Thanks!

FastGunna :

At this point I'm looking for a build to do myself.

greg209 · Sep 8, 2013

tiny voices i like to hear that myself!

PianoMike · Sep 8, 2013

greg209 :

I'm curious for an answer too.

tiny voices · Sep 8, 2013

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus F2A55-M LK PLUS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($55.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.13 @ TigerDirect)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $492.04
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-08 15:55 EDT-0400)

This will play at a mix of medium and high settings at 1080p. Everything is VERY high quality.

FastGunna · Sep 8, 2013

tiny voices :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus F2A55-M LK PLUS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($55.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.13 @ TigerDirect)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $492.04
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-08 15:55 EDT-0400)

This will play at a mix of medium and high settings at 1080p. Everything is VERY high quality.

Very similar to the build I'm working on lol. But I'm trying to find room to squeeze windows in...

Zero_ · Sep 8, 2013

Here's what I'd get for $500

i3 3220 - $118 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0093H8HXS/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0093H8HXS&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
Gigabyte B75 - $75 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R9CRJE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007R9CRJE&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
Corsair Vengeance 4GB 1600MHz - $36 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RFGALC/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004RFGALC&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
HIS HD7850 2GB - $140 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007MJGN5I/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007MJGN5I&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
WD Caviar Blue 500GB - $55 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00461G3MS/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00461G3MS&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
DVD R/W - $20 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YIG9AQ/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002YIG9AQ&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
Antec VP 450 - $40 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IZN3K2/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004IZN3K2&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
Whatever case you like for $40

I'd presonally go for a NZXT Source 210 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005869IUY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005869IUY&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20

tiny voices · Sep 8, 2013

To fit in windows, change the GPU to an hd7770. Change the PSU to an Antec VP-450. Change the RAM to 4gb.

You will only be playing at a maximum of medium settings but you will still have quality parts and a solid gaming rig that can run all modern games.

FastGunna · Sep 8, 2013

Depending on your definition of 500 range, this would do the trick.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A55M-HD2 Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: G.Skill Value Series 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($31.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill RANGER-M MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($60.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $542.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-08 16:38 EDT-0400)

Also if you willing to spend a little more you can get 8GB Ram.

Updated Merchants.

tiny voices · Sep 8, 2013

That Ram is slow and single channel. That would be my only gripe.

FastGunna · Sep 8, 2013

tiny voices :

Thought I put 1600... touch screen for the win!

I did go single channel for upgradability, the motherboard I chose only has 2 ram slots.

Updated Single 4GB Ram build.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1BuJX

Updated 8GB (Dual Channel)
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1Bu6E

PianoMike · Sep 8, 2013

tiny voices :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus F2A55-M LK PLUS Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($55.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($62.13 @ TigerDirect)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $492.04
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-08 15:55 EDT-0400)

This will play at a mix of medium and high settings at 1080p. Everything is VERY high quality.

Thank you so much for this build! This is a great price! I'll look into this more.

tiny voices · Sep 8, 2013

PianoMike :

tiny voices :

Thank you so much for this build! This is a great price! I'll look into this more.

Always glad to help!

greg209 · Sep 9, 2013

This build is pretty great too. Looks like lots of bang for the buck to my novice eye. later down the road could replace with an i7 when they are cheaper..

Zero_ :

Here's what I'd get for $500

i3 3220 - $118 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0093H8HXS/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0093H8HXS&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
Gigabyte B75 - $75 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R9CRJE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007R9CRJE&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
Corsair Vengeance 4GB 1600MHz - $36 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RFGALC/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004RFGALC&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
HIS HD7850 2GB - $140 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007MJGN5I/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007MJGN5I&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
WD Caviar Blue 500GB - $55 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00461G3MS/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00461G3MS&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
DVD R/W - $20 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YIG9AQ/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002YIG9AQ&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
Antec VP 450 - $40 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IZN3K2/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004IZN3K2&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20
Whatever case you like for $40

I'd presonally go for a NZXT Source 210 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005869IUY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005869IUY&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20

tiny voices · Sep 9, 2013

greg209 :

This build is pretty great too. Looks like lots of bang for the buck to my novice eye. later down the road could replace with an i7 when they are cheaper..

Zero_ :

You do not need an i7for gaming because they perform the same as an i5.

What's the cheapest gaming desktop?

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