Best Gaming PCs under $800 of 2023: Budget Prebuilt Desktops and Custom Builds

We recommend components for Best gaming PCs under $800 for budget gaming builds:

• CPU: For the price range of $800, you can get medium-quality processors. Although they are not the latest generation, they are still good for gaming. Some examples of these CPUs are Intel 9100F, 9400F, 10100F, 10100, 10400F / AMD 3100, 2600, 3500, 3600.
• GPU: Maybe you will not have an ideal GPU to play AAA game titles at 2K or 4K resolution, but graphics cards in $800 gaming PCs can still handle 1080p well. You will see AMD RX 550, RX 560 / NVIDIA GTX 1050, 1050ti, 1060, 1650, 1650 super graphics cards for an $800 budget.
• Motherboard: You can expect that the gaming PC will be equipped with Intel H310, B360, B365, H410, B460 / AMD B450 mainboards in an $800 gaming PC.
• RAM: Don’t choose those just featuring 4GB because it is too weak and slow for gaming. Consider gaming PCs with 8GB, and the RAM should be upgradeable.
• PSU: Get a gaming PC with at least 500W 80+ bronze of PSU to get full performance.
• CPU Cooler: If manufacturers spend an amount of money in $800 to add coolers in the case, they must put lower-quality components to balance the cost. Therefore, stock coolers may be the most suitable choice in this case.
• Storage: Consider at least 256 GB SSD (upgradeable) because you may need more storage for more games in the future.
• PC case: Consider mid-tower cases to put in all necessary components. You will not want a case with a side panel still opening, right?

1. HP Pavilion

Best gaming PC under $800: The best-prebuilt gaming PC using AMD CPU

SPECIFICATIONS

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3500 6 Cores, 12 Threads, 3.6GHz
• Graphics card: Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 4 GB
• RAM: 8GB
• SSD: 256 GB NVMe M.2

REASONS TO BUY

• Affordable price
• Keyboard and mouse included
• Acceptable CPU: Ryzen 5 3000 series
• Strong graphics card: GTX 1650

REASONS TO AVOID

• RAM needs to be upgraded for more heavy games
• Should add HDD to support 256GB SSD

HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop Computer comes equipped with excellent performance for the price of $800. The AMD Ryzen 5 3500 processor is the heart of the PC, with six cores and 12 threads, which increase the overclocking ability.

Another significant component is the  Geforce GTX 1650 graphics card can support a maximum resolution of 2K. Moreover, the variety of port options provide the PC adaptability to transfer data.

Although you will have to upgrade RAM and storage to play more heavy game titles simultaneously, HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop Computer is still worth considering among limited-budget gaming PCs.

2. Dell 2021 Flagship G5 5090

Best gaming PC under $800: The best-prebuilt gaming PC using Intel CPU

SPECIFICATIONS

• CPU: Intel Core i5-10400F
• Operating system: Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
• Graphics card: GeForce GTX 1650 Super 4GB
• RAM: 8GB
• SSD: 256GB
• PC case: Mini tower

REASONS TO BUY

• Powerful CPU: Intel Core i5 10th gen
• Strong graphics card: GTX 1650 Super - support Full HD resolution
• Variety of port options
• Cool design

REASONS TO AVOID

• Need to upgrade RAM if wanting to play more games
• Should add HDD to support 256GB SSD

Dell focuses on the two most essential parts of a gaming PC, which are CPU and GPU. The Intel Core i5 gen 10th is one of the most robust processors of Intel, while GeForce GTX 1650 Super graphics can offer Full HD or even 2K quality images.

Additionally, the compact and excellent design will contribute to your overall gaming space, creating an inspirational atmosphere to play games.

Dell 2021 Flagship G5 5090 Gaming Desktop has the same problems as HP Pavilion. You will need to upgrade RAM and SSD to play more than three heavy games. Otherwise, you may consider another version of this gaming PC, which delivers 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD for better gaming performance.

3. HP Pavilion Intel Core i3-10100

Best value gaming PC under $800: The best value PC for the money

SPECIFICATIONS

• CPU: Intel Core i3-10100
• Graphics card: GeForce GTX 1650 Super
• RAM: 8 GB
• SSD: 256 GB PCIe NVMe
• PC Case: Mini tower

REASONS TO BUY

• Customizable case: customize LED lights through OMEN Command Center
• Acceptable CPU: Intel Core i3 gen 10th
• Strong GPU: GTX 1650 Super - Full HD resolution
• Variety of port options

REASONS TO AVOID

• RAM needs to be upgraded for more heavy games
• 256GB of SSD may not be enough for some people

This gaming PC can serve your demands if you are not a professional gamer. The computer features an Intel Core i3-10100 processor, which is strong enough to play some light games and few heavy games.

In addition, the GTX 1650 Super graphics card is not a super powerful one, but the card can still offer Full HD resolution for playing games and up to 2K for some games. If you want to make your gaming space more beautiful, you can adjust the LED lights to suit your liking.

To sum up, this gaming PC is most suitable for beginners looking for a good-quality PC to play games and work.

4. MSECORE Micro 

Best mini gaming PC under $800

SPECIFICATIONS

• CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3
• Graphics card: GeForce GTX 1650 4GB
• RAM: 8G
• Cooler: Full cooper turbo fan + aluminum alloy case
• Power supply: 100-240V Input ; 19V 9.5A Output
• SSD: 128G
• HDD: 1T
• PC Case: Mini case

REASONS TO BUY

• Compact design
• Strong graphics card: GTX 1650 - support Full HD resolution
• Intel Xeon processor: protect data safely

REASONS TO AVOID

• Limited storage for gaming purposes

If you’re finding a budget PC for personal use, MSECORE Micro Computer is the perfect solution. The Intel Xeon CPU works more stable and is less prone to data corruption than other Intel processors.

Furthermore, the PC is equipped with a full cooper turbofan and aluminum alloy case, enhancing the heat dissipation efficiency and keeping your computer at stable temperatures.

Last but not least, MSECORE Micro Computer can support you to watch videos at 1080p resolution, thanks to the GTX 1650 graphics card.

In conclusion, with the features that MSECORE Micro Computer provides, you can pick it for both personal and professional purposes.

5. Our Recommended Custom Build Gaming PC for under $800

Best custom gaming PC

Build 1:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Processor
• Motherboard: ASRock B450M PRO4 AM4
• Graphics card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1650 Super SC Ultra Gaming
• CPU Cooler: Stock cooler (included)
• RAM: Astra Gear 8GB(8GBx1) 3200Mhz DDR4
• Power supply: ARESGAME Power Supply 500W 80+ Bronze
• SSD: TEAMGROUP MP33 256GB SLC Cache 3D NAND TLC NVMe
• HDD: upgrade later
• PC Case: Rosewill Micro-ATX Mini Tower Computer Case (support up to Micro-ATX form only)

Build 2:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-10400F Desktop Processor
• Motherboard: ASUS Prime H410M-E LGA1200
• Graphics card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1650 Super SC Ultra Gaming
• CPU Cooler: Wraith Stealth Cooler (included)
• RAM: Astra Gear 8GB(8GBx1) 3200Mhz DDR4
• Power supply: Thermaltake Smart 500W 80+ White Certified PSU,
• SSD: TEAMGROUP MP33 256GB SLC Cache 3D NAND TLC NVMe
• HDD: upgrade later
• PC Case: Rosewill Micro-ATX Mini Tower Computer Case (support up to Micro-ATX form only)

Note: We might have to shift the front fan of the D15 or switch to a 120mm fan to make room if we use RGB RAM sticks.

1. Is $800 enough for a good gaming PC?

It depends on what purposes you use your PC. The two most essential things in a gaming PC are graphics card and processor, which directly affect your gaming performance. Therefore, it may work well if you choose a prebuilt gaming PC with a powerful GPU and CPU.

On the other hand, if you build a custom gaming PC on your own, you may get more high-end components; thereby, the performance of a custom PC may be higher than the prebuilt one.

Keep in mind that $800 is just the cost you have to pay for the PC itself; it doesn’t include other parts such as monitors, keyboards, or gaming chairs.

2. What PCs can run at 1440p resolution?

A mid-range computer at around $1000 - 1500 can run some heavy games at 1440p resolution. Here’s our suggestion for such a gaming PC like that:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3000 series or Intel Core i5 9th generation
• GPU: GTX 1080 / RTX 2060 or RX 5000 series
• RAM: 16GB
• PSU: at least 600W
• Motherboard: b550 or z490

3. How much RAM do I need for gaming?

We highly recommend you get 16GB RAMs for speedy and high-performance gaming sessions. 16GB is also considered the sweet spot of RAM these days. 8GB is also a good start for gaming, which helps you to avoid problems like lagging or stuttering.