When choosing which prebuilt desktops to test, we first checked the most recent releases by Acer, iBuyPower, CyberPowerPC, Dell, HP, CUKUSA, Lenovo, and other big manufacturers of gaming PCs.

From there, we scoured the internet to see which prebuilt gaming computers gamers have actually been using. We didn’t just read the top results from Google; instead, we went to forums to get real information from real consumers.

We checked hundreds of actual customer reviews from Amazon, NewEgg, eBay, and other well-known eCommerce websites to gather real-world experiences. We also checked in-depth video reviews and comparisons.

After spending several hours gathering and comparing customer reviews, we finally came up with our 8 initial candidates that showcased different features as to best meet a variety of gaming needs. From that 8 we decided upon 5 top picks which meet our criteria of solid gaming performance at around $500.

Testing the prebuilt gaming PCs is pretty much straightforward. We installed the following games and recorded benchmark results:

• PUBG
• Fortnite
• Overwatch
• GTA V
• Rocket League
• Battlefield 1
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• The Witcher III

Note: Some of the recent games such as Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, Devil May Cry 5, Anthem, and Resident Evil 2 may need more power that what’s inside the most powerful one on the list. But can still be played with huge sacrifices in the graphics department.

We spent hours playing games just so we could test and see what each rig is really capable of. (Obviously, we have very hard lives.)

After playing hours of games and benchmarking the results, we confirmed that the Syber Domono can handle games in 1080p with a few adjustments to the game’s graphics settings.

The syber is currently the only build in this list that makes use of an Intel chip, but make no mistake,the Ryzen 3 2200G and Ryzen 5 2400g which the IBuyPower Enthusiast Gaming PC, the HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop Computer, and the CLX Set Gaming PC use are powerful processors. They don’t necessarily need a standalone GPU to be efficient thanks to AMD’s VEGA graphics which is miles ahead of anything Intel have to offer.

Instead of stopping there, we decided to do some further testing… we hooked a GTX 1060 graphics card up to some of the picks in the list to see what kind of performance improvement we would achieve. To our surprise, the performance increase that was achieved turned out to be much greater than our initial forecast. Great news for those wanting to upgrade down the road.

Further to this, we decided to upgrade the RAM to 3,000Mhz in all the builds, the performance boost we saw from the Ryzen chips was massive. We can’t recommend upgrading the RAM enough, the Ryzen chips are built to enjoy quicker memory and once you upgrade, you’ll understand why.

Disclaimer: The prebuilt gaming desktops we tested were purchased and were not sent or sponsored to make biased opinions or feedback.

NOTE: Due to the ongoing effects of the global coronavirus pandemic, some retailers are experiencing stock issues. WePC constantly updates our pages to reflect current availability, so if the PC or part you want shows as out of stock, check back later or check out these alternatives.

For $500, you aren’t aiming to get the best computer on the market, you are trying to get an entry-level gaming computer that requires the least amount of upgrades to experience the newest releases with a 1080p resolution at 60FPS. Still, it’s surprising just how far the best gaming computer under $500 can take you nowadays.

In the process, there are several factors that need to be considered.

For $500, you aren’t aiming to get the best computer on the market, you are trying to get an entry-level gaming computer that requires the least amount of upgrades to experience the newest releases with a 1080p resolution at 60FPS. Still, it’s surprising just how far the best gaming computer under $500 can take you nowadays.

In the process, there are several factors that need to be considered.

Processor

First and foremost, you want a powerful processor. Why? Because a processor is the key to future-proofing or ensuring that you don’t have to upgrade your computer anytime soon.

Here’s why…

A graphics card can be plugged into just about any motherboard as long as the right amount of voltage is supplied from the power supply.

The processor, however, has to be compatible with the motherboard. So if you want to upgrade your CPU, it’s likely that you will also have to upgrade your motherboard, which is more costly.

That’s why our list favors rigs that come with powerful processors rather than graphics cards.

Graphics Card

Based on our above logic, the graphics card is likely the first thing you’ll want to upgrade on one of these rigs to get it from being merely good to being great.

As stated, the processors on the list are capable of handling average AAA games. However, a GPU upgrade should make a tremendous difference. A 3GB GTX 1060 should be enough to experience 1080p gaming with a 60 FPS average.

RAM

Having 8GB of RAM is the common threshold for modern gaming. In fact, that’s why all of the desktops on our list boasts at least that much.

This means a RAM upgrade isn’t really necessary with any of these builds.

Storage Space

When it comes to storage space you have two options: SSD or HDD. For the purpose of this review, you don’t need to know much more than this: SSD is fast but expensive while HDD is slow but cheap.

Ultimately, it is less about which type of storage you’ll use and more about how much you’ll make use of each since it’s advisable to go with a hybrid storage system — 120GB SSD for system files and 1TB HDD for games and personal files.

I’d recommend checking out our SSD vs HDD page to find out more.

Chassis/Case

Never forget, airflow is one of the most vital factors in keeping your computer’s temperatures down. Whenever possible, you want to choose a computer whose case has enough room for future upgrades. Broadly speaking, the bigger the better.

LED lights and other aesthetics may benefit your eyes but if this doesn’t provide enough airflow to keep the system cool, you’re better off shopping for another one that does.