(Image: HP via HGG)
I'm a stand-up comic by night and write for HGG by day. Most of my gaming happens at an improvised desk at the Days Inn right outside whatever small town I'm in for the night.
Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
If you’re looking to dive into the world of gaming without breaking the bank? You’re in luck! In this guide, we’ll explore five prebuilt gaming computers that deliver impressive performance and won’t cost you more than $400. These budget-friendly options are perfect for casual gamers or those looking to start their gaming journey without compromising on quality. From reliable brands to powerful processors and upgraded graphics, these affordable gaming machines offer great value for their price.
Top Gaming PCs Under $400, Ranked Best to Good
Let’s delve into the details and find the ideal gaming companion that fits your budget and gaming aspirations.
1. HP RX580
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $400 Overall
Manufacturer: HP | OS: Windows 11 & Linux | CPU: Intel Core i7 up to 3.8GHz 4-Core | GPU: AMD Radeon RX 580 | Storage: 128GB SSD + 2TB Hard Drive | Price: 💰💰💰💰
The HP RX580 is a budget-friendly gaming PC offered by HP, and lands at the top of our list for its great choices of components at a price you can’t beat. It is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor, capable of reaching clock speeds of up to 3.8GHz with its 4 cores. This processor provides solid performance for gaming and other demanding tasks.
The graphics processing is handled by the AMD Radeon RX 580, a capable GPU that allows for smooth gameplay and graphics-intensive applications, even letting you run some more modern games like Hogwarts Legacy on lower settings.
The PC offers a combination of storage options with a 128GB solid-state drive (SSD) for faster boot times and application loading, as well as a spacious 2TB hard drive for more storage space than the average user will ever need. The inclusion of both SSD and HDD provides a good balance between speed and storage capacity.
Tech-savvy users may want to replace the power supply and RAM with stronger components in order to run a truly great machine without breaking the bank.
- USERS LIKE
- Best-in-class CPU and GPU combination.
- 2TB of hard storage lets you dedicate your SSD to applications.
- HP is highly reputable for making great quality PC’s at higher price points.
- USERS DISLIKE
- Power supply can be insufficient for some applications.
- Louder than other models.
- DDR3 RAM is weaker than comparable models.
2. Dell Gaming OptiPlex Desktop
The Best Pre-Built PC Under $400 with a Nvidia GT 1030
Manufacturer: Dell | OS: Windows & Linux | CPU: Intel Core i5 up to 3.6GHz 4-Core | GPU: Nvidia GT 1030 | Storage: 512 GB SSD | Price: 💰💰
The Dell Gaming OptiPlex Desktop stands out from other computers in its price range due to a few notable features. Firstly, it offers the winning combination of an Intel Core i5 processor and an Nvidia GT 1030 graphics card, which provides a balanced performance for gaming and general computing tasks, along with a 512 GB SSD hard drive with a competitive amount of storage space.
While other PCs in this price range might have lower-tier processors or less capable graphics cards, the Dell Gaming OptiPlex Desktop offers a more robust combination that enhances the overall gaming experience. Dell’s reputation as a trusted and well-established manufacturer adds another layer of reliability and customer satisfaction. The Dell brand is known for its quality products and reliable customer support, which can provide peace of mind to users.
- USERS LIKE
- All-inclusive package comes with everything you need to game on a budget.
- Dell is much more reputable than other companies in this price range.
- Lowest price point on our entire list at $289.99.
- USERS DISLIKE
- Included accessories aren’t very comfortable.
- Very loud when running games at higher settings.
- Short wifi range.
3. STG Aubron i5
The Best Gaming PC Under $400 From a Small Brand
Manufacturer: STG Global | OS: Windows & Linux | CPU: Intel Core i5 up to 3.7GHz 4-Core | GPU: AMD Radeon RX 550 | Storage: 512GB SSD | Price: 💰💰💰
A standout feature of this budget PC is the fact that the STG Aubron i5 comes with an AMD Radeon RX 550 video card. The RX 550 is a mid-range GPU that delivers decent graphics performance, enabling users to play modern games at moderate settings and enjoy multimedia content with ease. While it may not handle the most demanding games on high settings, it strikes a balance between affordability and performance.
This gaming PC includes a spacious 512GB solid-state drive (SSD) for storage. SSDs offer faster data access speeds compared to traditional hard drives, resulting in quicker boot times, smoother application launches, and reduced loading times in games.
- USERS LIKE
- Powerful graphics card for the price, and access to AMD Radeon suite of software.
- 512GB SSD is fantastic for the price.
- Keeps itself very cool.
- USERS DISLIKE
- Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connection can be unreliable.
- RGB fans and lights stay on during sleep mode.
- Loud for its size.
4. AVGPC Lite
The Best Looking Gaming PC Under $400
Manufacturer: AVGPC | OS: Windows 11 | CPU: AMD FX | GPU: GT710 | Storage: 240 GB SSD | Price: 💰💰💰💰💰
The AVGPC Lite makes our list for its simple setup and all-in-one package. The graphics processing unit included is the GT710 with 2GB of VRAM. While it falls under the entry-level category, it can handle lightweight gaming and multimedia tasks. However, it may struggle with more demanding and graphics-intensive games.
It’s important to note that connecting to an HDMI monitor is required for this PC, but these connections are ubiquitous now so it shouldn’t be a problem. The case for this desktop PC looks smooth and well-designed, and the PC itself keeps fairly cool and quiet for the price its at.
However, with the price-tag running right up against the upper end of our $400 limit, this PC still falls onto the bottom half of our list.
- USERS LIKE
- Easy to set up.
- Included keyboard and mouse means you can game right away.
- Comes with plenty of SSD storage space.
- USERS DISLIKE
- Pricey for the quality.
- Manufacturer isn’t as developed as other options.
- Might require aftermarket RAM additions to run newer games.
5. Beelink SER5 Mini PC
The Best Mini PC Under $400
Manufacturer: Beelink | OS: Windows 11 | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 | GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics 7core 180 | Storage: 500 GB | Price: 💰💰💰
The Beelink SER5 is a fantastic mini PC but ranks the lowest on our list simply because most gamers will get better results with a full-size desktop. However, if you’re looking for a small PC that will work well for streaming videos and getting office work done, as well as playing some older or low-requirement games, the Beelink SER5 could be an excellent pick. It’s small, quiet, and relatively powerful, with plenty of ports to connect to any kind of external display. It’s a great way to turn a regular monitor or television into a Smart TV.
It’s among the more costly of the PCs we’ve listed here today, but occasionally goes on sale with merchants like Amazon, dropping its price down to be more in line with your other options. However, at this price point, you can likely find a more powerful PC if you aren’t worried about the space it will take up and the extra noise it will create.
- USERS LIKE
- Small, adaptable form factor is great for travel or apartment dwellers.
- Lots of USB & HDMI ports for expansion.
- Very quiet during typical use.
- USERS DISLIKE
- Small size makes aftermarket modifications difficult.
- Unexceptional hardware makes playing modern games unlikely.
- Could have short longevity.
Join the High Ground
We hope this list of the five best prebuilt gaming PCs under $400 helps you make a selection for your next video game adventures. Whether you’re buying a PC that will double as a work and study station, picking up a first PC for a young gamer, or simply keeping a low budget for your new game station, this list will help you keep the high ground. For more hardware and game tips, follow High Ground Gaming on all social media and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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