How to Find the Best Entry-Level Gaming PC

Ultra Budget Shouldn't Mean Refurbished

An unfortunate trend with entry-level gaming computers is office style computers that are repurposed into gaming computers. Oftentimes these are used or refurbished outdated PCs that includes a moderate previous generation graphics card. Some systems may have their old components installed into a new gamer type computer case (side window and aRGB LED lights) and sold as new. These systems are easy to spot and avoid if you know what to look for.

Know the latest generation of each component. For the processor, go to AMD and Intel to browse their current processors lineup. From there you’ll see their latest series processor. Do the same for AMD and Intel graphics cards.

Next, go to Nvidia and browse their graphics section for the latest generation.

Now that you know the what the latest series is for the CPU and graphics, you can identify obsolete and/or refurbished computers being sold as new just by looking at the specs.

Bang for Buck Performance

A budget around $500 can get you a next generation entry-level gaming PC. You’ll have to sacrifice playing at higher frame rates with all the eye-candy turned off but you’ll still be able to play the latest games. An ultra budget gaming computer should allow a minimum of 30 frames per second (FPS) for demanding games. Don’t be fooled, gaming at 30 FPS is still enjoyable. The PC should allow you to upgrade basic components like the memory and graphics if you’ve outgrown the performance. A solid choice should have a strong CPU with adequate storage space a sufficient power supply and plenty room for expansion. Take for example our Fusion XL next-gen, ultra budget gaming PC. This PC features a surprisingly powerful six core Ryzen 5 8600G processor with a whopping 32GB of DDR5 and is capable of 1080p gaming with mix settings. You can easily install a dedicated graphics card later if you want more detail in your games.

Making the Right Choice

Shopping for an ultra budget gaming PC with these five key points in mind will simplify the process.

• Is the computer new, used or refurbished?
• Can this PC handle 1080p gaming at a minimum of 30 FPS?
• Does the PC have good performance outside of gaming?
• Can the PC be easily upgraded later?
• Is the brand trustworthy?

The right entry-level gaming PC will provide a strong base platform that will deliver good performance for the years to come.