Buying Guide
The Best Cheap but Good Gaming PCs
Four cheap gaming PCs with 8GB or more of VRAM, from RX 580 to RTX 4060, each with its CPU, graphics, memory and storage named.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read4 products evaluated
Cheap and good usually means avoiding the smallest graphics cards. Every pick here has at least 8GB of VRAM and costs $1,100 or less at the time of writing.
Every pick names its CPU model, graphics, memory and SSD capacity in the listing; we left out renewed units and listings that hide a part behind "brand may vary". We researched the listings and did not test the machines.
Quick Picks
Which of the 4 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
Evounic Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RX 580 8GB)The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Check price for Evounic Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RX 580 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
RX 6600 Build
STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i7-10700F, RX 6600 8GB)An RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM.
Best for: 1080p gaming.
Check price for STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i7-10700F, RX 6600 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Most VRAM
STGAubron Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 3060 12GB)12GB of VRAM on the RTX 3060.
Best for: High texture settings at 1440p and above.
Check price for STGAubron Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 3060 12GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Largest Listed PSU
MXZ Gaming PC (Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060)A 550W power supply.
Best for: A bigger graphics card later.
Check price for MXZ Gaming PC (Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for Evounic Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RX 580 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| An RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM. | 1080p gaming. | Check price for STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i7-10700F, RX 6600 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 12GB of VRAM on the RTX 3060. | High texture settings at 1440p and above. | Check price for STGAubron Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 3060 12GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A 550W power supply. | A bigger graphics card later. | Check price for MXZ Gaming PC (Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 4
Evounic Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RX 580 8GB)
Inside the Evounic RX 580 are a Ryzen 5 5500 and an RX 580 with 8GB of VRAM, backed by 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p.
Why we like it
Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. It matches the STGAubron RX 6600 and the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 on VRAM (8GB). It matches the STGAubron RX 6600 and the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 on SSD capacity (1TB).
It is the only pick here with an RX 580 graphics card; the STGAubron RX 6600 has an RX 6600 graphics card instead. Like the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060, it has a ryzen 5 5500 processor, while the STGAubron RX 6600 uses a core i7-10700F processor. Check the Evounic RX 580's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want.
With 16GB installed, check for free memory slots before adding more. At 8GB of VRAM, 1080p is the comfortable target for new games. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the STGAubron RX 6600 was the next step up.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RX 580
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Processor
- Ryzen 5 5500
- Memory
- 16GB
- SSD
- 1TB
Pros
- A RX 580 graphics card
- Older RX 580 with 8GB of VRAM
- SSD capacity of 1TB, ahead of the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060
- The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p
- 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
- VRAM of 8GB, behind the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 (12GB)
The catch
The main gap: VRAM of 8GB, behind the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 (12GB). If that matters, the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 offers 12GB.
RX 6600 Build2 of 4
STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i7-10700F, RX 6600 8GB)
The STGAubron RX 6600 build pairs a Core i7-10700F, an RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR4 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- 1080p gaming.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p.
Why we like it
Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. On VRAM it ties with the Evounic RX 580 and the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 at 8GB. On SSD capacity it ties with the Evounic RX 580 and the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 at 1TB.
An RX 6600 graphics card is unique to it among these picks, while the Evounic RX 580 uses an RX 580 graphics card. A core i7-10700F processor is unique to it among these picks, while the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 uses a core i5-12400F processor. It shares a DDR4 memory type with the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 goes with a DDR4-3200 memory type.
Check the STGAubron RX 6600's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. With 16GB installed, check for free memory slots before adding more.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RX 6600
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Processor
- Core i7-10700F
- Memory
- 16GB
- Memory type
- DDR4
- SSD
- 1TB
Pros
- A RX 6600 graphics card
- Desktop RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM
- SSD capacity of 1TB, ahead of the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060
- Core i7-10700F processor, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p
- 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
- Costs more than the Evounic RX 580 at the time of writing
Most VRAM3 of 4
STGAubron Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 3060 12GB)
The STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 build pairs a Ryzen 5 5500, an RTX 3060 with 12GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR4 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- High texture settings at 1440p and above.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing.
Why we like it
It also comes with 12GB of VRAM on an older RTX 3060 at a sub-$900 price at the time of writing. Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. Nothing else here matches its 12GB VRAM; the Evounic RX 580 comes closest at 8GB.
On SSD capacity it ties with the Evounic RX 580 and the STGAubron RX 6600 at 1TB. An RTX 3060 graphics card is unique to it among these picks, while the Evounic RX 580 uses an RX 580 graphics card. It shares a ryzen 5 5500 processor with the Evounic RX 580; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 goes with a core i5-12400F processor.
It shares a DDR4 memory type with the STGAubron RX 6600; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 goes with a DDR4-3200 memory type. When we checked, only the STGAubron RX 6600 and cheaper picks cost less, and the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 cost more.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RTX 3060
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Processor
- Ryzen 5 5500
- Memory
- 16GB
- Memory type
- DDR4
- SSD
- 1TB
Pros
- A RTX 3060 graphics card
- 12GB of VRAM for high texture settings
- 12GB of VRAM on an older RTX 3060 at a sub-$900 price at the time of writing
- SSD capacity of 1TB, ahead of the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060
Cons
- 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
- Costs more than the Evounic RX 580 at the time of writing
Largest Listed PSU4 of 4
MXZ Gaming PC (Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060)
MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 pairs a Core i5-12400F with an RTX 4060 with 8GB of VRAM, plus 16GB of DDR4-3200 and a 500GB SSD.
Best for
- A bigger graphics card later.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It also comes with six RGB fans. The power supply is rated at 550W. It matches the Evounic RX 580 and the STGAubron RX 6600 on VRAM (8GB).
Its 500GB SSD capacity is the smallest in this group; the Evounic RX 580 leads at 1TB. No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 4060 graphics card; compare the STGAubron RX 6600, which has an RX 6600 graphics card. No other pick in this guide offers a core i5-12400F processor; compare the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060, which has a ryzen 5 5500 processor.
It is the only pick here with a DDR4-3200 memory type; the STGAubron RX 6600 has a DDR4 memory type instead. It was the highest-priced of the 4 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 and the rest.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RTX 4060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Processor
- Core i5-12400F
- Memory
- 16GB
- Memory type
- DDR4-3200
- SSD
- 500GB
- Power supply
- 550W
Pros
- A RTX 4060 graphics card
- A 550W power supply
- Six RGB fans
- Core i5-12400F processor, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p
- 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
- A 500GB SSD fills quickly with modern games
The catch
The trade-off is VRAM; for more, the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 offers 12GB.
How We Chose These Cheap but Good Gaming PCs
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared four prebuilt PCs on graphics card, VRAM, processor and memory as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 4 picks leave out memory type.
- What every pick has in common
- All 4, from the Evounic RX 580 to the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060, state graphics card, VRAM and processor.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Evounic RX 580 gives no memory type.
- Price range
- From the Evounic RX 580 to the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060, all sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Cheap but Good Gaming PC
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
VRAM across these picks
Across these 4 picks VRAM spans 8GB (the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060) to 12GB (the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060). Start with the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 if VRAM decides it.
How much SSD capacity you need
The Evounic RX 580 tops SSD capacity at 1TB and the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 sits lowest at 500GB; 3 picks share the top figure. If SSD capacity is your first filter, the Evounic RX 580 sets the ceiling at 1TB.
A desktop PC and monitor on a desk lit with red and blue lighting Processor
The Evounic RX 580 and the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 list ryzen 5 5500; the STGAubron RX 6600 lists Core i7-10700F; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 lists Core i5-12400F.
Memory type
The STGAubron RX 6600 and the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 list DDR4; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 lists DDR4-3200. Settling memory type first narrows 3 picks to 2 or 1.
A white desktop PC beside a monitor on a bright home-office desk Setup checks
Check the Evounic RX 580's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want.
How to Choose a Cheap but Good Gaming PC
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | Evounic RX 580 | The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing |
| 1080p gaming | STGAubron RX 6600 | An RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM |
| High texture settings at 1440p and above | STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 | 12GB of VRAM on the RTX 3060 |
| A bigger graphics card later | MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 | A 550W power supply |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 leads on VRAM at 12GB, ahead of the Evounic RX 580 at 8GB.
| Prebuilt PC | Graphics card | VRAM | Processor | Memory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evounic RX 580 | RX 580 | 8GB | Ryzen 5 5500 | 16GB |
| STGAubron RX 6600 | RX 6600 | 8GB | Core i7-10700F | 16GB |
| STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 | RTX 3060 | 12GB | Ryzen 5 5500 | 16GB |
| MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 | RTX 4060 | 8GB | Core i5-12400F | 16GB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 ahead of the Evounic RX 580 on VRAM?
The STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 leads at 12GB, with the Evounic RX 580 at 8GB.
What does the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 add over the Evounic RX 580?
The MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 matches or trails the Evounic RX 580 on VRAM and SSD capacity. The Evounic RX 580 leads on SSD capacity (1TB). Both sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, so choose on the features you need.
Why is the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 our Most VRAM pick?
It earns the label for 12GB of VRAM on the RTX 3060. On VRAM it leads the Evounic RX 580, 12GB against 8GB, a 50% margin. It suits high texture settings at 1440p and above.
Do the Evounic RX 580 and the STGAubron RX 6600 differ on graphics card?
The Evounic RX 580 uses RX 580; the STGAubron RX 6600 uses RX 6600; the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 uses RTX 3060; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 uses RTX 4060.
Will the Evounic RX 580 work with my setup?
Check the Evounic RX 580's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. The Evounic RX 580's PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before planning a GPU upgrade. In this guide it ranks first of 4, as our Lowest Price Here pick, and second of 4 on VRAM (8GB).
What extras do the Evounic RX 580 and the STGAubron RX 6600 include?
The Evounic RX 580: an older RX 580 with 8GB of VRAM. The STGAubron RX 6600: a desktop RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM. The STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060: 12GB of VRAM on an older RTX 3060 at a sub-$900 price at the time of writing.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Evounic RX 580, chosen for the lowest price among these picks at the time of writing. Look at the STGAubron RX 6600 for an RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM, the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3060 for 12GB of VRAM on the RTX 3060 and the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 for a 550W power supply if those matter more to you.
Skip anything with 4GB of VRAM for new games; these four clear that bar.
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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