Buying Guide

The Best Gaming PCs Under 500 Dollars

Three gaming PCs under 500 dollars with newer Radeon graphics, from Radeon 760M to Radeon 780M, each with its CPU, graphics, memory and storage named.

By , PC Hardware Editor

11 min read3 products evaluated

An assembled desktop PC with the side panel open
Illustrative image

No listing we found under $500 pairs a tower with a separate graphics card and names every part, so every pick here is a mini PC that games on Radeon integrated graphics. These three use newer Radeon 760M or 780M graphics on Ryzen 7000-series chips.

We compared the parts each listing names: CPU, graphics card and VRAM, memory, storage and, where stated, the power supply and warranty. We did not test these systems, and we skipped listings that leave a core part vague.

Quick Picks

Which of the 3 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.

  1. Lowest Price Here

    Trycoo Mini PC (Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M, 512GB)

    The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing.

    Best for: Keeping the budget tight.

    Check price for Trycoo Mini PC (Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M, 512GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
  2. Ryzen 7 7840HS Build

    BRE NUC BREN7P (Ryzen 7 7840HS, Radeon 780M)

    A Ryzen 7 7840HS processor.

    Best for: Buyers who prefer this CPU platform.

    Check price for BRE NUC BREN7P (Ryzen 7 7840HS, Radeon 780M) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Our Picks

Lowest Price Here1 of 3

Trycoo Mini PC (Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M, 512GB)

The Trycoo 512GB build pairs a Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M integrated graphics, 16GB of DDR5-5600 and a 512GB SSD.

Best for

Keeping the budget tight.

Skip if

Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing.
Trycoo Mini PC (Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M, 512GB)

Why we like it

It also comes with USB4 and dual LAN near $420. There is no separate graphics card, so plan on lighter games and esports titles at modest settings. It matches the BRE BREN7P on SSD capacity (512GB).

Like the Trycoo 1TB, it has a radeon 760M (integrated) graphics card, while the BRE BREN7P uses a radeon 780M (integrated) graphics card. Like the Trycoo 1TB, it has a ryzen 5 7640HS processor, while the BRE BREN7P uses a ryzen 7 7840HS processor. Like the Trycoo 1TB, it has a DDR5-5600 memory type, while the BRE BREN7P uses a DDR5 memory type.

Check the Trycoo 512GB's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. The Trycoo 512GB's PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before planning a GPU upgrade. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the BRE BREN7P was the next step up.

Key specs

Graphics card
Radeon 760M (integrated)
Processor
Ryzen 5 7640HS
Memory
16GB
Memory type
DDR5-5600
SSD
512GB

Pros

  • A Radeon 760M (integrated) graphics card
  • USB4 and dual LAN near $420
  • The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing

Cons

  • 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
  • A 512GB SSD fills quickly with modern games
  • SSD capacity of 512GB, behind the Trycoo 1TB (1TB)

The catch

The main gap: SSD capacity of 512GB, behind the Trycoo 1TB (1TB). If that matters, the Trycoo 1TB is rated for 1TB.

Ryzen 7 7840HS Build2 of 3

BRE NUC BREN7P (Ryzen 7 7840HS, Radeon 780M)

BRE BREN7P pairs a Ryzen 7 7840HS with Radeon 780M integrated graphics, plus 16GB of DDR5 and a 512GB SSD.

Best for

Buyers who prefer this CPU platform.

Skip if

Pass on it if 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing rules it out for your setup.
BRE NUC BREN7P (Ryzen 7 7840HS, Radeon 780M)

Why we like it

It also comes with dual 2.5Gb Ethernet and USB4. There is no separate graphics card, so plan on lighter games and esports titles at modest settings. It matches the Trycoo 512GB on SSD capacity (512GB).

No other pick in this guide offers a radeon 780M (integrated) graphics card; compare the Trycoo 512GB, which has a radeon 760M (integrated) graphics card. No other pick in this guide offers a ryzen 7 7840HS processor; compare the Trycoo 512GB, which has a ryzen 5 7640HS processor. It is the only pick here with a DDR5 memory type; the Trycoo 512GB has a DDR5-5600 memory type instead.

Check the BRE BREN7P's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. On price it sat second of 3, between the cheaper Trycoo 512GB and the pricier Trycoo 1TB, at the time of writing.

Key specs

Graphics card
Radeon 780M (integrated)
Processor
Ryzen 7 7840HS
Memory
16GB
Memory type
DDR5
SSD
512GB

Pros

  • A Radeon 780M (integrated) graphics card
  • Dual 2.5Gb Ethernet and USB4
  • Ryzen 7 7840HS processor, the only one here
  • DDR5 memory type, the only one here

Cons

  • 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
  • A 512GB SSD fills quickly with modern games
  • SSD capacity trails the Trycoo 1TB (1TB)

The catch

The trade-off is SSD capacity; for more, the Trycoo 1TB is rated for 1TB.

Most Storage3 of 3

Trycoo Mini PC (Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M, 1TB)

The Trycoo 1TB build pairs a Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M integrated graphics, 16GB of DDR5-5600 and a 1TB SSD.

Best for

Large game libraries.

Skip if

Worth skipping when 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing is a problem.
Trycoo Mini PC (Ryzen 5 7640HS, Radeon 760M, 1TB)

Why we like it

It also comes with a 1TB SSD with room to expand. There is no separate graphics card, so plan on lighter games and esports titles at modest settings. Nothing else here matches its 1TB SSD capacity; the Trycoo 512GB comes closest at 512GB.

It shares a radeon 760M (integrated) graphics card with the Trycoo 512GB; the BRE BREN7P goes with a radeon 780M (integrated) graphics card. It shares a ryzen 5 7640HS processor with the Trycoo 512GB; the BRE BREN7P goes with a ryzen 7 7840HS processor. It shares a DDR5-5600 memory type with the Trycoo 512GB; the BRE BREN7P goes with a DDR5 memory type.

Check the Trycoo 1TB's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. Only the BRE BREN7P came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks.

Key specs

Graphics card
Radeon 760M (integrated)
Processor
Ryzen 5 7640HS
Memory
16GB
Memory type
DDR5-5600
SSD
1TB

Pros

  • A Radeon 760M (integrated) graphics card
  • 1TB SSD with room to expand
  • 16GB of DDR5-5600 memory
  • Largest SSD capacity of the picks (1TB)

Cons

  • 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
  • Costs more than the Trycoo 512GB at the time of writing

The catch

It gives ground on memory, where the Trycoo 512GB offers 16GB.

How We Chose These Gaming PCs Under 500 Dollars

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.

A white desktop PC beside a monitor on a bright home-office desk
A white desktop PC beside a monitor on a bright home-office desk
What we compared
We compared three prebuilt PCs on graphics card, processor, memory and memory type as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 5 of the 5 fields compared are stated for every pick.
The shared baseline
All 3, from the Trycoo 512GB to the Trycoo 1TB, state graphics card, processor and memory.
Who each pick suits
The Trycoo 512GB for the lowest price among these picks at the time of writing; the BRE BREN7P for a Ryzen 7 7840HS processor; the Trycoo 1TB for a 1TB SSD.
Price range
From the Trycoo 512GB to the Trycoo 1TB, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.

What to Look for in a Gaming PC Under 500 Dollars

Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.

  1. SSD capacity

    Across these 3 picks SSD capacity spans 512GB (the BRE BREN7P) to 1TB (the Trycoo 1TB). If SSD capacity is your first filter, the Trycoo 1TB sets the ceiling at 1TB.

  2. Processor

    The Trycoo 512GB and the Trycoo 1TB list Ryzen 5 7640HS; the BRE BREN7P lists Ryzen 7 7840HS. Settling processor first narrows 3 picks to 2 or 1.

    A desktop PC beside a monitor on a corner gaming desk
    A desktop PC beside a monitor on a corner gaming desk
  3. Memory type

    The Trycoo 512GB and the Trycoo 1TB list DDR5-5600; the BRE BREN7P lists DDR5. Sort out memory type before price: it splits 3 stated picks into groups of 2 and 1.

  4. What to check at home

    Check the Trycoo 512GB's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want.

    A desktop PC and monitor on a desk lit with red and blue lighting
    A desktop PC and monitor on a desk lit with red and blue lighting
  5. Features beyond the spec table

    The Trycoo 512GB: USB4 and dual LAN near $420. The BRE BREN7P: dual 2.5Gb Ethernet and USB4. The Trycoo 1TB: 16GB of DDR5-5600 memory.

How to Choose a Gaming PC Under 500 Dollars

By priority

PriorityConsiderWhy
Keeping the budget tightTrycoo 512GBThe lowest price among these picks at the time of writing
Buyers who prefer this CPU platformBRE BREN7PA Ryzen 7 7840HS processor
Large game librariesTrycoo 1TBA 1TB SSD

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Key specs side by side

The Trycoo 1TB leads on SSD capacity at 1TB, ahead of the Trycoo 512GB at 512GB.

Prebuilt PCGraphics cardProcessorMemoryMemory type
Trycoo 512GBRadeon 760M (integrated)Ryzen 5 7640HS16GBDDR5-5600
BRE BREN7PRadeon 780M (integrated)Ryzen 7 7840HS16GBDDR5
Trycoo 1TBRadeon 760M (integrated)Ryzen 5 7640HS16GBDDR5-5600

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Trycoo 512GB compare with the Trycoo 1TB on SSD capacity?

Between the top two, it is 1TB on the Trycoo 1TB against 512GB on the Trycoo 512GB, a 95% difference.

Is the Trycoo 1TB worth paying more than the Trycoo 512GB?

The spec sheets show SSD capacity (1TB against 512GB) in its favour. Both sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, so the gains in SSD capacity cost little extra by tier.

What makes the BRE BREN7P the Ryzen 7 7840HS Build?

It carries the badge for a Ryzen 7 7840HS processor. It makes sense for anyone who prefers this CPU platform.

Do the Trycoo 512GB and the BRE BREN7P differ on graphics card?

The Trycoo 512GB and the Trycoo 1TB use Radeon 760M (integrated); the BRE BREN7P uses Radeon 780M (integrated).

What should I check before buying the Trycoo 1TB?

Check the Trycoo 1TB's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. The Trycoo 1TB's PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before planning a GPU upgrade. In this guide it ranks third of 3, as our Most Storage pick, and first of 3 on SSD capacity (1TB).

Beyond the specs, what sets the Trycoo 512GB and the BRE BREN7P apart?

The Trycoo 512GB: USB4 and dual LAN near $420. The BRE BREN7P: dual 2.5Gb Ethernet and USB4. The Trycoo 1TB: a 1TB SSD with room to expand.

Bottom Line

Our first pick is the Trycoo 512GB, chosen for the lowest price among these picks at the time of writing. Look at the BRE BREN7P for a Ryzen 7 7840HS processor and the Trycoo 1TB for a 1TB SSD if those matter more to you.

If a listing names a USB4 port, it can connect a fast external drive or dock later.

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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