Buying Guide
Good Cheap Gaming PCs
Four cheap gaming PCs under $950, from RX 580 to RTX 3050, each with its CPU, graphics, memory and storage named.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read4 products evaluated
Under $950, the choice is mostly between an older card with more VRAM and a newer one with less. These four cover both options.
Our comparison uses what each seller states, not hands-on testing. Listings without a named CPU, a GPU with its VRAM, a RAM figure or an SSD size were dropped, as were renewed units and outlier prices.
Quick Picks
Which of the 4 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
RX 580 Build
Evounic Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RX 580 8GB)An RX 580 with 8GB of VRAM.
Best for: 1080p gaming.
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)
Largest Listed PSU
ZOTAC MEK (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 5050 8GB)A 650W power supply rated 80 Plus Gold.
Best for: A bigger graphics card later.
Check price for ZOTAC MEK (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 5050 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
RTX 3050 Build
STGAubron Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 3050 6GB, 512GB)An RTX 3050 with 6GB of VRAM.
Best for: 1080p gaming.
Check price for STGAubron Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 3050 6GB, 512GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| An RX 580 with 8GB of VRAM. | 1080p gaming. | 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) |
| A 650W power supply rated 80 Plus Gold. | A bigger graphics card later. | Check price for ZOTAC MEK (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 5050 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| An RTX 3050 with 6GB of VRAM. | 1080p gaming. | Check price for STGAubron Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 3050 6GB, 512GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
RX 580 Build1 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
- 1080p gaming.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 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 MEK RTX 5050 on VRAM (8GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 580 graphics card; compare the MEK RTX 5050, which has an RTX 5050 graphics card.
Like the MEK RTX 5050 and STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050, 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.
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
- VRAM of 8GB, ahead of the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050
- SSD capacity of 1TB, ahead of the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050
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
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 MEK RTX 5050 at 8GB. You get an RX 6600 graphics card here, which sets it apart from the Evounic RX 580 and its an RX 580 graphics card.
You get a core i7-10700F processor here, which sets it apart from the MEK RTX 5050 and its a ryzen 5 5500 processor. It shares a DDR4 memory type with the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050; the MEK RTX 5050 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. At 8GB of VRAM, 1080p is the comfortable target for new games.
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
- VRAM of 8GB, ahead of the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050
- SSD capacity of 1TB, ahead of the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050
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
Largest Listed PSU3 of 4
ZOTAC MEK (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 5050 8GB)
The MEK RTX 5050 build pairs a Ryzen 5 5500, an RTX 5050 with 8GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR4-3200 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- A bigger graphics card later.
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
It also comes with a 650W Gold PSU under $900 at the time of writing. On VRAM it ties with the Evounic RX 580 and the STGAubron RX 6600 at 8GB. An RTX 5050 graphics card is unique to it among these picks, while the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 uses an RTX 3050 graphics card.
It shares a ryzen 5 5500 processor with the Evounic RX 580 and STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050; the STGAubron RX 6600 goes with a core i7-10700F processor. You get a DDR4-3200 memory type here, which sets it apart from the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 and its a DDR4 memory type. Check the MEK RTX 5050's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. At our last price check it topped the group, with the STGAubron RX 6600 the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RTX 5050
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Processor
- Ryzen 5 5500
- Memory
- 16GB
- Memory type
- DDR4-3200
- SSD
- 1TB
- Power supply
- 650W
- PSU rating
- 80 Plus Gold
- Warranty
- 1 year system, 3 years GPU
Pros
- A RTX 5050 graphics card
- A 650W power supply
- An 80 Plus Gold power supply
- 650W Gold PSU under $900 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
- Costs more than the Evounic RX 580 at the time of writing
RTX 3050 Build4 of 4
STGAubron Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RTX 3050 6GB, 512GB)
STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 pairs a Ryzen 5 5500 with an RTX 3050 with 6GB of VRAM, plus 16GB of DDR4 and a 512GB SSD.
Best for
- 1080p gaming.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 6GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p is a problem.
Why we like it
It also comes with the lowest price among the listings we considered at the time of writing. Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. Its 6GB VRAM is the least in this group; the Evounic RX 580 leads at 8GB.
Its 512GB SSD capacity is the smallest in this group; the Evounic RX 580 leads at 1TB. No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 3050 graphics card; compare the Evounic RX 580, which has an RX 580 graphics card. Like the Evounic RX 580 and MEK RTX 5050, it has a ryzen 5 5500 processor, while the STGAubron RX 6600 uses a core i7-10700F processor. Like the STGAubron RX 6600, it has a DDR4 memory type, while the MEK RTX 5050 uses a DDR4-3200 memory type.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RTX 3050
- VRAM
- 6GB
- Processor
- Ryzen 5 5500
- Memory
- 16GB
- Memory type
- DDR4
- SSD
- 512GB
Pros
- A RTX 3050 graphics card
- The lowest price among the listings we considered at the time of writing
- Ryzen 5 5500 six-core processor
- An RTX 3050 with 6GB of VRAM
Cons
- 6GB 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 512GB SSD fills quickly with modern games
The catch
The trade-off is VRAM; for more, the Evounic RX 580 offers 8GB.
How We Chose
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 from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 5 of the 6 fields compared are stated for every pick, while memory type has gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 4, from the Evounic RX 580 to the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050, 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 MEK RTX 5050, all sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked.
What to Look For
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much VRAM you need
The Evounic RX 580 tops VRAM at 8GB and the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 sits lowest at 6GB; 3 picks share the top figure. Start with the Evounic RX 580 if VRAM decides it.
SSD capacity
Here SSD capacity runs from 512GB on the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 to 1TB on the Evounic RX 580, a 95% spread. 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, the MEK RTX 5050 and the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 list ryzen 5 5500; the STGAubron RX 6600 lists Core i7-10700F.
Memory type
The STGAubron RX 6600 and the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 list DDR4; the MEK RTX 5050 lists DDR4-3200.
A white desktop PC beside a monitor on a bright home-office desk What to check at home
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
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p gaming | Evounic RX 580 | An RX 580 with 8GB of VRAM |
| 1080p gaming | STGAubron RX 6600 | An RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM |
| A bigger graphics card later | MEK RTX 5050 | A 650W power supply rated 80 Plus Gold |
| 1080p gaming | STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 | An RTX 3050 with 6GB of VRAM |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Evounic RX 580 leads on VRAM at 8GB, ahead of the STGAubron RX 6600 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 |
| MEK RTX 5050 | RTX 5050 | 8GB | Ryzen 5 5500 | 16GB |
| STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 | RTX 3050 | 6GB | Ryzen 5 5500 | 16GB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 our RTX 3050 Build pick?
It carries the badge for an RTX 3050 with 6GB of VRAM. The price of that: the Evounic RX 580, the cheapest pick, still beats it on VRAM (8GB against 6GB) and SSD capacity (1TB against 512GB). It suits 1080p gaming.
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 MEK RTX 5050 uses RTX 5050; the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 uses RTX 3050.
Will the MEK RTX 5050 work with my setup?
Check the MEK RTX 5050's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. In this guide it ranks third of 4, as our Largest Listed PSU pick, and third 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 MEK RTX 5050: a 650W Gold PSU under $900 at the time of writing.
Who should choose the Evounic RX 580?
The Evounic RX 580 carries our RX 580 Build label for an RX 580 with 8GB of VRAM. It ranks first of 4 here and sat in the $500 to $1000 tier at our last price check; it suits 1080p gaming.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Evounic RX 580, chosen for an RX 580 with 8GB of VRAM. Look at the STGAubron RX 6600 for an RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM, the MEK RTX 5050 for a 650W power supply rated 80 Plus Gold and the STGAubron R5 5500 RTX 3050 for an RTX 3050 with 6GB of VRAM if those matter more to you.
For new games, VRAM ages better than a newer name on a smaller card.
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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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