What budget buys you here
Every machine on this page is built for 1080p gaming, hand built and stress tested in the UK by our own engineers, and covered by the same warranty as the rest of the range. Budget here means the price, not the standard of the build. The range also includes office builds and bundles, so it covers the first machine for a household as well as a gaming PC for someone who knows exactly what they want to play.
What these machines run
1080p is where most people play and where most games are optimised, which is why it is what these are built around. Fortnite, Valorant and Rocket League are comfortable, and competitive players will get the frame rates they need without moving up a band. Modern AAA releases run at 1080p too.
Upscaling has widened what this end of the range can do, and DLSS and FSR explained covers how that works and where it helps. If you want numbers rather than claims, our guide to what an RTX 5060 can actually run at 1080p goes through real frame rates in real games.
Worth knowing before you spend more than you need to: the frame rate most people actually benefit from is lower than the numbers that get quoted, outside competitive shooters. Our guide on the frame rate you actually need is the one to read if you are deciding where in the range to buy.
Integrated graphics and dedicated cards
Both appear in this range and both are built for 1080p. The difference is headroom rather than capability.
Machines using the graphics built into the processor are capable systems that handle gaming, work, study and everything else a household throws at them. Adding a dedicated card buys you more room to raise settings in the newest and heaviest releases, and more margin as games get more demanding over the next few years. Which one makes sense depends on how far ahead you are buying.
Where to put the money
The graphics card does the most for gaming performance, so that is the first place extra budget goes. The processor matters next, though the gap between one entry processor and another is smaller than the marketing suggests.
16GB of memory is the sensible floor and it is what these ship with. Storage is NVMe as standard. Neither is somewhere to spend extra at this level.
The screen is what people underspend on. A fast 1080p panel shows everything these machines produce, and pairing one with an old 60Hz monitor throws away a good part of what you paid for. Our gaming monitors cover that end of the range.
Upgrading later
Standard parts in standard cases, so nothing here locks you in. The graphics card is the upgrade that changes the most, and a machine bought with integrated graphics can have a card added later provided the power supply can take it. Memory and storage are straightforward.
If you would rather set the specification yourself from the start, the PC configurator checks compatibility as you build.
Not found what you are looking for?
If the budget has room to move, gaming PCs under £1500 is where 1440p starts to become realistic. If it does not, gaming PCs under £600 narrows this page to the entry builds. For the whole range, see gaming PCs.
Budget gaming PC FAQs
Are budget gaming PCs any good?
Yes. Every machine on this page is built for 1080p gaming, which is still the resolution most people play at and the one most games are optimised for. Modern entry components are a long way ahead of where they were a few years ago, and the gap between a budget build and an expensive one shows up in the heaviest releases rather than in everyday play.
What changes as I move up the range?
Mostly headroom. The builds lower down use the graphics built into the processor, which handles 1080p gaming and everything else a household needs. Adding a dedicated card gives you more room to raise settings in the newest and most demanding releases, and more margin as games get heavier over the next few years. Both run games well. One leaves you more space to push.
Can I upgrade a budget gaming PC later?
Yes. These use standard components in standard cases, so the graphics card, memory and storage can all be changed later. The graphics card is the upgrade that makes the most difference. Worth checking the power supply can take whatever you are moving up to.
Are the office builds different machines?
Same build process, same testing, same warranty. They are specified for work rather than games, so the money goes into the processor, memory and storage instead of a graphics card. If the machine is mainly for work or study with some gaming alongside, they are worth a look.
How long will a budget gaming PC last?
Expect four to six years of useful life, and longer if you upgrade the graphics card partway through. What ends a machine's life is usually the rising minimum specification of new releases rather than anything wearing out.
Should I buy now or save for something better?
Spending a little more at the point of purchase is usually cheaper than upgrading later, so if the budget can stretch a band it is often worth doing. Waiting months to double it rarely is, given what these machines already run. Our guide on whether a gaming PC is worth it works through that properly.
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