ISOCARD - Innovative Smart Office and Home Reviews is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

The best desktop computers under $500 for 2024

Matt Austin
  Mar 28, 2024 9:10 AM

Playing games is considered as one of the most all the rage recreations all around the world, particularly experiencing them by possessing the best desktop computer under $500 with other peripheral devices. 

If you intend to be in the market to look for a brand new gaming computer and you want to go with a best desktop computer under $500, in this guide of sorts, we'll give you a brief buying guide to assess whether your product is acceptable or not, and help you find out the right one for the budget under $500.

The following article from IsoCard experts on the topic of the best desktop computer under $500 will help you get an overview and objective suggestions to choose a product that suits your needs and budget!


Compare Products

Showing  1 - 10  in  25 results
TOP Choice
1
  • SCORE
    9.4
    AI Score

    A score is a scoring system developed mainly based on our experts' experience and the data gathered by our team, thanks to AI tools. There is no link between this score and any other manufacturer or E-commerce website.

  • Brand
    Lenovo
TOP Choice
2
  • SCORE
    9.6
    AI Score

    A score is a scoring system developed mainly based on our experts' experience and the data gathered by our team, thanks to AI tools. There is no link between this score and any other manufacturer or E-commerce website.

  • Brand
    Generic
3
  • SCORE
    9.2
    AI Score

    A score is a scoring system developed mainly based on our experts' experience and the data gathered by our team, thanks to AI tools. There is no link between this score and any other manufacturer or E-commerce website.

  • Brand
    KAMRUI
4
  • SCORE
    9.0
    AI Score

    A score is a scoring system developed mainly based on our experts' experience and the data gathered by our team, thanks to AI tools. There is no link between this score and any other manufacturer or E-commerce website.

  • Brand
    HP
5
  • SCORE
    8.8
    AI Score

    A score is a scoring system developed mainly based on our experts' experience and the data gathered by our team, thanks to AI tools. There is no link between this score and any other manufacturer or E-commerce website.

  • Brand
    HP
6
  • SCORE
    8.6
    AI Score

    A score is a scoring system developed mainly based on our experts' experience and the data gathered by our team, thanks to AI tools. There is no link between this score and any other manufacturer or E-commerce website.

  • Brand
    HP
7
  • SCORE
    8.6
    AI Score

    A score is a scoring system developed mainly based on our experts' experience and the data gathered by our team, thanks to AI tools. There is no link between this score and any other manufacturer or E-commerce website.

  • Brand
    Dell
8
  • SCORE
    8.6
    AI Score

    A score is a scoring system developed mainly based on our experts' experience and the data gathered by our team, thanks to AI tools. There is no link between this score and any other manufacturer or E-commerce website.

  • Brand
    HP
9
  • SCORE
    8.6
    AI Score

    A score is a scoring system developed mainly based on our experts' experience and the data gathered by our team, thanks to AI tools. There is no link between this score and any other manufacturer or E-commerce website.

  • Brand
    HP
10
  • SCORE
    8.4
    AI Score

    A score is a scoring system developed mainly based on our experts' experience and the data gathered by our team, thanks to AI tools. There is no link between this score and any other manufacturer or E-commerce website.

  • Brand
    HP

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


Buying Guides

If you want to get the best value for money, taking these features below into account can help you choose one that is best for your demands and your money in this cost point you are investing in:

1. Processor

We're quite familiar with some terms like CPUGPUAPU. They're generally called the processor that is one of the most important components for a gaming machine, especially with the best desktop computer under $500. Because blockbuster gaming can require large amounts of processing power, gaming PCs are required to process data extremely fast, which means you should expect to find a high-end processor in any gaming desktop. Some typical names from Intel and AMD are really good processors for a powerful PC. 

Here are several best recommended processors (CPU) for the best desktop computer under $500 for 2020: Intel i3 8100, 9100, 10100 or Ryzen 2200G, 3200G, 3400G.

2. Memory/RAM

It's short for Random Access Memory, RAM stores temporary data whilst the computer is performing tasks. In 2020, every single gaming configuration should own at least 8 GB of DDR4 RAM to make sure the processing of gaming, though 16 GB of RAM would be much more preferable. In fact, almost all the computational machines we’ll mention below have at least 8 GB of DDR4 RAM like Acer's Aspire TC-885.

3. Internal storage

When it pertains to storing your games locally, capacity is important but speed is key. So, the role of HDD or SSD is really crucial. SSDs are much faster than HDDs, delivering faster performance when starting the PC, launching games and saving progress, all while creating less heat and no noise. SSD storage capacity tends to be smaller than users can find in hard drives overall, but larger terabyte drives are now more common. So, it’s decent to claim an “SSD”. We also recommend some products fully equipped with this feature as Acer's Aspire TC-885 or Dell's refreshed Inspiron 3880.

4. Video graphics card

Most PCs will own a dedicated graphics card. This comes with processing power and additional resources that your system will dedicate exclusively to visual quality. This has an obvious impact on the quality of video games, serious gaming requires a lot of graphical power for the sake of delivering smoother frame rates with far less graphical lag. Therefore, it'll give you the best gaming experience. A powerful graphics card will also provide a boost for anything involving visuals, including graphic design and video editing.

However, if your budget is too tight, don't worry, new integrated GPUs are powerful to play most games, in the right settings though.

5. Cooling system

If you are a person who has a liking for experiencing a variety of programs, with its powerful processors and graphics card, it could be very hot. Therefore, it requires some sort of cooling system in order to avoid some dangerous problems.

If you are interested in overclocking stuff, it is best to equip a custom liquid cooling system. But if you are just a normal gamer, do some light tasks sometimes, few fans and some reputable air coolers are fine.

6. Upgrade considerations

Upgrading your system can make your computational tasks PC become more powerful but you ought to make sure that the parts you will enhance are well-compatible with the motherboard in your current workstation.

 

SEE MORE:


FAQs

1. Is it better to buy a PC or build your own?

Building your own PC can be cheaper, more rewarding, and offers additional customization. However, purchasing a PC is much quicker, easier, and generally more reliable. ... Nowadays, easier to install components and an accessible prebuilt PC market can make it a little more difficult to decide.

2. How long do prebuilt PCs last? 

The reply completely depends on the type of gaming, the required settings, and the specified determination. On the off chance that you're a competitive first individual shooter who requests the highest resolution and settings, a rig might last more than 3 years.

3. Is a high-end gaming PC worth it?

With a higher-end graphics card, a more powerful CPU with far more cores and higher clock speeds, which are combined in a prebuilt gaming PC can make games run faster and prettier. ... A gaming PC can still make those games become better and run more smoothly, easily, but your demands won't be as great.

4. Is an Intel Core i5 or an AMD R5 good for multitasking?

Intel Core i5 and AMD Ryzen 5 could be great processors that are made for mainstream users who care about performance, and still, affordable price. The Core i5 is appropriate for most tasks, even intense gaming, editing, rendering. However, if your wallet is thick, feel free to use the Intel Core i9, Ryzen 7, Ryzen 9, or threadripper CPUs, which are even much better processors that make your gaming times, your work much different.

5. How long does the guarantee last? 

Usually, every single manufacturer also has the guarantee policies for their products, please examine this information thoroughly on the products to choose the best desktop computer under $500 with your thorough understanding. During that time, you'll bring your device to the store anytime it has any issues.

See Also:


Final Thoughts

If you have a little more than $500 and you want to get a computational machine that can handle anything you throw at, the HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop in the top list can be your perfectly ideal selection with powerful specs and give the best incredible experience you're thirsty for!

In case you want a gaming PC with more acceptably reasonable price than the Acer’s Aspire, the Dell Inspiron 3880 is still powerful for multitasking such as video/photo editing, document searching and obviously, multitasking performance will be by far the most superb!

We hope that the data above has given you some fundamental ideas about the best desktop computer under $500. Please contact us if you have any questions about the best desktop computer under $500 as well as related to the most excellent personal computers you want to purchase on Amazon, and we'll help you discover the best one!


4
2 ratings