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Budget Gaming PCs for Beginners (Under £1000)

Budget Gaming PCs for Beginners (Under £1000)

Scott Noel |

🖥️ Budget Gaming PCs for Beginners (Under £1000)

If you’re new to PC gaming, you might think you need to spend thousands on a high-end machine to play modern games. The truth is, you don’t. A budget gaming PC under £1000 can deliver smooth performance, handle today’s most popular titles, and give you plenty of upgrade options for the future.

In this guide, we’ll break down what makes a great budget gaming PC, what performance you can expect, and share some of the best options available in 2025.

💡 What is a Budget Gaming PC?

A budget gaming PC is designed to give you the best performance for your money without unnecessary extras. Typically, these rigs fall between £700–£1000 and are perfect for:

  • Beginners who want to start gaming without breaking the bank.

  • Students or casual gamers who play popular titles like Fortnite, Valorant, or Minecraft.

  • Console players switching to PC for more flexibility and upgrade potential.

Compared to mid-range or high-end systems, budget gaming PCs use slightly less powerful components but still provide excellent value for money.

🎮 What Can You Expect from a £1000 Gaming PC?

Gaming Performance

With a £1000 budget gaming PC in 2025, you can expect:

  • 1080p Ultra settings in almost any modern game.

  • 1440p High settings in esports and less demanding AAA titles.

  • Ray tracing support in some games, though settings may need adjusting.

For example:

  • Fortnite → 120+ FPS at 1080p High

  • Call of Duty: Warzone → 90+ FPS at 1080p High

  • Cyberpunk 2077 → 60 FPS at 1080p Medium-High with DLSS

Typical Specs You’ll Find

A well-balanced budget gaming PC will usually include:

  • CPU: Intel i5 (13th Gen) or AMD Ryzen 5 (7000 series)

  • GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3060 / 4060 or AMD RX 6600 / 7600

  • RAM: 16GB DDR4 or DDR5

  • Storage: 500GB – 1TB NVMe SSD

  • Power Supply: 500–650W, 80+ Bronze rated

These specs ensure smooth performance today while giving you upgrade potential for tomorrow.

🏆 Best Budget Gaming PCs Under £1000 (2025)

Here are two strong picks for beginners looking for an affordable prebuilt system.

🔹 [Ryzen 7, RTX 4060 Ti, 1TB NVME, 32GB RAM Gaming PC] – £999.99

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X

  • GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti

  • RAM: 32GB DDR4

  • Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

  • Best for: Smooth Gaming at 1080p High Settings and 1440p Medium

🔹 [Ryzen 5, RTX 4060, 1TB NVME, 16GB RAM Gaming PC] – £689.99

  • CPU: Ryzen 5 4500

  • GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060

  • RAM: 16GB DDR4

  • Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

  • Best for: Casual gamers and esports titles like Valorant or CS2.

⚖️ Prebuilt vs Building Your Own Budget PC

One of the biggest questions beginners face is whether to buy prebuilt or build a PC themselves.

Prebuilt PCs (Recommended for Beginners):
✅ Plug & play, ready to use out of the box.
✅ Warranty & technical support included.
✅ No risk of part incompatibility.

Building Your Own:
✅ Slightly better performance per pound.
✅ More flexibility in choosing exact parts.
❌ Requires experience and troubleshooting skills.

For beginners, a prebuilt budget gaming PC is usually the safest and most hassle-free option.

🔍 How to Choose the Best Budget Gaming PC for You

When picking your first gaming PC, ask yourself:

🎯 What Games Do You Play?

  • Esports (Fortnite, Valorant, Rocket League): You don’t need the most powerful GPU.

  • AAA Games (Cyberpunk, Starfield, Elden Ring): Look for stronger CPUs & GPUs (RTX 4060 / RX 7600 or above).

🖥️ Do You Need Peripherals Included?

  • Some budget systems come with a basic keyboard and mouse.

  • Factor in the cost of a monitor if you don’t have one.

🔧 How Much Upgrade Flexibility Do You Want?

  • Choose a PC with at least 16GB RAM and a motherboard that supports future CPU/GPU upgrades.

⚡ Tips to Get the Most Out of a Budget Gaming PC

Even a budget system can perform like a champ if you optimize it:

  • Keep your GPU drivers up to date.

  • Use DLSS or AMD FSR for higher frame rates in supported games.

  • Adjust in-game graphics settings (shadows, reflections) for smoother gameplay.

  • Consider small upgrades like extra RAM or a secondary SSD over time.

❓ FAQs About Budget Gaming PCs

Can a £1000 gaming PC run AAA games?
✅ Yes. Most AAA titles will run smoothly at 1080p on high settings, and many will run at 1440p with some tweaks.

Should I buy a budget gaming laptop or desktop?
💻 Laptops are portable but often less powerful for the same price. Desktops offer more performance and upgrade potential.

Can I upgrade a budget gaming PC later?
🔧 Absolutely. You can add more RAM, storage, or even swap the GPU in the future.

✅ Final Thoughts

A budget gaming PC under £1000 is more than capable of delivering a fantastic gaming experience in 2025. Whether you’re into esports, open-world adventures, or indie titles, these machines can handle it all without burning through your wallet.

👉 Ready to start gaming? Check out our full range of Gaming PCs and find the perfect rig for your setup today.