Cheap PC Guide (2026): Best Budget Gaming Desktops, Mini PCs & $500 Builds

I compared cheap PCs across 3 routes—prebuilt desktops (like HP Victus-style rigs), tiny mini PCs for cozy games, and a ~$500 RX 6600 + Ryzen 5 build. Here’s what I’d buy, the specs that actually matter (16GB RAM, SSD, GPU), and what settings to expect at 1080p.