Gaming PCs that allow you to play modern titles and cost just 400 euros sound like a great deal. However, some YouTubers are now showing why you should take a closer look at such supposed bargains.
If you are looking for a new gaming PC, you will quickly find some enticing offers on various online platforms. Because for just under 400 euros, you can get gaming PCs that promise you performance for decent gaming.
But with most offers, you should take a closer look, as the YouTubers “Toasty Bros” demonstrate in a video.
In our article, we present what the YouTubers explain and have also looked at numerous offers on Amazon and eBay ourselves. We also explain what to look out for and what not to expect from such cheap PCs.
YouTubers buy the “cheapest gaming PC on Amazon” – the result is sobering
Who is testing? “Toasty Bros” is a YouTube channel that focuses on PC hardware, particularly gaming PCs. In their videos, Matt and Jackson regularly review gaming PCs and test what you get for the money.
In their video, the channel purchased a gaming PC from Allied, which they referred to as the “cheapest gaming PC on Amazon.” The gaming PC costs 450 US dollars at the time of the video. This is equivalent to about 380 euros.
What does the computer offer? Inside the RGB case is an AMD FXX-8800P (from 2015) with integrated graphics, 8 GB DDR4 RAM, a 550-watt power supply, and a WLAN card.
How good is the gaming PC? Matt and Jackson encountered a lot of problems with the device and little joy. Various blue screens occur after an undetermined time, there are memory management errors, and after replacing the SSD, the operating system fails to boot properly.
The YouTubers sent the PC back and requested a second unit. Here, some problems were resolved, and the blue screens were significantly less frequent, but there were still some blue screens with certain games. Other games like Fortnite cannot even be installed. However, the YouTubers suspect the outdated FX architecture is preventing installations.
The gaming performance itself is average and fails to impress the YouTubers:
- Games like Minecraft or Valheim run at just under 30 FPS at low graphics settings and a resolution of 720p
- A Full HD resolution (1080p) is heavily limited by the old processor.
- Games like Fortnite cannot even be installed on the architecture.
What is the preliminary conclusion? The YouTubers do not recommend purchasing the device, as both systems had errors and problems, and the performance of the device is also limited. Even modern office PCs offer more gaming reserves than this so-called “gaming PC.”
You can watch the full English video here:
Other cheap gaming PCs also fail among YouTubers
Cheap gaming PCs are regularly a topic on YouTube. Because being able to work and play reasonably for little money sounds like a good deal at first. However, gaming PCs vary significantly:
- For example, the well-known tech YouTuber Austin Evans tested a similar gaming PC from Allied. Here, the manufacturer uses a slightly newer processor, but the performance is still at best average.
- Another YouTuber bought a gaming PC from a China shop for 360 euros. Although it contains aged hardware, the performance was significantly better than expected.
If you look at the customer reviews of some cheap options on Amazon, a similar picture emerges. Generally, there are reasonable devices, but there are many buyers who complain about problems and difficulties.
This is also because manufacturers usually make incorrect default settings or adjustments. We cannot make a general assessment here because we would otherwise have to test dozens of cheap devices ourselves.
However, it is clear that such problems create unnecessary obstacles for people who only want a PC and want to get started immediately.
Don’t have too high expectations for “gaming PCs” under 400 euros
How much “gaming” is in these computers? In most computers in this price range, there is generally little gaming. “Gaming PC” is actually a misnomer, as these computers are more like decent office PCs with slight gaming capabilities and not full-fledged gaming PCs.
For example, an offer under 400 euros promises you an “i7 gaming system.” However, inside is only an Intel Core i7-920 from 2008 in combination with a GeForce GT 710 and outdated DDR3 RAM. Hardware with which you can neither really game nor want to play if it should be modern games.
Especially in the long term, you will not be happy with such hardware, as Intel has already discontinued support for the Core i7-920.
What you should consider: It is important that you do not have too high expectations for such configurations. If you expect to be able to play modern games in Full HD and with decent details for 400 euros, you will definitely be disappointed.
- With outdated hardware, very cheap processors with graphics chips, or low-end graphics cards, you won’t be able to play top titles at high details.
- Even a cool appearance or RGB lighting does not necessarily indicate a powerful gaming machine. Ultimately, it’s the components inside that matter.
It is important that you do not let yourself be blinded by promises, random numbers, or a cool appearance. Take your time with a supposed bargain and look closely at what you actually get for your money.
In general, we would advise you to invest more money in a pre-built PC that you can benefit from for several years, rather than investing 400 or 500 euros every year and ending up dissatisfied with the performance.
What would be an alternative? An alternative to a desktop PC would be to go for a gaming laptop. Here, the financial hurdles are often a bit higher, and you need to invest at least 1000 euros if you want to game properly. What to consider when buying a gaming laptop, you’ll find in our detailed guide on mobile gaming devices.
