Whilst every mode of activity has transformed through the last two decades, playing games have also gone through a massive transition. Long gone are the days when the streets and parks were used to be filled with children in late afternoon who had played, chat and fight over sports issues.
Nowadays, there is a large number of kids, teens, and adults, who are playing video games on their machines while sitting inside their homes. Not only this, a huge percentage of students and teenagers are those who turn towards their laptops at night and play engaging games for hours, sometimes multiplayer challenges are also held.
Cheap gaming laptops have made their lives even easier by providing useful resources at affordable rates. This article discusses the 7 best cheap gaming laptops under $500, $600.
What To Look For In Cheap Gaming Laptop?
Let’s be reasonable! A killer gaming laptop machine is laden with exquisite graphics, sound, and speed cost a lot! If you are eyeing at an under $500 or $600 gaming laptop, you certainly have to tradeoff over multiple things. It may be the display, performance, sound or battery life. Low price gaming laptops may not be hardwired to play the recent games on them but you can surely enjoy those which are a year or so old.
Processor
It is hard to find a laptop with a Core i7 processor in this price range, therefore, it would be great to go with Core i5 CPU.
RAM
An affordable gaming laptop should have some capabilities which include a RAM of at least 4 GB, higher is better because games demand a good chunk of RAM to be utilized.
Screen Size
Laptops come into the market with different screen sizes, it all depends on your need and budget, but remember! The bigger the screen, the bigger the laptop is and the heavier it will be. Screen size is crucial for games like Battlefield and Assassins Creed.
Display Type
There are two types of display types available in laptops, that are, IPS and TN panels. IPS is the preferred one, as it enables the viewer to watch the screen from any angle with the same picture quality.
Storage (HDD/SDD)
An SSD saves loading time and process data very fastly and rapidly as compared to its counterpart HDD. One thing shall not be ignored that SSD doesn’t impart any influence on the graphics. So, it is thus a secondary component especially for a gaming laptop as it can be added later. It is also one of the only possible alterations you can make later.
Storage capacity should be at least 500 GB if it comes with HDD but a laptop with SSD provides better gaming experience. So it is preferred to buy a laptop with SSD or buy and install it later.
Graphics Card
Graphics card is the most important component of a gaming machine but having a laptop with high performance graphics cards in this budget is not possible. Expecting a laptop with a dedicated graphics card in a price tag of less than $500 is unjust too. So it is recommended to get a laptop with comparatively better graphics capabilities.
Battery
The battery with more cells can deliver power for a long time. Obviously, the power of the laptop and the use necessarily influence the actual duration of runtime.
In our view, you shouldn’t even consider long battery timing as a feature for the gaming laptop because the battery will tend to get drained of charge when you start playing demanding games on them, whatsoever.
**Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Top Gaming Machines Under $500 & $600
Check out the list below, for the best cheap gaming laptops for the money.
See Also:
Best Cheap Laptops Under $500, $600 Reviews
In this detailed buying guide, we have written reviews, advantages, and disadvantages of each gaming laptop. So without any further delay, let’s start with the detailing.
1. Dell Inspiron i5575 A217SLV-PUS (Best Budget Gaming Laptop For Students)
A great take for just a shy below $500, this laptop features comprehensive performance and decent exterior. The performance parameters are lit by the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U 2.0 GHz Processor with 6 Mb Cache and 8GB DDR4 RAM.
Together, they bring about a processing speed that is both speedy and unproblematic. The processor sits between the expensive i7-8550U & i7-7500 processors in terms of handling workload.
The other crucial requirement of a gamer is a good graphics card and this is accommodated by the Integrated graphics with AMD APU which is similar to the Masterly NVIDIA GeForce GTX as far as performance is related.
There seems to be no compensation on this part neither on the exterior. It may be a plastic body but the design is made slick by rounding up the edges. The keyboard and keypad are responsive and quite easy to use. Touch gestures work fine without urging the need for repetitive touches. The size of the touchpad is of the issue.
It is wide enough but not tall so you might find your hand going out of the prescribed area often. It is also available in a backlit keyboard which increases the grace of this laptop.
The 15.6’’ screen provides an acceptable display of 1920 x 1080 pixels and has a twisted nematic LCD panel which is great for gaming displays, however, are characterized by worst viewing angles which were not the case in this laptop. The vertical viewing angles though were bad and the colors seem to experience a total transition.
The battery timing is somewhere between 3-5 hours which is good and the speakers are loud and accurate. The gaming sounds can be heard as they are meant to be heard in the headphones. One noticeable thing about this machine is the reduced amount of bloatware.
There are only a few programs that came with useless files and that is a big advantage when compared with the others. The durability of this laptop and the high performance makes it a good purchase.
Key Specifications
- Generation: Equivalent to 7th Gen
- Processor: 2.0 GHz
- Ram: 8 GB DDR4
- Graphics Card: Integerated AMD APU
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- HDD: 1 TB
- OS: Windows 10
- Battery Timing: 3 to 5 Hours (3 Cells)
- Durable
- Great processor and Graphics card
- Batter battery timing betther than Lenovo Ideapad 330
- Minimum bloatware
- Poor vertical viewing angles
- Small touchpad
- HDD is slow
2. ASUS VivoBook F510UA [Best Lightweight Gaming Laptop Under 600]
Extracting some features from its predecessor, this laptop is yet another exciting gaming laptop bedecked with outstanding performance parameters.
The 1.5 GHz eighth Gen i5-8250U processor offers nothing less than a flashy and swift processing speed and can be upgraded all the way up to 3.4 GHz if the game is particularly complex and demanding.
Not only it allows game playing at good frame rates but can also be used for extensive software running and browsing. The 1 TB HDD and 8 GB DDR4 RAM further augment the gameplay.
There is an empty SSD slot that can be utilized to increase the speed even more. It costs a shy above the $500 mark but is worthy to be included in the list. The UHD 620 Graphics card has the capability to play mediocre to semi-hardcore games.
The display is a powerful and full HD 1920×1080 pixel with no color bleed and reflections along with precise viewing angles. Like the Dell Inspiron 15, it contains absolutely no errors regarding viewing angles.
Asus Vivobook comes with the ASUS proprietary visual optimization visual technology which provides the display according to the task at hand. It even features custom display filters like Eye-Care, Vivid and Normal.
For under $600 gaming machine, who can think of including such features but ASUS has managed to pull off a screamer in this regard. The design is not far behind either. In fact, it may be argued to be even better than the performance parameters.
It weighs only 3.7 pounds and comes with a brushed metal chassis that is glossy and slick to the sight. The ultra-narrow 0.3’’ bezel gives an alluring 80% of the screen-to-body ratio.
Thanks to the slimness of these, you can now consume while of the 15.6’’ of the screen display area.
As for the ports, it contains 3 USB ports and 1 USB C-Type Port with 1 HDMI and SD Card slot. The ports are evenly spaced on both sides of the laptop. The keyboard is the state-of-the-art Ergonomic which minimizes muscle strain and to be used easily by two-handed typists.
Had it been backlit, the gamers could refer to it as heaven including everything they can wish for at such price. The speakers are loud and accurate as well.
Battery timing is 5-6 hours which is shorter than the Acer Aspire but in close competition with others of its competitors.
Key Specifications
- Generation: 8th
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8250U 1.6GHz
- Ram: 8GB DDR4
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- HDD: 1 TB
- OS: Windows 10
- Battery Timing: 5 Hours
- Great performance
- Good speakers
- Stylish design
- Display is HD and viewing angles are precise
- Lightweight, weighing only 3.7 pounds
- Somewhat low battery timing
- Keyboard is not backlit
- HDD is slow
3. HP Notebook 15-AY191MS [Cheap Touch Screen Gaming Laptop Under 600]
Another laptop that can surely fulfill your gaming needs. Not offering outrageous features as the pro gaming laptops but certainly providing a budgeted solution for running all of the older games.
Equipped with a 7th Gen Core i3-7100U 2.40 GHz processor, 8 GB DDR4 RAM and is capable to provide glitch-free gameplay. The RAM and processor are powerful enough to allow multiple jobs carried out at the same time; be it extensive browsing like collecting info to formulate this article or creating multiple excel spreadsheets, it will respond without a noticeable delay.
The Intel HD Graphics 620 card further smoothens up the task at hand. The overall gaming performance, though, lags behind the Acer Aspire E15. The exciting feature is the 15.6’’ display screen which is sensitive to touch.
It provides a resolution of 1366×768 pixels and sharp display while you play video games or watch movies. The 1 TB HDD storage is there to store your media files and other stuff of your use.
As for the ports, it contains the standard USB ports, SD card slot, and HDMI port. The design if this laptop is slim and stylish however, it is fashioned out of plastic but the built is strong and can be carried anywhere.
The keyboard is a bit stiff and hard to use. The actuation force is very high which makes typing uncomfortable. The laptop runs on Windows 10 so you don’t have to worry about update alerts that sprawl up the screen when you tend to install the latest game or software. Also, the amount of bloatware is near to non-existent.
The speakers are at the bottom of the laptop and this placement doesn’t help with the sound quality. The sound gets obstructed when the machine is placed on a platform. The quality of the speakers is also not that good but that is too much to ask for under $600 laptop.
You also have the benefit of a DVD burner in this laptop which is largely ignored by the latest manufacturers.
Key Specifications
- Generation: 7th
- Processor: 2.7 GHz
- Ram: 8GB DDR4
- Resolution: 1366 x 768
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- HDD: 1 TB
- OS: Windows 10
- Battery Timing: 6.25 Hours
- Good processing speed and decent graphic card
- Touch sensitive screen
- DVD burner feature
- No bloatware
- Gaming performance lags behind Acer Aspire E15
- Not good audio quality as the speakers are on the underneath of the laptop
- Low battery timing
Check these Best 2 in 1 Laptops Under $700 which might fascinate you.
4. Dell Inspiron i3567 [Best Touch Screen Laptop]
This is the second laptop of the Inspiron series which provides good fulfillment of the gamers’ needs. It may not be among the best-looking and chic laptops in the market but stand out among its competitors from the inside.
The 7th Gen 7130U 2.7 GHz processor with a 3 MB cache makes certain that your gaming desires are satisfied. It can be upgraded to 3.1 GHz. Coupled with it, are the features of 8 GB RAM and an Intel HD 620 Graphics card that adds up to the gameplay ease for the users.
It features 1 TB general HDD (Hard Disk Drive). SSD can be added at extra cost which can load games at a swift rate and run them without delays.
The 15.6’’ screen is touch-sensitive which is a big plus in such a low price. Other than that, the 1366×768 resolution does not accommodate for a sharp display.
It has a battery capacity of 40 WHr which corresponds to a battery timing of about 4 hours that is on the lower side when we compare it with its competitors.
The port assembly is elementary with the placement of USB ports, Ethernet port, SD Card reader and HDMI on both sides of the laptop.
The laptop does not have a CD/DVD Drive that may come as a shock for some potential buyers but the trend of transferring and installing files has shifted towards USBs which may make this a small issue.
The design is slim but the body is plastic that is much prone to breaks than the metallic bodies. As a whole, this machine is suitable for low to medium gaming but extensive office work and tasks related to studies.
Key Specifications
- Generation: 7th
- Processor: 2.7 GHz Dual Core
- Ram: 8GB DDR4
- Resolution: 1366 x 768
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- Screen Type: Touch
- HDD: 1 TB
- OS: Windows 10
- Battery Timing: 4 Hours
- Good processor and graphic card
- Touch screen availability
- SSD storage
- Low battery timing
- No DVD/CD ROM
- Display is not sharp
5. HP High Performance (The Best Gaming Laptop Under $500)
This machine lives up to the expectations of the gamers regarding a budget gaming laptop by offering a lightweight and high performance gaming solution.
The killer feature of this model is the AMD A9- 9420 3.0 GHz processor and 2 TB HDD which is perhaps the most being offered in the models discussed before. A 3.0 GHz processor is surely a beast when it comes to running games and doing multitasking.
It won’t allow for any slowdown and frustration while regular usage. The storage is vast. Though it is RPM rated but still, such a memory is a bonus for a cheap laptop. You can store all your movies, songs, software and games in the memory. The color of the chassis is black with aluminum covered hinges that give a decent look.
The keyboard is not backlit but the keys are very well spaced and soft to use and it creates no problems for typists.
AMD Radeon R7 Graphic card is an enhanced facilitator when it comes to providing color-accurate displays. It can support mediocre to semi-heavy games with full effect.
Alongside, it provides strong image quality for internet usage, live streaming and watching a movie on the media player. It runs Windows 10 and contains a rewritable DVD Drive.
The port assembly mimics the Dell Inspiron with both sides incorporating ports. It includes two 3.0 USB ports, 1 2.0 USB port, 1 HDMI and 1 RJ-45 port. There is no SD Card reader included in this model.
The speakers offer a good audio quality both on while watching a video or listening to hip hop songs. It beats several models in the battery timing by providing a charge capacity of 7 hours.
The weight is 4.7 pounds which is also lighter than most. Had the touchpad been a little larger and the storage SSD, it would have been entitled as a killer machine.
Key Specifications
- Generation: 7th
- Processor: Dual Core AMD A9-9420
- Ram: 8GB DDR4
- Resolution: 1366 x 768 HD
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- Screen Type: Touch
- Graphics: Dedicated AMD Radeon R7
- HDD: 2 TB
- OS: Windows 10
- Battery Timing: 7 Hours
- 2 TB storage
- 3.0 GHz Processor
- Good Graphic card
- Good Audio Quality
- Lightweight 4lb
- Long battery timing than most models
- Small touchpad
- Plastic body
6. HP 14-CF0014DX [Best Laptop Under 500 Dollars]
Classy on the outlook and powerful from the inside, this gaming laptop is another HP family member to eye for. There always seems to be one model that defies its price tag from every angle and this model is certainly that type of a machine.
It has a slim silver body with rounded edges for enhanced royalty. The thickness decreases from top to the bottom which is a great styling feature. There is a long silver hinge that runs through the length of the laptop instead of two small ones at sides.
The screen is 14’’ with a resolution of 1366×768. It may be a lower resolution than the full HD 1920×1080 pixels of a Dell laptop but offers similar performance in terms of colors and sharpness.
The processor is 7th Gen i3-7100U paired with 8 GB RAM which accounts for gameplay at decent frame rates. The processor is only a shade older than the latest 8th Gen so it is fast and responsive.
The Graphics card is an Intel Core 2.4GHz which is standard in use. It features a 128 SSD storage capacity which can be argued for comparative advantages. While it is more speedy than the normal HDD, space is way less than what other competitors offered (1 TB usually). You have the option to add more disk space or use USB Drives but that means external interference and chances of viruses being transferred to the laptop.
The keypad is very good and ideal for gaming controls and typing. The touchpad is vast and offer multi-finger gesture but unlike the Dell Inspiron 15.
Key Specifications
- Generation: 7th
- Processor: i3-7100U
- Ram: 8GB DDR4
- Resolution: 1366 x 768 HD
- Screen Size: 14 Inches
- Storage: 128 GB SSD
- OS: Windows 10
- Stylish and compact
- Good display
- Good Graphics card
- 8 GB RAM
- SSD Storage
- Small Storage Space
- Less USB Ports
- Heavy
7. HP Pavilion (Best Gaming Laptops For College Students Under 500)
Another HP laptop that has found its way on this list. Its striking feature is the touch screen. Consider the royalty and luxury this grants to the user experience in under $500.
You can play around with your files and tabs with the movement of your fingertips! But this doesn’t take anything away from the performance parameters of this laptop. It features a 7th Gen i3-7100u 2.4 GHz processor and an 8 GB DDR4 RAM that work coherently to bring about great processing speed.
You can play mediocre to semi-demanding games on this laptop. The storage capacity is equivalent to ASUS VivoBook an Acer Aspire which is handy. The 15.6’’ backlit screen offers a resolution of 1366×768 which is close to HD. The game settings can be set to medium for smoother gameplay.
The display characteristics are not extraordinary but not patchy as well. The weird thing about this machine and particularly about the HP, in this regard, is the color and the weight of the laptop. As opposed to the elegantly lightweight machine, this is a shabby black laptop weighing up to 10 pounds which is alarmingly high.
It is, in fact, the heaviest model of the entire list. The keyboard and touchpad are responsive and comfortable to use while the audio quality is at par with what under $500 laptop must offer. The port assembly includes 3 USB Ports, 1 HDMI, 1 RJ-45, 1 SD Card reader and a DVD Player that works fine. The Graphics are assisted by the Intel 620 Card which is mediocre and unproblematic in performance. It can run Metro and Deus Ex on acceptable frame rates.
Key Specifications
- Generation: 7th
- Processor: i3-7100U 2.4 GHz
- Ram: 8GB SDRAM
- Resolution: 1366 x 768 HD
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- Screen Type: Touch
- Storage: 1 TB HDD
- DVD Writer: Yes
- OS: Windows 10
- Batter Timing: 8 Hours
- Touch screen
- Good DVD Player
- Fast processor
- Very heavy and not stylish
- Connectivity issues
Possibilities Of Upgrading A Laptop
You might get surprised as in the article of best gaming laptop buying guide, I interrupted you with the topic of possibilities of upgrading a laptop but it is the information that you must keep in mind while making a fresh purchase.
What will happen when your laptop starts to have trouble with the games?
It must be in your knowledge that unlike a desktop computer, the possibilities of upgrade ( change of components ) of a laptop are very limited.
For simplicity, there are only 3 main feasible alterations you can make in your machine:
- Add RAM
- Add SSD
- Change the hard drive
If you read and understand the above-mentioned list well, you must have noticed that it is not possible to change the graphics card and processor later!
So, when you’re buying a gaming laptop, your priority should be to buy the gaming beast with the largest possible graphics chipset and CPU.
For info: Although people use the external graphics card to give a boost to their laptops but it is neither a good idea and nor a feasible plan by keeping in mind the Price, technology, performance/price ratio and etc.
Conclusion (Editor’s Verdict)
We said earlier that you must not expect a lot from under $600 or $500 gaming laptops. They may be great for casual to mediocre gaming but not suitable for hardcore games. In spite of that, we have tried to compile some of the best models out there.
In our recommendation, ASUS VivoBook F510UA, and HP High-Performance Business Flagship Laptop are the top picks because they offer near to everything that should be expected for under $500, $600 gaming machine. If users are concerned about the weight of the laptop, they can choose between ASUS VivoBook F510UA.
If outlook is crucial, you must consider HP laptops and Dell machines can be chosen for long battery life coupled with good performance. They will be a tag below in the design and built though. Another factor is storage rating.
SSD is faster and easily upgradeable so you can opt for the ones with SSD storage and upgrade them. This list is an interesting account of features. While some are supreme in performance, others provide a stylish look and good battery life.
It is up to you how you want to use the machine. This is a clear comparison compiled after a good research and we hope to have helped you in all regards.
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Last update on 2023-03-18 at 22:35 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API