So, you want to be a streamer, but have a budget issue? Don’t worry! We got you covered. We’ve created a list of cheap streaming PCs that helps you to find your next budget streaming PC.
You don’t always need to spend thousands of dollars on a PC setup to stream your games, a right PC assembled with powerful components can do the job.
To achieve your streaming goals, first, decide which content you want to stream. Will it be first-person shooter games, racing games, or multiplayer games?
Every game has its own hardware requirements. Some game titles require a highly intensive graphic card coupled with a powerful processor, while others can easily give playable frames with integrated graphic and mid-range CPUs.
Games like The Witcher 3, GTA V, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Hitman, and all require demanding graphics, while Minecraft, Among US, Need of Speed, and others can easily play on low-end PCs.
There are also mid-end graphics games like PUBG, Call of Duty, Assassin Creed, and the rest that give acceptable FPS with flashy images.
However, they need a dedicated graphics chip along with a mid-range processor.
To experience hassle-free streaming first determine your gaming needs and hardware specification and then look for a better PC option.
Pro Tip – Check out the official website of the game and look for their minimum and maximum specification requirement, in that way you have a pretty good idea of which hardware you need inside your cheap streaming PC to enjoy lag-free streaming.
How to choose the right Cheap Streaming PC?
When you want to stream games, it requires the right hardware. Without it, your stream would be stutters or experience frame drops. Right hardware is the core of streaming games.
A powerful cheap streaming PC should be able to play games at high settings along with your preferred screen resolution.
After all, you need your stream to be as good as possible and entertain your audience with your content without losing any frames. In general, most streamers run games at 1080p resolution and we recommend the same.
To accomplish these goals, you need a potent streaming setup, particularly a high-end streaming PC with a flashy graphics card, enough memory, and a powerful processor. Other factors are also crucial, but how your PC performs and handles gaming titles mainly depends on these components.
We’ve discussed these components briefly in the below section so you know what you can expect from a budget gaming PC.
But before we jump into those sections let’s clarify which streaming pc is best for you.
Which cheap streaming PC setup is ideal for you?
There are two types of PC setup ideal for streaming;
1) Single Streaming PC (All in One PC)
2) Dual (Dedicated) PC Setup
Typically, most pro streamers use a dual-pc setup (some even use triple), one for playing games and another for streaming.
Single Streaming PC
A single streaming PC setup is responsible for both gaming and streaming simultaneously. Starting from playing games to encode video for streaming, a single PC is responsible for all of these tasks. Streaming PC requires lots of power to do these tasks alone.
To run streaming smoothly it requires powerful hardware. Most games are GPU-based, so a dedicated NVIDIA GTX series or AMD Radeon Series is a must. Apart from this, you need high-end CPU power to run games without any stutter.
If you just started streaming, we recommend a single streaming PC because it’s budget-friendly and gives enough room to know your arena better. In addition to this, you can use extra bucks to purchase a green background, cool lights, and a comfortable gaming chair.
Dual (Dedicated) Streaming PC
In a Dual streaming PC setup, one PC is responsible for gaming and the other is dedicated to streaming your content on various platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and all.
Dedicated Streaming PC’s job is to encode and stream your video feed. The overall setup for this pc is quite different compared to the all-in-one pc setup. This pc doesn’t need powerful graphics chips, even an integrated AMD or Intel chip can do the job.
Same goes for the memory and CPU. A 4 GB memory assembled with an i5 or Ryzen 5 processor easily carries through your streaming tasks without any lag. Though, you need a capture card to connect your main gaming PC with an external PC.
A dedicated PC for streaming is an ideal choice for experienced streamers who have an established audience and can invest in a separate PC setup.
If you already have an audience and want to count views, chat with members, and want to see your streaming performance in stream services like Twitch then a dedicated PC is beneficial for you. Otherwise, an all-in-one PC with power hardware is the best bet for you.
When you look for a cheap streaming PC, there are some important components you should look after. We have narrow down this hardware to make things easier for you.
Processor
A processor is a vital part of your streaming setup. The rivalry between Intel and AMD has opened many doors for gamers to get PCs with more core and threads on a budget. Gaming Processors such as i5 and Ryzen 5 can run games and stream simultaneously. And that’s what we recommend from a budget streaming PC.
Ryzen 5 and Intel i5 can give serious gaming and streaming, but when you run other software at the same time, you may notice lag or hiccup.
For all in one streaming setup, we recommend anything above Ryzen 5 (3rd or 4th generation) or Intel 5 (10 or 11 generation) processor and for a dedicated streaming setup, we recommend anything in between Ryzen 5 (3 generation) or Intel 5 (9 or 10 generation) processors.
Our best bet is for AMD, compared to Intel, AMD offers extra cores and threads at the same price and gives a high setting performance.
Graphics Card
Gaming performance is mostly based on GPU, if your pc doesn’t assemble with the right GPU parts, your gaming experience stutters with low FPS.
Nowadays NVIDIA is dominating the GPU market by offering high-end GPU at affordable prices. Particularly, the NVIDIA GTX series is recognizable as an entry-level graphics card and handles heavy-duty games with 1080p resolution. That’s the maximum resolution to stream on Twitch.
Therefore, for tight budget streamers, we recommend going for GTX graphic cards that pair with either Ryzen 5 or Intel i5 processors.
It’s worth mentioning that the GTX series doesn’t come with advanced gaming features such as Ray Tracing due to the lower price point.
Another great GPU option is the Radeon Graphic card, but due to NVIDIA’s popularity, there are not lots of PC equipped with these luxurious GPUs.
For streaming games at 1080p resolution and 60+ FPS on various platforms, you can opt for GTX 1650, 1660, or 1660 super graphic card. And for a dedicated streaming PC, an integrated GPU from Intel or AMD would be more than enough.
Memory
Minimum 8 GB RAM is good for entry-level gaming, however, for adjusting streaming and games together, 16 GB RAM is recommended. Moreover, look for DDR4 RAM rather than DDR3 to load applications faster.
Don’t stress with the memory upgradable option immediately, if you like to expand memory most prebuild PC comes with empty slots and it won’t cost you much.
Capture Card
This component is likely for those who require a dedicated or dual streaming setup. A capture card allows you to connect your gaming PC with a streaming setup through an HDMI port or USB 3.0.
There are dedicated softwares available to stream your content without using a capture card, so it’s not mandatory to purchase, but recommendable for glitch-free streaming.
Port options
Finally, you should look for an extra ports option as well. For instance, an HDMI port to connect external monitor where you can view counts, see comments and see your own streaming.
Other ports such as headphone or microphone jack to connect accessories and a USB port for a webcam if you plan to stream live with your audience.
Enough with buying guide, now let’s jump directly on our list where you find the best cheap streaming PC.
6 Best Cheap Streaming PC (For Streaming and Gaming)
Note: All Prebuild PC in our list comes under $1000.
1) Cyberpower PC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC
Key Features:-
- Processor – 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 – 10400F
- Graphics – 6 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super
- Motherboard – Intel B460 Chipset
- RAM – 8 GB DDR4 3000 MHz
- Storage – 500 GB NVMe SSD
Cyberpower PC Gamers is hands down one of the best streaming pc for your gaming and streaming needs. It comes with a potent 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor with 6 cores and 12 threads.
On the graphics side, you’ll get NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super powerful enough to run some demanding games at high-resolution settings with acceptable FPS. The graphics card pairs with 6 core processor bring a whole new level of gaming experience.
There is also 8 GB RAM that comes along with the case. To handle both gaming and streaming at once, you’ll need more than 8 GB of RAM, so we recommend purchasing a separate memory stick for uninterrupted streaming.
| GAME | FPS | SETTINGS |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Warfare | 140 FPS | High |
| Warzone | 100 FPS | High |
| CSGO | 300-500 FPS | High |
| Fortnite | 144-270 FPS | Low |
| Call of Duty | 120 | Low |
Cyberpower offers plenty of ports options to connect a PC with extra accessories such as a monitor, keyboard, headphones, or mice.
As far as storage is concerned, it offers a 500 GB NVMe SSD to boot up your pc fast and open apps instantly.
The combination of powerful processors and flashy graphics cards makes Cyberpower PC one of the best cheap streaming PC.
2) iBUYPOWER Gaming PC Computer Desktop
Key Features:-
- Processor – 3.6 GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- Graphics – 4 GB Radeon RX 5500 XT
- Motherboard – ASROCK A320M/ac
- RAM – 8 GB DDR4 3000 MHz
- Storage – 240 GB SSD
Driven by a mighty AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor and coupled with a dedicated 4 GB Radeon RX 5500 XT GPU, iBUYPOWER is a top-notch choice for entry-level gaming and streaming.
The processor features 6 cores, 12 threads, a base clock speed of 3.6 GHz, and a turbo boost speed of up to 4.2 GHz. Thanks to their 16 color RGB lighting case, it looks elegant and enhanced the beauty of your pc setup.
Both GPU and CPU can run some AAA titles without losing any frame or stutters. The Ryzen 5 processor can run mainstream games at high resolution and even handle virtual reality without lag.
As for memory and storage, it offers a base model with 8 GB RAM and 240 GB SSD. The storage is not sufficient for gaming, so we recommend purchasing a separate hard disk.
| GAME | FPS | SETTINGS |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft | 100 FPS | Medium |
| Warzone | 120 FPS | High |
| Apex Legends | 200+ FPS | High |
| Fortnite | 100-400 FPS | High |
| PUBG | 200+ FPS | Medium |
Out of the box, you’ll get a keyboard and mouse included that saves you from purchasing extra accessories. For constant streaming, you’ll get 802.11AC WiFi and one RJ-45 Ethernet cable.
To sum up, iBUYPOWER is a powerful yet portable prebuild gaming pc that looks absolutely gorgeous and delivers immense streaming and gaming experience.
3) Dell G5 Gaming Desktop
Key Features:-
- Processor – 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 – 10400F
- Graphics – 4 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Super
- Motherboard – Intel H370 Chipset
- RAM – 8 GB DDR4 2666 MHz
- Storage – 256 GB NVMe SSD
Dell G5 Gaming desktop is a tremendous gaming pc and harnesses great performance during streaming, content creation, or playing high demanding games. It demonstrates a potent 10th generation Intel Core i5-10400F processor and handles everything you throw at it.
If you have a tight budget there is a model with an i3 processor and GTX 1650 card, which is not recommended for playing AAA titles, but for entry-level gaming, it gets the job done.
The i5 processor pairs with dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 super and offers 60+ FPS across multiple games at low to medium settings. Not to mention, resolution at 1080p.
In addition to this, you’ll get 8 GB RAM and a fast 256 GB PCIe NVMe SSD to run multiple apps at once. For streaming, we recommend encoding your video through dedicated software.
| GAME | FPS | SETTINGS |
|---|---|---|
| Far Cry 5 | 70 FPS | High |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider | 57 FPS | High |
| Shadow of War | 70 FPS | High |
| Assassin’s Creed Odyssesy | 65 FPS | High |
| Minecraft | 120 FPS | Medium |
Dell G5 Gaming Desktop runs smoothly, thanks to its powerful hardware and top-notch cooling system. Its clean, portable, easy-to-use chassis makes it easy to swap components over time and is highly portable.
Best of all, you’ll get Wi-FI 6 which is 10x more powerful than its predecessor and offers a better connection with high bandwidth.
Wrapping up, the Dell G5 Gaming desktop is for those entry-level games who need a solid and reliable prebuilt PC with powerful hardware.
4) Skytech Blaze II Gaming Computer PC Desktop
Key Features:-
- Processor – 3.6 GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- Graphics – 6 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super
- Motherboard – A320M
- RAM – 16 GB DDR4 3000 MHz
- Storage – 500 GB SSD
Skytech Blaze II Gaming PC is a perfect example of power and portability. Skytech packs it with a potent Ryzen 5 3600 6 core processor along with a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super Graphics card and keeps your gaming work all up to speed.
When processor and GPU run together it can even play 1080p resolution games with a competitive edge. In addition to this, it is fed by 16 GB DDR4 RAM which can handle most demanding titles with ease and lets you run multiple apps at once without breaking a sweat.
Despite packs with powerful hardware, the case is still a portable yet solid build and stays with for a long time.
In terms of storage, you’ll get a 500 GB SSD right out of the box and give enough room to save your gaming library. This Gaming PC allows you to achieve 60 FPS in 1080p resolution.
| GAME | FPS | SETTINGS |
|---|---|---|
| Fortnite | 120 FPS | Medium |
| Overwatch | 100+ FPS | High |
| Minecraft | 120 FPS | High |
| Rust | 85 FPS | Medium |
| Rainbow Six Siege | 60+ FPS | High |
There are also three RGB ring fans comes within the case that ensures your pc stays cool during intense tasks.
To summarize, Skytech Blaze II is a powerful workhorse for your fragging and streaming needs and offers a terrific performance by maintaining high frame rates.
5) Acer Nitro 50 Gaming Desktop
Key Features:-
- Processor – 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 – 10400F
- Graphics – 4 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Super
- RAM – 8 GB DDR4 2666 MHz
- Storage – 512 GB SSD
Acer Nitro 50 truly packs a punch with its powerful hardware combination of 10th generation i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. Whether you want to stream on Twitch, Facebook, or Youtube, there is nothing this baby cannot handle.
It comes with red and black color combination which maybe not for everyone, but it gives cool gaming vibes. If you have the right internet connection the integrated Wi-Fi 6 can be beneficial for encoding video and transferring data to streaming platforms.
There is also dedicated NitroSense software to control your gaming setting more precisely.
Coming to the memory, it comes with 8 GB DDR4 RAM which is expandable up to 64 GB, and 512 GB SSD storage.
| GAME | FPS | SETTINGS |
|---|---|---|
| Far Cry Down | 83 FPS | Ultra |
| PUBG | 80 FPS | High |
| Call of Duty | 95 FPS | High |
| Overwatch | 85 FPS | High |
| Minecraft | 140 FPS | Medium |
There is plenty of port options are available such as 2 X USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4 X USB 3.2 Gen 1, and 2 X USB 2.0. Moreover, Acer equipped it with a keyboard and mouse as well.
Acer Nitro 50 is a pc that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg and runs like a charm, thanks to its powerful component and outstanding cooling system. So, if you need a PC mainly for gaming and streaming this is a solid choice for you.
6) OMEN 25L Gaming Desktop PC – Budget Streaming PC
Key Features:-
- Processor – 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 – 10400F
- Graphics – 6 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Super
- Motherboard – Micro ATC Motherboard build
- RAM – 8 GB DDR4 2666 MHz
- Storage – 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Omen 25L really is a beast in terms of power and performance. Furnished with galvanized steel chassis and angled design, Omen 25L features a 10th generation Intel i5 processor along with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super to offers staggering gaming and streaming performance.
The processor features 6 cores and 12 threads with a 2.9 GHz base frequency and up to 4.3 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost technology.
Moreover, you’ll get 8 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD out of the box. There are empty memory and storage slots available to upgrade your setup in the future.
While playing heavy-duty games fan make some noise, but for maintaining pc temperature and protect your hardware from the damage is worth the tradeoff.
| GAME | FPS | SETTINGS |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft | 120 FPS | High |
| Call of Duty Black Ops | 60+ FPS | High |
| Warzone | 100 FPS | High |
| Cyberpunk | 30 FPS | Medium |
| Shadow of the tomb raider | 50+ FPS | High |
Best of all, it supports a dual monitor setup through one HDMI port and 1 Display port.
Some other highlights of the pc are overclocking capability, customizable LED lighting, included keyboard and mouse, and VR Ready.
Simply put, Omen 25L is the best cheap streaming pc you can get for under $1000.
4 Best Dedicated Cheap Streaming PC
Note: This section is only for those who need a separate streaminc PC setup. PC listed in this section are not great for playing games.
1) Acer Aspire TC-895-UA92 Desktop
Key Features:-
- Processor – 10th Generation Intel Core i5-10400
- Graphics – Intel UHD Graphics 630
- RAM – 12 GB DDR4 2666 MHz
- Storage – 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Acer Aspire is a terrific performer desktop when it comes to encoding and streaming your games on Twitch. Equipped with 6 core 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor along with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630, this prebuild pc brings techie heaven for users.
Both CPU and GPU packs with a lot of potentials and handles almost everything you throw at it. But remember, it has an integrated GPU, so you won’t be able to play the most demanding games with good FPS or beautiful graphics.
It maxed out with the 12 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD to give enough room for storing video and run multiple apps at once. For most people, RAM would be sufficient, but if you like to edit your video on software like Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve we recommend adding an extra 4 GB to run those programs flawlessly.
Lastly, you also have a plethora of port options to transfer data and files, connect your PC with a capture card and an extra monitor.
To summarise, Acer Aspire TC-895-UA92 desktop packs with outstanding aesthetics, strong build, and top-notch hardware to make your streaming hassle-free.
2) Dell Inspiron 3880 Desktop Computer
Key Features:-
- Processor – 10th Generation Intel Core i5-10400
- Graphics – Intel UHD Graphics 630
- RAM – 12 GB DDR4 2666 MHz
- Storage – 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Kitted out with a solid build from Dell, this monster brings lots of power inside and outside for your streaming needs. For starters, it is powered by a potent Intel Core i5 processor with up to 4.2 GHz turbo boost and runs your streaming platforms smoothly, dozens of chrome tabs softly, and editing apps without any lag.
It comes with a super-compact design and we can safely say that it won’t break easily even if you put accidental pressure on it.
Out of the box, it has 12 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD with an expandable option. When it comes to GPU, you’ll get integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 that is not as powerful as dedicated NVIDIA or AMD, but for streaming and other low graphics activity, it gets the job done.
The front panel comes with four USB Type-A ports and an SD card slot, while the back panel offers two USB 3.1 and two USB 2.0 ports along with one HDMI and VGA output. There is no USB-C port available.
If a budget is an object for you and looking for a powerful yet affordable streaming pc option then Dell Inspiron 3880 is a great pick for you.
3) Lenovo IdeaCentre 5 Desktop
Key Features:-
- Processor – AMD Ryzen 5 4600G (6-Core)
- Graphics – AMD Radeon Graphics
- RAM – 12 GB DDR4 3200 MHz
- Storage – 256 GB SSD & 1 TB SSD
Lenovo IdeaCentre 5 features a solid Ryzen 5 processor and handles industry-level tasks with ease. The overall design is quite simple yet effective and comes with a sturdy build.
The powerful combination of Ryzen 5 4600G CPU and integrated AMD GPU lets you stream games with 1080p resolution and 60+ FPS.
Zen architecture-based Ryzen processor itself worth considering, but there is more to catch. This workhorse comes with 12 GB RAM, 256 GB NVMe SSD, and a whopping 1 TB Hard Drive. You can use SSD to installed and run apps while HDD can be beneficial for collecting and storing data.
Lenovo offers plenty of ports options to connect your extra accessories such as a Capture card, Microphone, headphones, Webcam, and a separate monitor. It runs on Windows 10 operating system and offers amazing customizable options.
One thing that absolutely grabs attention is its CD/DVD writer which reminds us of ancient technology.
Lenovo IdeaCentre 5 is a kind of desktop that can be useful for streaming and office work and successfully run the most demanding tasks without any hiccup or freezing issue. If you plan to invest in this machine, you probably won’t disappoint.
4) Newest HP Premium Desktop
Key Features:-
- Processor – AMD Ryzen 7 4700G (8-Core)
- Graphics – AMD Radeon Graphics
- RAM – 8 GB DDR4
- Storage – 256 GB SSD
Finally, We have the Newest HP Premium desktop. This prebuilt pc is a perfect example of how far the cheap streaming pc comes in a short period.
It is armed with a mighty 8 core AMD Ryzen 7 4700G processor and features up to 4.4 GHz turbo boost speed. Inside the case, it has ample 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD to run multiple apps simultaneously.
Coming to the GPU, it shoulders with solid AMD Radeon Graphics and offers flashy images with an acceptable frame rate per second. Along with the prebuilt PC setup, HP provides a keyboard and a mouse.
While being at an affordable price, the case is solid and offers plenty of room for future upgradation.
As for ports, it features 4 X USB 3.1, 4 X USB 2.0, 1 X HDMI, 1 X VGA, 1 X RJ-45 and 1 X Headphone jack.
Out of the box, it is equipped with Windows 10 home edition. Whether you are a beginner or experienced streamer, the luxury offers by HP Premium desktop you won’t find in any flagship prebuilt PC.
Wrapping Up, Newest HP Premium Desktop is truly a masterpiece when you need a budget streaming PC with powerful components inside.
Final Words
As we already mentioned first decide which type of content your want to stream and then pick which cheap streaming PC is best suited for you.
All prebuild PC in our list comes with high-end processor and flashy graphics card, so they all are ideal for streaming your content on various platforms without any difficulty.
Happy Streaming:)