Gaming PC for 600 euros: what you can actually build in 2026

21 September 2026

Let's start with what nobody tells you: with 600 euros, in 2026, you are not getting a gaming PC with a new dedicated graphics card. The cheapest graphics card of the current generation we have in stock, an RTX 5060, costs around €480 including VAT on its own. Add a processor, motherboard, memory, storage, power supply and case, and the total comes to around €900. Any guide promising a dedicated graphics card and 60 FPS on high quality for €600 is using prices from another year or second-hand parts.

What does come in at 600 euros is a well-chosen PC with integrated graphics. And that's not a stopgap: it's a decent machine for competitive gaming and light titles at 1080p, with room to add a graphics card later on. In this guide we give you two real configurations, with prices from our catalogue, and we clearly tell you what you can and can't play on them.

Why a dedicated graphics card won't fit into €600

A gaming PC budget is, broadly speaking, spread across seven components: processor, motherboard, RAM, storage, power supply, case and graphics card. The graphics card is always the most expensive line item, and in 2026 it is more so than ever: NVIDIA and AMD's entry-level range has risen in price compared with previous generations.

Let's do the sums with the cheapest in-stock components at Probyte, all including VAT:

You can trim costs on the power supply and case, but not on the graphics card: it is what makes a PC a gaming PC. That is why, with €600, the smart move is not to "stretch" to squeeze in a poor graphics card, but rather to choose a processor with capable integrated graphics and leave the slot ready for an upgrade.

Build 1: the AM4 option, around €500

AMD's AM4 platform has been on the market for years, and that works in your favour: motherboards and DDR4 memory are very well priced. The heart of the build is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, a six-core processor with integrated Radeon Vega graphics that will comfortably handle the most popular competitive games.

You'll have between €50 and €100 left over from the budget. Our advice is to spend it on a better PSU (an 80 Plus Bronze unit from a recognised brand) rather than anything else: it's the component that protects all the others, and the one you'll reuse when you add a graphics card.

One detail that matters: install the memory in dual channel, two 8 GB modules rather than one 16 GB stick. Integrated graphics use system RAM as video memory, and dual channel can deliver 20-30% more performance in games. It's the most important free upgrade in the whole build.

Setup 2: the AM5 option, around 630 euros

If you prefer a platform with future-proofing, the option is AM5 with the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G. Its integrated Radeon 760M graphics are considerably more powerful than those of the 5600G, and the platform supports the processors AMD releases in the coming years. The downside is the price of DDR5 memory, which is currently the item that tips the budget.

It goes a bit over 600, yes. In return, you get integrated graphics a step up and a motherboard onto which, in two years' time, you can install a new processor without changing anything else. If the budget is strictly 600, the AM4 setup is the honest choice; if you can stretch 30 euros and think long-term, this one is the better buy.

What you can play on a 600-euro PC and what you can't

Here is the part that guides usually gloss over. With integrated graphics, at 1080p and on low or medium settings, these machines run lightweight competitive games smoothly: team shooters, MOBAs, card games, strategy titles, indies, and most games from a few years back. The 8600G is clearly better than the 5600G across all of them.

What you should not expect are the big 2025 and 2026 releases at high quality. You can get them running by lowering the resolution and settings, but the experience won't match what you see in the videos. If those games are your goal, the right path is to move up to the next tier, and for that, check out our guide to an 800-euro gaming PC, which already includes a proper dedicated graphics card.

The trick with this range: build it today, upgrade it tomorrow

The big advantage of both configurations is that no component gets thrown away when you want to upgrade. When the budget allows, you add a graphics card and the system moves up to another league without changing the processor, motherboard, memory or storage. For that to work smoothly, stick to three rules when building:

• Power supply with headroom and a PCIe connector: 500-550 W is enough for a future mid-range graphics card, but check that it has the 8-pin connector for the card.
• Case with room: measure the maximum graphics card length it supports. Many cheap micro-ATX cases fall short.
• Motherboard with a full-size PCIe x16 slot: almost all of them have it, but it is worth checking on the cheapest ones.

If you follow these three rules, today's €600 PC becomes tomorrow's €900 PC with just one extra purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to buy a pre-built PC for 600 euros?

Pre-configured systems at that price usually cut corners on the power supply, motherboard and memory in order to advertise a graphics card, and those are exactly the parts that cause problems. By building it yourself, you choose where every euro goes, and with the two configurations in this guide, you know exactly what you are buying.

Can I fit a used graphics card and stay at 600 euros?

It is possible, but we cannot recommend it: you do not know how many hours it has on it or how it has been used, and a mining card or one with worn-out cooling could die within months. If you do go down that route, make sure you get a written warranty from the seller.

DDR4 or DDR5 for a 600-euro PC?

In this price range, DDR4: it is much cheaper and the 5600G makes full use of it. DDR5 only makes sense if you choose the AM5 platform with an eye to upgrading in a few years.

How long will a PC like this last?

For light competitive gaming, office work and study, several years without issue. For major releases, the graphics card sets the pace: the day you add one, the whole system is renewed.

Do I need extra cooling?

No. Both processors come with their stock cooler, which is enough for normal use. Prioritise a case with good front airflow over an extra cooler.

Our recommendation

If your budget is truly €600, go with the AM4 configuration featuring the Ryzen 5 5600G, dual-channel memory, and a quality power supply, and you'll enjoy a solid setup that delivers as promised. If you can stretch to €630 and are thinking two years ahead, the 8600G on AM5 is the best foundation. And when you're ready to leap into major releases, the €800 gaming PC guide awaits with the dedicated graphics card that just doesn't fit here.

See the Ryzen 5 5600G on Probyte