Budget 1440p Gaming PC: HP EliteDesk 800 G6 With RTX 5060

Introduction

The Steam Machine is a compact gaming PC that runs Steam OS and delivers decent performance for its size, but it costs over $1,000 without a controller. For less than half that price, it’s possible to build something faster using a used office PC and a few key upgrades. This build uses all used parts except for one: the graphics card. The result is a small form factor PC that handles 1440p gaming surprisingly well.

The foundation is a used HP EliteDesk 800 G6, a small form factor office PC that can be found on eBay for around $180. With a few modifications and a new power supply, this humble office machine becomes a full-fledged gaming rig. The build runs Windows instead of Steam OS because the graphics card chosen here outperforms the Steam Machine’s GPU but isn’t fully compatible with all of Steam OS’s features yet.

The Foundation: HP EliteDesk 800 G6

The HP EliteDesk 800 G6 is a small form factor desktop from HP, originally designed for office use. The unit used in this build is a C-grade unit, which means it has some cosmetic scratches on the side panel but is fully functional. It came with RAM, storage, and a solid CPU for about $180.

The specific unit here came with an Intel Core i7-10700, which offers 8 cores and 16 threads and can boost up to 4.8 GHz. It also included 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 256 GB M.2 SSD. While 256 GB isn’t a lot of storage, an external drive works fine for Steam games. There are cheaper units available with an i5-10500 (6 cores, 12 threads), but the i7’s extra cores, more cache, and higher clocks make a real difference in harder-to-run games.

One of the main challenges with the EliteDesk small form factor units is the power supply. The stock unit lacks an 8-pin PCIe connector needed for a decent GPU. Unlike Lenovo or Dell systems, where a Flex power supply and adapter would work, HP designed this power supply with a proprietary connector, and no adapters are available. The solution is to swap it out with another HP power supply that offers more flexibility. A 400-watt unit with an 8-pin PCIe connector is available on eBay for around $50.

The Graphics Card: RTX 5060

For the GPU, a low-profile single or dual slot card is needed to fit in the compact case. While the RTX 3050 and Intel Arc A380 are options, the Arc cards don’t work well here because resizable BAR can’t be enabled on this PC. That leaves Nvidia cards as the best choice for good performance.

The RTX 5060 is the pick for this build. It’s available refurbished on Newegg for $299 and requires that 8-pin PCIe connector, which is exactly why the new power supply was installed. The card features 8 GB of GDDR7 VRAM and supports DLSS with multi-frame generation, a feature that makes it a standout choice for modern games.

One modification is needed: the case has to be cut slightly to accommodate the 8-pin power connector. Since this is a used office PC, cutting a bit out of the front chassis doesn’t hurt its integrity. Straight cut sheet metal shears work great for this, and they’re available at Walmart for around $8.

Performance at 1440p

Once assembled, the system is a snappy little machine. The Intel Core i7-10700 with 8 cores and 16 threads handles everyday tasks effortlessly. For gaming, the RTX 5060 delivers impressive results at 1440p.

Forza Horizon 6 runs at 1440p with high settings, no DLSS, and no scaling whatsoever, averaging 82 FPS. That’s genuinely impressive for a newer game on a budget build. Halo Campaign Evolved, a game that isn’t very well optimized, runs at high settings with DLSS frame gen set to 2x, averaging over 85 FPS. Resident Evil Requiem hits up to 140 FPS indoors at high settings with no DLSS, dropping to the high 80s outdoors, which is still very playable. Black Myth: Wukong runs at 1440p high settings with DLSS set to 75%, averaging in the high 60s.

Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p high preset with DLSS using the Transformer model gets close to 60 FPS. But the real highlight is DLSS multi-frame generation. With multi-frame gen set to 4x at ultra settings with DLAA on, the system averages over 170 FPS without scaling from 1440p. This is where the RTX 5060 really shines, and it’s a big reason why this card was chosen over other options.

Cost Breakdown

Here’s the full cost breakdown for this build:

• HP EliteDesk 800 G6 with i7-10700, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD: around $180 (some units with the i5-10500 go for around $150)
• 400-watt HP power supply with 8-pin PCIe connector: around $50
• Refurbished RTX 5060: $299

Total cost: around $530 with the i7, or around $500 with the i5. That’s less than half the price of a Steam Machine, with better performance.

Is It Worth Building?

This build really comes down to personal preference. If you have the money to build something much more powerful with new parts, that’s certainly an option. But if you’re on a budget and want to build something now, this is a really good option. The i5 version will perform decently, but the i7 is worth the extra money for those two extra cores, more cache, and higher clocks, which help with harder-to-run games.

The used office PC route is a smart way to beat the high prices on tech right now. The HP EliteDesk 800 G6 is a solid foundation, and with a power supply swap and a low-profile RTX 5060, it becomes a capable 1440p gaming machine. It’s not as small as the Steam Machine, but that’s part of what you’re paying for with the Steam Machine’s premium price.

Conclusion

Turning a used HP EliteDesk 800 G6 into a 1440p gaming PC is a practical, budget-friendly project that delivers impressive results. For around $530, you get a system that outperforms a $1,000+ Steam Machine in most games, especially with the RTX 5060’s DLSS multi-frame generation capabilities. The build requires a bit of work, including a power supply swap and a small case modification, but the payoff is a compact gaming rig that handles modern titles at 1440p with ease.

If you’re willing to buy used and do a little DIY, this is a fantastic way to get into 1440p gaming without breaking the bank. Keep an eye out for lower-priced EliteDesk units with the i7, and you can build something genuinely impressive for a fraction of the cost of a new gaming PC.