The $850 Micro-ATX Pre-Built Gaming PC: PowerSpec G513 Review & Benchmarks

Introduction

The world of gaming PCs is vast, with options ranging from high-end, custom-built rigs to budget-friendly pre-built systems. One such budget-friendly option is the PowerSpec G513, a Micro-ATX pre-built gaming PC priced at $850. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the PowerSpec G513 to see if it’s a worthy choice for gamers on a budget.

The PowerSpec G513 caught our attention due to its affordability and unique form factor. This Micro-ATX pre-built system offers gamers an opportunity to experience high-quality gaming without breaking the bank. In this review, we’ll delve into the details of the PowerSpec G513 to help you decide if it’s the right gaming PC for you.

A Unique Micro-ATX Pre-Built

One of the standout features of the PowerSpec G513 is its Micro-ATX form factor. This smaller form factor allows for a more compact and space-efficient design, making it ideal for users with limited space or those looking for a gaming PC that doesn’t dominate their desk.

The PowerSpec G513 is also unique because it comes from a brand called PowerSpec, which is a house brand of Micro Center. This means you won’t find this PC from other retailers, and it’s designed to offer excellent value for Micro Center shoppers. PowerSpec serves as a platform for Micro Center to offer pre-built PCs with components that might be excess inventory from their retail stores.

A Look Under the Hood

Let’s take a peek inside the PowerSpec G513 and see what it has to offer:

• CPU: The G513 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, a capable processor that’s well-suited for gaming and multitasking.
• GPU: It features an NVIDIA RTX 3060, a solid mid-range graphics card that delivers excellent gaming performance.
• RAM: The system is equipped with 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz RAM, which is sufficient for gaming and general use.
• Storage: A 1TB M.2 SSD provides fast and ample storage for your games and files.
• Cooling: Unfortunately, the G513 comes with a stock AMD Wraith Stealth cooler, which turns out to be a weak link in the system’s thermal performance.

The components chosen for the G513 make sense for a gaming PC in this price range. However, the stock cooler proves to be a bottleneck for the system’s thermal performance.

Thermal Troubles

Thermal performance is where the PowerSpec G513 stumbles. The system’s stock cooler, the AMD Wraith Stealth, struggles to keep the CPU temperature in check during heavy workloads. In our testing, the Ryzen 5 5600X reached a concerning 95 degrees Celsius in just under three minutes of load. This high temperature leads to thermal throttling, causing the CPU to reduce its performance.

The thermal issue is exacerbated by the case design. The case features limited ventilation, and the included dust filters on various panels further restrict airflow. Inadequate airflow can be a significant problem, especially when combined with a subpar CPU cooler. While the fans in the system are set to silent mode by default, ramping them up to 100% does little to mitigate the thermal issues.

To make matters worse, the top panel of the case has limited room for exhaust, further impeding the system’s ability to dissipate heat. The design of the case also hampers the power supply’s ability to draw in cool air effectively.

The good news is that the thermal problems are solvable. By replacing the stock cooler with a more efficient aftermarket solution, the CPU’s temperature can be brought under control. In our testing, we used a budget cooler, the Thermalright Assassin X 120SE, which significantly improved thermal performance, allowing the CPU to maintain better clock speeds. This demonstrates that the G513’s thermal issues are mainly due to the choice of the stock cooler and the case design.

Bios and Software

The G513’s BIOS is straightforward and reasonably well-configured. It comes with XMP enabled by default, which is excellent for users looking to get the most out of their RAM. Additionally, features like 4G decoding and rebar are enabled, ensuring good compatibility and performance with GPUs.

The system boots up smoothly, and it’s pre-loaded with Windows 11. There’s minimal bloatware, and the only included software is for controlling the RGB lighting, which is a positive point for users who prefer a clean system.

However, one downside is that the Nvidia graphics driver that came with the system was out of date. It’s essential for PowerSpec to ensure that the latest GPU drivers are installed during the build process to provide users with the best possible experience.

The Verdict

The PowerSpec G513 is a budget-friendly Micro-ATX pre-built gaming PC with a unique form factor and a well-balanced set of components. However, its thermal performance, due to the stock cooler and case design, leaves much to be desired.

If you’re considering the PowerSpec G513, keep in mind that you may need to invest in an aftermarket CPU cooler to address the thermal issues. When equipped with a better cooler, this system becomes a solid gaming machine.

For $850, it’s an attractive option, but you’ll want to budget for some upgrades to make the most of it. Overall, the PowerSpec G513 is a promising pre-built PC with the potential for a much-improved gaming experience with a few tweaks.