A common price point for a lot of budding gamers to save up is around $1000. The best prebuilt gaming PC for under $1000, in some cases, features better graphics cards than those under $800 but not always. A gaming PC under 1000 may have similar spec GPUs but often feature stronger CPUs, more storage, and better RAM.

$1000 is a lot of money and is an ideal amount for those looking at playing games in glorious detail, with some capable of 1440p performance. We would all love a premium $2000 prebuilt gaming PC but these affordable prebuilt options below might surprise you.

01

Skytech Archangel Gaming PC Desktop (RTX 4060 Ti)

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02

SkytechBlaze 3.0 Gaming PC Desktop (i7 11700F, RTX 3060 Ti)

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03

Skytech Shiva Gaming PC Desktop (RTX 3060 Ti)

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Best prebuilt gaming PC under $1000 at a glance

Skytech Archangel Gaming PC Desktop (RTX 4060 Ti)

CPU

Intel Core i5 12400F

GPU

RTX 4060 Ti

RAM

16GB

Storage

1TB NVME SSD

How We Review

SkytechBlaze 3.0 Gaming PC Desktop (i7 11700F, RTX 3060 Ti)

CPU

INTEL Core i7 11700F

GPU

RTX 3060 Ti

RAM

16GB DDR4

Storage

1TB NVME SSD

How We Review

Skytech Shiva Gaming PC Desktop (RTX 3060 Ti)

CPU

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

GPU

RTX 3060 Ti

RAM

16GB DDR4

Storage

1TB SSD

How We Review

Thermaltake Shadow 360i Liquid-Cooled PC (Ryzen 5 3600, RTX 3060 Ti)

CPU

AMD Ryzen 5 3600

GPU

RTX 3060 Ti

RAM

16GB DDR4

Storage

1TB NVMe SSD

How We Review

IPASON Gaming PC Desktop (i5 12400F, RTX 3060)

CPU

Intel Core i5 12400F

GPU

RTX 3060

RAM

16GB DDR4

Storage

1TB NVME SSD

How We Review

Best prebuilt gaming PC under $1000

Skytech Archangel Gaming PC Desktop (RTX 4060 Ti)

CPU

Intel Core i5 12400F

GPU

RTX 4060 Ti

RAM

16GB

Storage

1TB NVME SSD

How We Review

Pros

Great airflow and all round design of the build
New gen hardware available that brings new features and improvements

Cons

At the top of the list for the best prebuilt gaming PC under $1000 is the Skytech Archangel. With modern and recent hardware it does offer a powerful machine capable of any tasks you throw at it.

Featuring an RTX 4060 Ti, it brings with it the latest generation Ada hardware. As the newest release, it does bring with it efficiency and benefits of it. Especially with the addition of frame generation, it can benefit from being able to use DLSS 3 to push its performance even further. Even without that though, the GPU can achieve over 100FPS at 1080p, with even 1440p getting over 70 on average. 4K is unachievable realistically with this card and you will have to look at a higher price point for a machine capable of that.

Paired with an Intel Core i5 12400F it does allow the GPU to thrive with the six core and 12 threads of the CPU. It also benefits from efficiency and performance cores, which allow you to keep your power draw lower when you’re not running anything too intensive. It also comes with 16GB of RAM which is fairly standard and a minimum these days. Along with a 1TV NVMe, you get a lot of fast storage, that will give you a responsive experience and a lot of room for all your games or you can easily expand it further.

Next best gaming PC under $1000

SkytechBlaze 3.0 Gaming PC Desktop (i7 11700F, RTX 3060 Ti)

CPU

INTEL Core i7 11700F

GPU

RTX 3060 Ti

RAM

16GB DDR4

Storage

1TB NVME SSD

How We Review

Pros

Features an AIO for great CPU temperatures
Fast and capacious storage
Great value and popular GPU choice

Cons

Limited airflow with front being used for the radiator

Another machine at this price point that comes in second is the SkytechBlaze 3.0 gaming PC. Combining both the i7-11700F and RTX 3060 Ti, it does carry in it some older hardware especially compared to the Archangel model in the number one spot, but that doesn’t make it a terrible machine.

The GPU is one of the top picks of the Ampere generation. A popular choice out of there, it is chosen for its great value offering. It is capable of running over 100 FPS at 1080p, with over 70 at 1440p. That makes it a great option for those two resolutions as it doesn’t quite cut it for UHD. Along with the i7 CPU, you do get a good combination with the GPU that doesn’t get bottlenecked.

It does also come with 16GB of RAM as a standard for all its uses that does mean you shouldn’t have any issues multitasking on your gaming PC. This does also come with a 1TB NVMe SSD for a fast and large storage device. That does mean it offers a lot of speed but it could fill up quite quickly. Even then there is the possibility to expand it quite easily.

Best AMD PC under $1000

Skytech Shiva Gaming PC Desktop (RTX 3060 Ti)

CPU

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

GPU

RTX 3060 Ti

RAM

16GB DDR4

Storage

1TB SSD

How We Review

Pros

Modern and fast hardware featuring a popular AMD CPU
Good value GPU for great performance

Cons

Very limited airflow built into the case

Another capable machine under $100 is the Skytech Shiva. It swaps out the Intel processor for an AMD one instead for those who prefer team Red especially as it offers some benefits over Intels.

The machine still features the RTX 3060 Ti, still the perfect choice at this price point as it seems there are barely any prebuilt that offer an AMD GPU. This does mean it still is a very good option it just holds more value and hasn’t depreciated in price as much as other options or the prebuilts still have the same price point no matter what it features. You can expect the same as previous performance with good 1080p options and some at 1440p.

For the RAM and storage, you get the same as previous at this price point. With 16GB of DDR4 and a 1TB NVMe, you can expect a standard and good experience. With a responsive OS and loading times with a lot of multitasking possible although it is a slower 3200MHz option.

Best open-air gaming PC under $1000

Thermaltake Shadow 360i Liquid-Cooled PC (Ryzen 5 3600, RTX 3060 Ti)

CPU

AMD Ryzen 5 3600

GPU

RTX 3060 Ti

RAM

16GB DDR4

Storage

1TB NVMe SSD

How We Review

Pros

Features plenty of fast storage with an NVMe
Good for cooling the CPU

Cons

Will be a dust magnet without any filtration
No general airflow for cooling motherboard components that might cause issues

Now for something quite a bit different, we do have the Thermaltake Shadow 360i. The best open-air gaming PC has liquid cooling included even if it does have to skimp out on some of the hardware.

The machine is unique for the case in which it is built. An open-air case does move away from the enclosed boxes that we’re used to. Although you might have to keep dusting it a bit more often with it being so open to the elements. It does come with an RTX 3060 Ti for 1080p and 1440p offers a good value component.

For its CPU, it utilizes a Ryzen 5 3600, although an older pick it is still a capable choice for a gaming machine and not a hindrance to the performance. To keep it cool, it utilizes a 360mm AIO, which will, certainly keep it cool but seems rather unnecessary for what the CPUs power. It also has 16GB of RAM but a slower 3000MHz option compared to other options at this level that might leave some framerate behind. However, it still has fast 1TB of NVMe storage to keep your machine running fast.

Best budget prebuilt gaming PC under $900

IPASON Gaming PC Desktop (i5 12400F, RTX 3060)

CPU

Intel Core i5 12400F

GPU

RTX 3060

RAM

16GB DDR4

Storage

1TB NVME SSD

How We Review

Pros

Recent generation GPU that has a lot to offer
Features a lot of fast storage out of the bat

Cons

Slightly above the $800 budget, might require a sale for the top value

For those after a machine with a lower price point, with under $900, it does save you a bit more money. However, that does also cut down on its performance from what the higher options can do.

As for its graphics card, it goes for a tier lower with the RTX 3060. That does mean it is a lower tier of performance and you’re more limited to 1080p performance as the card averages around 80 FPS at that tier. With it being under 60 at 1440p, it would require a bit of tinkering to make it more playable at that level. For its CPU it has the i5 12500F, that middle-of-the-level processor that does unlock the machine overall.

For the RAM it does have 16GB of 3200MHz DDR4, which is a more standard option for this machine even if it’s a bit slow. The storage option is a 1TB NVMe as well as a standard option that provides a good starting point for all your work and installs.

How we choose

We scoured popular and reputable prebuilt gaming PC manufacturers such as Dell, HP, iBuyPower, CyberPowerPC, and even the latest prebuilt gaming desktop PCs from companies that specialize in upgrades and customizations such as CUK (Computer Upgrade King).

After an extensive search, we came up with a long list of potential candidates, we then: examined the specs, compared them, and came up with the five best gaming PCs under $1,000.

How we test

To give you an idea of how well these prebuilt gaming PCs performed, tests were made and benchmark results were recorded across a number of different games and platforms. We specifically picked popular games to give you an up-to-date reference.

Things to consider

We understand that not everyone can find the time to build their own custom PC but when buying a prebuilt gaming PC there are just as many things to consider before making that final purchase. While these prebuilt computers for under $1000 are highly capable, we still need to make sure you walk away with the right PC for your needs.

What to expect from a prebuilt gaming PC under $1000

When it comes to a prebuilt gaming PC for under $1000, you would be forgiven for thinking that there are no compromises. well, despite being considered “high-end”, there is only so much room in the budget for a GPU. This means you will often find the older components but usually, this is just the previous generation, however, some include the entry-level GPUs to the latest ranges. In any case, a gaming PC under $1000 is going to smash 1080p gaming and offer plenty of performance in 1440p too!

Graphics Card

Whether it’s a prebuilt or a custom-built gaming computer, the graphics card is the most important component. It’s the powerhouse of any gaming computer.

Prebuilt gaming computers around the $1000 mark are technically on the high-end side of things but still have a couple of compromises here and there, one of which is the GPU. Graphics cards in these systems are going to be able to play anything in any setting when gaming in 1080p, with some of the PCs able to take on 1440p too.

These also vary with the connectors you have for your monitor. So if the number of HDMI or DisplayPort connections available. Although you’re unlikely to find older connectors like DVI or VGA on new GPUs, so you might need to consider that for your older monitor without a Display Port connection available.

Processor

When buying a prebuilt computer in this bracket, you are likely to be getting older processors. Don’t worry though, the good news is that while these may not be the latest and greatest CPUs, they are often just the previous gen, with high speeds, and solid for gaming that is clocked at good GHz rates.

RAM

$1000 prebuilt gaming PCs are where we start to see 16GB of fast RAM included. This is great news for gamers as 16GB is becoming more and more optimal, plus it will future-proof your setup a while longer than 8GB. How much RAM do you need for gaming? this depends on what you are going to be using the PC for but considering how affordable a 16GB kit of RAM is, try to always opt for this over 8GB.

Storage

Storage solutions in $1000 prebuilt gaming PCs vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, with some offering dual-storage and others large 1TB SSDs. In any case, you are likely to end up with more than enough storage to get you going but you can expect anything between 500GB and 1TB.

Motherboard

One of the parts that kind of gets left behind is the motherboard. Although most times it’s not necessary to have the top end selection, some offer different features and connections though. Such as the number of USB ports, and what ethernet speed it supports. So you want to make sure you can plug in your gaming keyboard, mouse, and all other peripherals you might need for your rig. Especially when it comes to RGB lighting you want to be included.

Best gaming PC under $1000 vs custom

We always recommend that you build your own computer here at WePC and that is for one simple reason – value. It is no secret that you can squeeze in better hardware for your cash when building your own system, with the markup on prebuilt computers usually costing the same amount as an entire component ($100-$300).

Performance

While the performance of these $1000 gaming PCs is solid, when building your own you could in theory include a better CPU or GPU into your computer without spending more. This means you could get even better performance for your hard-earned cash, get better in-game results, and future-proof your investment for longer.

Convenience

The main selling point behind a prebuilt gaming PC is it saves you the hassle. We understand that not everyone knows how to build a computer and may not even have the time to learn this new skill, so the convenience of a prebuilt makes a lot of sense. Of course, there are many more benefits to buying a prebuilt gaming PC from manufacturers, obviously, it takes the stresses away from finding all the compatible components, while also preventing damage to said components when the time comes to build it.

With one of these gaming PCs, you are going to be able to send it back to the manufacturer if anything goes wrong. Furthermore, if you feel you need an upgrade, suppliers will often do this for you or at least insist you send it to them for an upgrade. Manufacturers will also dish out a warranty, usually covering parts and labor for around a year but some companies offer impressive warranties and you can always spend extra on insurance, giving you a lengthy/ lifetime warranty.

These computers are from the biggest manufacturers around the world and aren’t just packaged nicely for you either, they normally stress test the system to ensure the components are working before shipping and that it performs as it should. You will also receive your system with software, usually with Windows and drivers pre-installed, so you can simply plug it in and start downloading games.

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Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Brands

Every recommended prebuilt gaming PC in this article is from a reputable manufacturer. You are probably wondering how we know what the best gaming PC brands are. Well, we have done our research and purchased PCs from these brands.

Most notable brands:

Alienware
Corsair
CyberPowerPC
SkyTech
iBUYPOWER
Thermaltake
MSI
Scan 3XS
Overclockers UK

Final word

There you have it, the best prebuilt gaming PC under $1000. All five prebuilts offer excellent gaming performance, whether you are playing games in 1080p or 1440p. While some may prefer slightly more storage, the combination of the powerful CPU, GPU, and RAM is going to give you some impressive results.

With these selections, you can rest assured that each one is of high quality and is manufactured by some of the biggest names in the business, meaning all you have to worry about is picking up the right spec for your gaming rigs needs. If it’s high-end gaming or not, there are good options for a good frame rate gaming experience.

FAQs

Is $1000 good for a gaming PC?

Yes, $1000 these days will get you a good prebuilt gaming PC. With the tech pricing in a much better place, you get a lot of performance once again for that price point. As we see options for RTX 3060 or 3060 Ti’s give great 1080p maybe even 1440p performance.

How much is a decent prebuilt gaming PC?

For a decent prebuilt gaming PC, you could spend a lot, but we reckon $1000 is a good price point. It will be a decent 1080p performance along with high framerates and good quality. But if you need to get more out oof it you do have to look higher up.

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