Best prebuilt gaming PC under $1000 in 2023

The next best prebuilt gaming PC under $1000

AVGPC Hellfire II Gaming Computer

Prebuilt gaming PC under $1000 with previous-gen parts

CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC Intel Core i5 11400F 2.6GHz 8GB DDR4 GeForce RTX 2060 6GB 500GB NVMe SSD WiFi Ready Win 11 Home GXiVR8060A11

CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC (GXiVR8060A11)

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.

NOTE: Due to the ongoing effects of the global coronavirus pandemic, some retailers are experiencing stock issues. WePC constantly updates our pages to reflect current availability, so if the PC or part you want shows as out of stock, check back later or check out these alternatives.

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.

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.

RAM

$1000 prebuilt gaming PCs is 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.

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.

The The Best 5 Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $1000

Skytech Shadow Gaming PC (3050)

AVGPC Hellfire II Gaming Computer

CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC (GXiVR8060A11)

HP Pavilion Desktop AMD Ryzen 3 4300G 8GB Memory AMD Radeon RX 5500 256GB SSD Shadow Black

HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop (3060)

Skytech Archangel Gaming Computer (1650)

In-depth Review

The best prebuilt gaming PC under $1000

Skytech Shadow Gaming PC (3050)

CPU Intel Core i5 10400F

GPU RTX 3050

RAM 8GB

Storage 1TB NVME SSD

PROS

Modern graphics card
Excellent for gaming at 1080p
Excellent aesthetics

CONS

Case doesn't have the best airflow
8GB of RAM

When picking out a new PC, we all want to make sure we’re putting our money towards something great. Budget or high-end, most computers tend to make a dent in our savings. It’s easier to find overpriced models than to score a good computer for cheap, but Skytech brings you a reasonable 1080p gaming experience here for a fair price.

Everything is housed in a good quality PC case, featuring RGB fans, RGB lighting, and a tempered glass side panel. Inside, we have the Intel i5-10400F CPU running at a base clock speed of 2.9GHz. The CPU is solid for gaming and is backed up by the recent Nvidia Geforce RTX 3050 graphics card. This card is going to serve you well when playing games in 1080p and comes with the latest features. Unfortunately, you only get an 8GB DDR4 RAM kit but it will still hold its own, even when playing high-end games.

No hard drive in this prebuilt but you do get a massive 1TB NVMe SSD, giving you plenty of room for your OS, games, and media.

The next best prebuilt gaming PC under $1000

AVGPC Hellfire II Gaming Computer

CPU AMD Ryzen 5 5600G

GPU RTX 3050

RAM 16GB

Storage 500GB NVMe SSD

PROS

Current gen graphics card
Excellent for gaming at 1080p
Fast storage
16GB DDR4 RAM

CONS

Only 500GB of space

This prebuilt gaming PC for under 1000 is a tidy effort from AVGPC. While you would never get the ‘best’ components in a PC for this price, you are still getting some of the latest generation inside. Games in 1080p are no problem for this prebuilt.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is an odd SKU to see in a prebuilt with a dedicated GPU but still performs well for gaming all the same. The processor comes with 6 cores and 12 threads that run at a base clock speed of 3.9GHz. The CPU is paired with the Nvidia RTX 3050 which provides a relatively decent experience when playing at 1080p, with the odd exception in 1440p. Alongside 16GB of RAM and a 500GB SSD, you have everything you need to start enjoying most games.

The case is sleek and brings RGB, plus a viewing window to the table, giving you an out-of-the-box stylish setup.

Prebuilt gaming PC under $1000 with previous-gen parts

CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC (GXiVR8060A11)

CPU Intel Core i5-11400F

GPU GeForce RTX 2060

RAM 8GB

Storage 500GB NVMe SSD

PROS

Excellent 1080p gaming performance
Fast storage

CONS

Older gen GPU
only 8GB RAM

The CYBERPOWERPC Gaming PC is more than capable of taking care of all your gaming needs for the foreseeable future. The performance is excellent for the price and you can be sure that has something to do with the powerful CPU/GPU combination inside.

This PC features a powerful 11th Gen Intel processor – the Core i5-11400F. Alongside the highly capable CPU, we see the GeForce RTX 2060, a surprising GPU that can tackle most games with ease.

his build also offers 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a 500GB SSD drive which, although not the biggest, is still capable of holding your operating system. You may want to add extra storage space down the line but this is enough to get you started.

This would make an excellent PC for beginners and hardcore gamers alike, with strong gaming features at the heart of this build.

All-round Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $1000

HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop (3060)

CPU Intel Core i5-10400F

GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060

RAM 8GB

Storage 256GB SSD

PROS

Fantastic gaming performance
RTX 3060 GPU
Compact

CONS

Only 256GB of space
Poor airflow
Cant be upgraded like other selections

This HP Pavilion Gaming PC offers some decent value, giving those who seek a solid gaming experience an RTX 3060 GPU for a reasonable price. The major downside is the fact this is not really going to be upgradeable down the line.

This build comes with the Intel Core i5-10400, a perfectly fine CPU for gaming, shipping with six cores and 12 threads that run at a base clock speed of 2.9GHz. Behind that, is the RTX 3060 GPU, a card that will provide high frames in 1080p and can handle some titles when playing in 1440p too.

Unfortunately, you are only getting 8GB of RAM and a small 256GB SSD (no HDD) with this gaming PC, so you may need to upgrade the RAM and increase your storage sooner than you would with some of the other options. You will also receive a free mouse and keyboard with this prebuilt but you should definitely get yourself some higher quality peripherals when you can.

Best Budget Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $1000

Skytech Archangel Gaming Computer (1650)

CPU AMD Ryzen 5 3600

GPU GTX 1650

RAM 8GB

Storage 500GB SSD