Best prebuilt gaming PC under $1500 in 2023
We take a closer look at the best prebuilt gaming computers for under $1500
At WePC we always recommend you build your own gaming PC but we understand that many simply do not want to do this, whether it’s fear of breaking a component or a lack of time. With this in mind, today, we are going to be searching for the best prebuilt gaming PC under $1500.
We already recommend the best custom gaming PC for under $1500, so decided to find the five best prebuilt alternatives available online. Of course, when buying a prebuilt computer there are going to be compromises but we will talk you through those, later on, to assist you with your final decision or hopefully tempt you into building your own instead.
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Let’s take a look at our top five prebuilt gaming PCs under $1500.
Our Top Picks
How We Choose
We scoured popular and reputable prebuilt gaming PC manufacturers such as SkyTech, MSI, iBuyPower, CyberPowerPC, and even the latest prebuilt gaming desktop PCs from companies that specialize in upgrades and customizations such as CUK.
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 $1,500.
How We Test
Unlike our best prebuilt gaming PC under $800 and our $1000 prebuilt article, we didn’t test games at 1080p/ultra settings.
Let’s face it, a computer that costs $1,500 should be able to handle almost anything without breaking a sweat. It’s time to up your expectations! We’re testing these PCs at 2K (1440p) and even 4K resolutions.
If you don’t have a 1440p resolution monitor, then you should eventually invest in a 2K monitor, or get one of the best gaming monitors that can handle 2K or 4K resolution. Well, assuming you want to get the most out of these prebuilt PCs, which I assume you do.
On average, these 5 prebuilt computers can handle the following games in both 1440p and 2160p resolutions:
- Fortnite
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
- Monster Hunter: World – MHW
- League of Legends
- Dota 2
- Overwatch
- Rainbow Six: Siege
- Warframe
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Cyberpunk 2077
With the right preset, you can experience over 60FPS on all of these titles. Ideally, you’d want to tone the graphics down to high but it still boils down to personal preference as competitive players would prefer a lower preset over fine-tuned graphics output.
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 you want shows as out of stock, check back later or check out these alternatives.
Things To Consider
For gamers that don’t fancy the challenge of building the best custom gaming PC for under $1500, a prebuilt alternative is the way to go. Of course, whether you are building yourself a PC or not, there are still several areas to consider before making the purchase.
In this section, we are going to be going over these key areas to ensure you make the correct choice and buy a product that is suited to your gaming needs.
Budget
We provide information on custom PCs and prebuilts by splitting them into different categories based on particular budgets. It is always important to set ourselves a budget when we go looking to buy a new computer as it can be incredibly easy to spend more than you were originally planning.
When it comes to gaming PCs that cost under $1500, you can be sure to get a machine that is powerful and capable of more than just a high-end gaming experience. For those looking to play the latest AAA games in the highest settings at high resolutions, then you are in the right place. If however, you are more of a casual gamer that maybe has a 1080p monitor, a $1000 prebuilt maybe all you need.
$1500 Prebuilt Vs. Custom Built Gaming PC
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 prebuilt gaming PCs under 1500 is great, 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 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 a prebuilt gaming PC, 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.
A prebuilt from the biggest manufacturers around the world 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.
Other Features And Freebies
You will often find most prebuilt gaming PCs ship with a free keyboard and mouse. Don’t get too excited, these are usually low-quality peripherals but good enough to get you playing games quickly. We advise you to invest in better quality peripherals down the line but hey who doesn’t love free stuff?
The The Best 5 Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $1500
In-depth Review
- Strong gaming performance in 1080p & 1440p
- Decent value
- 1TB of SSD storage
- Features Wi-Fi
The SkyTech Azure prebuilt gaming PC is our top selection when it comes to computers under $1500 for two simple reasons – Performance and value. This PC is going to handle all your gaming needs and more, with an excellent set of components inside.
Powering this system, we see an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, a CPU that is highly regarded and strong for gaming. This processor features strong single-core performance and ships with 6 cores and 12 threads running at a base speed of 3.7GHz and a boost potential of up to 4.6GHz. The CPU combines with one of Nvidia’s latest graphics cards – the RTX 3060Ti. The RTX 3060Ti offers stunning value, with similar in-game performance as the monster RTX 2080, meaning you can play any game in any setting you like!
There are many other nice-to-haves included in this Skytech prebuilt too. This build features 16GB of fast RAM, which is going to bolster the performance of your system across the board. There is also a 1TB SSD that is going to be a good place to start for your favorite games and applications.
What else can we say about this gaming PC, well, it features four RGB fans, a tempered glass panel so you can see inside, and Wi-Fi, giving you everything you need to rip through those games.
- Features strong gaming components
- Comes with Windows 10
- 1TB of SSD storage
- Features Wi-Fi6
- Slightly over budget
The Skytech Shiva Gaming PC is one of the most stylish-looking on this list, however, aside from looks, this gaming PC offers incredible performance for both gaming and the odd heavy-duty CPU task.
At the heart of this gaming PC sits one of AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600X a CPU that is highly regarded and strong for gaming. This processor features strong single-core performance and ships with 6 cores and 12 threads running at a base speed of 3.7GHz and a boost potential of up to 4.6GHz. The CPU combines with one of Nvidia’s latest graphics cards – the RTX 3060 Ti, giving you a solid platform to start gaming.
The positives don’t stop with the CPU and GPU though, this prebuilt also features 16GB of fast RAM, Windows 10, and a 1TB SSD. There is no additional HDD with this build but with 1TB you aren’t likely to need any extra storage space for quite some time.
- Features one of Nvidia's latest graphics cards
- Excellent gaming performance
- Solid Ryzen CPU
- Nice aesthetic including tempered glass
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- Pricey
Skytech has produced a prebuilt for around $1500 that is visually excellent, while also delivering fantastic gaming performance. The Shadow 3.0 is packed with premium components and done so with style.
Powering this system is the impressive AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, an enhanced version of the 3600. This fast CPU comes with proven ability for both gaming and CPU intensive tasks, with the 6 cores and 12 threads running at a base clock speed of 3.6GHz and a max boost clock of up to 4.2GHz. Supporting the CPU is the fierce RTX 3060, one of Nvidia’s latest 30-series GPUs. The card is a winner for gaming, with similar levels of performance to the fabled RTX 2080, making playing games in high settings a walk in the park.
We see 16GB of RAM in this build, which is not only an optimal amount for gaming but is reasonably fast too. This prebuilt also comes with Windows 10, Wi-Fi, and a 1TB SSD. There is no additional HDD with this build but with 1TB, you are good to go.
- Quality gaming performance
- Dual storage solution
- High airflow case
- Only 500GB SSD
The iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC SlateMono 238i gaming PC may receive a lower rating than the options above but that is simply because it is further away from the $1500 budget. This is an absolutely stunning build from iBUYPOWER, with some of the best components in this round-up.
At the center of this gaming computer sits an Intel i5-12600K CPU, the latest 12th-gen mid-tier CPU from the processing giants. This fast CPU comes with proven ability for both gaming and CPU intensive tasks, with the 10 cores and 16 threads running at a base clock speed of 3.7GHz and a max boost clock of up to 4.9GHz. With this amount of cores and threads, you could easily render videos or stream with this gaming PC. Along with the CPU, we see Nvidia’s RTX 3060Ti, a powerful graphics card that can produce similar results to the older RTX 2080.
This build also comes with 16GB of fast RAM, a great size for gaming, and solid speed for this CPU. This prebuilt also comes with Windows 10, however only a 500GB SSD. There is an additional 1TB HDD with this build but we would have preferred to see a bigger SSD.
- Great CPU for gaming
- Powerful GPU
- 16GB of RAM
- Slightly over budget
Last but not least is the Skytech Prebuilt Gaming PC, a powerful machine with impressive specifications for the price. This prebuilt may not feature the same processing power as the other options but it still provides an excellent gaming experience and is still a worthy recommendation.
We see AMD’s Ryzen 5 5600X CPU at the center of this PC, which features strong single-core performance, and comes with 6 cores / 12 threads running at a base speed of 3.7GHz and a boost potential of up to 4.6GHz. The CPU combines with Nvidia’s powerful 30-series RTX 3060Ti, a GPU that doesn’t compete with the RTX 3070 but can still bring excellent gaming results.
This prebuilt computer also comes with 16GB of RAM, a great amount for gaming. For storage, we see a large 1TB of SSD space which is more than enough for most gamers and general users.
This build features four RGB fans to keep airflow at an efficient level and Wi-Fi, making this a fantastic option for under $1500.
Build A Gaming PC By Price
Check out some of our price-focused custom PC build guides below.
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $300
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $400
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $500
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $600
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $700
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $800
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $1000
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $1500
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $2000
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $3000
- Best Custom Gaming PC under $5000
Other Related Custom PC Guides:
- Best Gaming PC
- The Best Silent PC Gaming Build
- The Best Streaming PC Build
- The Best Mini ITX Build For Gaming
Build A Gaming PC For Specific Games
Check out some of our game-focused custom PC build guides below.
- The Best Gaming PC For Valorant
- The Best Custom Built Gaming PC For CS:GO
- The Best Custom Built Gaming PC For Fortnite
- The Best Custom Gaming PC For Cyberpunk 2077
- The Best Custom Built PC For Emulation
Related Prebuilt Gaming PC Guides
Check out some of our related prebuilt PC guides below.
- Best Prebuilt Gaming PC
- Best Mini Gaming PC
- Best RTX 3080 Prebuilt Gaming PC
- Best RTX 3070 Prebuilt Gaming PC
- Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $2000
- Best Prebuilt Gaming PC under $1000
- Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $800
- Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $500
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
As it stands, these are the best prebuilt gaming PCs under $1500. Every selection in this round-up will bring you an excellent gaming experience for years to come and which you choose largely depends on your budget and needs. Hopefully, after reading this article you are now ready to make your decision but rest assured these are high quality and come from reputable companies.
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