When you’ve hit a wall trying to upgrade your existing system or when you’re looking to get into PC gaming, buying a prebuilt system is the best place to start. It takes the stress out of building your own PC and gaming PCs for upgrades make more sense.
Getting a good deal on a pre-built gaming PC will take a lot of research, since a lot of manufacturers tend to put components that you do not require at premium prices.
Your gaming PC ideally need to have the best specs in regards to processor and GPU.
You simply cannot go skimp on these components as they are the ones that will ensure a smooth lag-free gaming experience.
We’ve narrowed it down to the 10 best gaming PC under $1000 so that you don’t have to waste time researching.
But ..
Are Prebuilt Gaming PCs Really Worth It?
To answer it in short, yes, they are absolutely worth it.
Pre-built PCs are just like consoles, they are plug and play without any hassle associated with buying parts and assembling them.
It comes at a premium cost but what you’re getting with it is more than parts, warranty service, support and quality testing is all included in the price.
It also comes with pre-installed software, exclusive components, warranty safe overclocking and more.
Manufacturers have even gotten advanced and are using smart data to configure pre-built PCs resulting in great synergies amongst the parts installed.
These PCs might be expensive and lack the satisfaction of making your own PC, however, it does come with great cable management, warranty, and other accessories such as a free keyboard and mouse making it a great plug and play experience.
Thus, the pre-built PCs are definitely worth it if you do not want to spend time researching, purchasing and assembling each and every part yourself.
What to look for in a pre-built gaming pc?
There are a few things to look for when considering buying a gaming PC. Such as…
Size
Gaming PC’s come in all sizes, small, mid towers, and monoliths. Small systems are ideal for gamers with a lack of space such as college students.
They can fit under your desk or in the corner of it without taking much space. Mid towers strike the perfect balance for gamers as it can still fit under the desk but offer upgradeability and better cooling capabilities than a small-sized system.
Monoliths or full tower PCs are large enough to stick outside your desk when placed on it. They also carry a premium price with it when compared to mid-tower PCs.
Full towers are easier to work with when it comes to upgradability or maintenance, allowing you to breeze your hands inside the unit without feeling cramped.
Processor
The processor is usually the first spec you should look for when buying a gaming rig. It determines how system will perform in most software.
The core count of a processor can be between two and sixteen cores.
If you’re low on cash, we suggest to stick with quadcore, nothing less than that otherwise it will impact gaming performance.
With the current modern prices, a six-core is a perfect processor that is able to run graphic intensive games.
You also need to bear in mind the two processor brands, AMD and Intel.
AMD is associated with better value for the price and offers more cores and a better-multithreaded performance.
Intel will give you great performance when it comes to games, delivering higher frame rates but their value is diminished in other performance tasks and it is pricier than AMD.
GPUs
This is what matters when it comes to full on gaming. The higher the numbered cards, the better their performance.
Although there can be some catches to this since lower numbered cards can be overclocked closing performance gaps between versions.
The AMD RX 570 or Nvidia GTX 1650 are both entry-level cards that can deliver decent performance at full HD.
If you’re looking for something more powerful and want to game at 1440p with decent frame rates, the RTX 2060 or RTX 5700 is your best bet.
Those interested in 4K gaming need to look at something in a higher price range which can cost above $1,000.
It is always better to get newer cards such as GTX 16- series or the RTX 20-series or AMDs RX 5000-series, but you can find great value in older cards too.
Always try to get a minimum 3GB GPU, however, if the price gap is not much for a 4GB, then do get that. It makes a good difference.
We don’t recommend a multi-card setup since it is known to run into driver issues and are considerably louder and hotter.
RAM
Start off with a 16GB ram as it is a good baseline for modern gaming systems.
If you’re playing older games, you can save money by getting an 8GB ram however the price difference should not be that much since rams have gotten cheaper over the years.
Also, if you are unsure of how much to get, you can always start smaller and upgrade it according to your needs since ram is the easiest to upgrade.
Most of the games like Metro: Exodus, Destiny 2, PUBG, and Overwatch require a minimum of 8GB ram, however, 16GB is recommended for a great gaming experience.
Solid State Drives
Always buy as much space as you need and focus everything else on performance. You can always get a 500GB mechanical hard drive or 750Gb to 1TB in most cases, but beyond that does not make sense.
It’s always better to invest money in a solid-state drive since they are faster than HDDs and have gotten cheaper over the years.
A 512GB SSD drive should be more than sufficient to store your windows and most of your games.
This helps improve boot times and data speeds allowing for a great gaming experience.
With a decent SSD, windows can be loaded within 30 seconds and games that take 1 minute on a hard drive to load can take only 20 seconds on an SSD.
Ensure that the SSD you choose is your primary storage device.
Power Supply Unit
We suggest you do your research on what power PSU you require for your gaming needs.
Match it with all the other components, calculate your power requirements, and search for a PSU in that range.
Always go for a PSU which is a little bit higher than your recommended power levels.
This ensures that your system has extra power capacity in case you want to upgrade any component over time.
If you have an under powered PSU, it is very dangerous since it can burn other components as well as itself.
You don’t want to be in a position where your entire gaming rig is at risk just because of an underpowered PSU.
Now that you know what to look for when buying a prebuilt gaming pc, let’s straight jump into the list of the 10 best gaming pc under $1000 that you can buy in 2021.
Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $1000
1. iBUYPOWER Enthusiast
An amazing feat of engineering can be seen with the iBUYPOWER ARCB 108A.
Impressive PC components can be seen in a compact LED case rather than full-size tower-like other manufacturers.
It has a plain black glass at the front and you can see a trio of RGB circle lighting.
Ports can be found at the top of the case and comes with 2 USB 3.0 ports, display port, HDMI, Audio out, ethernet, and DVI.
It comes packed with a quad-core AMD Ryzen 3 3200G processor, an 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive, and an Nvidia GeForce GT 710 (1 GB) graphics card.
Ryzen 3 allows for the smooth running of basic productivity tasks such as spreadsheets and Microsoft office.
The graphic card GeForce GT710 is a great integrated card and one of the fastest when it comes to integrated cards.
You can play games at HD with an average of 35fps on high settings and a 720p resolution.
Granted it’s not enough to play games at 60fps medium settings but it’s a great desktop for beginners that come with amazing price.
Technical Specifications
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200G
- Geforce GT710 1 GB
- 8GB DDR4 ram
- 1 TB HDD
- Wi-Fi
- aRGB Lighting
- Windows 10 Home
Pros
- Affordable price
- Great case
- Upgradeable with cable management
Cons
- Limited overall performance
2. Dell G5
The design of this prebuilt pc does not differentiate it from other black boxes office systems.
However, its performance is something to talk about. The specs are encased in a black rectangular case with metal construction and a tempered glass window.
The build is sturdy and compact with a plastic front plate covered in a mesh pattern.
You can see a LED blue strip diagonally towards the middle on the front.
The system packs great specs that are not only suitable for gaming but also office tasks.
It comes at a solid price and hosts intel i7-9700 processor with a GTX 1660 graphics playing your games in 1080p delivering a satisfying performance for the price.
It comes with a 512GB SSD drive that speeds up the system alongside an 8GB DDR4 ram, enough to run all your day to day applications, games and more.
The LED lighting can look a bit primitive and the PC lacks water cooling and is only limited to 2 fans rendering the system noisy at times.
Although the limited internal storage can be a bummer for many, you can upgrade the rams with additional slots to boost up speed.
Dell G5 gaming desktop is good value for money and is considered to be one of the best pre-built gaming PC under $1000.
Technical specifications
- Intel Core i7-9700
- 8GB DDR4 2666MHz
- 512GB solid-state drive
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 6GB GDDR5
- Dell multimedia keyboard
- Dell Optical Mouse
- Windows 10 Home 64bit English
Pros
- Great price
- Compact design
- Accessible front ports
- All configurations come with SSD
Cons
- Loud fan noise
- Difficult to upgrade
3. HP Pavilion
The HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop looks beautiful with its grey finish and hints of green.
The front of the case is loaded with 4 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, 4 USB 3.1, 1 HDMI, a headphone audio port and a media card reader.
It houses an amazing graphics card delivering stunning performance.
The GTX 1660 Ti graphics is powerful enough to run more than 1000 games at the recommended settings.
It can run some of the latest AAA games such as red dead redemption 2 at a 1080p setting and is backed by an intel i5 9400F processor that is able to support game plays with stable performance.
The rig ensures stable speed and deliverance through a 16GB DDR4 ram allowing you to run games and creative video audio programs without experiencing delays.
Although the limiting hard drive size of 256GB can put off some gamers, the 5.1 surround sound feature can be a great deal for some having an amazing immersive movie and gaming experience.
The HP Pavilion is a great brand and one of the best gaming desktop under $1000.
Technical Specifications
- Intel Core i5-9400F Processor
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6
- 16 GB DDR4 RAM RAM
- 256 GB SSD
- 5.1 Surround Sound output
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- LED lighting
- Windows 10 Home
Pros
- Good graphics
- Well designed and built rig
- 5.1 surround sound experience
Cons
- Limited storage space
- Comparatively pricey than competitors
4. SkyTech Blaze II
The SkyTech Blaze 2 is a custom mid-tower PC with an amazing head-turning design.
The blinged out with fans and LED illuminations. The build is sturdy and made out of steel with a curved front and tempered glass on the side.
RGB LED rings can be visible at the front and the side. The front panel hosts an audio jack port with a single USB 3.1 and a pair of USB 2.0.
The back of the PC has an assortment of connectivity options such as four USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, PS/2 port for older mice, HMDI, DVI, and VGA ports.
It has great cooling and a spacious design.
The SkyTech Blaze 2 can be customized in different configurations.
For this review, we are going to look at the one with a Ryzen 5 2600 processor, 8gb DDR4 ram, 500gb SSD and a GTX 1660ti.
It is able to play games and also do real-world productivity with creative designing.
The GPU is able to deliver impressive gaming performance at more than 60fps on Full HD resolution (1080p).
However, 1440p can reduce the fps to an average of 30 which we do not recommend.
It is able to play VR games which is a big bonus for gamers.
The system is able to crunch solid performance, higher than expected for its price tag making it a top contender for the best gaming PC under $1000.
Technical Specifications
- Ryzen 5 2600 6-Core 3.4 GHz
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 TI 6G
- 500GB SSD
- 8GB DDR4
- LED RGB Lighting
- WiFi
- Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Pros
- Good gaming performance
- Fast processor
- Great design
- Good cable management inside case
Cons
- No card reader or USB-C port
- Loud fans can get annoying
5. CyberPowerPC – Gamer Master
The CyberPowerPC Gamer Master Gaming Desktop looks just like any other box PC, however, with the white and black design it stands out very well.
It has RGB LED ring lighting at the front and back of the PC with a side tempered glass and solid cable management.
You do need to maintain the PC by cleaning it regularly since the white colors might attract dust and get dirty.
The case has an aux output, 2 display port outputs, PS/2 port, and an HDMI connectivity.
You can enjoy high application performance and smooth gaming with 6 cores AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor.
It also has a 16GB DDR4 SSD RAM which helps in running graphics-intensive games and other applications such as video editing smoothly.
It comes with a 500GB SSD for faster boot times and a spacious 1 TB hard drive which is quite refreshing to see.
The gaming PC is powered by AMD RX 5600T that features ultra-resolution gaming and a 4K output rendering stunning graphics and jaw-dropping images.
This PC is a great contender as one of the best gaming PC under $1000 delivering solid performance for its price point.
Technical Specifications
- Ryzen 5 3600
- AMD RX 5600XT
- 16 GB Ram
- 1 TB HDD
- 500 GB SSD
- RGB LED lighting
- Windows 10 Home
Pros
- Can deliver 4K content
- Great specs
Cons
- Case can get dirty quicker
- There are better looking PCs out there
If you have a limited budget you can also check out our article on Best Prebuilt Gaming PC under $500
6. Acer Nitro
The Nitro 50 has a slim design and is very compact compared to other systems on the market.
It has a stereotypical gamer color theme, red and black. The front panels are plastic while the side panels are made out of metal which looks really good on the N50.
The compact design means that it can get cramped inside but it’s not a big concern since maintenance can be done easily since most of the components are easily accessible.
On the front, you’ll spot a USB 3.1 Type-A port, USB Type-C, and a media card reader. There is also a DVD burner which is quite surprising given that no one uses that these days.
At the back are two more USB 3.1 ports and four USB 2.0 ports, three DisplayPorts, one HDMI out, and a DVI connection.
It features an Intel i7 8700 processor, a 1 TB HDD with an 8GB DDR4, 16GB of Intel Optane memory for SSD like load speeds, and an AMD Radeon RX 580.
The processor is very quick and the storage is great on the system. The graphic card is able to transfer your mainstream PC into a digital powerhouse, immersing you in entertainment.
It delivers great full HD performance and a solid 4K, it is also VR ready which is a plus for some.
The powerful processor ensures lag-free performance at any time of the day across any usage.
Its powerful enough to support 3 gaming monitors at the same time on 4K resolution.
This is a great gaming PC delivering an ultimate desktop performance.
Technical Specifications
- 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8700 Processor (Up to 4.6GHz)
- AMD Radeon RX 580 Graphics with 4GB of GDDR5 Video Memory
- 8GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM Memory
- 16GB Intel Optane Memory
- 1TB HDD
- 8X DVD-Writer Double-Layer Drive (DVD-RW)
- Creative Sound BlasterX 360°
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth
- Windows 10 Home
Pros
- Compact tower
- Reliable gaming performance
- Intel Optane memory with a 1TB HDD
Cons
- Cramped interior
- Lack of true SSD
7. Skytech Archangel
The Skytech Archangel design is inspired by Sci-Fi and definitely shouts gamer. The front upper deck is white and is separated by a thin strip of lighting the runs up the front.
The sides are patterned with dotted and white blue panes and a black rear that holds the ports.
There are two USB 3.0, seven USB 2.0, a 7 in 1 audio port, ethernet, one DVI, one HDMI, one VGA, and a display port.
The Skytech Archangel features a Ryzen 5 2600 with a GTX 1660, 500 GB SSD and a 16 GB DDR4 ram.
These are good components that are packed in the system delivering lag-free performances, whether it is productivity tasks or full-on gaming.
Do note that the graphics card might be a little underpowered. It is highly capable of running lower title games at 1080p resolution, maxing out its settings.
With more demanding titles, expect the system to run at 60fps on medium to high settings.
For a gamer and a great gaming PC, a GPU with a solid processor is what one needs to look at.
This is a quick plug and play setup that comes with a free gaming keyboard and mouse allowing you to start gaming straight away.
Technical Specification
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600 6-Core 3.4 GHz
- 500GB SSD
- GeForce GTX 1660 6GB GDDR5 Graphics card
- 6GB DDR4 3000MHz Gaming Memory with Heat Spreaders
- Wi-Fi
- RGB Ring fans
- Free gaming keyboard and mouse
- Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Pros
- Good performance
- Attractive design
Cons
- GPU lagging for its price
8. CyberpowerPC GMA888A
Best PreBuilt Gaming PC for Beginners
CyberpowerPC GMA888A is a stunningly beautiful crafted PC. It has a slick look with tempered glass on both sides that complement its metallic finish.
There is single RGB lighting attached to the back fan making the PC look elegant rather than too flashy like some gaming PCs on the market.
It comes equipped with 2 USB 2.0 and 6 USB 3.0 ports and multiple display ports for output purposes.
CyberPowerPC Gamer Master is a gaming series desktop PCs line that is powered by Ryzen 3 2300X delivering fast processing speeds up to 8 cores.
It hosts a 1 TB HDD, a 128GB SSD, and an 8GB DDR4 ram. These combined with Radeon R7 240 2GB GPU are impressive specs ensuring the PC is also VR-ready.
It is able to run older games on 1080p with smooth performance and delivers high frame rates consistently.
With the latest games, this PC cannot run it at the recommended level leading to lower frame rates and lag gaming.
It is a great all-rounder PC and a plug and play PC that comes with a free gaming keyboard and mouse which is perfect for entry-level gamers.
We recommend this for beginners.
Technical Specifications
- AMD Ryzen 3 2300X
- Radeon R7 240 2GB
- 1 TB HDD
- 128 GB SSD
- 8GB DDR4 Ram
- Wi-Fi
- RGB gaming keyboard and mouse combo
- Windows 10 Home
Pros
- Good all-rounder specs
- Great aesthetics
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- GPU not that strong
9. Dell i5675-PUS Inspiron
The design can be eye-catching as it has an attractive body with curved edges. The top part is silver finished and the bottom has a deep blue rugged look.
There are several ports in the top half of the PC such as a single USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, and an audio output port.
The case is made from metal and is comparatively very creative than other gaming PCs on the market. The side panels can come off easily with a screwdriver and the gaming PC is a larger full-size tower that may take up most of your desk space.
The rear of the PC hosts an array of connectivity options such as 4 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type ports, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, Gigabyte Ethernet port for wired connections, microphone port, HDMI, and a DisplayPort.
The PC packs an i7 8700K CPU which is a great all-rounder processor. It has an 8GB ram which is great for everyday use. If you’re looking for intensive games, then consider upgrading from an 8GB to a 16GB ram.
It does have ample storage with a 128 GB SSD and a 1TB hard drive. This Dell gaming PC comes loaded with a GTX 1060 card which is an impressive GPU.
You will be able to average or even go beyond the 60 fps on full HD resolution. It comes with a free keyboard and a mouse making it an amazing plug and play setup.
The PC and its specs are worth its price and if you feel like it is lacking some components, you can always upgrade since there is ample room available in this monolith of a PC.
Technical Specifications
- Intel Core i7 8700
- 8GB 2400MHz DDR4,
- 128 GB SSD
- 1 TB HDD
- Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics card
- Free mouse and keyboard combo
- Windows 10 Home
Pros
- Easy plug and play setup
- Plenty of ports for connectivity
- Great performance
- Relatively silent PC
Cons
- Design might not be to everybody’s liking
10. CyberpowerPC Gamer Ultra
This is CyberPowerPC entry-level gaming PC that is an upgrade over its predecessor with a better design, more ram, and built-in Wi-Fi. The design is all black with tempered glass on the side and shiny finishing on the front.
It comes with a red LED light and has 6 USB 2.0, ethernet, and a 7.1 audio channel that delivers the perfect audio quality. It also hosts a VGA, DVI, and HDMI connectivity ports.
The PC has an AMD FX-6300 3.5 Ghz 6 core processor with an AMD Radeon R7 240 2GB video card.
This is not the best of the combinations since the GPU is a very old AMD model that will definitely struggle when playing some newer games.
It has ample storage of 1TB HDD and an 8GB DDR3 ram. These are not top of the line specs but get the job done when it comes to basic computing and running older games.
It does come with a free gaming keyboard and an RGB mouse.
Technical Specifications
- AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core
- AMD Radeon R7 240 2GB video card
- 8GB DDR3
- 1TB HDD
- Wi-Fi
- Free keyboard and RGB mouse
- Windows 10 Home
Pros
- Great case
- Easy plug and play setup
Cons
- Old hardware
- Low quality PSU
- May struggle to run newer games
FAQ’s:
Is It Cheaper To Buy a Gaming PC or Build One?
How long will a gaming PC last?
Technology keeps advancing at a faster pace allowing for a more enhanced interactive gaming experience. For that, you need to keep updating your PC in order to run new intensive games in the future.
Wrapping Up
The significant advantage of building a PC is handpicking each component, allowing you to find the best deals and the perfect combination to fit in your budget.
However, if you’re inexperienced or you’re a newbie to the whole gaming on a PC thing, then we suggest you consider buying a pre-built gaming PC which is an easy plug-and-play setup. You can upgrade your pre-built PCs and stay up to date with the latest tech.
Pre-built PCs come with a warranty so you don’t need an individual warranty for all the components. Its hassle-free and if you have the right budget, you can get a great gaming rig.
The products discussed here are all fighting for the title of the best gaming PC under $1000. You can also conduct your own research and find out if there are other options on the market more suitable to your needs. Do let us know if we missed a gaming PC that you think deserves a spot on this list.